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The IVF Project

Improve your chance of conception with Clinical Exercise Physiology, Dietetics and Psychology- scientifically proven strategies that work! Dr Kitic

With the incredible benefits of exercise and eating well, and the desire to get your body baby ready for a healthy pregnancy, there has never been a better time to undertake the right exercise and nutrition program. With personal experience of multiple IVF cycles I understand how stressful and challenging this time can be. Improve your chance of conception (saving expensive cycles of treatment), build your resilience through the roller coaster of assisted reproductive treatments, and get yourself ready for growing a tiny human!

12/04/2026

👉Pregnany rate in 150 women group 1: 55%
👉Pregnancy rate in 38 women group 2: 27%

So you might be wondering, “What was the difference between these two groups?!?”

The answer is: Allostatic load.

Allostatic load is the cummulative load we experience from chronic stressors and life events.

Allostasis is the ability to adapt to different stressors to maintain physiological balance or homeostasis.

When our stressors outweigh our coping reserves we can experience impacts on our physical and psychological wellbeing.

Allostatic load represents the functions of the neuroendocrine, immune, metabolic and cardiovascular systems, and how our every day life impacts our mental and physical health.

A high allostatic load is a risk for negative impacts upon our health and wellbeing, and fertility.

In a recent study allostatic load was quantified by investigating markers of health including blood pressure, inflammatory proteins, body mass index, cortisol and noradrenaline.

In women with a lower allostatic load, pregnancy rate after 12 months was 57%. This was almost double that of women who had high allostatic loads where pregnancy rate was 27%.

There could be so many take home messages here. It could be to:

🌱nourish your body to support antioxidant defences

👐create a village to lighten your load

💼better integrate your work and home life to reduce stress

⛹add movement into your day to realise all the mental and physiological benefits of physical activity

🎼find activities that work for you to calm your sympathetic nervous system (slow down and smell the roses, read a book, meditate...)

🧬create a fertile gut to support your immune system, metabolic health and neuroendocrine function.

If you want to reduce your allostatic load join us in our online course and implement the strategies to support pregnancy success.
[link in bio]

Hong et al, Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2022 Nov; 101(11): 1300–1307

04/04/2026

The microbes in our va**na, cervix and endometrium make up about 9% of the female microbial network🤯.

These microbes impact our fertility, reproductive potential and gynaecological health, and your partners microbiome may just be having an impact on the composition of your reproductive microbiome.

A healthy reproductive tract microbiome is associated with an increase in species that promote the secretion of antimicrobial peptides to keep pathogenic bacteria at bay.

In conditions such as bacterial vaginosis or trouble conceiving, levels of these protective antimicrobial peptides are significantly lower.

There is also a two way street between male and female reproductive tracts with microbiome mingling that takes place!

For instance, men with leukocytos***mia (high white blood cell count in semen) may have partners with a higher prevalence of Gardnerella va**nalis. This bacteria is associated with bacterial vaginosis and reduced IVF success.

Seminal microbes entering the va**na may influence resident microbial composition by altering the va**nal pH.

Our reproductive tract community helps shape our immune system and inflammatory response so it’s no surprise that alterations in this microbiome are associated with pelvic inflammatory disease, implantation failure and recurrent miscarriage, and gynaecological cancers.

Where gut dysbiosis exists, reproductive tract imbalances are present.

The gut and female reproductive tract are in constant communication 📞with each other via microbial metabolites, your immune system and your circulatory system.

How are you nurturing your gut today to support your reproductive health🌱?

Don’t know where to start? Access our “Gut health for IVF & Pregnancy Success” resources now and being to nurture your microbiome for conception.
[in bio]

Valore et al, Infect Immun. 2006
Ata et al, Sci Rep 2019

gynaecological gynaecologicalhealth infertility fertility fertilitydiet gutfertilityconnection endometriosis PCOS prebiotic ivf unexplainedinfertility irregularperiods PMS

29/03/2026

Conception is influenced long before fertilisation.

From insulin signalling and methylation to vitamin D status and the gut microbiome - these systems shape egg quality, ovulation, and implantation outcomes.

This is where we focus: supporting the environment that fertility depends on.

