In this episode of the Vibrant Wellness Podcast, Dr. Alex Carrasco sits down with Dr. Peter Kozlowski, “Dr. Koz”, a functional medicine physician and author of Unfunc Your Gut and Get the Func Out, to unpack the alarming rise in infertility and the root causes behind it.
Dr. Koz highlights how infertility rates have soared from less than 1% in 1990 to nearly 19% today, an unprecedented increase that can’t be explained by genetics alone. Instead, he points to environmental toxins, industrialized food, and chronic inflammation as major drivers activating genetic vulnerabilities. Every day, exposures from pesticides and plastics to mold and heavy metals can quietly disrupt hormone balance and fertility over time.
Throughout the conversation, Dr. Koz emphasizes the power of root-cause medicine. By supporting the gut microbiome, optimizing detox pathways, reducing inflammation, and calming the nervous system, couples can improve their fertility outcomes naturally, whether on their own or alongside conventional treatments like IVF. In fact, Dr. Kozlowski credits these very root-cause approaches with helping him and his wife conceive their child after their own fertility challenges.
Key Topics Covered
🧬 The rise in infertility and its environmental root causes
🌿 How toxins, mold, and inflammation disrupt hormonal balance
🧠 Gut health’s hidden role in fertility and overall wellness
🧪 The power of genomics: MTHFR, IL-6, progesterone receptor, and more
🧘♀️ Stress, vagus nerve regulation, and nervous system balance
🧼 Practical detox strategies to support preconception health
🤰 Integrative fertility support alongside conventional care
Timestamps
00:00 – Infertility “at 19%” & environmental drivers
00:59 – Meet host Dr. Alex Carrasco; today’s focus
01:32 – Meet guest Dr. Peter Kozlowski (“Dr. Koz”) & background
03:22 – “From <1% (1990) to 19% today”: the stat shocker
03:59 – Personal journey: pelvic pain → stage 4 endometriosis → IVF
06:59 – Low-dose naltrexone (LDN) enters; IVF outcomes
08:33 – Genomics: IL-6, mitochondria, detox & endometriosis risk
10:19 – Dr. Carrasco’s preeclampsia story → nutrigenomics (MTHFR/COMT)
13:57 – Preconception game plan: detox first; test gut, metals, mold, toxins
15:39 – Microbiome & GBS: conventional gaps for mom & baby
17:32 – Beyond the gut: vaginal/oral/ovarian microbiomes & fertility
19:24 – Total toxic “bucket” model—why people react differently
22:59 – Mold win: remove exposure → mycotoxins drop → pregnancy
25:14 – Test right: EMMA dust + urine mycotoxins vs spore tests
27:39 – Detox & gut-first: glutathione, sauna, ALA, binders, cholestyramine; fix SIBO/candida
33:41 – Thyroid as “toxin sponge”: Hashimoto’s, gluten, autoimmunity links
36:17 – Beyond MTHFR: key SNPs (progesterone receptor, vitamin A, CoQ10, FSH, Factor V Leiden)
45:04 – Why rates may be rising: food system, pesticides/GM, soil; epigenetics
47:19 – Stress is the linchpin: sympathetic overdrive, vagus, gut–brain axis
51:59 – Practical calm tools: therapy, HRV, breathwork, spirituality, PEMF
55:09 – How to work with Dr. Koz; books Unfunc Your Gut and Get the Func Out
Resources Mentioned
🌐 Discover Dr. Koz's work with IFM, including his role as a presenter at the Annual International Conference (AIC)
📚 Dr. Koz’s Book: Unfunc Your Gut and Get the Func Out
📱 Connect with Dr. Alex Carrasco on Instagram
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Please note the information provided by Vibrant Wellness is intended solely for research and informational purposes to help inform lifestyle choices aimed at potential risk mitigation. The information is not intended to be used by the patient for any diagnostic purpose and is not a substitute for medical advice by a healthcare practitioner. Please consult a licensed healthcare practitioner for any questions regarding diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of any disease or health assessment.