Detoxification is essential for many health conditions, including pre-conception, as well as for autoimmunity, abnormal pap smears, as well as digestive and skin issues. I’ve been helping patients to detoxify successfully for over 25 years, and too often observe people following detox programs that are inadequate or make them feel worse.

That is why this episode is so important, whether you are working on fertility, or any other health issue. That’s why I invited Deidre Bloomquist to this week’s show. She is a Functional Nutritionist and an expert in toxicity, specifically how toxins impact fertility. She is the owner of Always Growing Wellness, which is a virtual holistic nutrition practice, and she is also the author of the bestselling and award-winning book, Toxic Infertility: Detoxification Solutions to Improve Natural Fertility, which talks about detox solutions to improve natural fertility.

Toxicity is often overlooked in conventional medicine. We’re all being exposed to toxins that we may not even realize we’re encountering, and these toxins can have a huge impact on our health, particularly our reproductive health. Toxins can affect fertility in both men and women, affecting everything from egg quality to sperm quality, and even contributing to pregnancy complications and miscarriages.

When people think about doing a detox, there’s often confusion about which approach to take. Many detox programs available today are just the latest trend rather than science-based protocols. The key is understanding how to choose an effective detox that won’t make you feel worse in the process, and recognizing the huge impact that proper detoxification can have on your overall health and fertility.

Deidre’s journey into understanding toxicity began when he son experience health issues. When he was born, she had done a lot of work to make sure his gut health was in a good spot. She knew how important gut health was and wanted to set him up with the best possible start for life. She felt like she had done all the right things – she hadn’t needed antibiotics for years, he was born at home, and he was breastfed.

When he was about nine months old, he started developing eczema on his chest, and it very quickly turned into a full body, very angry eczema. The conventional approach offered steroid cream and the hope that he might grow out of it. But there had to be more. When stool testing revealed huge imbalances in gut health, an overgrowth of bacteria, and parasites. It was shocking because all the right steps had been taken.

This led to toxin testing on both mother and child, which revealed that the baby had actually inherited a lot of the toxins that Deidre had been exposed to over the course of her life. These included mercury from amalgam fillings that had been present before pregnancy and mold exposure from previous living situations. The child had a huge toxin burden that was causing pathogen overgrowth in his body. When these were addressed, within just one month, the eczema completely went away and has never returned.

What’s particularly concerning is that toxins can be passed from mother to child. During pregnancy, the placenta doesn’t filter out all toxins, which means that accumulated toxins in the mother’s body can be transferred to the developing baby. This inheritance of toxin burden can set children up for health challenges from birth, making it crucial to address toxicity before conception when possible.

Understanding Mold Toxicity and Its Effects on Health

Mold toxicity is one of the most common yet overlooked factors affecting fertility. Many people assume that if there’s no mold in their current home, mold can’t possibly be impacting their health. However, mold exposure often comes from past living situations, and the effects can persist long after the exposure has ended.

One of the most important things to understand about mold is that people often feel like if there’s no mold in their current home and that mold can’t possibly be impacting them. But mold does something called colonization. Mold is a fungus that produces spores, which we inhale into our bodies. These spores can then colonize and live inside our body in places like the sinuses and gut tract. Once established, they produce mycotoxins, which are poisonous substances that make us sick.

Essentially, when we live in a moldy building, the mold starts to colonize our body, and we become the moldy building, producing mycotoxins from the inside out. When mycotoxins show up in urine testing, it tells us that these toxins are being excreted from the body. The question then becomes whether this represents current exposure or past exposure.

Often, women who have mold toxicity had a lot of hormonal symptoms when they were teenagers. They may have experienced heavy, painful periods, and nobody really asked why that was happening in the first place. Some may have lived in dormitories that had mold and started experiencing symptoms, but never really connected the dots until they reached a point where they were having trouble conceiving.

Mold toxicity is particularly problematic because it’s immunotoxic. For some people, it suppresses their immune system, while for others, it causes the immune system to become overactive, leading to inappropriate immune responses. This can result in conditions like mast cell activation syndrome and histamine reactions.

When someone conceives, their body needs to mount an appropriate pro-inflammatory response in the first trimester. If the immune system is either too suppressed or too activated due to mold toxicity, this can lead to pregnancy complications or miscarriage. The good news is that we now have specialized urine testing available that can detect mold toxins. This testing costs around $500, which is a worthwhile investment considering the potential impact on fertility and overall health.