23/03/2026

🧬 Gut health & IVF success are more connected than you think.

A recent study found that women with higher levels of beneficial gut bacteria like Bifidobacterium longum had stronger ovarian responses to stimulation - more oocytes, healthier hormone levels, and better outcomes.

Poor gut health, on the other hand, was linked to inflammation and poor egg retrieval outcomes.

This is why we created the Gut Microbiome for IVF Success course. ✨ Boost your fertility from the inside out!

Here’s what you’ll learn:  
🌱 Ignite Your Fertility – Nurture a microbiome that supports conception
🍽 Fuel Your Journey – Discover rhythmic eating & gut-loving recipes
🧠 Master Mindful Eating – Build a joyful, intuitive relationship with food
🥦 Optimise with Nutrition – Balance carbs, protein, fats & gut nutrients
🍲 Craft Fertility on a Plate – Build meals that feed your microbiome + fertility
💛 Embrace Body Trust – Navigate the IVF rollercoaster with compassion
💊 Get Supplement Savvy – Choose evidence-based tools to support gut & fertility

Unlock the Power of Your Gut Microbiome for a Faster Path to Pregnancy. Learn how to nurture a fertile microbiome with proven nutrition foundations. Optimise egg and s***m health, improve uterine receptivity, and increase your chance of pregnancy, sooner. 💻

Ready to prepare your body for IVF? Join now via the link in bio.

Fo et al 2024 sci rep

19/03/2026

Could your gut microbiome influence placental health? Science suggests it might—here’s what we know so far.

📖 The Placenta’s Critical Role :

The placenta is the lifeline between mother and baby, responsible for:

✔️ Delivering essential nutrients & oxygen
✔️ Producing hormones & immune regulators to support foetal development
✔️ Managing the exchange of gases and waste

Its growth and function are shaped by environmental factors, genetics and our physiology before and during pregnancy - including nutrition, exercise, and gut health.

🔬 New Research on the Gut & Placenta:

A University of California study in a preclinical model explored this gut-placenta connection. Here’s what they found:

🦠 A healthy maternal gut microbiome supported normal placental vascular development, essential for fetal growth.

🚨 A disrupted gut microbiome (following broad-spectrum antibiotic exposure) led to:
🔻 Reduced placental vascular volume & surface area
🔻 Fewer vascular branches, which could impair nutrient exchange
🔻Reduced foetal weight

These findings align with existing research showing that autoimmune conditions - which are often linked to gut dysbiosis - can also contribute to intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), preterm birth, and placental insufficiency.

There are many intricate factors at play to support healthy placenta function and pregnancy progression.

A healthy microbiome enhances production of compounds that support fertility, conception and pregnancy progression.

✨ Unlock the Power of Your Gut Microbiome for a Faster Path to Pregnancy.
Join our Gut Health for Pregnancy Success platfrom now via the link in bio.

Ramya T et al. Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol. 2017

Pronovost et al Sci Adv. 2023

endometriosis gutmicrobiome malefactorinfertility guthealth ivfsuccess

17/03/2026

Quality sleep is crucial for conception. 💤

Snoring, daytime fatigue, unrefreshed mornings, and reduced libido can be signs of sleep apnoea, where breathing pauses intermittently at night.

Sleep apnoea disrupts the microbiome, leading to oxidative stress, inflammation, insulin resistance, and damage to eggs and s***m, which decreases fertility.

💡 Women with sleep apnoea have a higher risk of infertility.
💡 Up to 70% of men with obstructive sleep apnoea have low testosterone, reducing s***m production and libido.
💡 Men with severe sleep apnoea are nearly twice as likely to have abnormal s***m, including reduced motility and concentration.
💡 Frequent snoring is linked to fewer oocytes and higher early pregnancy loss risk after IVF.
💡 The sleep apnoea rate in infertile women with PCOS undergoing IVF is 37%.

Research shows sleep apnoea affects the gut microbiome, which worsens inflammation and hormonal imbalances. Prioritising sleep health and microbiome support can reduce these risks.

If you snore or struggle with sleep, addressing sleep apnoea is crucial not only for rest but also for fertility and long-term health.

