Fertility is one of the clearest indicators of overall health—yet modern lifestyles are silently reducing reproductive potential worldwide.
About This Episode
In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Michael Haley sits down with Dr. Marina Strashack Suri, a seasoned OB/GYN with over 30 years of experience, to explore the growing fertility crisis and what it means for the future of humanity.
Dr. Suri explains why fertility should be viewed as a “vital sign” of health and how modern lifestyles—chronic stress, poor nutrition, environmental toxins, and lack of sleep—are silently impacting reproductive health.
The discussion contrasts conventional medicine with a functional, root-cause approach. While traditional methods often focus on procedures like IVF, Dr. Suri highlights the overlooked middle ground—optimizing overall health to improve natural conception.
You’ll learn how stress hormones directly affect reproductive function, why fertility challenges are often multifactorial, and how lifestyle changes may influence fertility outcomes. Dr. Suri also shares a personal family example in which a woman conceived after making the health changes she recommended.
This episode is for anyone interested in fertility, reproductive health, stress, genetics, and the relationship between lifestyle and long-term vitality.
Watch the Interview
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Resources
- Get the free report “Seven Tips to Optimize Your Chance of a Healthy Pregnancy”: drmarinaobgyn.com/freereport
- Visit Dr. Marina Straszak Suri’s website: drmarinaobgyn.com
- Follow Dr. Marina Straszak Suri on X
- Follow Dr. Marina Straszak Suri on Facebook
- Follow Dr. Marina Straszak Suri on Instagram
- Follow Dr. Marina Straszak Suri on TikTok
- Watch this episode on YouTube
- Listen on Apple Podcasts
- Listen on Spotify
Quick Takeaway
Dr. Marina Suri’s central message is that fertility should not be viewed only as a reproductive problem. She encourages patients and clinicians to consider the broader health picture—including nutrition, sleep, chronic stress, environmental exposures, and other factors that may affect reproductive function.
She also distinguishes conventional fertility evaluation from a functional or root-cause approach. Rather than treating these approaches as mutually exclusive, Dr. Suri describes how she incorporates selected functional-medicine concepts into her conventionally trained OB/GYN practice and refers patients when more extensive evaluation is appropriate.
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Episode Timestamps
00:00 – Functional vs conventional medicine explained
01:06 – Why fertility is declining globally
02:19 – Population crisis and future workforce concerns
04:35 – Economic and societal implications of low birth rates
06:43 – Fertility as a key indicator of health
08:11 – How stress hormones impact reproduction
09:39 – Managing stress for better fertility
11:05 – Medical vs root-cause fertility approaches
12:23 – The limitations of an IVF-first approach
13:21 – Integrating functional medicine into practice
15:27 – Why Dr. Suri looks beyond symptom treatment
16:34 – A natural-conception success story shared by Dr. Suri
18:06 – Book, resources, and where to learn more
19:00 – Practice overview and future plans
22:08 – Heart rate variability and stress tools
23:45 – Genetics: “warrior vs. worrier” explained
25:23 – Genetic testing and personalized health
28:02 – Final thoughts and where to connect
Fertility as a Reflection of Overall Health
Dr. Suri discusses the idea that fertility can function as a broader indicator of health. In her view, difficulty conceiving should prompt consideration of factors beyond reproductive anatomy alone, including sleep, diet, chronic stress, and environmental exposures.
Conventional Fertility Care and a Root-Cause Approach
The episode compares a conventional fertility workup—such as evaluating ovulation, fallopian-tube patency, and sperm count—with a broader approach that also examines general health and lifestyle. Dr. Suri emphasizes that she is conventionally trained and does not describe herself as a functional-medicine physician, but she incorporates elements of that approach into her practice.
Stress, Heart Rate Variability, and Fertility
Stress is a recurring theme in the conversation. Dr. Suri describes how chronic activation of the stress response may affect reproductive physiology and discusses strategies such as exercise, meditation, creative activities, social connection, and heart-rate-variability biofeedback. She specifically mentions HeartMath as a tool she personally uses and recommends.