Heavy Metal Exposure and Fertility

Heavy metals represent another significant category of toxins that can impact fertility. One of the most common sources comes from amalgam dental fillings, which can leach mercury and other heavy metals into the body over time. However, there are many other sources that people may not be aware of.

Drinking tap water is one of the biggest ways people are exposed to heavy metals without realizing it. Depending on where you live, tap water can be contaminated with various metals, chemicals, and other substances. Many people think about mercury exposure primarily coming from fish like tuna, but it’s often not the biggest factor in overall heavy metal accumulation.

The key factor in heavy metal toxicity isn’t just exposure, but whether your body has the capacity to detox these substances effectively. Everyone comes into contact with heavy metals at some point, but they don’t affect everyone the same way. As long as our detoxification systems are working well, our bodies can clear these toxins without them impacting our immune system, liver, thyroid, or other vital organs.

This explains why some people can be exposed to the same environmental toxins as others but not experience any symptoms. It’s not that the exposure isn’t happening; it’s that their detoxification systems are functioning better. Sometimes people think that if they feel okay, or if another person in the household doesn’t have any effects, then it can’t be a problem. We are so individualized in terms of how we detoxify, and that plays a huge role in how much of an impact these toxins may be having on our health.

Heavy metals can significantly impact both male and female fertility. In men, heavy metals can affect sperm quality, including motility and morphology. Poor sperm quality doesn’t just affect conception rates; it also influences pregnancy health. Women who experience severe nausea, food aversions, increased miscarriage risk, and complications like preeclampsia often have partners with compromised sperm quality due to toxin exposure.

The Immune System Connection to Fertility

Understanding the relationship between toxins and immune function is crucial for addressing fertility issues. The immune system plays a vital role in conception, pregnancy maintenance, and overall reproductive health. When toxins burden the immune system, it can lead to various complications that affect fertility.

One of the most common autoimmune conditions we see from a fertility perspective is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, especially because it creates an increased risk of miscarriage. Rather than thinking that the immune system is making a mistake and attacking the thyroid, we should understand that the immune system is doing the best it can with the resources available. The real question is: what is making the immune system so upset in the first place?

In the case of the thyroid, oftentimes the antibodies being produced are the immune system trying to clear something from the thyroid and take that burden off of the organ. If we can figure out what’s actually happening to the immune system by looking at gut health and toxin burden and removing those underlying causes, we can create a more appropriate immune response.

We know that the majority of the immune system resides in the gut tract. If there’s an imbalance between beneficial bacteria and pathogens in the gut that contributes to leaky gut, people are more likely to have food sensitivities or even develop food allergies. When we can reduce this gut dysfunction, people become less reactive to foods, their gut health improves, and the immune system can respond properly.

It’s not uncommon to see autoimmune conditions go into remission where they’re no longer showing up on testing because the immune system is no longer on high alert. This happens when we take care of what was actually impacting the person’s unique immune system in the first place. From a functional medicine perspective, we can use suppressive therapies as needed, but we also want to figure out why the immune system is reacting inappropriately and address those root causes.

When we take the burden off the immune system, it becomes better able to keep chronic infections like Epstein-Barr virus or HPV in dormancy and manage them without causing symptoms. The goal isn’t to achieve zero toxin exposure, which would be impossible, but to support the body’s natural detoxification systems when they become overburdened.

Comprehensive Toxin Testing and Assessment

Modern toxin testing has expanded beyond just mold and heavy metals. We now have urine testing available for various categories of toxins, including plastics, solvents, and glyphosate. This comprehensive approach allows for a more complete picture of an individual’s toxin burden.

BPA is actually one of the top toxins that impact fertility. We know that it can contribute to increased risk of miscarriage, and it’s common to see it in women who have experienced miscarriage, whether through natural conception or IVF. BPA is essentially an endocrine disruptor, which means it changes the way that hormones function. Even if hormone levels appear normal on standard testing, BPA exposure can interfere with hormone function at the cellular level.

We can also look for phthalates and parabens, which are commonly found in personal care products and plastics. Pesticide exposure is another huge concern, especially for men. We know about chemicals like atrazine and the way that it changes the production of testosterone and estrogen in men. These chemicals often have opposite effects in women compared to men.

