The Dylan Gemelli Podcast

Episode #90: Featuring Dr. Ann Shippy — The ULTIMATE Guide to Fertility
Date: February 13, 2026
Host: Dylan Gemelli
Guest: Dr. Ann Shippy (Board-certified Internal Medicine Physician, Functional & Environmental Medicine Specialist)

Episode Overview

This engaging episode dives deep into the alarming decline in fertility rates, the myriad factors affecting preconception health, and actionable strategies for both men and women to maximize their fertility and optimize the health prospects for future generations. Dr. Ann Shippy, a pioneer in functional and environmental medicine and author of "The Preconception Revolution," joins Dylan Gemelli to unpack the modern challenges to fertility—from environmental toxins and processed foods to stress and lack of comprehensive medical testing.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Alarming State of Fertility & Child Health

• Shocking Stats: 1 in 31 children now diagnosed with autism; surges in autoimmunity, obesity, cancers, and diabetes among children. (03:40)
• The Preconception Window: Dr. Shippy’s clinical focus is on the 3–36 month period before conception as a critical determinant of a child’s lifelong health. (02:30)
• Personal Case Studies: Stories of women overcoming infertility through toxin reduction, microbiome repair, and inflammation control—one patient went from being told “no babies” to having four children. (04:37)

Environmental & Lifestyle Factors Sabotaging Fertility

• Toxins and Heavy Metals: High levels of aluminum, mercury, and mold are linked to infertility and health risks for babies (autoimmunity, autism, cancers, diabetes). (07:19)
  • Quote: “I do think that these heavy metals and other environmental toxins are decreasing fertility ... when we test their levels to get them down, they get more fertile.” —Dr. Shippy [07:19]
• Conventional Fertility Clinics: Rarely assess toxin exposure, autoimmunity, or functional medicine markers: “They don’t do any of that. None.” —Dr. Shippy [08:32]
• Processed Foods & Diet: Processed food and food toxins dramatically impair fertility, but dietary interventions can yield rapid results—even sperm quality can improve in just three weeks with nutrition upgrades.
  • Quote: “Just get started, start making the changes, take the time to cook and feed yourself healthy, fresh foods.” —Dr. Shippy [10:35]

Food Quality: The Cornerstone of Preconception Health

• Food as Foundation: No biohacking or advanced therapies work if built on a “foundation that isn’t solid.” Clean, optimized diets are non-negotiable. (13:09–14:20)
• Hidden Toxins: Even people who think they’re “doing everything right” may have hidden exposures (takeout containers, packaging). (09:53)
• Real-world Study: Sperm quality in men improved dramatically within weeks after switching from processed to whole foods. (10:34)

The Overlooked Impact of Stress & Mental Health

• Chronic Stress: Social media, work, and modern life increase chronic stress, leading to worsened fertility and long-term epigenetic harm to offspring. (15:07)
  • Quote: “Stress is such a driver for how fertile you are. … Even trauma can be passed on intergenerationally.” —Dr. Shippy [15:07]
• Mitigation Tools: Meditation, neurofeedback, and relationship harmony are easy and impactful interventions.
• Physiological Impact: Small behavioral changes (like 5–10 min meditation daily) have measurable effects on hormones, mitochondrial function, and even gut health. (15:07–17:10)

Medical Testing Gaps & Why Most Doctors Miss Root Causes

• Conventional Medicine’s Problems: Standard blood panels and cholesterol labs miss the vast majority of root causes—70–80% of necessary health insights are not captured. (27:39)
  • Specialty testing (toxin panels, microbiome, genetics) is essential for prevention and optimization.
  • Quote: “Most traditional blood tests … you’re only going to find things mostly when it’s too late.” —Dr. Shippy [27:39]
• Insurance Issues: Functional diagnostics are rarely covered, with Medicare a rare exception for some advanced tests. (28:48)

The Shrinking “Normal” & Decline in Male Fertility

• Testosterone Crisis: Normal testosterone levels are in decline, yet reference ranges on lab tests are simply being lowered rather than addressing the problem. (35:20)
• Synthetic Testosterone TRTs: Should be used with extreme caution; they can severely impair fertility, sometimes permanently.
  • Quote: “I really recommend not doing testosterone until after you’ve had your family.” —Dr. Shippy [37:27]
  • Clomid, hCG, and other interventions rarely restore fertility to pre-TRT levels.

Debunking Age-Related Female Fertility Myths

• Egg Quality & Age: The “aged ovary” narrative is overstated; egg health often mirrors current body environment, not just age. (32:34)
  • Study: Women in their 40s (and up to 47) can still have healthy babies if toxicity and inflammation are controlled.

