What if everything you’ve been told about fertility is missing the most important part?
In this eye-opening episode of The Vitalist, we sit down with Dr. Samantha Ess, a licensed Naturopathic Doctor, hormone health expert, and fertility strategist, whose personal healing journey sparked a lifelong mission to help women reconnect with the innate intelligence of their bodies. After overcoming childhood asthma through natural medicine, Dr. Sammie went on to specialize in preconception care and hormone optimization, blending traditional naturopathic wisdom with data-driven precision. She’s the author of two eBooks on fertility and hormonal health and serves as a sought-after speaker and board advisor in the integrative health world.
In this conversation, she breaks down the misunderstood phases of the menstrual cycle, why “unexplained infertility” often has a root cause, and the critical 3–6 month window that can transform your chances of conception. Whether you’re just starting to think about having a baby or you’ve been trying for months (or years), this episode will leave you feeling informed, empowered, and more connected to your body.
HIGHLIGHTS:
“Reclaiming Fertility, Cycle Literacy & the Body’s Intelligence” Natural medicine transformed Dr. Sammie’s childhood health from daily oxygen treatments for asthma to thriving as an athlete with no inhalers. (1:50)
From food to environment to emotional load, what you put in your body changes everything. (2:32)
Dr. Sammie’s calling was written in her family’s generational story of conception challenges. (3:20)
Most women are never taught the three phases of their cycle, follicular, ovulation, and luteal, yet these phases govern everything from energy to conception. (4:30)
The surprising truth? Many women don’t know if they’re ovulating. Learning the rhythm of their body creates deep empowerment. (6:20)
How to tell if your cycle is truly “regular” and why the luteal phase holds keys to your hormonal harmony. (7:00)
PMS may be common, but it isn’t normal. Cramps, mood swings, and cravings are data, here’s Dr. Sammie’s advice. (8:00)
Dr. Sammie’s foundational prescription: quality sleep, Mediterranean-style eating, hydration, and daily movement. (8:30)
The biggest threat to hormone balance? The questions no one’s asking, especially around stress, emotions, and suppression. (9:40)
How plastics, pesticides, even K-cups are hijacking hormonal balance. (10:40)
Your labs are not just numbers, they’re a map showing how your body responds to stress, inflammation, and resilience. (11:30)
Debunking ‘Unexplained’ Fertility. There’s always a reason. It may not be obvious, but it’s not ‘unexplained.’ (12:45)
70% of your immune system lives in your gut and it directly impacts your ability to conceive. (14:30)
Your fertility window begins 3–6 months before conception. That’s when your body is setting the stage. (15:30)
Coming off birth control isn’t one-size-fits-all. Endometriosis? Wait. PCOS? Start now. Strategy matters. (16:30)
Menstrual cycle irregularity is normal in adolescence, but pain, nausea, or vomiting may signal something deeper like endometriosis. (17:55)
Epigenetics proves it: what your grandmother ate, felt, or endured shapes your body today. (19:30)
Dr. Sammie’s favorite tracking method: The Fertility Awareness Method. (21:40)
The story of how one woman paused IVF to heal her gut and conceived twins naturally. (23:00)
The liver can regenerate from the brink of cirrhosis. What else might be possible when we trust the body’s wisdom? (24:30)
When a woman says, “I don’t trust my body,” Dr. Sammie helps her ask: Is my body failing me—or is it trying to communicate something deeper? (25:00)
RESOURCES:
Dr. Sammie’s Youtube Channel
Please enjoy!
Listen to this episode on Youtube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast.
