What Does a Fertility Dietitian Do?
If you’re trying to conceive, chances are you’ve Googled your way through countless nutrition tips, fertility supplements, and contradictory food rules.
It’s confusing.
Overwhelming.
And often, not personalised to your body or your unique journey.
At The Dietologist, we are a team of certified and experienced fertility dietitians who specialise in science-backed nutrition for fertility, helping individuals and couples improve their reproductive health through food and lifestyle changes that lighten the mental load.
So, what does a fertility dietitian actually do?
Why We Exist: The Dietologist Story
The Dietologist was founded in 2018 to bridge a long‑standing gap in fertility and reproductive care by providing accessible, evidence‑based nutrition guidance that empowers people to support their fertility, pregnancy and future family health.
Our founder, Stefanie Valakas started in paediatric nutrition, where she saw firsthand how many childhood health challenges could be traced back to significant gaps in preconception nutrition.
This sparked the question:
Why aren’t we stepping in sooner, before pregnancy even begins?
Research shows that diet and lifestyle changes can improve fertility by up to 69%, and can significantly impact your future child’s health.
So in 2018, Stef launched one of Australia’s first online clinics dedicated to fertility & reproductive health nutrition, supporting individuals and couples to get pregnant, stay pregnant and have a healthy baby – on their terms.
Since then, The Dietologist team have helped over 1,500 people on their fertility journeys, and reached thousands more through our Fertility Friendly Food podcast, blog and Instagram community.
Want more guidance on what to eat while going through IVF?
Get our FREE IVF Essentials Audio Guide from our founder, Stefanie Valakas APD, award-winning fertility dietitian & nutritionist stepping you through the nutrition changes from egg collection, sperm health to implantation & the two week wait. Access the audio guide here.
So, What Does a Fertility Dietitian Do?
Let’s break down how we support you in real, practical ways.
1. Correct Nutritional Deficiencies for Fertility
Before trying to conceive, it’s essential to check for key nutrient levels like:
- Iron
- Folate
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin D
- Zinc
These nutrients are foundational for ovulation, egg and sperm quality, hormone balance, and early pregnancy development.
In our first session together, we will review your blood work and dietary intake to identify gaps & then help you to correct them through food and/or evidence-based fertility supplements.
2. Support Egg Quality and Sperm Health
You can’t increase the number of eggs you have, but you can protect egg quality. And you can definitely improve sperm quality too!
We focus on:
- Antioxidant-rich & anti-inflammatory foods to protect reproductive cells in the 90+ day runway to conception
- Key micronutrients for egg and sperm development (think zinc, selenium, omega-3s and more)
All tailored to you: your goals, lifestyle and unique preferences.
More here: What to eat to improve your egg health
4. Design a Personalised Prenatal Supplement Plan
There’s no one-size-fits-all prenatal supplement
In our Express Prenatal Supplement Consult, we assess:
- Blood work
- Diet
- Medical history
- Medications
- Current Supplements
- Body size
- Dietary restrictions & preferences
- Fertility treatment plans (if applicable)
You’ll walk away with a clear, targeted supplement strategy with the exact brands, dose, timing and where to shop from that actually makes sense for you and your future baby.
5. Provide Nutrition Support for Fertility-Related Conditions
Many people come to us navigating complex medical challenges that impact fertility. That’s where our clinical expertise as fertility dietitians truly shines.
We support people with:
Endometriosis & Adenomyosis
Managing pain, gut symptoms, inflammation, and supporting conception whether you’re trying unassisted or preparing for fertility treatments.
PCOS & Insulin Resistance
Improving cycle regularity, ovulation, and reducing hormonal symptoms like acne, excess hair growth and hair loss.
Thyroid Conditions
Including hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s, hyperthyroidism and Graves’ disease – nutritional status of key nutrients like iodine, vitamin D and selenium are all critical to manage with thyroid disease which can significantly impact menstrual cyclicity.
Weight-related Fertility Challenges
Helping you safely reach your optimal fertility weight, whether you are looking at weight loss or weight gain, your body fat levels can directly impact your ability to ovulate regularly
Egg Freezing Support
Nutrition strategies before and after egg retrieval to help you freeze your best chances for your future self.
Fertility Treatment Nutrition
Including support for ovulation induction, IUI, IVF, reciprocal IVF, and surrogacy – we tailor our strategies to your next step (and the one after that) pivoting based on whether we are targeting an egg retrieval, sperm health or transfer preparations to support implantation with the latest scientific nutrition strategies.
Pregnancy Nutrition
Navigating trimester-specific needs, food safety, nausea, constipation, reflux and maximising baby’s cognitive development. And managing gestational diabetes, if it arises.
Read more: How Much Can a Pregnancy Dietitian Impact Your Birth Outcomes?
6. Include Your Partner in the Process
Making a baby is a shared journey. We work with all partners-whether it’s optimising sperm quality to support fertilisation, supporting your female partner with their egg health for reciprocal IVF or guiding your partner on how they can support your dietary and lifestyle changes.
In fact, research shows that couples who make these changes together are more likely to stick with them.
At The Dietologist, we proudly support all family structures with inclusive, personalised care.
Read more: The diets of fathers-to-be could change your child’s health
7. Tailor Every Recommendation to You
This is not cookie-cutter care.
We understand that no two fertility journeys are the same. That’s why we tailor every strategy to your:
- Health conditions and blood test results – diving deep into what your body is telling us
- Dietary preferences (vegetarian, Mediterranean, culturally specific) – you can still eat the types of foods you love AND have a fertility friendly lifestyle!