The Role of Exercise & Overtraining

• Exercise Balance: Extreme overtraining (more common in fitness circles) can impair fertility in both men and women—sometimes halting menstruation or dimming male reproductive function. (40:37)

Biohacking, Nutrition, and Metabolic Flexibility

• Protein Intake: Essential for muscle retention (especially when using GLP-1s); 1g/lb is a good benchmark. >30g protein within an hour of waking boosts muscle synthesis. (52:03)
  • Quote: “You have to get good fat into your diet to have a healthy brain, to have a healthy—it's just non negotiable.” —Dr. Shippy [48:28]
• GLP-1s/Semaglutide for Weight Loss: Without a muscle-protective plan (DEXA scans, creatine, sufficient protein), patients lose dangerous amounts of lean mass.
• Creatine: Dr. Shippy and Dylan agree that creatine should be standard, not just for athletes, but anyone, especially those on GLP-1s—for muscle protection and overall health. (54:08)
• Individual Nutrition Needs: There is no universal macro split; needs change based on genetics, age, activity, healing status, and individual glucose response (measured via CGMs). (47:07)

Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM)

• Personalized Nutrition: Blood sugar responses to foods are highly individual—CGMs allow real-time feedback and optimization.
  • Tools like Freestyle Libre and Stello popular with both host and guest for n=1 experiments. (45:27)
  • Walking or moving after meals is powerfully effective for glycemic control. (43:52)
  • Quote: “If I just move my body for even 10 or 15 minutes after eating, my blood sugar was so soft almost regardless of what I ate.” —Dr. Shippy [43:52]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The sperm and egg are like time capsules for the baby … it really is this place so we can pass on the best information on the operating instructions.” —Dr. Shippy [09:15]
• “Processed foods, high stress levels, et cetera … just because you’re not using drugs or alcohol, you could still be carrying so many toxins and not even know it.” —Dylan Gemelli [09:33]
• “Stress is such a driver for how fertile you are … even drama, intergenerational effects can be passed on.” —Dr. Shippy [15:07]
• “We’ve done America a disservice by doing a low fat diet.” —Dr. Shippy [48:27]
• “You can’t go wrong with super high quality protein and the best plants you can find, wherever you live.” —Dr. Shippy [47:12]
• “To just replace [testosterone] doesn’t make sense. We have to get to the root of why the body isn’t performing.” —Dr. Shippy [36:54]
• “My oldest patient is 47 right now ... they did the work ... and got pregnant with one try.” —Dr. Shippy [34:12]
• “Most traditional blood tests … you’re only going to find things mostly when it’s too late.” —Dr. Shippy [27:39]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:40] – Alarming childhood health trends and Dr. Shippy’s origin story in fertility medicine
• [07:19] – Environmental toxins’ direct impact on fertility and “hidden” contributors
• [09:53] – Even clean eaters have hidden toxins; importance of food preparation
• [10:34] – Men: Processed food’s rapid impact on sperm; 3-week dietary turnaround study
• [13:09] – Why food is the foundation for all biohacking and health
• [15:07] – The inescapable effect of stress on gene expression and fertility
• [27:39] – Mainstream testing misses 70–80% of what matters for preventive health
• [32:34] – Sperm counts have dropped 50%+ in 50 years and are now rapidly declining
• [34:12] – Success story: 47-year-old patient conceives naturally after detox
• [35:20] – Testosterone reference ranges are shrinking; environmental/lifestyle causes
• [37:27] – Why synthetic testosterone should be avoided pre-family
• [43:52] – Walking/biking after meals: simple blood sugar optimization
• [48:27] – Dietary macronutrients: No “one answer”—personalized, seasonal, and adaptable
• [52:03] – Protein for muscle maintenance, especially during weight loss
• [54:08] – Creatine: Essential for muscle health at every age, especially on GLP-1s
• [60:12] – Book details & purpose: “The Preconception Revolution” out now
• [62:06] – Dr. Shippy’s inspiration: Preventing preventable childhood illnesses

Final Thoughts and Resources

• “Preconception Revolution” Book: Now available on Amazon. A comprehensive, evidence-driven manual on preparing the body (and mind) for conception and promoting lifelong child health.
• Takeaway Message: Proactive, personalized optimization—diet, toxin avoidance, stress regulation, advanced testing—empowers people to control not only their fertility but their family’s multi-generational health.
• Where to Follow and Learn More:
  • Dr. Shippy’s website: annshippymd.com
  • Instagram: @annshippymd
  • New site for parents: everybabywell.com

Dr. Shippy reminds listeners that “It’s time to help people tap into this period that really will give them the best shot at being fertile”—and with the tools and testing now available, the future of healthy families is within reach.