About this episode

This episode discusses essential fertility preparation steps before trying to conceive, including comprehensive blood tests and health tracking.

Fertility preparation begins months, sometimes years, before you start trying to conceive. Knowing what to look for, and when, could change the entire shape of your conception journey. If you've ever wondered whether your body is actually ready for pregnancy, or whether there's something your results aren't telling you, this conversation will change how you think about your health. In this episode, Dr Renee White sits down with Megan Haralampou, degree-qualified Naturopath, Nutritionist, and Biomedical Science graduate, to unpack what a truly comprehensive pre-conception blood panel looks like and why the standard tests often aren't enough. Together they explore iron absorption, thyroid antibodies, cycle tracking, postpartum blood work, and how to read your results through an optimal lens. This is episode one of our six-part Trying to Conceive series. You'll Hear About: Why "normal" blood results can miss a fertility concern What a complete iron picture actually looks like How to track your cycle beyond a period tracking app When to get blood tests done after having a baby What postpartum thyroiditis has to do with depression Understanding your body before pregnancy, and after…

People in this episode

Host: Dr Renee White

Guest: Megan Haralampou

Topics covered

• fertility preparation
• pre-conception health
• blood tests
• cycle tracking
• postpartum health
• thyroid health

Keywords

• fertility
• pre-conception
• blood panel
• iron absorption
• thyroid antibodies
• cycle tracking
• postpartum blood work

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Naturopath, Nutritionist, Biomedical Science

More episodes of The Science of Motherhood

• Ep 229. Does Stress Affect Fertility? The Science Behind Your Hormones · June 1, 2026 · 23 min
• Ep 228. What Should You Actually Do Before Trying to Conceive? · May 25, 2026 · 50 min
• Ep 226. Why Hyperemesis Gravidarum Is Genetic, Not Psychological · May 11, 2026 · 20 min

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