Fertility is often discussed in rigid timelines and statistics, leaving many women feeling anxious and powerless over their reproductive health. But what if we told you that fertility isn’t just about age, and that your body has the ability to heal, strengthen, and even improve its reproductive potential? Enter Aimee Raupp—a renowned fertility expert, acupuncturist, and author who has dedicated her career to reshaping the way women approach fertility and hormone health.
With a science-backed, holistic approach, she helps women optimize their health, improve egg quality, and embrace the mind-body connection to support conception. Aimee’s own journey, including her experience conceiving in her 40s, has profoundly shaped her work and the way she supports her clients.
In this interview, Aimee debunks some of the biggest myths surrounding fertility, explains why “unexplained infertility” isn’t really unexplained, and shares practical, empowering steps women can take—whether they’re trying to conceive now or preserving their fertility for the future.
Let’s dive in!
Understanding Fertility & Hormone Health
TBN: Aimee, there’s so much misinformation out there about fertility. What’s one of the biggest myths you wish more women understood?
AR: That age is NOT the biggest predictor of fertility outcomes. That FSH + AMH can change and improve. That egg quality (and sperm quality and embryo quality) can improve with age.
TBN: How did your own fertility journey shape the way you guide and support women today?
AR: I felt very lucky that I was able to get pregnant easily in my 40s. However, I wrote my book “Yes, you can get pregnant!” when I was 36 years old, and I remember being worried about my own ability to get pregnant when I met the right partner. I committed to practicing everything I preached in that book for years before I met my partner and was able to conceive easily in the second month of trying at the age of 40. A few years later, I did conceive again, accidentally, and unfortunately, that pregnancy ended in a missed miscarriage. The trauma of that experience radically shifted my approach with my clients. Of course, I was very familiar with miscarriage as a clinician, but when it happened to me as a woman, it shifted me in many positive ways, and that shift directly impacts my clients.
TBN: The mind-body connection is a big part of your approach. How do stress and emotional well-being influence fertility, and what can women do to support themselves?
AR: The bottom line is that stress impacts the nervous system, and when the nervous system feels stress, it reverts to fight or flight, and that is not optimal for procreation and reproduction and hormones. Working on the mental and emotional part is critical to balancing hormones and creating a space of safety in the body so that it can allow a pregnancy to happen. My work revolves around a lot of belief systems and shifting them as well as trauma work with the licensed psychotherapist that we have on Team Aimee. We also support our clients through group coaching calls and private communities where my team and I regularly host question-and-answer sessions to support all of the women we serve. Research out of Harvard shows that women in support groups get pregnant twice as fast as women who are not in support groups.
Egg Quality & Nourishing the Body for Conception
TBN: Your book, The Egg Quality Diet, focuses on optimizing fertility through food. How would you explain the connection between diet and egg quality, and why does what we eat matter so much?
AR: As I always say, food is your primary medicine. What you eat impacts the levels of oxidative stress and cellular health and function in your body. What I find clinically is that many women who come to me are trying to conceive or not eating enough. And even if they are eating a Whole Foods diet, they tend to be eating two little proteins and two little fats. Protein and fat are critical for optimal cellular function and hormonal production. and antioxidant-rich food plays a major role in cellular health and aging. Studies show that a diet rich in healthy fats, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory foods improves fertility, especially for women undergoing IVF. Even more, research shows antioxidants fight the aging process in the body and can optimize both egg and sperm quality.
TBN: Many women are told they have “unexplained infertility” without clear answers. What are some foundational health factors you encourage them to focus on first, Aimee?
AR: Another thing I always say is there’s no such thing as unexplained infertility. There is always an explanation for unexplained infertility, and typically, that explanation is an underlying thyroid condition, an autoimmune condition, an uninflammatory condition, stress, lifestyle habits, and sometimes all of the above. So with my clients, we are always digging deep and looking at all lab values, lifestyle choices, nutrition, and mindset, along with doing additional testing to rule out any underlying health condition that is compromising the body’s ability to get and stay pregnant.
TBN: There’s often a rush to try everything when facing fertility challenges. How do you guide women toward a more sustainable, empowering approach instead of a stressful one?
AR: My team and I really love to individualize our protocols with each and every client. We do that by spending a lot of time asking a lot of questions and reviewing a lot of lab work. Then, we come up with an individualized protocol. Most of the time, we are cutting their supplement routine in half and gently shifting their diet and their lifestyle to better support their bodies’ individual needs. There is always this rush to try everything and anything, and that is why I urge every single woman going through a fertility journey to work with clinicians who have seen hundreds of cases just like theirs. Relying on Doctor Google or your friend’s cousin who took Vitex and got pregnant is a Surefire way to create overwhelm and anxiety.
Traditional Medicine Meets Modern Fertility
TBN: Acupuncture and herbal medicine have been used for centuries to support reproductive health. How do these practices enhance fertility, and when should someone consider integrating them?
AR: As an acupuncturist and herbalist, I think any woman preparing for pregnancy should be utilizing these tools at least 3 months prior to conception. Acupuncture not only regulates hormones but also reduces stress and creates a great sense of calm and relaxation in the body. By improving blood flow in circulation, acupuncture helps with ovarian and uterine blood flow. Chinese herbs are another beautiful tool that many women should be using prior to conception to maximize results. But again, I urge everyone to see a seasoned clinician who has a lot of experience treating fertility challenges slash hormonal imbalances/pregnancy and preconception support.
TBN: The idea of “fertility preservation” is gaining more attention. Even if someone isn’t trying to conceive yet, what steps can they take now to support their reproductive health for the future?
AR: Follow all the steps I outline in my book “Yes, you can get pregnant!”. That’s what I did at the age of 36 to preserve my fertility and allow my body to conceive naturally and easily in my 40s.
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Empowered Women, Empowering Fertility
TBN: Fertility journeys can be deeply emotional, whether someone is struggling to conceive or planning for the future. What’s one piece of advice you’d offer to women feeling overwhelmed by the process, Aimee?
AR: Know that you’re not alone. Get support from someone who understands what you are going through. As I always say, sharing lifts the shame, and seeking support will make this process much more efficient for you. also, I have a ton of stories of Hope on my YouTube channel, and they help so many women. Please take the time to watch some of them.
TBN: Your work has helped so many women reclaim their confidence in their fertility. If you could share one message of encouragement with women on this journey, what would it be?
AR: I know this is hard, but I believe in you. You have the power to change your health and radically shift your fertility. Even if they’re telling you that you are too old or your eggs are too all bad. Other women in your shoes have done it, and you can too. Find the right support and allow yourself to receive that support.
Click here to check all the interviews from our “Empowered Women Empower Women” series.