Genetics and the “Warrior vs. Worrier” Concept
Dr. Suri also discusses the COMT gene and the popular “warrior versus worrier” framing related to differences in catecholamine metabolism and stress response. She emphasizes that genetic information can provide useful context while lifestyle and environmental factors remain important considerations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can stress affect fertility?
Dr. Suri explains that chronic stress can influence reproductive physiology through stress hormones such as cortisol and norepinephrine. She recommends identifying manageable stressors and developing strategies for those that cannot be removed.
What does a conventional fertility evaluation look at?
In the episode, Dr. Suri describes initial evaluation of factors such as whether a woman is ovulating, whether the fallopian tubes are open, and whether the male partner has an adequate sperm count.
How does Dr. Suri describe a functional approach to fertility?
She describes it as asking why a problem is occurring and looking for multiple contributing factors. In fertility, she discusses diet, exercise, sleep, stress, environmental chemical exposure, and overall health as areas that may deserve attention alongside conventional evaluation.
What is the COMT “warrior vs. worrier” concept?
Dr. Suri uses this shorthand while discussing COMT, an enzyme involved in catecholamine metabolism. She describes genetic differences as one factor that may influence how people respond to stress, while also emphasizing the role of environment and lifestyle.
Where can listeners learn more from Dr. Marina Suri?
Listeners can visit drmarinaobgyn.com and access her free report, “Seven Tips to Optimize Your Chance of a Healthy Pregnancy,” at drmarinaobgyn.com/freereport.
Medical Disclaimer
This podcast and article are provided for educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. The experiences and opinions discussed are those of the speakers and should not replace diagnosis or treatment from a qualified healthcare professional. Do not begin, discontinue, or change any medication, supplement, diet, or treatment based solely on this episode.
Full Transcript
The transcript has been lightly formatted for readability. Because it was created from the recorded conversation, it may contain minor transcription errors.
Read the Full Transcript
In conventional medicine, we’re taught to make a diagnosis and treat with drugs, radiation, or surgery. In functional medicine, the approach is different—it asks: why is this happening?
The problem is usually multifactorial. It’s rarely just one thing. You have to identify the potential causes and address each one individually. It’s a very successful approach to improving health.
Dr. Haley:
You are listening to the Dr. Haley Show, the podcast dedicated to helping you optimize your health. Each episode features interviews and insights to help you live your best life.
I’m Dr. Michael Haley, your host—and today we’re talking about fertility.
This is an important topic. It’s not just personal—it’s societal. Fertility is tied to the survival of our species and is a key indicator of population health.
Dr. Marina Strashack Suri has over 30 years of experience as an OB/GYN and takes a holistic, functional approach to care. She’s also an assistant professor at the University of Ottawa and author of Optimize Your Fertility Naturally.
Dr. Marina, thank you for joining me.
Dr. Suri:
Thank you. It’s a pleasure to be here.
Dr. Haley:
We were just talking earlier—this is actually a redo because I forgot to record the first time. Thank you for being gracious enough to do this again.
Dr. Suri:
Let’s do it. It’ll be even better this time.
Dr. Haley:
We touched on something really important: fertility isn’t just about having children—it’s about the survival of humanity.
We’re seeing declining fertility rates across most developed countries. That’s a serious issue.
Dr. Suri:
Absolutely. Most first-world countries are not reproducing at replacement levels. That means in 20–30 years, there will be fewer workers to support the population, including caring for the elderly and maintaining economic systems.
It’s a very real concern, and we don’t yet know how it will be handled.
Dr. Haley:
In the U.S., for example, systems like Social Security rely on younger workers supporting older generations. If the ratio shifts too far, the system becomes unstable.
Dr. Suri:
Exactly. Immigration is often discussed as a solution, but it’s not sustainable long-term—especially as fertility rates decline globally.
We need to address the root issue: improving fertility.
Dr. Haley:
Would you say fertility is a reflection of overall health?
Dr. Suri:
Yes. Some experts even suggest fertility should be considered a “fifth vital sign,” like blood pressure or heart rate.
