#148 | 5 Signs Inflammation Has Been an Overlooked Factor in Your Fertility Struggles and Recurrent Miscarriage

Could hidden inflammation be the reason you’re struggling to conceive or experiencing recurrent miscarriage?

Chronic inflammation is one of the most overlooked yet powerful factors impacting conception and miscarriage risk. Many women are told their symptoms are “normal” or that their “eggs are old,” but in reality, unaddressed inflammation could be the real reason your body isn’t creating a fertile environment for pregnancy.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

-The subtle signs of inflammation that most women and even doctors miss

-How inflammation disrupts ovulation, egg quality, and implantation

-Practical, science-backed strategies to lower inflammation and support your fertility naturally

Press play now to learn how to reduce inflammation and finally create the healthy, receptive environment your body needs to get — and stay — pregnant.

👉🏽Take the Ultimate Fertility Blueprint Quiz HERE⚡

🌟Follow and connect with me on Instagram @the_wellness_pharmacist to fast-track your fertility so you can finally get and stay pregnant naturally!⁠

Finally Get Pregnant Naturally is your go-to TTC podcast for holistic fertility support to help you get pregnant naturally by addressing the root cause of unexplained infertility, secondary infertility, and recurrent miscarriage. Hosted by Dr. Katie Wood, a pharmacist and holistic fertility practitioner, this show offers natural fertility solutions for those on a fertility journey struggling to conceive, navigating miscarriage, or dealing with endometriosis, PCOS, low sperm count, or failed IUI or failed IVF. Whether you're trying to conceive, increase egg quality, optimizing sperm health, or healing after a miscarriage, each episode delivers practical guidance to support your fertility journey. Learn how to improve fertility, balance hormones, regulate your fertile window, and conceive naturally through root cause healing, emotional wellness, and mind-body tools—because true fertility starts from within.

DISCLAIMER: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use it as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. This podcast offers information to help the listener cooperate with physicians, mental health professionals or other healthcare providers in a mutual quest for optimal well-being. We advise listeners to carefully review and understand the ideas presented, and to consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. Under no circumstances shall Pharm to Wellness LLC, any guests or contributors to the Finally Get Pregnant Naturally podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Pharm to Wellness LLC be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Episode Transcript

Katie (00:00):
In this episode, we're talking about the link between
chronic inflammation, miscarriagerisk, and fertility struggles.
Welcome to the finally GetPregnant Naturally Podcast.
The podcast helping women identifythe real reasons you haven't
conceived or stayed pregnant, soyou and your partner can finally

(00:20):
grow the family of your dreams.
I'm your host, Dr.
Katie Wood.
Let's dive in, shall we?
In this episode, you are going to learn how chronic inflammation can
silently interfere with fertility andincrease your risk for miscarriage.
The common signs of inflammationthat most people overlook
and practical strategies toreduce inflammation, support your

(00:44):
reproductive health, and create afertile environment for conception.
So let's talk about inflammation.
Inflammation is your body's naturalresponse to an injury or infection.
It's a survival mechanism.
Acute inflammation ishealthy and protective.

(01:05):
We need it to heal.
But when inflammation becomes chronicand unaddressed, it silently disrupts
your hormones, ovarian function, spermhealth, and even the uterine environment.
So chronic inflammation can stem froma diet high in processed foods or

(01:27):
sugar, environmental toxins, havinggut imbalances such as dysbiosis or
food sensitivities, chronic stress andunresolved infections, just to name a few.
When your body is in aconstant inflammatory state,
it can prevent ovulation.

(01:47):
It can reduce your egg and sperm quality.
It can make the uterine liningmore hostile and less receptive.
So of course, it can interferewith implantation, and this is why
inflammation is a common hiddenfactor in both fertility struggles,
but also recurrent miscarriage.

(02:11):
So here are some signs thatchronic inflammation may be
affecting your fertility.
Number one, frequent digestive issues.
Are you experiencing bloating,constipation, diarrhea,
or IB Slike symptoms?
And honestly, these symptoms don'thave to be happening every single day.

(02:34):
Even if you're experiencing it likea couple days a week, or even just
a few times a month, this could bea sign that something is going on.
Persistent fatigue.
If you feel like you're gettingseven, eight hours of sleep and that
it should be good restful sleep,but you're still feeling tired,

(02:55):
then this could be a red flag.
If you have any joint or musclepain, having like unexplained aches
or stiffness, and it doesn't haveto be in a certain area of the body,
it can maybe go from your handsto like your knees to your elbows.
It just can go all throughout the body.
And then number four, skin issues.

(03:17):
Do you have a history of acne, eczema?
Do you have some kind of like weirdor unknown rashes that have popped
up in the past or currently for you?
And then of course, autoimmune markers.
So Hashimoto's positive thyroid antibodiesor unexplained inflammation on labs.

