diff --git a/docs/pagination.md b/docs/pagination.md
index c4d4885..a0da588 100644
--- a/docs/pagination.md
+++ b/docs/pagination.md
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 ``` py title="example.py" hl_lines="25 26 27"
 from fastapi import FastAPI
 from fastsqla import Base, Paginate, Page, lifespan
-from pydantic import BaseModel
+from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict
 from sqlalchemy import select
 from sqlalchemy.orm import Mapped, mapped_column
 
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ class Hero(Base):
     age: Mapped[int]
 
 
-class HeroModel(HeroBase):
+class HeroModel(BaseModel):
     model_config = ConfigDict(from_attributes=True)
     id: int
     name: str
diff --git a/docs/setup.md b/docs/setup.md
index 0f0b2ec..49a9ad5 100644
--- a/docs/setup.md
+++ b/docs/setup.md
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 # Setup
 
+FastSQLA provides two ways to configure your SQLAlchemy database connection:
+
+- **Environment variables** ([`lifespan`][fastsqla.lifespan]): Simple configuration
+    following [12-factor app](https://12factor.net/config) principles, ideal for most use cases.
+- **Programmatic** ([`new_lifespan`][fastsqla.new_lifespan]): Direct SQLAlchemy engine
+    configuration for advanced customization needs
+
 ## `fastsqla.lifespan`
 
 ::: fastsqla.lifespan
@@ -7,7 +14,7 @@
         heading_level: false
         show_source: false
 
-## Configuration
+### Lifespan configuration
 
 Configuration is done exclusively via environment variables, adhering to the
 [**Twelve-Factor App methodology**](https://12factor.net/config).
@@ -16,7 +23,7 @@ The only required key is **`SQLALCHEMY_URL`**, which defines the database URL. I
 specifies the database driver in the URL's scheme and allows embedding driver parameters
 in the query string. Example:
 
-    sqlite+aiosqlite:////tmp/test.db?check_same_thread=false
+    sqlite+aiosqlite:////tmp/test.db
 
 All parameters of [`sqlalchemy.create_engine`][] can be configured by setting environment
 variables, with each parameter name prefixed by **`SQLALCHEMY_`**.
@@ -26,7 +33,7 @@ variables, with each parameter name prefixed by **`SQLALCHEMY_`**.
     FastSQLA is **case-insensitive** when reading environment variables, so parameter
     names prefixed with **`SQLALCHEMY_`** can be provided in any letter case.
 
-### Examples
+#### Examples
 
 1.  :simple-postgresql: PostgreSQL url using
     [`asyncpg`][sqlalchemy.dialects.postgresql.asyncpg] driver with a
@@ -42,8 +49,8 @@ variables, with each parameter name prefixed by **`SQLALCHEMY_`**.
     [`pool_size`][sqlalchemy.create_engine.params.pool_size] of 50:
 
     ```bash
-    export sqlalchemy_url=sqlite+aiosqlite:///tmp/test.db?check_same_thread=false
-    export sqlalchemy_pool_size=10
+    export sqlalchemy_url=sqlite+aiosqlite:///tmp/test.db
+    export sqlalchemy_pool_size=50
     ```
 
 3.  :simple-mariadb: MariaDB url using [`aiomysql`][sqlalchemy.dialects.mysql.aiomysql]
@@ -53,3 +60,12 @@ variables, with each parameter name prefixed by **`SQLALCHEMY_`**.
     export sqlalchemy_url=mysql+aiomysql://bob:password!@db.example.com/app
     export sqlalchemy_echo=true
     ```
+
+
+
+## `fastsqla.new_lifespan`
+
+::: fastsqla.new_lifespan
+    options:
+        heading_level: false
+        show_source: false
diff --git a/src/fastsqla.py b/src/fastsqla.py
index 7795620..594d401 100644
--- a/src/fastsqla.py
+++ b/src/fastsqla.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import math
 import os
 from collections.abc import AsyncGenerator, Awaitable, Callable, Iterable
-from contextlib import asynccontextmanager
+from contextlib import _AsyncGeneratorContextManager, asynccontextmanager
 from typing import Annotated, Generic, TypeVar, TypedDict
 
 from fastapi import Depends, FastAPI, Query
@@ -78,79 +78,118 @@ class State(TypedDict):
     fastsqla_engine: AsyncEngine
 
 
-@asynccontextmanager
-async def lifespan(app: FastAPI) -> AsyncGenerator[State, None]:
-    """Use `fastsqla.lifespan` to set up SQLAlchemy.
-
-    In an ASGI application, [lifespan events](https://asgi.readthedocs.io/en/latest/specs/lifespan.html)
-    are used to communicate startup & shutdown events.
+def new_lifespan(
+    url: str | None = None, **kw
+) -> Callable[[FastAPI], _AsyncGeneratorContextManager[State, None]]:
+    """Create a new lifespan async context manager.
 
