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In this episode of The Healthspan Collective, host Nicole Doran sits down with Ilie Beli for a deeper conversation on fertility, preconception health, and why so many women are told they have “unexplained infertility.”
Ilie shares her personal experience navigating the fertility system, from feeling dismissed by traditional clinics to being quickly pushed toward IVF without a full understanding of what was actually happening in her body. Together, they unpack why “unexplained infertility” can often overlook underlying issues like PCOS, thyroid dysfunction, metabolic health, and endometriosis.
The conversation explores the limitations of IVF as a default solution, including how it bypasses root causes rather than addressing them, and why egg and sperm quality are often not fully evaluated. Ilie also shares her experience with restorative reproductive medicine, including working with Dr. Gavin Puthoff and undergoing NaPro surgery, which revealed multiple underlying conditions including stage one endometriosis, fibroids, endometritis, and a significantly blocked fallopian tube.
Nicole and Ilie discuss the importance of cycle tracking, understanding cervical mucus through the Creighton Method, supporting male fertility, and taking a more comprehensive approach to reproductive health. This episode offers a grounded, informative look at fertility, and serves as a reminder that there is often more to explore beneath the surface.
What We Cover
- Why “unexplained infertility” often misses root causes
- The limitations of IVF as a default approach
- PCOS, thyroid, and metabolic factors in fertility
- Silent endometriosis and why it’s often overlooked
- NaPro surgery and restorative reproductive medicine
- The importance of egg and sperm quality
- Cycle tracking and the Creighton Method
- Supporting male fertility
- The emotional and mental toll of infertility
- Building a more informed, individualized approach
Chapters:
00:00 IVF Industry Frustrations
02:11 Why Fertility Feels So Confusing
04:48 “Unexplained Infertility” Explained
06:45 Egg Count vs Egg Quality
10:56 The IVF Clinic Experience
16:48 Being Pushed Toward IVF
22:50 PCOS and Missed Root Causes
25:29 Discovering NaPro Medicine
29:32 Surgery Findings and Endometriosis
37:14 Restorative Fertility Approach
