Trimester Zero: Getting Ready for Pregnancy

EPISODE 3 — We all know about trimesters one, two, and three, but what about the crucial three to nine months before conception? In this episode of The Women's Health Playbook, host Priya Bathija sits down with Dr. Afrouz Demeri, a licensed naturopathic doctor specializing in endocrinology and natural fertility, as well as the creator of the Trimester Zero course. Together, they explore the importance of checking both partners’ health before pregnancy – much like inspecting a new home before moving in. Dr. Demeri explains why preconception health begins with men, how to impact egg and sperm quality in the 90-day maturation window, which lab tests to request from your doctor, and how to self-advocate when a provider tells you to "just keep trying for a year."

In this episode, we walk you through these key topics:

• Defining Trimester Zero: Why the three to nine months before conceiving serve as the foundational "inspection" window for both partners' long-term health and pregnancy outcomes.
• Why Preconception Care Starts with Men: Sperm takes roughly 64 to 74 days to regenerate and another two to three weeks to mature—meaning diet, sleep, alcohol, cannabis, and lifestyle can drastically improve sperm DNA fragmentation within 90 days.
• The 90-Day Egg Maturation Cycle: While women are born with their lifetime supply of eggs, the follicle recruited for ovulation is shaped by the hormonal environment, nutrient availability, and inflammation present in the body over the preceding three months.
• Navigating the Doctor's Appointment: How to ask your clinician for a true ACOG[1]-recommended preconception counseling baseline rather than settling for a standard obstetric screen (HIV, hepatitis, syphilis).
• The Clinical Role of Nervous System Regulation: How physiological stress, over-restriction, and anxiety signal reproductive suppression to the ovaries, and why creating a sense of safety is essential for ovulation and conception.
• Environmental & Habit Shifts: Low-lift swaps to protect fertility, from cutting blue light exposure and eliminating microwaved plastics to prioritizing sleep and plant-forward nutrition.

Explore more episodes and get the full breakdown including show notes, tactics, resources, and complete transcript at womenshealthplaybook.com.