DUTCH Testing for Fertility Challenges with Stephanie Paver, RD

There are many reasons for struggles with infertility. Knowing your hormone balance before getting pregnant can be so important for understanding this and getting your body prepared. Today’s guest works to help her patients get the full picture of their health so they can overcome these hurdles.   About Stephanie Paver Stephanie Paver, MS, RD, CSO, CNSC, is a women’s health dietitian with a virtual private practice. She specializes in helping women with PCOS use functional nutrition to achieve regular, healthy periods so that they can get pregnant successfully. Unlike conventional fertility treatments that rely solely on medication, Stephanie helps women prepare their bodies for pregnancy using personalized and evidence-based testing, nutrition, and lifestyle solutions. With clinical roots and an open mind to time-honored food traditions, Stephanie is a forward thinker and a progressive health care provider for over ten years. She graduated with honors from Purdue University with a degree in Dietetics. She completed her dietetic internship at Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital in Chicago and received her M.S. in Nutrition at Arizona State University. Stephanie is a board-certified specialist in oncology nutrition and a certified nutrition support clinician. She also has a certificate of training in weight management, and she is pursuing certification in Integrative and Functional Nutrition.   The Importance of Testing and Information As much as anything else, Stephanie places huge importance on hormonal testing. The information that comprehensive tests, such as the DUTCH Test, provides is needed simply so that you know what you’re dealing with. With this information, Stephanie ensures that the basic elements of her patients’ health aren’t overlooked.  With this information, Stephanie can consider the vast array of information that can clue her into what’s actually going on in women’s bodies. With so many factors that affect fertility, you can’t afford to look at just some parts of the picture. Everything must be taken into consideration. That’s where comprehensive testing can make all the difference.   The Role of DUTCH Tests As a window into their biochemistry, the DUTCH Test helps explain what exactly is going on so that we know what to treat. When PCOS is an issue, these tests can better pinpoint its cause. With this information, women can better advocate for themselves for the treatment that they need. They can also find out what nutrients they need to build and support important biochemical pathways. Has testing given you a better understanding of what is going on in your body? Leave a comment on the episode page!   Got a question you’d love to hear me answer on the show? Leave me a voice message here!   In This Episode Discovering the gaps in modern medicine when it comes to PCOS [6:45] Why testing is such an important part of hormonal health [13:30] What  PCOS is and why it’s so misunderstood [19:05] The benefits of the DUTCH Test for understanding PCOS and pregnancy [27:00] The importance of understanding PCOS sub-types [32:18] A case study of how the DUTCH Test can guide an intervention [38:00]   Quotes “Your period and your fertility is an overall indicator of health. So I think it’s important that we do a thorough exploration to figure out what’s going on so that we can intervene appropriately.” [14:16] “Instead of forcing your body into doing something it’s not ready to do, let’s support your body along the way. Then if we need to use medical treatment, we can, but let’s make sure we’re doing everything we can to support you physiologically, mentally, spiritually.” [23:07] “When I can see how the body is breaking things down - metabolizing - I can better understand biochemistry and pathways. That’s where we can use food and nutrients as medicine. You need nutrients for these biochemical pathways to happen.” [30:15]   Review Fed and Fearless on Apple Podcasts! Send a screenshot of your review to [email protected] or send me a DM on Instagram and I’ll send you my Overcoming Undereating eBook. If you post your favorite episode in your Insta stories and tag me @LauraShoenfeldRD, I’ll also send you my 14-Day Calorie Challenge Recipe Guide!   Links Register for the 3 Key Elements of a 6-Figure Nutrition Business training Sign up for the Nutrition Business Accelerator Find Stephanie Paver online Follow Stephanie on Instagram The DUTCH Test Leave a review of Fed and Fearless! Sign Up For The Free Training: The 5 Secrets of Fearlessly Healthy Women of Faith Learn more about business coaching with me Got a question you’d love to hear me answer on the show? Leave me a voice message here! Join the Fed and Fearless Society on Facebook Follow me on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest Podcast production & marketing support by the team at Counterweight Creative