Podcast:
Egg Meets Sperm
Mushrooms, Fertility & the Microbiome: How Medicinal Mushrooms Support Hormones, Immunity & Reproductive Health
With:
Dr. Aumatma Simmons
October 6, 2025
Listen: Apple Podcasts
I had such a fun conversation with Dr. Aumatma Simmons on her Egg Meets Sperm podcast about how medicinal mushrooms support fertility—from the gut microbiome to hormones and reproductive health. We explored how mushrooms can enhance the gut–gonad axis, balance the immune system, and even influence egg and sperm quality through antioxidants like ergothioneine.
Conversation starters
[For awkward dinner parties, silent elevator rides, grocery store lines, and your favorite barista]
“Mushrooms are food—so they fit into every category of fertility support: gut health, immune balance, hormones, and even the nervous system.”
“Ergothioneine is like a backup to glutathione—protecting eggs, sperm, and placental tissue from oxidative stress.”
Key Topics
[01:00] 🌿 Why mushrooms belong in every fertility plan
[03:00] 🧫 Beta-glucans and chitin: mushroom cell walls as prebiotics
[07:00] ⚡ Gut-gonad axis and how mushrooms influence reproductive health
[08:00] 🩸 Turkey Tail and the vaginal microbiome—HPV and lactobacillus research
[14:00] 🧠 Targeted formulas for PCOS, Hashimoto’s, and stress resilience
[18:15] 💎 Ergothioneine: a unique antioxidant for eggs, sperm, and placenta
[22:00] 🔄 Reishi and immune regulation: balancing TH1/TH2 responses
[25:00] 💪 Cordyceps myths vs reality for testosterone and vitality
[27:30] 🍄 Enoki and new findings on male hormone balance
Spores for Thought
“When we eat mushrooms, we’re not just feeding ourselves—we’re feeding our microbiome, and in turn, our fertility.”
Shameless Plugs
IMMUNE - supports balanced immune regulation, T-cell activity, and pathogen defenses
BRAIN & NERVES- enhances focus, stress resilience, and the gut-brain-hormone connection
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