Symptoms of sleep apnoea include:
Loud or frequent snoring
Breathing pauses
Gasping or choking sounds
Daytime fatigue
Unrefreshing sleep
Insomnia
Morning headaches
Waking at night to urinate
Difficulty concentrating
Memory loss
Reduced libido
Irritability

If you suspect sleep apnoea, take action and consult your GP.

Wang et al., 2025 Sleep Med Morsy et al., 2020, J Clin Sleep Med Chen et al., 2021, Andrology Zhang et al., 2024, J Clin Sleep Med

15/03/2026

The menstrual cycle is not simply a monthly event - it is a dynamic reflection of endocrine, metabolic and neurological health.

Understanding ovulation and luteal phase physiology can provide valuable insight into reproductive health, fertility potential, and overall hormonal function.

Understanding your cycle goes far beyond counting days.

If you want deeper insight into ovulation, progesterone, and the health of your cycle, come and work with our team to explore the full hormonal picture.

10/03/2026

Uterine fibroids and endometrial polyps are among the most common causes of abnormal uterine bleeding.

They are also implicated in up to ~35% of infertility cases.

While both are growths within the uterus, they arise from different tissues:
• Fibroids develop from smooth muscle within the uterine wall
• Polyps form from overgrowth of the endometrial lining

These tissues are not biologically quiet.
Fibroids and polyps often exist within an inflammatory uterine environment, showing:

• Increased COX-2 enzyme expression
• Greater mast cell activation
• Elevated inflammatory signalling

This inflammatory activity can influence endometrial receptivity, implantation, and menstrual health.

But another layer is now emerging in the research.

The gut microbiome.

Several studies have shown that women with fibroids or polyps display distinct microbial patterns compared with healthy controls, including altered diversity and shifts in microbial species.

Why might this matter?

Your gut microbiome helps regulate several systems that directly interact with reproductive physiology:

• Hormone metabolism through the oestrobolome (microbes that modulate circulating oestrogen)
• Immune signalling and inflammation
• Metabolic regulation and insulin sensitivity
• Production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that support immune balance

These pathways all influence the uterine environment.

In other words, the uterus doesn’t function in isolation.
It responds to signals coming from the gut, immune system, and metabolism.

Supporting your microbiome is one evidence-based way to help support the broader systems involved in reproductive health.

If you're working toward better periods, improved uterine health, or preparing for pregnancy, building a fertile gut foundation is a powerful place to start.

Learn how to support your microbiome for fertility and pregnancy inside Gut Health for Pregnancy & IVF Success 🌱
Link in bio.

Research:
Lan et al., 2022
Mao et al., 2022
Nijkang et al., 2019
Fang et al., 2016
Irollo et al., 2017
Nie et al., 2020
Chen et al., 2021

09/03/2026

Exercise is one of the most powerful tools we have to support metabolic health, regulate inflammation, and positively influence the gut microbiome - all systems that interact with reproductive physiology.

But when it comes to fertility, exercise dose and context matter.

Research shows that very high training volumes can influence ovulation and menstrual function.

Women performing >60 minutes of vigorous exercise per day may have an increased risk of anovulation (Hakimi et al., Sports Medicine, 2017).

Energy availability also plays a major role.
In one controlled study, moderate to severe energy deficits were associated with luteal phase defects in up to 85% of women (Williams et al., 2015).

There also appears to be a dose-response relationship between exercise and conception probability.

In a large prospective cohort study:

• Women exercising 3–4 hours/week were ~27% less likely to conceive
• ≥5 hours/week was associated with ~32% lower chances of conception
• In contrast, ~2 hours of moderate activity increased the odds of pregnancy by ~15% (Wise et al., 2012)

This doesn’t mean exercise is harmful.
It means physiology responds to total stress load.

Training stress doesn’t occur in isolation. It combines with sleep quality, nutrition, emotional stress, work demands, and fertility treatment load to create what physiologists call allostatic load - the cumulative burden placed on the body.

When that load becomes too high, the body prioritises survival physiology over reproductive physiology.

This is why fertility-focused exercise programming looks different from general fitness training.

