In this episode of the Root Cause Medicine Podcast, Dr. Kate Kresge is joined by Dr. Jessica Christie, a licensed naturopathic doctor, clinical nutritionist, and integrative fertility expert, to discuss a diagnosis that frustrates both patients and practitioners: unexplained infertility. Dr. Christie explains that “unexplained” can sometimes mean “we haven’t found the root cause yet,” and she walks us through six of the most common hidden causes of fertility struggles—from subclinical hypothyroidism and nutrient deficiencies to autoimmune markers and environmental toxin exposure. Whether you’re a patient searching for answers or a practitioner looking for a more complete workup, this conversation offers evidence-based strategies, powerful case examples, and a hopeful message: unexplained doesn’t mean unsolvable. You’ll hear them discuss: - Why “unexplained infertility” is a diagnosis of exclusion—and what it often misses (Abdallah et al., 2020) - Six common, often-overlooked root-cause contributors to fertility struggles - How research links subclinical hypothyroidism with IVF success rates (Cho et al., 2015) - The immune markers linked to miscarriage and implantation failure (Demir et al., 2009; Shahbazi et al., 2019; Sauer et al., 2010; Jalilvand et al., 2023; Edassery et al., 2010) - Why gut and vaginal dysbiosis matter for egg quality and implantation (Patel et al., 2022; Tersigni et al., 2014; Blancafort & Llácer, 2023) - The micronutrients most essential for fertility—and most commonly deficient (Skoracka et al., 2021; Ji et al., 2023) - How to approach detoxing safely when trying to conceive (Jain & Singh, 2022; Pizzorno, 2017; NCCIH, 2019) - Real patient stories that show what’s possible with root-cause medicine

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