The key to effective toxin assessment is looking deeper when standard testing doesn’t provide answers. If someone feels that something is affecting their health, even when everything looks normal on conventional tests, toxin testing can often provide the missing piece of the puzzle. This is especially important for couples who are struggling to grow their family despite having normal-appearing hormone panels and other standard fertility tests.

There’s often a strong connection between toxin exposure and conditions like endometriosis. Deidre sees a lot of mold with endometriosis. Often when we look back at women who start their cycles with very heavy and painful periods, we find that they lived in homes where there was mold exposure during childhood. These types of early exposures can change the way that tissue grows and create the inflammatory immune response that characterizes endometriosis.

Practical Steps for Reducing Toxin Exposure

While comprehensive toxin testing and professional detox protocols are important, there are practical steps everyone can take to reduce their daily toxin exposure. These changes focus on three main pillars: water, air quality, and food sources.

Water quality is fundamental because we use water for drinking, cooking, and daily activities. Deidre tries to get everybody off of tap water in her practice – she calls it “infertility water.” Tap water can be contaminated with heavy metals, pesticides from agricultural runoff, and radioactive substances. For example, in Texas, 70% of the water is contaminated with radium. Tap water also doesn’t get purified from pharmaceutical drugs, so people can be exposed to NSAIDs, antidepressants, birth control medications, and Plan B through their water supply.

The solution is switching to reverse osmosis or distillation systems for drinking and cooking water. However, you need to add minerals back into purified water to prevent dehydration and mineral depletion.

The second pillar is air quality in the home. Especially since 2020, many people work from home and spend much more time at home, meaning air quality is crucial. Research shows that air pollution in homes is often worse than outdoor polluted air. Many homes have some level of mold, and mycotoxins are so small that they go directly into our bloodstream via the lungs without being filtered. Fortunately, we now have air purification systems that can remove mycotoxins and mold spores from the air.

The third pillar is food sources. This involves eating organic foods as much as possible to reduce consumption of pesticides and herbicides. Getting to know local farmers and understanding how animals are raised and what they’re fed provides additional protection against hidden toxin sources.

By focusing on these big three areas – water, air, and food – you can reduce toxin burden significantly. From there, people can address personal care items and cleaning products, or approach it gradually, replacing items with non-toxic alternatives as they run out of current products.

Safe and Effective Detoxification Protocols

Effective detoxification requires a strategic, individualized approach rather than a one-size-fits-all protocol. As Deidre explains, detoxification looks different for everybody depending on the type of toxins present and the individual’s capacity to handle detoxification.

Everything that’s recommended should be food-based, lifestyle-based, and supplement-based. When using herbs and nutrients, we get to work with the way that the body knows how to function and support it naturally. When we can remove things that don’t belong in the body, we can allow everything to rebalance. This can be very seamless when using herbs and nutrients along with food as medicine.

The first step is always assessing which detoxification pathways have been impaired and supporting those systems before beginning active toxin removal. Since toxin testing often uses urine samples, the kidneys typically need support. The liver and bowel elimination are also crucial, as regular bowel movements are essential for toxin elimination. It’s common for people with mold toxicity to have really stubborn constipation because mold changes the digestive system.

A lot of people are familiar with heavy metals, and one of the most common things seen is people deciding to just take a heavy metal binder like zeolite. However, it can be really dangerous to jump into something like that without proper preparation. What we know about different toxins like mycotoxins and heavy metals is that they’re not all bound by the same substances. It’s very important to have the data to know what your body is dealing with.

Not all binders work for all toxins. You have to use the right binder for the right toxin in the right person’s body. What often happens if you jump into a binder without proper preparation is that you can feel much worse while using it. You could be moving toxins that your body has worked hard to keep sequestered in certain tissues to keep you safe.

The approach might not mean dealing with mycotoxins and heavy metals at the same time. Maybe the protocol involves addressing one type of toxin at a time based on what testing shows and what the body can tolerate. Most couples working through detoxification need four to six months to complete the process safely. While this can feel long, especially when you want to conceive, it requires patience to work through things strategically.

