Helping Uncover What's Been Missed
Root-Cause Fertility, IVF Preparation & Hormone Care
For women and couples seeking clarity, advanced fertility testing and personalized support for conception, IVF preparation, and hormone health in Santa Cruz, California.
We Support:
“Unexplained infertility” or difficulty conceiving
Fertility changes after 35
Irregular cycles, PCOS, low progesterone, or other hormone concerns
Recurrent loss
Preparation for IVF/IUI
Male-factor fertility concerns, including sperm count, motility, morphology, or DNA fragmentation
Ready for a clearer path forward?
Free Hormone Health Check
How Balanced Are Your Hormones?
Answer 7 quick questions about your cycle, mood, energy, and sleep to see what your body may be telling you, then get a clear next step.
Our Process
The Vital Fertility Method
The Vital Fertility™ Method is designed to uncover what’s blocking conception and guide you through a clear, personalized path forward.
Choose the level of support that best fits where you are now.
Fertility & Hormone Optimization
Is Within Your Reach!
Choose Your Path
Fertility Programs
Best for ongoing support, advanced testing and personalized care
Foundational Lab Testing
Best if you want to begin
with testing first
Not Sure Where to Begin?
Best for people who want guidance before choosing a service.
Book a complimentary clarity call
Meet the Clinician Behind Vital Fertility
Functional Medicine & Restorative Fertility Practitioner
Maria Santee
PA-C, MPH, AFMC
Board-certified Physician Associate with over a decade of experience in family medicine and advanced training in functional medicine, hormone health and restorative fertility care
After navigating my own hormone shifts and IVF journey, I created the care and support I wish I had received.
I bridge conventional medical experience with functional and restorative fertility care to investigate what standard evaluations may overlook.
Real Stories From Our Patients
"Maria Santee gave me so much clarity and insight into what was happening physiologically for me. She even solved a mystery of why I have never been a good sleeper that no medical provider even explored let alone would test for.
If you’ve got questions, she’s got answers. I trust her implicitly."
Jennifer C.
PA-C, ER-CAQ, FMACP
“Before working with Maria we felt stuck and had been told our chances of conceiving naturally were very minimal. Through the process, it became clear that this was the right approach, even just for getting our bodies into a healthier state. Maria listened, made me feel heard, and was quick to help troubleshoot anything that came up. The approach and guidance moved a lot of markers on our journey, more than we expected. About a year after working with her, we had a positive pregnancy test."
Eugenia B.
“Maria was very resourceful and responsive to all our adjustments and our needs to pivot. Now that we are in a strong and healthy pregnancy after working with Maria…I can say that the struggle, the effort, the work, has been worth it."
Shaina K.
FAQs
Functional medicine may support reproductive health by identifying modifiable factors such as nutrient status, metabolic health, thyroid function, inflammation, sleep, and sperm health. This care is designed to complement, not replace, the recommendations of your reproductive endocrinology team.
Depending on your Bio-individualized needs, we may use serum blood markers, and functional tests such as DUTCH hormone testing, GI-MAP stool testing, thyroid and metabolic panels, nutrient testing, and cycle-day hormone labs to uncover hidden root causes.
We take a personalized approach that may include evaluating hormone signaling, thyroid and metabolic health, nutrient status, inflammation, sleep, environmental exposures, and male-factor fertility. Recommendations may include targeted nutrition, lifestyle support, and evidence-informed supplementation based on your history and laboratory findings. No approach can guarantee improved egg quality or pregnancy outcomes.
Personalized guidance starts here
Not Sure Which Next Step Is Right for You?
Whether you are looking for comprehensive fertility support,
hormone guidance, or help choosing the right testing,
we can help you identify the most appropriate place to begin.