Unexplained Infertility Is Not Unexplained (Episode 480)

Full Transcript: Episode 480

Lisa: Today I’m diving into unexplained infertility with Dr. Marc Sklar. If you’re not familiar with Marc, he is also known as a fertility expert on social media. He’s a natural fertility specialist helping couples get pregnant for the past 20 years. His mission is to help you feel hopeful and confident about your fertility journey again, and his HOPE Fertility Program has supported thousands of people to get down to the root cause of their fertility issues and find the answers they need to heal and improve their reproductive health. So without further ado, let’s jump into today’s episode with Marc.

Marc: It’s nice to be back. I think today we’ll be talking about something a little bit different than what we’ve talked about in the past.

Lisa: Yes, you’ve always been my go-to sperm doctor, but here we are. I noticed in the background you have your YouTube thing — congrats! What does that milestone mean?

Marc: That was for 100,000 subscribers. It actually happened during the start of the pandemic, and it brought some levity to a really stressful time.

Lisa: Congrats on all the success! So, let’s get into it. For those who may be new, can you share briefly who you are and why you’re doing this work?

Marc: Sure. I’m Marc Sklar, a natural fertility expert. I help couples get pregnant naturally and find the root cause of their fertility issues. It all started over 20 years ago with the first woman I helped get pregnant. She had PCOS and got pregnant in about four and a half months. That experience solidified my direction and changed my life.

Lisa: What a great story. So, let’s jump into today’s topic: unexplained infertility. I’ve had a lot of clients lately who feel discouraged based on lab results. Why do you think “unexplained infertility” is such a common label?

Marc: I think it’s a lazy diagnosis. It often means someone doesn’t want to dig deeper. Most cases labeled as unexplained actually have an explanation — it just hasn’t been found. It often comes down to whether we’ve done enough evaluation. Doctors sometimes overlook areas like stress, trauma, lifestyle, diet, environmental toxins — all of which can play a role in fertility but aren’t always addressed in conventional settings.

Lisa: That’s such a powerful point — not all fertility issues are reproductive issues. Can you speak more about that?

Marc: Absolutely. Many fertility challenges stem from other systems: stress response, adrenal health, digestion, toxic exposure. Specialization in medicine has limited how broadly providers look at health. And just because a specialist can’t find something doesn’t mean it isn’t there. That’s why we need to look beyond hormones and the reproductive system.

Lisa: There’s so much power in how doctors present information. Being told you “can’t get pregnant” is extremely harmful. It would be more helpful to say, “We don’t know — but someone else might be able to help.”

Marc: 100%. That unexplained diagnosis shuts the door. But we need to recognize that IVF is often presented as the only option — even when the cause hasn’t been identified. And that approach isn’t always necessary. It should be a last resort, not the first step.

Lisa: Yes. It seems like there’s always something — even if it’s small. In my experience, there’s never a case where nothing is going on. What do you find when you dig deeper?

Marc: I agree — there’s almost always something. Digestion, sleep, stress, inflammation, toxins — those are huge. Clients often expect us to do all the work, but they have to participate actively. Even just basic diet changes — reducing sugar, cooking at home, choosing organic — can make a big difference. Think of it as part of your health insurance.

Lisa: That shift in mindset is key. The menstrual cycle becomes a powerful marker. It helps show the connection between these changes and hormone health.

Marc: Absolutely. We track lab work, hormone levels, and how clients feel. I had one client whose hormone markers changed dramatically after she removed her breast implants. FSH dropped from around 80 to 12. It showed how addressing toxins — even those from implants — can have a huge impact.

Lisa: That’s so telling. I’ve also had clients who see these changes in their charts. But people unfamiliar with this might not understand how environmental exposure links to fertility.

Marc: That’s true. The motivation often comes from feeling better. Foundational labs often reveal inflammation, blood sugar issues, thyroid dysfunction, stress. When that’s addressed, we often see improvements in hormone levels and reproductive outcomes. But it takes engagement and consistency.

Lisa: What about AMH and FSH? Clients are often told those numbers define their fertility potential and that they’re fixed. What do you say to that?

Marc: AMH is not static. I see it change all the time. It reflects where you are today — not your long-term potential. It’s just a piece of the puzzle. And it’s not a diagnosis. Even women with low AMH can get pregnant naturally. It’s frustrating how much value is placed on one number. I’d rather see a healthy cycle and address the reasons why a marker might be off.

Lisa: Yes — that matches my experience. I had a client who tested AMH soon after stopping birth control and was told she had no chance. A year later, her markers normalized. There’s so much misinformation.

Marc: Exactly. Birth control suppresses the ovaries. That affects hormone readings. Timing matters. And if you just did an IVF cycle, AMH might drop because you’ve pulled follicles — that doesn’t mean your reserve is depleted. We need context and repeat testing under appropriate conditions.

Lisa: Thank you for all of this. I hope listeners come away feeling empowered. There are options. And sometimes all it takes is a different perspective and a willingness to keep digging.

Marc: I couldn’t agree more. We need to give ourselves time and space to heal and explore. IVF has its place — but it should be a later step, not the first. Foundational support can make all the difference.

Lisa: And that’s the perfect note to end on. Thanks again, Marc — always a pleasure to have you on the show.

Marc: Thanks for having me.