MYF 73 | Unexplained Infertility: Finding the Root Cause
Welcome to Episode 73!
In episode 73, we're helping you navigate the incredibly frustrating world of "unexplained infertility." If you've received this diagnosis (or lack thereof), you know how disheartening it is to be told by doctors that they can't find any medical reason that you're struggling to conceive - and yet there you are, still waiting for that positive test. Usually, couples who are labelled unexplained are referred to conventional fertility treatment so that science can try to control for as many variables as possible in the conception process. But is that really all that can be done? We definitely don't think so! There are so many other factors that can influence fertility, beyond what is typically investigated by an OBGYN or fertility clinic. This episode is going to help you explore your options for getting more concrete answers on what might be happening with your fertility and what natural approaches you can consider to address underlying health issues and get your baby journey back on track!
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Links to Other Episodes We Discuss
Thyroid testing and treatment: 39
Functional hormone testing: 22, 70
Food sensitivities: 33
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Show Notes:
3:25 What tests should already have been done prior to receiving an unexplained diagnosis
4:05 Ovulation and ovarian function assessment
6:50 Anatomical or tubal issues
7:40 Semen analysis
9:25 Testing to consider if your case is unexplained after a conventional evaluation
10:20 Important blood tests that need to be interpreted from a functional medicine perspective
11:05 Full thyroid panel
12:30 Complete blood count
13:25 Comprehensive metabolic panel
14:05 Lipid panel
14:55 Vitamin D
15:45 Homocysteine
17:10 C-reactive protein
17:45 Fasting insulin
18:20 Hemoglobin A1c
19:15 Who should have these tests done?
21:55 Looking deeper into your gut health with stool testing
23:00 Why this is so important for fertility
27:00 Who would benefit most from gut testing?
29:00 Types of testing available and what they measure
33:35 Getting a more complete evaluation of hormone health and function
35:30 Who should consider functional hormone testing?
37:10 Types of testing available and what they measure
39:50 Why it’s important to consider environmental exposures when looking into hormones
41:50 Really investigating your diet and your intake of potentially inflammatory foods
42:35 Questions to ask yourself about what you’re eating (and NOT eating)
46:35 Why it’s important to look into food sensitivities and what symptoms indicate a problem
47:45 How to test for food sensitivities and which foods are most likely to cause issues
49:40 Assessing your lifestyle and whether it’s truly supportive of your health and fertility
50:45 Obvious things to address right away
51:05 Chronic stress and HPA axis dysregulation
52:50 Exercise
56:50 Sleep
58:20 Mind-body considerations
59:10 Other areas to investigate and types of available testing
60:20 Genetic SNP testing
62:40 Organic acids testing
65:05 Toxicity testing – metal and non-metal
66:20 Mold exposure/testing
67:30 Chronic infections – viruses, Lyme, etc.
68:10 Undiagnosed autoimmunity
69:00 Vaginal and/or uterine microbiome imbalances