-    The [`lifespan`](https://fastapi.tiangolo.com/advanced/events/#lifespan) parameter of
-    the `FastAPI` app can be assigned to a context manager, which is opened when the app
-    starts and closed when the app stops.
+    It expects the exact same parameters as
+    [`sqlalchemy.ext.asyncio.create_async_engine`][sqlalchemy.ext.asyncio.create_async_engine]
 
-    In order for `FastSQLA` to setup `SQLAlchemy` before the app is started, set
-    `lifespan` parameter to `fastsqla.lifespan`:
+    Example:
 
     ```python
     from fastapi import FastAPI
-    from fastsqla import lifespan
+    from fastsqla import new_lifespan
 
+    lifespan = new_lifespan(
+        "sqlite+aiosqlite:///app/db.sqlite", connect_args={"autocommit": False}
+    )
 
     app = FastAPI(lifespan=lifespan)
     ```
 
-    If multiple lifespan contexts are required, create an async context manager function
-    to handle them and set it as the app's lifespan:
+    Args:
+        url (str): Database url.
+        kw (dict): Configuration parameters as expected by [`sqlalchemy.ext.asyncio.create_async_engine`][sqlalchemy.ext.asyncio.create_async_engine]
+    """
 
-    ```python
-    from collections.abc import AsyncGenerator
-    from contextlib import asynccontextmanager
+    has_config = url is not None
 
-    from fastapi import FastAPI
-    from fastsqla import lifespan as fastsqla_lifespan
-    from this_other_library import another_lifespan
+    @asynccontextmanager
+    async def lifespan(app: FastAPI) -> AsyncGenerator[State, None]:
+        if has_config:
+            prefix = ""
+            sqla_config = {**kw, **{"url": url}}
 
+        else:
+            prefix = "sqlalchemy_"
+            sqla_config = {k.lower(): v for k, v in os.environ.items()}
 
-    @asynccontextmanager
-    async def lifespan(app:FastAPI) -> AsyncGenerator[dict, None]:
-        async with AsyncExitStack() as stack:
-            yield {
-                **stack.enter_async_context(lifespan(app)),
-                **stack.enter_async_context(another_lifespan(app)),
-            }
+        try:
+            engine = async_engine_from_config(sqla_config, prefix=prefix)
 
+        except KeyError as exc:
+            raise Exception(f"Missing {prefix}{exc.args[0]} in environ.") from exc
 
-    app = FastAPI(lifespan=lifespan)
-    ```
+        async with engine.begin() as conn:
+            await conn.run_sync(Base.prepare)
 
-    To learn more about lifespan protocol:
+        SessionFactory.configure(bind=engine)
 
-    * [Lifespan Protocol](https://asgi.readthedocs.io/en/latest/specs/lifespan.html)
-    * [Use Lifespan State instead of `app.state`](https://github.com/Kludex/fastapi-tips?tab=readme-ov-file#6-use-lifespan-state-instead-of-appstate)
-    * [FastAPI lifespan documentation](https://fastapi.tiangolo.com/advanced/events/)
-    """
-    prefix = "sqlalchemy_"
-    sqla_config = {k.lower(): v for k, v in os.environ.items()}
-    try:
-        engine = async_engine_from_config(sqla_config, prefix=prefix)
+        await logger.ainfo("Configured SQLAlchemy.")
 
-    except KeyError as exc:
-        raise Exception(f"Missing {prefix}{exc.args[0]} in environ.") from exc
+        yield {"fastsqla_engine": engine}
 
-    async with engine.begin() as conn:
-        await conn.run_sync(Base.prepare)
+        SessionFactory.configure(bind=None)
+        await engine.dispose()
 
-    SessionFactory.configure(bind=engine)
+        await logger.ainfo("Cleared SQLAlchemy config.")
 
-    await logger.ainfo("Configured SQLAlchemy.")
+    return lifespan
 
-    yield {"fastsqla_engine": engine}
 
-    SessionFactory.configure(bind=None)
-    await engine.dispose()
+lifespan = new_lifespan()
+"""Use `fastsqla.lifespan` to set up SQLAlchemy directly from environment variables.
 
