The same nervous system patterns that keep us stuck in survival mode may also be telling our body it's not safe to create new life. In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Ann Shippy, a leading functional medicine physician and former chemical engineer who reveals the hidden biological barriers to conception.
Get the full episode breakdown at Biology of Trauma® Podcast - Episode 152: Am I Too Old or Stressed To Get Pregnant? The Real Reason
[00:01:20] Why the fertility narrative around age may be missing the bigger picture—and what's actually driving infertility rates
[00:02:28] How one patient at 41 conceived easily after addressing heavy metals, microbiome imbalances, and hormonal dysfunction
[00:04:16] The identity wound that infertility triggers—and why "am I enough?" surfaces when conception feels impossible
[00:09:37] Why hope itself shifts biology and creates an environment welcoming to new life
[00:10:45] How environmental toxins—even from healthy activities like golf—create hidden fertility barriers
[00:11:48] The "time capsule" concept: How eggs and sperm collect information about stress, trauma, toxins, and nutrient status
[00:13:55] The parallel between neuroception and fertility—both systems asking the same question about safety and capacity
[00:16:41] Why infertility is fundamentally an energy problem—and how mitochondrial function determines whether the body says yes to new life
[00:18:12] How pregnancy can deplete an already exhausted body and create chronic patterns of depletion
[00:20:06] The first step Dr. Ann recommends for anyone wanting to conceive—even in their mid-forties
