Fertility: Beyond Biology

When we think of fertility, we often turn to the dictionary for its straightforward definition: the natural ability to conceive. But fertility is more than a biological function—it is a reflection of our lineage, our spiritual health, and even the environments that shape us. My work as a doula and public health researcher has taught me that fertility is not only about the mechanics of reproduction, but also about healing, softness, and connection to self.

Trauma, Inheritance, and Epigenetics

Suppose we can agree that the past influences the present and that trauma is inherited. In that case, we must also recognize that fertility is profoundly shaped by what we carry in our wombs beyond the physical. Science calls this epigenetics—the way our environment, family history, and even collective trauma alter how our genes are expressed.

This explains why we see rising rates of fibroids, endometriosis, cortisol (stress hormone) in individuals, anxiety, and depression. While genetics play a role, the larger picture involves nutrition, community disconnection, and the intergenerational trauma many of us hold—especially those whose histories are marked by enslavement, colonization, or systemic inequities. Even when we cannot fully trace our lineage, our wombs remember.

The Womb as Sacred Space

When I say “womb,” I am not only speaking of the uterus. I mean the entire reproductive system, including the uterus, ovaries, cervix, fallopian tubes, and vagina. Together, they carry wisdom, cycles, and hormonal balance. The womb is a portal of life, the sacred threshold between worlds. Each of us entered this life through one, and that is worth honoring.

Fertility, then, is not just about conceiving children. It is about how we heal from trauma, how we reclaim our softness and femininity, how we trust our bodies and sexuality again—even when our bodies have been treated like political battlegrounds.

Fertility as Holistic Healing

From an ancestral lens, fertility has always been sacred. Rituals, herbs, ceremonies, and prayers that connect communities to the womb as a source of life and creativity. Spiritually, fertility is alignment: when body, mind, and spirit come into balance, we create fertile ground not only for pregnancy, but also for love, ideas, healing, and transformation. To learn more about practices that fertility is beyond biology, read our blog post, “Ancestral & Spiritual Practices for Fertility and Womb Healing.” 

Closing Reflection

Fertility is more than a diagnosis. It is a living, breathing connection to our past, present, and future selves. As your friendly neighborhood doula, I want to remind you: healing is possible. Reclaiming your womb space is possible. And every time you choose softness, nourishment, or ritual, you step closer to that healing.