(03:39):
And these signs may seemlike they're quote unquote.
Common, but that doesn't mean that they'renormal and they could seem minor to
you, but overall it can have a negativeeffect on your reproductive system.
And many women can go undiagnosed becauseinflammation is almost subtle and it can.

(04:05):
Be confused with a lot of differentthings, and a lot of times as women,
when we do bring up our concerns to ourdoctors, our concerns are dismissed.
And maybe you're told, oh yeah,that's just, PMS symptoms are normal,
or having gas and bloating is just.

(04:26):
Part of getting older or having aches andpains is part of getting older, right?
Like I'm sure we've all heardthese at least one time or another,
and, and then maybe your labsare coming back and they're not
really painting the full picture.
So how can inflammation lead tomiscarriage and also fertility struggles?

(04:49):
Chronic inflammation createsan environment that is
going to impact your egg.
Development, which if the egg developmentis affected, that is then going to
impact the quality of your corpus lium.
So also impacting yourlevel of progesterone.
And all of these things playinto each other basically into

(05:12):
the next step necessary forimplantation and conception to occur.
And it can reduce yourembryo quality as well.
So even if you're doing IUI.
IVF, but you have underlying inflammationthat's likely not being addressed.
This can reduce your embryo quality.

(05:33):
So maybe they retrieved 20 pluseggs, but none of them made it.
I have heard the story time and timeagain, and people are left with.
No answers as to why this happened, exceptmaybe quote unquote, your eggs are old.
Right?
You know, It can prevent theuterine lining from becoming

(05:55):
receptive and hospitable environmentfor the embryo to implant.
And it can also trigger immuneresponses that can attack the embryo
as well, which is definitely somethingthat we don't want to happen.
Studies have shown that womenwith elevated inflammatory markers

(06:16):
have higher rates of miscarriageand lower success rates with IVF.
So it's not just luck of the draw, it's abiological response that can be addressed.
So here are some steps that youcan take to reduce inflammation
and support your fertility.
Number one, you can followan anti-inflammatory diet.

(06:38):
So focusing on whole foods, Omega-3fatty acids, colorful vegetables,
and anti-inflammatory herbs.
There have been a ton of studieson the Mediterranean diet and its
benefits for fertility and it prettymuch has a lot of these pillars.

(06:59):
Addressing your gut health, right?
If you have any gut symptoms, you'regonna wanna work with a practitioner
who can do like a gut microbiometest so you can know what is
actually going on inside your body.
You can address the dysbiosis.
You can address any foodsensitivities and chronic infections

(07:22):
that you may have going on.
Stress management, this is huge.
Chronic stress contributes to systemicinflammation, so when you can have.
Daily practices like breathwork, meditation, or gentle
movement, this is going to helpregulate your nervous system.

(07:42):
You wanna detox your environment, soreduce your exposure to toxins and
plastics, personal care products,household cleaning products even.
If you use pesticides in your yard,like all of these things are going to.
Increase your toxin burden on the body.

(08:06):
And then of course, when you havetargeted supplementation specific to you.
I was just doing a test review today fora client and we went over her antioxidant
assay, which shows antioxidants thatare specifically protective for her
and her body and her cells protectingher cells from oxidative stress.

(08:31):
So this test shows antioxidantsthat are highly protective.
It shows some that have some protectionand also shows ones that really don't
have any protection, and you wannaknow what was on that list for her.
Coq 10 showed as littleprotection for her.
She had other antioxidants that weregoing to provide her body with more

(08:55):
benefit in terms of oxidative stress.
So to recap.
Chronic inflammation can quietly sabotageyour fertility without you even knowing
and increase the risk of miscarriage.
Signs can include digestiveissues, fatigue, joint pain, skin
problems, and autoimmune markers.

(09:16):
And by addressing your diet, guthealth, stress environment, and
targeted supplementation, you canlower inflammation and create a
fertile environment for conception.
So thank you so much for listening.
I hope you have a gorgeous day,and stay tuned for Thursday's
episode where we'll uncover anunderrated yet powerful fertility

(09:39):
supportive nutrient and antioxidant.
Are you ready to finally discover why youhaven't been able to get or stay pregnant?
The Ultimate Fertility Blueprint is aquick, insightful quiz designed to reveal
your overall capacity to conceive and helpyou discover potential root causes and

(09:59):
areas to address to improve your fertilityso you can finally get and stay pregnant.
You will find the link in theshow notes as a quick reminder and
disclaimer, this podcast is foreducational purposes only and is
not a substitute for medical advice.
Always consult your doctor orhealthcare provider before starting

(10:20):
any new supplement or protocol,especially if you're actively trying
to conceive or undergoing treatment.