Fertility dietitian
Give your body the best possible start before you conceive
Trying to conceive can feel like everyone has an opinion and none of it is aimed at you. A fertility dietitian turns the noise into a plan you can actually follow.
Medicare, NDIS, DVA and private health funds accepted.
Understanding Fertility dietitian
A fertility dietitian helps you use food and nutrition to support conception, whether you are just starting to try or you are already in an IVF cycle. Your dietitian reviews your eating patterns, blood results, menstrual cycle history, sperm health and medical background, then builds a plan around them.
Nutrition does not address every cause of infertility. It can improve the things that matter most in the lead-up: nutrient stores, blood glucose control, inflammation, body composition and sperm quality. These are among the few fertility factors you can change yourself.
Who does it affect?
anyone trying to conceive, including men, and anyone preparing for IVF or IUI.
How common is it?
around one in six Australian couples have difficulty conceiving [CONFIRM: statistic and source].
What is the recovery like?
nutrition changes often need about three-six months to influence egg and sperm development.
Who should I see for treatment?
an Accredited Practising Dietitian, working with your GP or fertility specialist.
What funding options are available?
Medicare, NDIS, DVA and private health funds accepted.
What is a fertility dietitian?
A fertility dietitian is an allied health professional who works with people trying to conceive. The focus is preconception health: the three to six months before pregnancy, when body composition changes can occur, eggs mature and sperm are produced.
Fertility nutrition is not a single diet. Your dietitian looks for the specific gaps and patterns in your situation, then changes the ones that carry the most weight.
Common factors your dietitian will look at:
Nutrient stores, including iron, folate, iodine, vitamin B12 and vitamin D
Blood glucose and insulin patterns, which influence ovulation
Body composition, and rapid weight gain or loss in either direction
Alcohol, caffeine and smoking intake for both partners
Restrictive eating, skipped meals or a history of disordered eating
Sperm health factors, including diet quality, heat exposure and supplements
Symptoms of Fertility dietitian
Fertility issues are often silent. These signs suggest nutrition is worth reviewing:
Cycles that are irregular, very short, very long or absent
Twelve months of trying to conceive without a pregnancy, or six months if you are over 35 years old
Fatigue, hair loss or breathlessness, which can point to low iron
Weight that has shifted quickly, in either direction
A semen analysis with low count, motility or morphology
Eating that feels restrictive, chaotic or heavily rule-based
Your plan comes out of the assessment, not out of a template. Options your dietitian may use include:
What to expect at your first appointment
Tell us what is going on
How long you have been trying, your cycle history, any diagnoses, previous cycles and what you have already changed.
A full assessment
Your dietitian reviews your usual intake, recent blood results, medications and supplements, and measurements if they are relevant.
A clear plan
You leave with specific changes, priorities in order, and an honest view of what nutrition can and cannot influence.
Review and adjust
Follow-up appointments track your progress, adapt around treatment cycles and keep the plan realistic.
When to book an appointment
You have been trying to conceive for six months or more without success
Your menstrual cycles are irregular or absent, or a semen analysis has come back abnormal
You have changed your diet on your own and nothing has shifted
You are unsure which supplements you actually need before pregnancy
Book an assessment if:
Looking after yourself at home
Small, consistent habits do more than short bursts of perfection.
Nutrient stores, including iron, folate, iodine, vitamin B12 and vitamin D
Blood glucose and insulin patterns, which influence ovulation
Body composition, and rapid weight gain or loss in either direction
Alcohol, caffeine and smoking intake for both partners
Restrictive eating, skipped meals or a history of disordered eating
Sperm health factors, including diet quality, heat exposure and supplements
Meet the team who treat this
Behind every appointment is a team of practitioners who know each other, trust each other and work together for you. Across seven clinics and nine disciplines, our team shares expertise, coordinates treatment plans and celebrates your progress together.
