Episode 05 · New this week
Fertility preparation: why doing everything right still isn't working
Mel and Jaime on why conception isn't as straightforward as you're led to believe — egg and sperm quality, ovulation, implantation, inflammation and hormone balance, why the 90 days before conception matter for both partners, and why "normal" test results don't always mean optimal fertility.
What you'll hear
Trying to conceive can feel maddening when you're eating well, taking your supplements, tracking your cycle, and still seeing nothing happen. In this episode, Jaime and Mel unpack the deeper layers of fertility preparation and why conception is rarely as simple as people are led to believe.
They walk through the factors that actually shape the odds — egg quality, sperm health, ovulation, implantation, inflammation, metabolic health and hormone balance — and why the ninety days before conception matter so much for both partners, not just the one carrying the pregnancy.
You'll also hear why "normal" test results don't always reflect optimal fertility, how stress and lifestyle feed into reproductive function, and why fertility support should never focus on one partner alone. This is the conversation that pushes back on the idea that preparation starts and ends with a prenatal.
If you're planning for pregnancy, actively trying, or feeling stuck despite doing all the "right" things, this episode gives you a clearer framework for where to look next.
Normal doesn't mean optimal — and "everything looks fine" isn't the same as "everything's working."
The series so far
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Ep 05 Latest
Fertility preparation: why doing everything right still isn't working
Why conception isn't as simple as you're told — egg and sperm quality, ovulation, implantation, inflammation and hormones, the 90 days that matter for both partners, and why "normal" results don't always mean optimal fertility.
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Ep 04
Hormones and the menstrual cycle — what your period is really telling you
The hormonal arc of the menstrual cycle phase by phase — and how to read your period as a monthly health check for hormones, iron, thyroid and the nervous system.
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Ep 03
The nervous system, and stress
What chronic stress is actually doing to hormones, cycles, sleep, gut and fertility — and why "just relax" isn't a treatment for a nervous system stuck in alert mode.
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Ep 02
Herbal medicine, explained
How herbs actually work in a clinical setting — hormone balance, stress, immunity and fertility — and what separates a practitioner formula from an over-the-counter supplement.
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Ep 01
Why we approach women's health differently
Mel and Jaime on how they came to practise in women's health, fertility, and complex hormone conditions — and why conventional approaches often fall short for chronic symptoms.
Mel & Jaime
Mel Gearing
Naturopath & Medical Herbalist
Endometriosis & Complex Fertility
Mel is a naturopath and co-host of Inside the Apothecary, known for her clear, structured approach to complex health cases.
On the podcast, she brings clinical thinking into conversation, breaking down fertility, hormones, gut health and inflammatory patterns in a way that actually makes sense outside of a consult room.
Her work centres on helping people who have been told everything is normal but still don't feel well, connecting the dots between symptoms that are often treated in isolation.
She is also the co-founder of Seed Apothecary, a new venture currently in development.
Jaime Chew
Founder & Clinical Director
Fertility Strategy & Hormone Complexity
Jaime is a naturopath and co-host of Inside the Apothecary, bringing a thoughtful, systems-based perspective to each conversation.
She focuses on how different parts of the body interact, from the nervous system and hormones to gut health and inflammation, helping listeners understand why symptoms rarely exist in isolation.
On the podcast, Jaime is known for asking the questions that uncover what is often missed, making complex health concepts feel more grounded and easier to navigate.
She is also the co-founder of Seed Apothecary, a new venture currently in development.
Work with us at the clinic
If you're listening and thinking this sounds like me, this is where we take it further. We work with patients one-on-one at Nourishing Apothecary, unpacking complex cases and building structured, outcome-focused plans.