The Root Cause Medicine Podcast is created by Rupa Health, the best way to order, track & get results from 30+ lab companies in one place. This episode is sponsored by Athletic Greens. With one delicious scoop of AG1, you get 75 high-quality vitamins, minerals, whole-food sourced ingredients, probiotics, and adaptogens to help support your gut health, nervous system, immune system, energy, recovery…All the things In today’s episode, Dr. Carrie Jones is joined by Dr. Marc Sklar, a Fertility Expert and Founding Principal of the Reproductive Wellness Clinic. They discuss natural fertility, sperm health, egg freezing, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), and more. Key Takeaways from this episode: 1. Fertility and Family Planning: We think that we can get pregnant effortlessly. But in terms of animals that reproduce, we are not the most efficient at it. At our best, when we're in our late teens or early twenties, we have at most a twenty-five to thirty percent chance of conception every cycle. In terms of age, the general guideline is to get pregnant under thirty-five before you should seek additional support and attention. But if you need that support or have a history of some issues, don't wait for those markers. Get help sooner rather than later. 2. What Is HSG? Hysterosalpingography, or HSG, is a radiologic procedure to investigate whether the Fallopian tubes are open, which is significant because that's where the egg and sperm meet. One of the benefits of an HSG is that if something minor is blocking the Fallopian tubes, often that procedure opens and clears the path. But if there is a profound blockage, changes are not that big because usually, it only opens temporarily. 3. Polyps and Fibroids Affect Fertility: Fibroids depend on multiple factors, like size and location. They don't significantly impact fertility unless they are extremely large and located, so it will hinder implantation. Polyps are basically like little skin tags inside the uterus. So even though they are small, they may be an issue depending on their location because if they are in a spot where implantation would happen. 4. PCOS and Pregnancy: PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) represents one of the most common causes of female infertility. However, Dr. Sklar believes that 90% of all PCOS patients can and should get pregnant naturally. But many of them have been mismanaged and moved into IVF unnecessarily. So much of this can be supported, managed, and addressed without ignoring the patient and pushing them toward IVF. By taking ownership of it, making changes, and getting a good plan, most PCOS patients get pregnant naturally. Dr. Marc Sklar is a fertility expert that helps couples all over the world get pregnant with his online fertility program. Also known as The Fertility Expert, he has been doing this for over twenty years and helping thousands of couples. Dr. Marc Sklar also has two functional medicine clinics in San Diego, California, where he sees over 100+ patients per week with the help of his team of four other fertility experts.