Why Am I Not Getting Pregnant? 7 Hidden Areas That Could Be Affecting Your Fertility

By: Dr. Alyssa McPeak

If you’ve been trying to get pregnant and wondering why it’s not happening yet, you’re not alone. So many women are told their only options are medications, hormones, or IVF — but in reality, your fertility is deeply connected to your health, lifestyle, and stress management.

At Find Your Fertility, I teach women how to uncover and heal what’s really standing in the way of conception by focusing on the 7 key areas of getting pregnant...each one highlighted in my F.E.R.T.I.L.E. Plan: Food, Endocrine Disruptors, Rest & Recovery, Thyroid, Identify Your Fertile Window, Less Stress, and Empower.

When you align your lifestyle with these 7 factors and remove the roadblocks in each area, you create the foundation your body needs to conceive naturally — without injections, medications, or guesswork.

F — Food

Food is information and fuel for your hormones. What you eat directly affects blood sugar, inflammation, cell development, and the quality of your eggs and uterine environment.

If your meals are high in processed foods, sugar, or seed oils, your body spends more energy managing blood sugar spikes than supporting reproduction.

Try this:

• Focus on real, whole foods — protein, healthy fats, and vegetables at every meal.

• Eat grass-fed meats, wild-caught seafood, pastured eggs, and colorful vegetables.

• Balance your blood sugar by breaking your fast with protein, eating protein with every meal, and listening to your hunger cues.

Nourishing your body with the right foods signals safety, which tells your body it’s ready to grow new life.

E — Endocrine Disruptors

We’re surrounded by hidden chemicals that interfere with hormones — things like plastics, fragrances, cleaning products, and cosmetics. These endocrine disruptors mimic estrogen and block your body’s natural hormone communication, making it harder to ovulate or sustain a pregnancy.

Try this:

• Swap plastic containers for glass or stainless steel.

• Avoid artificial fragrances and use essential oils instead.

• Choose clean personal care brands (check the Fertility-Friendly Skincare Routines for favorites).

Small swaps can have a big impact on hormone balance over time.

R — Rest & Recovery

Fertility thrives in a body that feels safe and rested. Chronic stress, overexercising, or under-eating can suppress ovulation and disrupt hormone production.

Try this:

• Aim for 7–9 hours of restorative sleep.

• Support your nervous system with deep breathing, gentle movement, or time outdoors.

• Schedule rest the same way you schedule work or workouts — it’s just as important.

Remember: you can’t heal or conceive from a state of burnout.

T — Thyroid

Your thyroid is the “master thermostat” of your body and plays a major role in fertility, ovulation, and early pregnancy. Even subtle thyroid imbalances can make it harder to get pregnant or increase the risk of miscarriage.

Try this:

• Get a full thyroid panel (TSH, Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3, TPO-Ab, and Thyroglobulin).

• Eat foods rich in selenium, zinc, and iodine (like Brazil nuts, oysters, and seaweed).

• Avoid excess caffeine and manage stress to protect thyroid function.

When your thyroid is balanced, your whole hormone system functions more efficiently.

I — Identify Your Fertile Window

If you don’t know when you ovulate, you’re missing your most fertile days. Many women rely on apps or “day 14” rules that don’t actually reflect their real cycle.

Try this:

• Track your basal body temperature and cervical mucus changes.

• Use ovulation predictor kits (OPKs) as a guide, but confirm ovulation with symptoms or charting.

• Focus on intimacy during the 5 days leading up to ovulation and the day of.

Knowing your fertile window puts you back in control of your cycle — no more guessing.

L — Less Stress

Stress doesn’t just affect your mind — it impacts every hormone in your body. Cortisol (your main stress hormone) can suppress estrogen and delay ovulation.

Try this:

• Create daily “calm time” — even 10 minutes counts.

• Say “no” to things that don't bring you joy and protect your peace.

• Consider adrenal adaptogens, magnesium, or gentle nervous system support under professional guidance.

Lowering stress tells your body it’s safe to shift energy back into reproduction.

E — Empower

This final step is about owning your journey. You deserve to feel confident, informed, and supported as you work toward pregnancy. Empowerment comes from understanding your body and making changes that align with how it’s designed to function.

Try this:

• Educate yourself about your cycle and hormones.

• Advocate for proper lab testing and whole-body support.

• Surround yourself with people and practitioners who see the whole you — not just your symptoms.

You Are Not Broken

If you’ve been frustrated with “Why can’t I get pregnant?”, know this: your body isn’t broken — it’s communicating. When you tune into what it’s saying through your cycles, energy, and symptoms, you can start making small shifts that open the door to fertility again.

When you address your F.E.R.T.I.L.E. factors — Food, Endocrine Disruptors, Rest, Thyroid, Fertile Window, Less Stress, and Empowerment — you create the environment your body needs to conceive naturally.

✨ You can find your fertility again — and I can help you get there.