When someone isn’t getting pregnant, there’s usually a reason—and often it’s related to overall health.
Many people assume they can eat poorly, sleep poorly, and live under constant stress and still conceive. But the body doesn’t work that way.
When you’re under stress, your body produces cortisol and norepinephrine—hormones designed for short-term survival situations. Blood flow is redirected to muscles, away from the brain and reproductive organs.
Over time, chronic stress creates an unhealthy internal environment that negatively affects fertility.
Dr. Haley:
So stress management becomes critical.
Dr. Suri:
Absolutely. First, you identify the source of stress. Then you work to manage it.
Some stressors you can change—like job-related issues. Others, like economic conditions, you can’t control, so you need strategies to cope.
There are many tools: exercise, meditation, social connection, creative activities.
There are also structured programs. For example, mind-body fertility programs have been shown to significantly improve pregnancy rates.
Dr. Haley:
Let’s talk about the difference between conventional and functional medicine.
Dr. Suri:
Conventional medicine focuses on diagnosing and treating symptoms—often with drugs, surgery, or procedures.
In fertility, that means checking ovulation, fallopian tubes, and sperm count. If those don’t lead to pregnancy, the next step is often IVF.
It’s very mechanical—almost like a plumbing issue.
Dr. Haley:
And what’s missing?
Dr. Suri:
The middle ground—overall health.
Lifestyle factors like diet, sleep, stress, and environmental toxins are often overlooked. Yet they play a major role in fertility.
Functional medicine looks at these root causes and addresses them directly.
Dr. Haley:
You’re conventionally trained, but you incorporate functional elements. Why?
Dr. Suri:
Because I’ve seen the benefits—both in patients and in my own health.
I don’t practice full functional medicine—it’s very time-intensive—but I integrate what I can and refer patients when needed.
Dr. Haley:
That integrative approach seems key.
Dr. Suri:
Yes. Medicine can be life-saving, but it shouldn’t be the only tool. Ideally, we use it to stabilize patients while addressing root causes so they don’t need it long-term.
Dr. Haley:
Have you seen real results from this approach?
Dr. Suri:
Yes—excellent results.
One example: a 38-year-old woman who had never been pregnant was told to freeze her eggs. Instead, she followed lifestyle changes from my program—diet, stress management, and overall health optimization.
She conceived naturally on her first cycle.
Dr. Haley:
That’s incredible.
Dr. Suri:
It shows what’s possible when you address the whole person—not just the symptoms.
Dr. Haley:
Tell us about your practice.
Dr. Suri:
I have a clinical office. I no longer do hospital work or deliveries.
I also incorporate newer therapies like platelet-rich plasma and treatments for menopausal symptoms.
In the coming years, I plan to transition more into writing and speaking.
Dr. Haley:
You mentioned a stress-management tool earlier.
Dr. Suri:
Yes—the HeartMath program. It uses heart rate variability to train your body to handle stress better through breathing and biofeedback.
Improving heart rate variability has been shown to support overall health, longevity, and fertility.
Dr. Haley:
You also mentioned genetics—specifically the “warrior vs. worrier” concept.
Dr. Suri:
Yes, it relates to the COMT gene, which affects how we process dopamine and stress hormones.
Some people are naturally more prone to anxiety (worriers), while others are more resilient (warriors).
But genes are not destiny. Environment and lifestyle can significantly influence how genes are expressed.
Dr. Haley:
So lifestyle still matters most.
Dr. Suri:
Absolutely. Genetics provides insight, but daily habits determine outcomes.
Dr. Haley:
Where can people learn more?
Dr. Suri:
Visit my website: drmarinaobgyn.com
I publish a weekly blog on fertility and offer a free report on optimizing your chances of a healthy pregnancy.
Dr. Haley:
Thank you so much for being here.
Dr. Suri:
Thank you. It’s been a pleasure.
Dr. Haley (Outro):
I hope you enjoyed this episode of the Dr. Haley Show. Be sure to subscribe and share it with someone who could benefit.
You can find show notes and more at drhaley.com.
We’ll see you on the next episode.