Warning Signs and Safe Practices During Detoxification

Recognizing warning signs during detoxification is crucial for maintaining safety and effectiveness. Any significant worsening of existing symptoms or development of new symptoms indicates that the detoxification process is moving too quickly and needs to be modified.

Red flags include any big changes in symptoms or worsening of symptoms someone already has. This includes severe constipation, severe headaches, debilitating fatigue, changes in sleep, and changes in mood, particularly increased irritability and anger. Changes in menstrual cycles can also be a warning sign – if someone sees big changes in the length or heaviness of their cycle, that can indicate the process is going too quickly. Even changes in skin, like acne or flares of conditions like psoriasis or eczema, can be responses to detoxification moving too fast.

The approach should be designed so that things are smooth and manageable. If things do get worse, you can slow down but also support detoxification more effectively. This might mean increasing sauna use, using coffee enemas more frequently, or increasing antioxidants in the diet. Making sure that adequate hydration is maintained is absolutely critical because all detoxification depends on proper hydration.

The body will provide clear communication about whether the process is proceeding at an appropriate pace, as long as we’re open to receiving that communication. When it comes to toxins, we have this natural inclination to push through discomfort, but when it comes to toxin removal, it’s a much more delicate process because of how dangerous toxins can be when they’re circulating in the body.

The methylation system, which depends heavily on B vitamins, plays a crucial role in detoxification capacity. People with MTHFR gene variations may have impaired methylation, which affects their ability to process toxins effectively. This can be assessed through blood markers like homocysteine levels and addressed through appropriate supplementation with active forms of B vitamins.

Many people think that prenatal vitamins are something you take when you are pregnant, but they need to be started during the preconception period. If you are planning on getting pregnant in the next year, you could start taking a prenatal vitamin (or multivitamin) now. Prenatal vitamins are really for the mother to make sure that she doesn’t become deficient, because babies will take what they need from our bodies if we have the resources available.

One of the main differences between a prenatal vitamin and a regular multivitamin is iron content. We want those essential nutrients either in a prenatal or a multivitamin before, during, and after pregnancy because this provides the foundation that everything else builds upon.

Supporting Detoxification Through Lifestyle

Beyond supplements and dietary changes, there are several lifestyle interventions that can significantly support the body’s natural detoxification processes. One of the most effective approaches is using sauna therapy, which can be particularly beneficial for eliminating mycotoxins and heavy metals through sweating. We don’t use sauna therapy during pregnancy, to be clear. 

Deidre loves sauna therapy because she sees a lot of mycotoxin illness and heavy metals, and sweating through sauna therapy is huge for this. Many people invest in at-home saunas, whether that’s a traditional heat or steam sauna or infrared therapy to get deeper into the skin. We know that these types of toxins can be eliminated via the skin, and we have to be sweating regularly.

This brings up an important point about sweating, particularly for women. So many antiperspirants are marketed toward never getting sweaty, and growing up, many women feel like sweating isn’t normal. But what people don’t realize about antiperspirants is that they contain aluminum, and aluminum is what prevents sweating. So we’re not only decreasing our detoxification but also increasing our toxic load at the same time.

Instead, we should normalize healthy sweating and understand that moving your body and getting sweaty is normal and very healthy. It’s one of the ways that our body naturally detoxifies and keeps us safe. Sometimes it requires more stimulation – doing saunas, or if you don’t have access to a sauna, taking Epsom salt baths, taking hot showers, moving your body, and getting outside when it’s warm can all help stimulate sweating.

Regular bowel movements are absolutely critical for proper detoxification. If someone is not having bowel movements at least once or twice a day, toxins are sitting in the system and can be recirculated back into the body. Many women have struggled with constipation their whole lives and don’t realize this isn’t normal. Proper elimination is truly critical for so many different processes, and there are ways to help support this.

We also need to drink enough water, but we want to make sure it’s filtered water. All detoxification processes require adequate water to function properly, and during detoxification protocols, water needs often increase significantly.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Understanding toxicity and its impact on fertility opens up new possibilities for couples struggling to conceive. As Deidre has shown through her work and research, toxins that we’ve been exposed to throughout our lives can accumulate in our bodies and create significant barriers to fertility. The good news is that once we identify these toxins through proper testing, we can address them safely and effectively.