Aimee Fuller
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Alicia Whiticker
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Amanda Banks
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Amanda Duggan
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Amy Meekings
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Anita Beerapu
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Benjamin Tucker
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Blake Cossar
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Bronte Tupper
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Chris Farrugia
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Corrina Aitken
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
David Logue
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Dean Gresser
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Emma Nassif
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Esha Sharma
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Fatima Hussaini
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Felicity Spencer-Davey
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Frankie Raikadroka
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Hannah Norrie
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Heather Edwards
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Isaac Vella
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Jarrah Nesbitt
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Jonathan Lopez
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Justin Hanna
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Kasey Collins
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Katrina Gauci
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Kennedy Touet
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Kristy Edwards
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Kyle Perry
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Lorna Nicastri
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Maja Bosic
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Marxy Koronel
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Matt Barton
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Michael Todd
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Mr Jeffery Jenkins FACPS
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Nathan Cavanagh
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Patrick Celeban
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Praise Khin
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Sarah Bonnici
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Shannon Smith
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Siobhan Kelly
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Taleisha Bozzi
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Trystan Singh
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Uty Kotwal
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Yoni Hochberg
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Zak Lloyd
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
EPC, DVA, NDIS and WorkCover welcome
Nearly half of our appointments are funded through Medicare, DVA, NDIS or WorkCover. We manage the paperwork so you can focus on your health.
NDIS
We support eligible NDIS participants across podiatry, physiotherapy, exercise physiology, dietetics and psychology, depending on your plan and goals. Eligibility and funding are set by your plan.
Medicare
Medicare may rebate podiatry, physiotherapy, exercise physiology and dietetics sessions when your GP refers you under an Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) or Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plan, and psychology sessions under a Mental Health Care Plan. The number of sessions is set by your plan.
DVA
Gold and White card holders can access DVA-funded care across our services with a valid referral.
WorkCover
If you have been injured at work, we accept WorkCover referrals for physiotherapy, exercise physiology and psychology, and manage the paperwork with your insurer, with a clear return-to-work plan.
Seven clinics across three regions
Find a clinic near you. Each location is staffed by local practitioners who know your community.
Penrith
Western SydneyOur largest centre, with our full range of services under one roof.
Ropes Crossing
Western SydneyPodiatry, at Ropes Crossing Village.
Blaxland
Blue MountainsPodiatry, physiotherapy, exercise physiology and group classes.
Springwood
Blue MountainsPodiatry, dietetics and a boutique footwear store.
Katoomba
Blue MountainsPodiatry, physiotherapy and dietetics, in a restored 1914 cottage.
Ryde
North ShorePodiatry, physiotherapy, dietetics and exercise physiology, with a footwear store and gait analysis.
Lindfield
North ShorePodiatry, with mobile podiatry across the North Shore and Northern Beaches.
Ready to prepare your body for pregnancy?
Book with a fertility dietitian and start the three months that count.
Frequently asked questions
When should I start seeing a fertility dietitian?
Ideally three to six months before you start trying. Eggs take roughly 90 days to mature and sperm production runs on a similar cycle, so changes made now show up in the eggs and sperm you use later. If you are already trying, or already in treatment, starting late is still better than not starting. Your dietitian will prioritise the changes with the fastest effect.
Should my partner come too?
Yes, and it is worth booking them in. Appointments can be booked together or separately. Male factors contribute to a significant share of infertility, and sperm quality responds to diet, alcohol intake and weight over a two to three month window. Bringing a recent semen analysis gives your dietitian something concrete to work from.
What supplements do I actually need before pregnancy?
Australian guidance recommends at least 400 micrograms of folic acid daily for a month before conception, plus 150 micrograms of iodine. Beyond that, it depends on your blood results. See your GP first before starting a supplement. Many prenatal products stack ingredients you do not need and skimp on ones you do. Your dietitian will check dosages against your results rather than the label claims.
Do I need to give up coffee and alcohol completely?
Not necessarily coffee. Most guidance supports keeping caffeine under about 200 milligrams a day, roughly two standard coffees, while trying to conceive. Alcohol is different: national guidance advises no alcohol for women trying to become pregnant, and reduced intake for men, because it can affect sperm quality. Your dietitian can help you find realistic swaps rather than blanket rules.
Can you support me during an IVF cycle?
Yes. Nutrition support during IVF focuses on steady blood glucose, adequate protein and iron, and managing side effects like bloating, nausea and constipation from stimulation medications. Your dietitian can also help you eat normally through a stressful process, which is harder than it sounds. Appointments are timed around your cycle, and your plan can be shared with your fertility clinic.
Does my weight have to be in a certain range before I try?
No, there is no threshold you must hit before trying. Weight sits at either end of the scale can affect ovulation and treatment response, so it may be worth addressing. Even modest, gradual change can help restore menstrual cycles. Rapid weight loss is counterproductive, because it can reduce nutrient stores at exactly the point you need them highest.