Unexplained Infertility, Explained.
Natural fertility specialist helping couples find root cause answers - in NYC and virtually across the US.
*For women over 35, couples navigating unexplained infertility, recurrent loss, and failed IVF cycles.
Working virtually with couples across the US
Based in Brooklyn, NY – available by Zoom and phone nationwide. Natural fertility support for women navigating fertility over 35, IVF prep, unexplained infertility, and recurrent loss. If you’ve been told there’s nothing more to find, that’s where we start.
Hi! I'm Shannon
I’m Shannon South, a natural fertility specialist and functional nutritionist based in Brooklyn, New York, working with couples in NYC and virtually across the US.
I help couples with complex and unexplained infertility, recurrent miscarriage, and failed IVF find the answers conventional care keeps missing, using a functional medicine approach, advanced lab testing, and root cause investigation.
I do this work because I lived through what you’re living through right now.
Four years of trying. A doctor who meant well but ran out of ideas. Acupuncture, fertility yoga, cutting out alcohol and coffee. Some of it helped a little. None of it was enough on its own.
What finally changed things was finding a practitioner who looked at both me and my partner properly. Real testing, a personalized protocol, real results. I felt better than I had in years. I even picked up skateboarding during that time because I needed something that had nothing to do with fertility and everything to do with feeling like myself again.
After several failed attempts with a fertility clinic, I got pregnant naturally at 42. My son was born when I was 43.
That was ten years ago. I have spent every year since learning everything I can about why fertility fails and what actually helps. The education never ends, and I love that. Every case teaches me something new.
I want to be the person couples come to when all else has failed. Not because I have a magic answer, but because I will not stop looking until we find one.
You're in the right place if...
- You’ve been told your infertility is unexplained and that answer has never sat right with you
- You’ve had recurrent miscarriages and want to understand why
- You’ve been through failed IVF or IUI cycles without a clear explanation
- You’re navigating endometriosis, painful cycles, or hormonal irregularities
- You suspect mold, chronic infection, or toxin exposure may be part of the picture
- You or your partner have unexplained sperm abnormalities
- You’ve changed your diet, tried supplements, done acupuncture, and still feel like something deeper is being missed
You already know something is being missed. You just need someone who will dig deeper.
Infertility always has a reason. We just have to find it.
If you’ve been told…
“Everything looks normal.”
“Just keep trying.”
“IVF is your only option.”
If pregnancy still isn’t happening, or isn’t staying, I want you to hear this: there is almost always a reason. And it is almost always something that hasn’t been looked for yet.
What a functional medicine approach uncovers - that standard care misses
Most fertility programs address hormones. This one addresses the underlying environment hormones depend on – for both partners. That includes:
- Mitochondrial function and cellular energy production
- Methylation pathways and epigenetic health
- Toxic burden and environmental exposures including mold and heavy metals
- Hidden infections and chronic pathogens
- Immune dysregulation and inflammatory load
- Hormone patterns via DUTCH testing
- Nutrient status and detoxification capacity
- Bioenergetic terrain mapping via Qest4 scanning
- Male-factor contributors including sperm DNA fragmentation
Most couples have never had this level of investigation. That’s not a criticism of their doctors. It’s just not what conventional fertility care is built to do.
The Root Cause Fertility Framework
Most protocols treat each issue in isolation. Mine follows a specific sequence because the order matters as much as the protocol. Each step creates the conditions for the next one to work.
1️⃣ Investigate
Comprehensive functional lab testing and in-depth case analysis for both partners. This is where we find out what’s actually going on.
2️⃣ Reduce the Burden
We open drainage pathways first, then address toxic load, pathogens, and inflammation. The sequence here is critical. You cannot detox effectively if the exit routes aren’t clear.
3️⃣ Rebuild and Restore
Mitochondrial support, methylation, hormone balance, nutrient repletion, egg and sperm optimization. This is where the body starts to feel like itself again.
4️⃣ Optimize for Conception
Strategic preparation for natural conception or to strengthen your outcomes alongside medical fertility care. Many of my clients use this phase to prepare for IVF, often with very different results than before.
Working with Me
STEP 1
Root Cause Fertility Audit
A 4-week investigative process for uncovering what's actually in the way.
If you’ve been trying to conceive and feel like something is being missed, this is where we start. We go through your full history, I identify the most likely root causes, and you walk away with a clear picture of what’s actually going on and a roadmap for addressing it. No guessing. No generic protocols.