-    await logger.ainfo("Cleared SQLAlchemy config.")
+In an ASGI application, [lifespan events](https://asgi.readthedocs.io/en/latest/specs/lifespan.html)
+are used to communicate startup & shutdown events.
+
+The [`lifespan`](https://fastapi.tiangolo.com/advanced/events/#lifespan) parameter of
+the `FastAPI` app can be assigned to a context manager, which is opened when the app
+starts and closed when the app stops.
+
+In order for `FastSQLA` to setup `SQLAlchemy` before the app is started, set
+`lifespan` parameter to `fastsqla.lifespan`:
+
+```python
+from fastapi import FastAPI
+from fastsqla import lifespan
+
+
+app = FastAPI(lifespan=lifespan)
+```
+
+If multiple lifespan contexts are required, create an async context manager function
+to handle them and set it as the app's lifespan:
+
+```python
+from collections.abc import AsyncGenerator
+from contextlib import asynccontextmanager
+
+from fastapi import FastAPI
+from fastsqla import lifespan as fastsqla_lifespan
+from this_other_library import another_lifespan
+
+
+@asynccontextmanager
+async def lifespan(app:FastAPI) -> AsyncGenerator[dict, None]:
+    async with AsyncExitStack() as stack:
+        yield {
+            **stack.enter_async_context(lifespan(app)),
+            **stack.enter_async_context(another_lifespan(app)),
+        }
+
+
+app = FastAPI(lifespan=lifespan)
+```
+
+To learn more about lifespan protocol:
+
+* [Lifespan Protocol](https://asgi.readthedocs.io/en/latest/specs/lifespan.html)
+* [Use Lifespan State instead of `app.state`](https://github.com/Kludex/fastapi-tips?tab=readme-ov-file#6-use-lifespan-state-instead-of-appstate)
+* [FastAPI lifespan documentation](https://fastapi.tiangolo.com/advanced/events/)
+"""
 
 
 @asynccontextmanager
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 0daebf9..be4fcad 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -11,11 +11,13 @@ def pytest_configure(config):
 
 
 @fixture
-def environ(tmp_path):
-    values = {
-        "PYTHONASYNCIODEBUG": "1",
-        "SQLALCHEMY_URL": f"sqlite+aiosqlite:///{tmp_path}/test.db",
-    }
+def sqlalchemy_url(tmp_path):
+    return f"sqlite+aiosqlite:///{tmp_path}/test.db"
+
+
+@fixture
+def environ(sqlalchemy_url):
+    values = {"PYTHONASYNCIODEBUG": "1", "SQLALCHEMY_URL": sqlalchemy_url}
 
     with patch.dict("os.environ", values=values, clear=True):
         yield values
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_base.py b/tests/integration/test_base.py
index cc07211..609885d 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_base.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_base.py
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
+from fastapi import FastAPI
 from pytest import fixture
 from sqlalchemy import text
 
+app = FastAPI()
+
 
 @fixture(autouse=True)
 async def setup_tear_down(engine):
@@ -26,7 +29,7 @@ class User(Base):
     assert not hasattr(User, "email")
     assert not hasattr(User, "name")
 
-    async with lifespan(None):
+    async with lifespan(app):
         assert hasattr(User, "id")
         assert hasattr(User, "email")
         assert hasattr(User, "name")
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_lifespan.py b/tests/unit/test_lifespan.py
index 60f63e6..626d650 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_lifespan.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_lifespan.py
@@ -1,10 +1,13 @@
+from fastapi import FastAPI
 from pytest import raises
 
+app = FastAPI()
+
 
 async def test_it_returns_state(environ):
     from fastsqla import lifespan
 
-    async with lifespan(None) as state:
+    async with lifespan(app) as state:
         assert "fastsqla_engine" in state
 
 
@@ -13,7 +16,7 @@ async def test_it_binds_an_sqla_engine_to_sessionmaker(environ):
 
     assert SessionFactory.kw["bind"] is None
 
-    async with lifespan(None):
+    async with lifespan(app):
         engine = SessionFactory.kw["bind"]
         assert engine is not None
         assert str(engine.url) == environ["SQLALCHEMY_URL"]
@@ -26,7 +29,7 @@ async def test_it_fails_on_a_missing_sqlalchemy_url(monkeypatch):
 
     monkeypatch.delenv("SQLALCHEMY_URL", raising=False)
     with raises(Exception) as raise_info:
-        async with lifespan(None):
+        async with lifespan(app):
             pass
 
     assert raise_info.value.args[0] == "Missing sqlalchemy_url in environ."
@@ -37,7 +40,26 @@ async def test_it_fails_on_not_async_engine(monkeypatch):
 
     monkeypatch.setenv("SQLALCHEMY_URL", "sqlite:///:memory:")
     with raises(Exception) as raise_info:
-        async with lifespan(None):
+        async with lifespan(app):
             pass
 
     assert "'pysqlite' is not async." in raise_info.value.args[0]
+
+
+async def test_new_lifespan_with_connect_args(sqlalchemy_url):
+    from fastsqla import new_lifespan
+
+    lifespan = new_lifespan(sqlalchemy_url, connect_args={"autocommit": False})
+
+    async with lifespan(app):
+        pass
+
+
+async def test_new_lifespan_fails_with_invalid_connect_args(sqlalchemy_url):
+    from fastsqla import new_lifespan
+
+    lifespan = new_lifespan(sqlalchemy_url, connect_args={"this is wrong": False})
+
+    with raises(TypeError):
+        async with lifespan(app):
+            pass