When you’ve been trying to get pregnant without success, it’s natural to start asking questions. 

“Is it my hormones?”

“My diet?”

“My stress?”

For many women, the most frustrating answer they hear from health practitioners is “everything looks normal.”

Unexplained infertility affects up to 30% of couples struggling to conceive. It’s a diagnosis that offers no clarity—just more confusion. But “unexplained” rarely means there’s nothing wrong. It often means the deeper root cause simply hasn’t been addressed. In this blog, we’ll explore insights shared by Dr. Samantha Briguglio, a naturopathic doctor specializing in fertility, whose holistic approach helps uncover what conventional testing often misses.

This blog explores what might really be going on beneath the surface– from overlooked hormone patterns and lifestyle foundations to the limitations of jumping straight to IVF.

Understanding Unexplained Infertility: Why “Normal” Isn’t Always Optimal

When someone is told they have unexplained infertility, it usually means their standard lab results fall within the “normal” range, yet pregnancy still isn’t happening. 

The problem? Normal doesn’t always mean optimal.

Most conventional reference ranges simply confirm that you’re not pregnant or menopausal, but they don’t show whether your hormones are truly balanced for ovulation and implantation.

For example, estrogen levels that fall within the broad normal range might still be too low to trigger ovulation or support a thick, healthy uterine lining. The same goes for progesterone—technically present, but not high enough to maintain an early pregnancy.

Functional fertility practitioners like our team at Food Freedom & Fertility, use optimal ranges to better assess hormone balance:

• Estrogen (E2): Around 30–50 pg/mL on Day 3 of your cycle
  
• Progesterone: Drawn about 7 days after ovulation (commonly called “Day 21 labs”) to confirm ovulation and assess luteal support

These small distinctions matter. Without tracking hormone shifts throughout the cycle, important imbalances can go undetected—leaving you with a “normal” result and no answers.

Why IVF Isn’t Always the First or Best Option

IVF can be a powerful tool, but it’s not a cure-all, and for women with unexplained infertility or hypothalamic amenorrhea, it’s often not addressing the true problem.

If your body isn’t ovulating regularly, producing sufficient hormones, or maintaining a healthy uterine environment, stimulating it with medication doesn’t fix the underlying issue. It simply overrides it.

That’s why many women who go straight to IVF, without resolving their foundational health, see lower success rates and more emotional and financial stress. Restoring your body’s ability to function optimally first not only improves your chances of conceiving naturally but also makes assisted treatments more effective if you ever need them.

Think of it this way: you can’t build a strong house on an unstable foundation. The same is true for fertility.

The Overlooked Role of Sleep in Fertility

When it comes to improving fertility, sleep rarely gets the spotlight it deserves, but it might be the most underrated fertility enhancer of all.

Quality sleep supports hormone regulation, reduces inflammation, and keeps stress hormones like cortisol in check. Poor sleep, on the other hand, can disrupt ovulation, blood sugar balance, and thyroid function—all of which are critical for conception.

Most adult women need 7–9 hours of sleep per night, though the ideal amount varies from person to person. What matters most is waking up feeling rested.

If you’re consistently waking early to exercise, you may be unintentionally working against your fertility. Sleep loss raises cortisol, which suppresses the hypothalamic signals that trigger ovulation. In other words, hitting snooze might be more beneficial than squeezing in another workout.

Simple sleep resets that support fertility:

• Keep a consistent bedtime and wake time (even on weekends)
• Remove phones or screens from the bedroom
• Dim lights an hour before bed to signal melatonin release
• Try gentle stretching or herbal tea before sleep

Your body perceives adequate rest as safety—and safety is the foundation of fertility.

Why the “Egg Quality Diet” Isn’t the Whole Story

Scroll through fertility forums, and you’ll find endless talk of “egg quality diets” promising to boost AMH and improve conception rates. These often promote low-carb, anti-inflammatory, or sugar-free eating plans.

While nutrition matters, egg quality is influenced by more than food alone.

Eggs develop over roughly 90 days, during which time they’re affected by oxidative stress, inflammation, and nutrient status. A balanced diet rich in antioxidants and healthy fats absolutely helps, but so do consistent sleep, stress reduction, and toxin avoidance.

Instead of striving for perfection, aim for the 80/20 rule: eat nourishing foods most of the time, but allow flexibility for life’s joyful moments. Stressing about every ingredient or oil at a restaurant raises cortisol and triggers the same physiological stress response that can suppress ovulation.

Egg quality improves when your whole body feels nourished and supported—not when you’re eating “perfectly” but living in fear.

The Truth About AMH: What That Number Really Means

Hearing “your AMH is low” can feel devastating—but that number is often misunderstood.

AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone) measures your estimated ovarian reserve, or the quantity of eggs remaining. It’s helpful, but it’s not the full picture. AMH doesn’t account for egg quality, ovulation consistency, uterine health, or metabolic balance.

And despite what many women are told, AMH isn’t set in stone. Because it reflects the ovarian environment, not just egg count, improving your overall health can influence AMH and fertility outcomes.

Here’s what to focus on instead of fixating on that number:

• Balanced blood sugar (regular meals with protein, carbs, and fat)
• Anti-inflammatory nutrients (omega-3s, colorful produce, antioxidants)
• Stress management and nervous system regulation
• Consistent sleep and reduced toxin exposure
  

These changes support mitochondrial health, lower oxidative stress, and help the body produce and mature healthy eggs.

Male Factor Infertility: Half the Equation

It’s estimated that male factors contribute to around 50% of infertility cases, yet male testing often happens last, or not at all.

Sperm health is directly affected by lifestyle and environment. Low testosterone, poor diet, and toxin exposure all play a role. Everyday sources like synthetic fragrances, detergents, and even unfiltered water can introduce hormone-disrupting chemicals.

To support sperm and hormone health on both sides:

• Ditch heavily fragranced air fresheners, candles, and colognes
• Choose non-toxic personal care and cleaning products
• Filter drinking water to reduce heavy metals and fluoride
• Prioritize nutrient-rich foods and regular movement
  

You can’t control every environmental factor, but small, consistent improvements add up, and fertility benefits both partners.

Preconception Health: Setting the Stage for a Healthy Pregnancy

If pregnancy isn’t your goal right now, but it’s on the horizon, start preparing your body three to four months in advance (the amount of time it takes for eggs to mature).

A fertility-supportive foundation includes:

• Quality sleep: 7–9 hours per night
• Balanced nutrition: Include carbs, protein, and fats at every meal
• Gentle movement: Prioritize strength and mobility over intensity
• Stress regulation: Try journaling, therapy, or nervous-system work
• Reduced toxin exposure: Swap out synthetic scents and clean your water

These steps not only enhance fertility, they set the stage for a smoother pregnancy and postpartum recovery, too.

Heal Before You Intervene

Unexplained infertility doesn’t mean your body is broken—it means it needs attention, not intervention.

Before turning to IVF or medications, look at your foundation: 

Are you sleeping well? 

Eating enough? 

Managing stress? 

Feeling safe and supported in your body?

When those pieces fall into place, your body often remembers what it was designed to do. Many women regain regular cycles and conceive naturally once their physiology is restored.

Ready for Your Next Step?

If you’re tired of being told your labs are “normal” but still don’t have answers, it’s time to take a new approach.Watch my FREE Training on how to get your period back and boost fertility in 90 days or less so you can restore your cycle, rebalance your hormones, and start your fertility journey from a place of true health.

 American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). “Unexplained Infertility.” https://www.asrm.org/topics/topics-index/unexplained-infertility/