Most couples start here before moving into the full Fertility Formula program. If you’re not sure whether you’re ready for a 6-month commitment, the Audit is the right first step.
✔️ Comprehensive fertility and health history review for both partners
✔️ Root cause identification and prioritization
✔️ Bioenergetic terrain assessment via Qest4 scanning
✔️ Functional lab interpretation and testing guidance
✔️ Personalized fertility strategy and next-step roadmap
✔️ Clear recommendations to support natural conception or IVF preparation
STEP 2
The Fertility Formula
A 6-month personalized root cause program for couples navigating complex infertility.
This is where the work begins. Six months of step-by-step phased protocols that are adjusted monthly. We take everything uncovered in the Audit and address it systematically, layer by layer, for both partners.
Most of my clients come to this after years of trying other things. Many of them tell me later it’s the first time someone actually looked at the whole picture.
✔️ Everything in the Audit, plus six months of guided implementation
✔️ Comprehensive functional lab testing for both partners, passed through at cost with no practitioner markup
✔️ Personalized nutrition and supplement protocols, updated as we progress
✔️ Targeted detox, drainage, and pathogen protocols in the right sequence
✔️ Mitochondrial and methylation support
✔️ Twice-monthly 1:1 consultations via Zoom
✔️ Ongoing portal support between sessions
✔️ Access to professional-grade supplements at 10% off through my practitioner dispensary
✔️ Full case review and documentation throughout
By the end of six months, most clients feel fundamentally different. More energy, better cycles, clearer hormonal patterns. And a body that is genuinely better prepared for conception – whether naturally or through IVF.
*Limited spots available.
"Several of my clients have gotten pregnant naturally after completing the program, which they weren't expecting."
Success Stories
Certifications and Training
Ready to find out what's actually going on?
The Root Cause Fertility Consultation is a focused 30-minute conversation. We talk through your history, what’s been investigated so far, and whether deeper root cause work makes sense for where you are right now.
Spots are limited.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my labs keep coming back normal when something clearly isn't right?
That’s the question I hear most. And it’s the right question. Normal on a standard panel doesn’t mean optimal. It doesn’t mean nothing is in the way. It means the deeper investigation hasn’t happened yet.
What is a functional medicine approach to natural fertility?
A functional medicine approach to natural fertility investigates the underlying biological environment rather than treating reproductive symptoms in isolation. Instead of focusing only on hormones, it evaluates immune function, mitochondrial energy, toxic burden, gut health, chronic infections, and methylation pathways – for both partners – to identify what is actually interfering with conception. The goal is to find and address root causes before reaching for intervention.
What is complex infertility?
It’s infertility that doesn’t have one obvious cause. Usually there are multiple contributing factors: hormonal patterns, immune imbalances, environmental exposures, infections, or male-factor issues working together. Most of my clients fall into this category, which is exactly why standard care often misses them.
Do you diagnose infertility?
No. I’m a functional nutritionist, not a medical doctor. I don’t diagnose or treat medical conditions. My work is investigative and educational – I help identify patterns and contributing factors, and support the body nutritionally and functionally. For medical diagnosis and treatment, I work alongside your doctor or fertility clinic.
Do you work with both partners?
Yes, always. Fertility is a two-person biology. Male-factor contributors are involved in roughly half of all cases, and the same underlying issues that affect egg quality often affect sperm health too. I look at both sides with the same depth of investigation.
Do you replace a fertility clinic?
No. I’m not a replacement for medical care and I don’t offer IVF or medical treatment. What I do is complement it. I work with couples preparing for IVF, going through IVF, or trying to conceive naturally – often making the next step more likely to work. Several of my clients have also gotten pregnant naturally after completing the program, which they weren’t expecting.
Can you help if I am doing IVF?
Yes. Many couples choose to work with me alongside medical fertility care to support whole-body balance before or during IVF.
Do you offer lab testing?
When appropriate, I may recommend functional lab testing to explore potential patterns related to nutrition, inflammation, or metabolic health. All services remain educational and supportive.
What makes your approach different?
A few things. I investigate both partners. I look at root causes most practitioners don’t test for: mitochondrial function, methylation, toxic burden, chronic pathogens, and bioenergetic terrain. And I follow a specific protocol sequence because the order in which we address these things matters. I’ve also been through infertility myself, which means I understand what you’re going through beyond just the clinical picture.