The Tudor Dixon Podcast: Gut Health and Fertility—How the Microbiome, Toxins, and Nutrition Impact Preconception Health

Release Date: December 10, 2025
Host: Tudor Dixon
Guest: Dr. Ann Shippy, MD, Internal Medicine Physician & Author of "The Preconception Revolution"

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the critical role gut health, environmental toxins, and nutrition play in preconception health and fertility. Tudor Dixon welcomes Dr. Ann Shippy, who shares the latest science on the microbiome, explains the impact of "forever chemicals" and everyday toxins, and discusses practical steps prospective parents—both women and men—can take to optimize fertility and long-term family health. The conversation is rich with actionable insights for families, young couples, and anyone interested in preventive health.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Dr. Ann Shippy's Journey (04:09)

• Dr. Shippy shares her personal health struggle with an autoimmune disorder that led her to shift from a computer science career at IBM to medicine.
• Quote:

  "You were working at IBM and you got sick. Doctors couldn't figure it out. You got better. You got sick again, and you were like, 'I'm gonna go to med school.' That's not a thing. People don't do that. You're special."
  — Tudor Dixon (04:09)

2. The Gut as the Body's Epicenter (03:44)

• Dr. Shippy emphasizes the gut's centrality in immune function, nutrient absorption, and biological health.
• Quote:

  "The gut is the center of the universe in my world because it's so important for really every aspect of biology... when our gut is good, a lot of our body's good."
  — Dr. Ann Shippy (03:44)

3. Rising Fertility Challenges and the Role of Toxins (02:37, 05:00)

• Observes increasing infertility issues among young couples over the past decade.
• Discusses the prevalence of PFAs (“forever chemicals”) in everyday environments—manufacturing, farming, cookware, food containers—and the associated health impacts.
• Quote:

  "I was shocked to hear it's even in my cookware, and it's in the foods that I eat and the cans that I drink out of."
  — Tudor Dixon (02:37)

4. Testing the Microbiome: Access, Challenges & Solutions (06:16, 07:05)

• Dr. Shippy recommends proactive microbiome testing, especially in the preconception phase.
• Discusses direct-to-consumer testing companies like Tiny Health and Jonah for both gut and vaginal microbiome.
• Quote:

  "No one ever told me to check my gut before I had kids. And I've literally never had this conversation with my doctor."
  — Tudor Dixon (07:05)

• Functional/Integrative Medicine doctors can assist with interpreting results for optimal health strategies.

5. Microbiome, Inflammation & Epigenetics (08:49–11:52)

• Poor gut and urogenital microbiome balance generates inflammation and alters hormone signaling, affecting fertility in both sexes and influencing baby’s genetic expression (epigenetics).
• Partners’ health affects one another; male sperm health is a “time capsule” influencing pregnancy and offspring health.
• Quote:

  "If the sperm is epigenetically changed by environmental toxins, the microbiome, by stress, by blood sugar abnormalities... it can actually influence how healthy the pregnancy is."
  — Dr. Ann Shippy (11:23)

6. Beyond Women: Men’s Fertility & Shared Responsibility (09:48, 11:52)

• Male fertility and microbiome imbalances can impact conception as well as pregnancy risks (e.g., preeclampsia).
• Dr. Shippy notes cultural shifts in talking about men's health in preconception.
• Quote:

  "It takes some of the burden off the woman, and it gives the male partner the opportunity to participate in a whole other way."
  — Dr. Ann Shippy (11:53)

7. Environmental Factors & Proactive Detox (13:45, 18:39)

• The book details tests for nutrients, toxins, mitochondria, inflammation, and sperm genetics.
• Chronic exposures (manufacturing, farming, golf courses, air pollution) quietly influence health; whole house water and air filters are recommended.
• Quote:

  "Even people that think they're doing everything right ... we find things. Even one of my own kids, ... we found a really high atrazine level."
  — Dr. Ann Shippy (15:19)

8. Children’s Health, Prevention, and Family Strategies (19:51, 23:47)

• Unaddressed toxins can contribute to rising rates of autoimmune diseases, autism, cancers, obesity, and metabolic disorders in children.
• Dr. Shippy advocates for preconception health to become “non-negotiable.”
• Quote:

  “I want this to become the narrative where men and women are consciously choosing when to get pregnant because they know they've optimized enough of their biology to reduce their child’s risk for autism, mental health issues, cancer, autoimmunity.”
  — Dr. Ann Shippy (20:11)

• Emphasizes the need to teach children about health and fertility from a young age.