- Lifestyle, work schedule and energy levels (hello, shift workers!)
- Values, fertility goals, and treatment timeline – we do our best to accommodate your timelines, but keep in mind that diet and supplementation won’t translate to results for at least 1-3 months when it comes to fertility.
We design realistic, science-backed nutrition plans that empower you to take control of your fertility-without burning out or obsessing over every bite.
Our Fertility Nutrition Services
Express Prenatal Supplement Consult
Quick clarity on the best supplements for your body and goals. Walk away with a personalised supplement plan complete with brands, dosage, optimal timing & where to shop the products via email within 48 hours of your 30 minute session.
More info here: Express Prenatal Supplement Consult
Fertility Nutrition Intensive
A 2-hour personalised one-on-one consultation for individuals or couples wanting to optimise preconception health, egg and/or sperm quality or prepare for IVF. Walk away with a unique nutrition and supplement plan for you (and your partner) that means no more overthinking every meal and shopping trip.
More here: Fertility Nutrition Intensive
Ongoing Nutrition Coaching
High-touch, ongoing support for more complex or emotional fertility journeys, including IVF cycles, pregnancy after loss or nutrition in pregnancy. We will catch up with you at regular intervals via consultations and with weekly support to help you refine the changes you’re working on, answer your questions, review pathology reports and be your ultimate cheerleader! You also receive exercise support from Courtenay Polock from Her Exercise Physiology and a huge bank of recipes to keep things interesting too!
Read more here: Nutrition Coaching
FAQ: What is it like to Work with a Fertility Dietitian?
When should I see a fertility dietitian or nutritionist?
Ideally, 3-12 months before trying to conceive but it’s never too early or too late.
Can a fertility dietitian help with IVF preparation?
Absolutely. We work with IVF clients before egg retrieval, during stimulation, post-transfer, and in the two-week wait.
Is this just for women?
Not at all. We work with individuals and couples of all genders and identities, including those using donor eggs, sperm, embryos or surrogacy.
Are fertility dietitian consults covered by private health insurance?
Yes, for Australian residents. Many Australian private health funds offer rebates for dietitian services. Just check your extras cover for what you might get back on initial & review consultations.
Are fertility dietitian consults covered by Medicare rebates?
Consultations at The Dietologist (with the exception of Express Prenatal Supplement Consult) are eligible for a Medicare rebate with a valid Chronic Care Management Plan from your GP (referral letters from your specialist doctor does not qualify for a Medicare rebate). You can receive about $61 back per session, processed after you attend and the session is paid in full for up to 5 sessions per calendar year.
If you’ve reached your Medicare safety net, you can receive up to 80% of the scheduled fee back. Again, this is processed at the end of your appointment once payment is made in full.
What if I’ve already started trying to conceive, can you still help?
We’ll meet you where you’re at and guide your next best step with personalised advice. Most of our one-on-one clients are already trying to conceive and want to optimise their lifestyle to support themselves to not only conceive but have a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby too!
What’s the difference between a fertility dietitian and a general dietitian?
A fertility dietitian has specialised expertise and training in reproductive health, preconception nutrition, and supporting conditions that impact fertility like PCOS, endometriosis, thyroid disorders and more. We also understand how other conditions, such as high cholesterol, diabetes, Coeliac Disease, Inflammatory Bowel Disease can influence your trying to conceive journey.
At The Dietologist, we live and breathe fertility nutrition- it’s all we do.
Can you help with secondary infertility or pregnancy after loss?
Yes. Whether it’s your first pregnancy or not, our team can support your unique reproductive health needs physically, emotionally and nutritionally. We take a no stone unturned approach to help advocate for you to your medical team to ensure that all suitable investigations are completed before moving forward.
How quickly can I expect results for my fertility from nutrition changes?
Nutrition and lifestyle changes typically take at least 3 months to impact egg and sperm quality due to how reproductive cells develop. That’s why we recommend starting early- ideally 3+ months before trying to conceive (this timeline will look different for each individual and we can help tailor this to you after your initial appointment).
Are all consultations conducted online?
Yes, we are a fully virtual nutrition clinic so all our consultations are conducted via Zoom. Our clients love the convenience of being able to hop during a lunch break at work, show what’s going on in their home and its one less appointment you need to commute to and from (and you get to save on the parking fees too – win!)
What do I receive after my fertility nutrition consultation?
We pride ourselves on sending comprehensive done-for-you summaries and plans after your consultation with all the practical tips and details you need so you can refer back to it for the weeks and months to come. This means you can sit back, relax and just listen and absorb in your sessions and ask your questions too.
Why are your consultations so long?
This is a great question! We intentionally designed our session times to be longer than “average” because we know how frustrating it is to leave a health appointment with a long list of unanswered questions, feeling rushed or simply not having the time and space to have your story heard.
We create this space because we know the details matter when it comes to designing a plan that actually is achievable and fits into your lifestyle. We know it’s a bit more of a time commitment in the session itself, but trust us – the time flies, and it means we can make some meaningful progress right away!
How much does a fertility nutrition consultation cost?
All the prices of our consultations are available on our services page and booking page.
Ready to Feel Confident and Empowered in Your Fertility Journey?
At The Dietologist, we combine expert-led nutrition strategies with real-world practicality to help you get pregnant, stay pregnant, and have a healthy baby- on your terms.
Book your appointment now with our qualified & award-winning Australian Fertility Dietitians and take control of your fertility story today.