June 8, 2025
May Allam

Sandra Sharpe, a Functional Nutrition Practitioner, Health Coach, and the founder of The Functional Fertility Method—a high-touch online program designed to support women who are trying to conceive by helping them address the root causes of their fertility challenges. 

WoE: What provoked you to start coaching women about gut health?
SS: What drove me to start this work was a deep frustration with how often women are dismissed in conventional healthcare. I kept seeing women with hormonal issues, fertility struggles, and digestive problems being told everything looked “normal” on paper—when they felt anything but. Gut health became a huge focus because I realized just how many hormonal, inflammatory, and immune issues begin in the gut. It’s the foundation for everything.

WoE: Can body health be achieved only through balancing nutritional intake or do other factors need to be maintained as well?
SS: Nutrition is foundational, but it’s only one part of the healing equation. You can eat perfectly and still struggle with symptoms if your nervous system is dysregulated, your sleep is poor, or you’re constantly in a state of stress. True body health is about restoring safety and communication within the body—which means addressing the gut, hormones, nutrient stores, nervous system, mindset, and more.

WoE: How can hormonal balance be achieved? How can this impact fertility?
SS: Hormonal balance comes from supporting the systems that regulate hormones, not just the hormones themselves. That includes blood sugar stability, liver detox pathways, gut microbiome health, adrenal resilience, and sufficient nutrients like magnesium, B vitamins, and healthy fats. When hormones are balanced, ovulation becomes consistent, cervical mucus improves, progesterone rises, and the uterus becomes a more welcoming place. Fertility is a reflection of internal harmony.

WoE: Have you met cases that seemed almost impossible to deal with but have resolved their health issues and transformed their lives?
SS: Absolutely. One client had tried IVF five times with no success and was told she had “unexplained infertility.” When we dug deeper, we found gut dysbiosis, nutrient depletion, and significant inflammation. After just three months of foundational work, she conceived naturally. There are so many stories like hers—women who were dismissed or told they were out of options, but once we addressed root causes, their body responded beautifully.

WoE: How can your program impact and empower women to become better versions of themselves?
SS: The Functional Fertility Method is about way more than just getting pregnant. It helps women understand and reconnect with their bodies, regulate their cycles, reduce symptoms, and feel empowered by knowledge. Many of my clients say it’s the first time they’ve felt *in control* of their health. It’s about building trust in your body, and learning how to nourish and support it for life—whether you’re trying to conceive, preparing for postpartum, or simply wanting to thrive.

WoE: Would you recommend medication to maintain gut health or is it possible to achieve only through a proper balance in nutrition?
SS: In most cases, medication isn’t necessary to maintain gut health long term. In fact, many gut imbalances are the result of overuse of antibiotics, acid blockers, and other medications. That said, targeted supplementation or herbs may be needed temporarily to correct imbalances like SIBO or Candida. But true maintenance comes from diet, lifestyle, stress management, and supporting the microbiome with fiber, fermented foods, and a calm nervous system.

WoE: Being an Egyptian woman working in the field of health and fitness, have you faced challenges in your line of work?
SS: Yes, especially in the beginning. The idea of functional medicine and root-cause healing isn’t as mainstream in our region, so I had to build a lot of trust and education into my work. There’s also pressure to follow more conventional paths in health and wellness, but I stayed rooted in my mission: to help women feel heard, seen, and supported and working from a holistic, functional lens.

WoE: Have you faced challenges in raising 2 toddlers along with managing your business as well as your health?
SS: Absolutely. Motherhood is intense and beautiful, and running a business adds another layer of complexity. There have been times I’ve felt pulled in every direction. But becoming a mother also made me a better practitioner. It deepened my empathy, my understanding of what women need, and my commitment to simplifying wellness in a way that actually works for busy moms.

WoE: On which moments or occasions did you feel extremely proud of what you do?
SS: When a client messages me that she’s pregnant after being told she never would be—those are the moments I carry with me forever. I’m also deeply proud when women share that they finally feel empowered in their bodies again, even before conception. Those wins are just as meaningful.

WoE: How has the move to Greece impacted your family and your business?
SS: It’s brought us a lot of peace. Being close to nature, living a bit slower, and grounding in a place that values simplicity and wellness has positively impacted our family and how I show up for my clients. Dubai is always going to be home.

WoE: What are your personal dreams and aspirations as well as aspirations for women in Egypt? What advice would you give them if they want to become nutrition coaches or start their own business?
SS: My dream is to see more Egyptian and Arab women stepping into spaces of leadership, wellness, and entrepreneurship with confidence. We have so much wisdom, resilience, and creativity to offer. If you want to become a coach or start your own business: start before you feel ready. Invest in education, mentorship, and community. And always root your work in service—that’s where the impact and fulfillment come from.