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: [email protected]
• 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