9. Practical Tips: Nutrition, Supplements, and Daily Life (26:18, 28:57)

• Testing and caring for kids’ microbiome is valuable.
• Personalized nutrition and supplementation—antioxidants, CoQ10, B vitamins, phosphatidylcholine—can improve fertility and ovarian longevity.

10. Male Preconception: Alcohol and Sperm Health (21:10, 22:09)

• Men should eliminate alcohol for at least 2–3 months (the sperm production cycle) before conception.
• Quote:

  "Sperm takes about 74 days from start to finish to make. We want that environment that the sperm is developing in ... to be as pristine as possible."
  — Dr. Ann Shippy (22:09)

11. Addressing Guilt, Stigma, and Intergenerational Toxicity (12:50, 37:59)

• Discusses the emotional burdens of reproductive challenges and breaking down stigma around fertility issues.
• Toxins experienced by prior generations (e.g., grandparent’s drug exposure, smoking, mercury fillings) can impact multiple generations through epigenetics.

12. Lifelong and Individualized Health (40:04, 41:48)

• Regular monitoring, not just a one-off test, is important.
• Individualized approaches to diet and health are critical; what is healthy for one may be harmful for another.

13. Hopeful Outlook and Resources (28:03, 30:45, 42:43)

• Fertility can be preserved and even restored well into the 40s with the right steps.
• IVF and egg freezing are not the only options—preconception optimization is preferable.
• Quote:

  "We have to start thinking about our children's and grandchildren's fertility. But I want to be hopeful because this approach ... can preserve fertility well into the forties."
  — Dr. Ann Shippy (28:03)

• Book: "The Preconception Revolution: Why Preparing Your Body for Pregnancy Changes Everything"—resources, protocols, and self-testing info.
• Dr. Shippy’s upcoming online program will allow group access to testing and interpretation.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "The gut is the center of the universe in my world..."
  — Dr. Ann Shippy (03:44)
• "Sperm takes about 74 days from start to finish to make... you want that soil to be as pristine as possible."
  — Dr. Ann Shippy (22:09)
• "I want this preconception period to be like non-negotiable."
  — Dr. Ann Shippy (20:11)
• "It's not just a woman thing, it's a men and women thing... I'm more concerned about people who have no idea that they're about to head into oncoming traffic."
  — Dr. Ann Shippy (36:42)
• "Childhood obesity, all of these things... you say a man should probably cut any alcohol out for like two months before trying to get pregnant."
  — Tudor Dixon (20:45)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Dr. Shippy’s personal story — 04:09
• Introduction to gut health & fertility — 03:44, 06:16
• Access to microbiome testing — 07:05
• Epigenetics & partner health — 08:49–11:52
• Environmental toxins & everyday exposure — 13:45, 18:39
• Mechanisms of prevention & detox — 19:51, 23:47
• Practical tips for men (alcohol, sperm health) — 21:10, 22:09
• Testing for children & family-wide strategy — 26:18, 28:57
• Beyond IVF: Optimizing fertility through health — 30:45, 35:39
• The importance of lifelong, individualized health — 40:04, 41:48
• Book info and resources — 35:39, 42:43

Additional Resources

• Book: [The Preconception Revolution by Dr. Ann Shippy](Amazon.com or anywhere books are sold)
• Website: annshippymd.com
• Testing Services: Tiny Health, Jonah, Viome

This episode packs deep science, practical wisdom, and hope for families and individuals seeking to optimize health before pregnancy—empowering listeners to take prevention into their own hands long before conception.