Instead of simply increasing exercise volume, we focus on:

• metabolic stability
• inflammation regulation
• gut microbiome support
• recovery capacity
• appropriate training load

Because the goal isn’t exhaustion.

The goal is creating the optimal physiological environment to suppoort healthy ovulation, implantation, early pregnancy progression and a healthy pregnancy.

If you would like to optimise your opportunity for pregnancy success we are here to support you.

Call us on 1300 084 694 or book via link in bio.

05/03/2026

Repeated implantation failure is complex.
It is rarely driven by a single variable.

Successful implantation requires a coordinated biological environment - one that supports immune tolerance, balanced inflammatory signalling, stable glucose metabolism, and appropriate hormonal regulation.

The gut microbiome plays a role in each of these systems.

• Gut microbes help regulate cytokine production and immune balance
• Short-chain fatty acids produced by beneficial bacteria support regulatory T cells involved in implantation
• The oestrobolome helps regulate circulating oestrogen
• Microbial diversity is associated with improved insulin sensitivity and metabolic stability

When we expand the lens of fertility care to include gut–immune–hormone physiology, we open up more ways to support the body during IVF and embryo transfer.

This systems-based approach isn’t new to us. For years we have worked beyond the traditional focus on the ovaries and uterus alone, recognising that reproductive outcomes are shaped by whole-body physiology - including the microbiome.

Research can take 17 years to be put into practice but we have been applying it already. The recent findings of Zhang et al. (mBio, 2025 are not news to us but if you want more supporting evidence it just keeps coming.

Zhang and colleagues found that in women undergoing frozen embryo transfer (FET), the gut microbiome showed the greatest differences between those who experienced successful implantation and those who did not.

The authors concluded that microbiota-associated metabolic pathways may represent a promising target to enhance FET success rates, and could also provide novel biomarkers for predicting implantation outcomes.

In other words, the gut microbiome helps shapes the biological environment in which implantation occurs.

We have spent years researching and applying microbiome science in fertility care - translating emerging evidence into practical strategies that support women through IVF and beyond.

We even wrote a book on it: Create a Fertile Gut. It’s available via the link in bio if you love science and want the practical strategies for success.

04/03/2026

Ovarian stimulation influences follicle growth in the present cycle.
But egg and s***m quality are shaped months earlier.

• S***m maturation takes on average approximately 75 days
• The dominant follicle in a retrieval cycle has been developing for 3-4+ months
• Mitochondrial function, inflammation, and metabolic signalling influence gamete competence

The gut microbiome plays a measurable role in these systems.

Research links microbial diversity with improved insulin sensitivity, reduced inflammatory signalling, and enhanced metabolic flexibility - all of which influence reproductive physiology.

This isn’t about doing more.

It’s about working with biology, not against it.

When you build metabolic and microbial stability, you’re strengthening the terrain - not just the timeline.

02/03/2026

Exercise is not “just exercise” when you’re trying to conceive.

It’s physiology. It’s signalling. It’s strategy.

Every fertility journey is shaped by underlying drivers - inflammation, oxidative stress, metabolic health, microbiome balance, stress load, sleep, and training history. A generic program doesn’t address those variables. A targeted prescription does.

This is why we love being specialists in exercise prescription for fertility.

We look beyond steps and sweat.
We assess inflammatory load.
We consider oxidative stress and mitochondrial demand.
We integrate gut–microbiome health.
We periodise training around stimulation cycles, transfers, natural cycles and early pregnancy physiology.

Because exercise can either support implantation and hormonal balance… or compete with it.

Our role is to ensure it supports.

And we don’t stop at a positive test.
We walk with you through pregnancy, adapting to trimester-specific physiology, and into postpartum - rebuilding strength, metabolic health and pelvic function with intention.

The ultimate goal is shared.

We’ve sat on the other side of the consult room.
We understand the weight of every cycle.
And we apply science with care because this isn’t theoretical - it’s personal.

Fertility-focused exercise.
Grounded in physiology.
Delivered with lived understanding.

Address

Suite T36, 477 Boundary St, Spring Hill
Brisbane, QLD
4000

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	9am - 5pm

Website

http://www.theivfproject.com/

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