Praying and Practicing.

Secondary Infertility: What No One Warns You About

Secondary infertility is tricky. Your body did it before—so naturally, you assume it will do it again. Right?

That was our assumption too. We got pregnant during the early months of COVID—just one month after our engagement party. It wasn’t something we planned for or even hoped for at the time. It simply happened. So much so that I took five pregnancy tests in total disbelief before finally making a doctor’s appointment to confirm. Without hesitation, we embraced the journey into parenthood.

We had it all mapped out. We’d wait until our first child was potty trained, then start trying for a second. My husband is eight years older than his sister, and I’m thirteen years younger than mine. We both knew what it was like growing up with siblings far apart in age, and we were motivated to give our children the chance to grow up close together—best friends from the beginning.

But things didn’t go according to plan.

The Unexpected Roadblock

Months passed. Then a year. Then two. Still, no second pregnancy. What had come so easily the first time became an ongoing battle. I started to ask questions: Why isn’t it happening? What’s changed? Is it my body? Is it his? Is it something we’re missing?

That’s when I learned that conception—while it seems simple on the surface—is incredibly complex. For pregnancy to occur, three key factors must align perfectly: healthy eggs, healthy sperm, and a healthy union between the two. If even one is out of balance, conception becomes a challenge.

In my search for answers, I spoke to a naturopathic doctor who completely changed my perspective. The consultation didn’t feel rushed. She didn’t immediately prescribe medications or push me toward IVF. Instead, she listened. Really listened. And what she said next opened the door to a deeper understanding of my health.

The Diagnosis I Didn’t See Coming

She diagnosed me with PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)—something no previous doctor had even mentioned. It explained a lot: cystic pimples, irregular cycles, facial hair, and, yes, the infertility. She told me that my acne and fertility struggles were just symptoms—red flags that my body was waving to show that something deeper was out of balance.

And then she said something that stayed with me: “You’re lucky your symptoms showed up on your skin. At least your body is warning you.”

That hit me hard. I had always thought of myself as healthy. I was eating “clean”—whole grains, lean meats, low-fat everything. But something still wasn’t right.. I was tired, bloated, anxious, and constantly breaking out. I believed I was doing everything right. The truth? I had fallen for the marketing lies that dominate the modern food industry.

Rethinking “Healthy”

The doctor explained that my diet—though it looked healthy on the surface—was full of inflammatory foods. My meals were fueling insulin resistance, worsening my PCOS, and sabotaging my chances of conceiving again. She recommended I start eating keto-friendly meals, eliminate inflammatory grains like wheat, oats, and rice, and include healing foods like high-quality turmeric and probiotics.

This advice led me down a research rabbit hole. I discovered the work of Weston A. Price and the book Nourishing Traditions, which radically changed how I thought about food. I began to see food not just as fuel, but as medicine. I learned to care about where my food came from—how it was grown, raised, and prepared.

I started connecting dots between what I ate and how I felt. I began healing—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally too. I felt more in tune with my body than I had in years.

The Truth About the Standard American Diet

As I kept digging, I uncovered some shocking truths about the American food industry and the so-called “Standard American Diet” (SAD). Here are just a few of the hard lessons I learned:

1. The Food Pyramid Is a Lie
   The food pyramid many of us grew up with wasn’t based on solid science. It was created in the 1950s, during a time of grain surplus and meat shortages. Studies that contradicted it were hidden or discredited. The result? Generations of people told to eat a high-carb, low-fat diet—leading to skyrocketing rates of obesity, diabetes, and fertility issues.
   
2. Convenience Isn’t Better
   We’ve been taught to value speed and convenience over quality. Fast food, microwavable meals, and prepackaged snacks promise ease, but they come at a cost: our health.Many of the ingredients that make our food quick are full of chemicals, unnecessary preservatives and toxins that contribute to Autism, ADHD, brain fog, weight gain and food addiction.  The healthiest food is slow food. Food that’s prepared with intention, using whole ingredients and traditional methods.And the most important ingredient-love. 
3. Food Can Be Healing
   I always knew that food impacted health, but I hadn’t fully embraced the concept of food as medicine. Now I do. Herbs, spices, fermented foods, bone broths—these have become staples in my diet, not just for nourishment but for healing.
4. The Food Industry is a business. And in a business the main goal is to generate revenue.  They have us fooled into thinking the health recommendations are for our health when in reality they are based on food availability,shelf stability and best profit gain. It’s important for us to build a healthy eating framework that individualizes our bodies based on access and affordability. This profit-driven model influences nearly every aspect of the food industry, from the types of products developed and marketed to the way food is priced, packaged, and distributed.