Unexplained Infertility: 6 Factors to Investigate with Dr. Jessica Christie

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 Guest Details: Website: magnoliaintegrativefertility.com Email: info@magnoliaintegrativefertility.com Instagram: @trulyholisticfertility Clinical Director, Magnolia Integrative Fertility Magazine Manager, Fullscript and Rupa Health Specialties: Fertility, hormone balance, autoimmune conditions, nutrition, women’s health Rupa Health Details: Rupa Health's Website , LinkedIn , Instagram , YouTube Rupa Health Reference Guide & Magazine Labs Mentioned TSH Ovarian antibodies CRP Vitamin D Selenium Stool testing for dysbiosis Vaginal swab for BV Urine panel for environmental toxins Functional hormone panels (blood, urine, or month-long testing) Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome and introduction to Dr. Jessica Christie 03:05 – What “unexplained infertility” really means 06:36 – Six hidden contributors of infertility: thyroid, autoimmunity, inflammation, dysbiosis, nutrient deficiencies, toxins 12:24 – Subclinical hypothyroidism: labs, ranges, fertility outcomes 17:35 – Autoimmune markers and how they can affect implantation and miscarriage risk 23:15 – IL-6 and chronic inflammation in infertility 25:33 – Gut and vaginal dysbiosis and how it’s tested 29:27 – Top nutrient deficiencies to test and replete 34:28 – Environmental toxins: where they come from and how to reduce them 41:04 – Ideal lab panel for investigating unexplained infertility 44:31 – Safe detox strategies while trying to conceive 47:53 – Probiotics, fiber, and supporting the body’s natural detox pathways 51:03 – Rapid fire: favorite supplements, myths, labs, and research picks