The journey to addressing toxicity starts with awareness. Many people don’t realize that their fertility struggles might be connected to mold exposure from a college dorm room years ago, mercury from old dental fillings, or daily exposure to toxins in their water, air, and food. By understanding these connections, couples can take control of their fertility journey in a new way.

Testing is a crucial first step. Rather than guessing about what might be affecting your health, specific urine tests can identify exactly which toxins are present in your body. While these tests aren’t typically available through conventional medical practices, working with a functional practitioner who understands toxin assessment can provide the answers you need.

The investment in this process is absolutely worth it. When someone is dealing with fertility challenges, gut issues, and toxin exposure all at the same time, it can feel overwhelming. But by the time someone works through the process of healing their gut, rebalancing their microbiome, and safely removing toxins, they’re much more likely to get pregnant quickly and prevent miscarriage. The immune system becomes able to protect against viruses more effectively, and this investment in health makes a difference not only for current health but also for their baby’s future health.

If you’re ready to take the next step in understanding how toxins might be affecting your fertility, start with the three pillars of toxin reduction: improving your water quality, addressing air quality in your home, and choosing cleaner food sources. These changes alone can make a significant difference in your overall toxin burden.

For those who want to go deeper, consider working with a practitioner who can guide you through proper testing and create an individualized detoxification protocol. I, Dr. Doni, offer testing for mold, metal and environment toxins through my office, and have helped thousands of patients to safely and effectively detoxify. Remember that this process takes time – typically four to six months – but the results can be life-changing for your fertility and overall health. 

If you would like to learn more about Deidre and how she can help you make sure to visit the Always Growing Wellness website here. You can also find her on Instagram @reversing_infertility and Facebook @Always Growing Wellness.

Deidre’s book “Toxic Infertility: Detoxification Solutions to Improve Natural Fertility” provides additional detailed information about toxins and how they impact fertility, as well as practical guidance for making changes in your personal life. Her new guide also goes through the different systems that impact fertility, including gut health, thyroid, liver, and mitochondria, so you can screen yourself for dysfunction in these areas.

If you are looking to do a cleanse or you feel like you would like to detoxify your body to improve your overall health and wellness I definitely encourage you to check out my New 14-Day Detox Program. This program includes two protein shakes per day with 18 grams of protein, and two meals per day with a meal plan that I created based on making sure you get at least 20 grams of protein in each meal. 

Register Now

It also includes antioxidants, and videos from me to teach you to use mindfulness, as well as to replace toxins in your food and home. In this way, you can reset your diet, lifestyle and cell health all carrying on with your daily activities and routine.

As a Naturopathic Doctor, Midwife, midwife and women’s health expert, I have also been helping women with fertility, pregnancy and to prevent a miscarriage for over 25 years. I am available to provide one-on-one support, I offer consultations via Zoom or phone from anywhere in the world. 

You don’t have to figure it out on your own. My team and I are here to help guide you step by step on your fertility journey. As discussed in the episode, my approach is to look at you as a whole person – mind, body and spirit – and to identify imbalances that we can address which can then allow your body to be more able to conceive a pregnancy. 

I have developed a miscarriage prevention protocol which allows me to address MTHFR and methylation issues, as well as progesterone, and other common causes of miscarriage, and to then support women through early pregnancy. 

If you’re struggling with fertility and/or have had a miscarriage and want help to prevent another one, I welcome you to reach out through my website doctordoni.com. 

You can schedule to become a new patient so we can talk through what you’re experiencing and help you know your next steps. Please know that if you’re struggling and frustrated and hoping there’s another way, there is, and I’m happy to share that with you and help you find that path to transform your health and your future.

Thank you all for joining me for this fascinating discussion with Deidre. Remember, your body knows how to heal – it just needs the right tools and support to do so. By addressing toxin burden and supporting your body’s natural detoxification systems, you’re not just improving your chances of conception, you’re setting the foundation for a healthy pregnancy and giving your future children the best possible start in life.

If you found this information helpful, please make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes of How Humans Heal. 

We’re here to help you!

Disclaimer: This specific article and all other Content, Products, and Services of this Website are NOT intended as, and must not be understood or construed as, medical care or advice, naturopathic medical care or advice, the practice of medicine, or the practice of counseling care, nor can it be understood or construed as providing any form of medical diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of any disease.