Brave & Curious with Dr Lora Shahine

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Ep 23 Samantha Busch on Surrogacy and Infertility Advocacy Jan 30, 2023

Show notes

To many, getting pregnant can feel like a struggle, and today's guest transformed that struggle into strength. In this Baby or Bust episode, reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Lora Shahine meets with IVF advocate and entrepreneur Samantha Busch about everything she learned in her fertility journey.

Samantha knew she wanted to be a mom, but what she didn't expect was experiencing infertility at 25. To our host, Samantha shares her family-building journey with her husband, Kyle Busch, complete with PCOS, Clomid, IVF, surrogacy, and her journey towards advocacy.

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This episode of Baby Or Bust is produced by Mark Ramsey, Jaime Solis, and Greg Moga and executive produced by Paul Anderson and Nick Panella for Workhouse Media. Baby Or Bust is produced in partnership with the Seattle Sperm Bank.

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Ep 22 GG from Shahs of Sunset Shares Her Fertility Journey Jan 23, 2023

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fReality TV has many ups and downs, and your fertility journey can often be the same. In this Baby or Bust episode, host and reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Lora Shahine meets with Golnesa "GG" Gharachedaghi for a frank discussion about her tumultuous journey toward motherhood—and no topic is off limits.

GG always knew she wanted to be a mother, but life seemingly had other plans. With Dr. Shahine, GG reflects on pregnancy loss, including an ectopic pregnancy, losing both fallopian tubes, using a sperm donor, utilizing IVF, and being a single mom by choice.

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Ep 21 Amanda Knox on Fertility and Incarceration Jan 16, 2023

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Doing time in prison is one thing, but doing it during childbearing years can be a lifetime sentence of its own. In this gripping episode of Baby or Bust, Amanda Knox shares her experience of wrongfully losing her most fertile years in prison with our host Dr. Lora Shahine.

Since being in an Italian prison for four years and on trial for murder for another eight, Amanda Knox has used her platform to speak out about the fertility consequences on women in prison. In an honest discussion with host and reproductive endocrinologist Lora Shahine, Amanda shares her lifelong desire to be a mom, women's unique challenges of becoming mothers after prison, her grief with a miscarriage, trauma's impact on fertility, and more.

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Ep 20 Separating Fact from Fiction with COVID-19 and Fertility Jun 01, 2022

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Fasten your seatbelts for a controversial⁠—and educational⁠—episode about COVID-19 and fertility. In this intimate episode, host and reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Lora Shahine provides an illuminating medical overview of the pandemic's impact on the fertility community.

This episode quells COVID-19 rumors and fears by deciphering studies about infections and vaccinations. Lora highlights the origins of misleading COVID-19 vaccine fears, addresses COVID-19's effect on menstrual cycles and fertility, and provides her take on risks associated with getting vaccinated. For a digestible analysis of COVID-19 and fertility data, listen to this episode.

Connect with Dr. Lora Shahine on social media!

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This episode of Baby Or Bust is Produced by Mark Ramsey, Jaime Solis, and Greg Moga. Executive Produced by Nick Panella, and Andrew Greenwood for Workhouse Media. Baby Or Bust is produced in partnership with the Seattle Sperm Bank.

Advertising Inquiries: info@audiotocracy.com

Ep 19 Environmental Toxins and Reproduction Health: Potential Countdown to Human Extinction with Dr. Shanna Swan May 25, 2022

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Today's men have almost 60% less sperm than their parents or grandparents, and research points to environmental toxins as the likely culprit. Host and reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Lora Shahine meets with Dr. Shanna Swan, an award-winning scientist, and researcher, to talk through toxins' impact on our reproductive and overall health.

With over 200 scientific papers (including one that went viral) and a successful book, Dr. Swan is a leading voice in toxins awareness in fertility medicine. This episode tackles big topics about humanity—Are humans on their way to extinction? Why are sperm counts dropping? Does our species have a reproductive problem?—and get specifics about actions to reduce exposure to endocrine disruptors.

You can learn more about Dr. Swan here: https://www.shannaswan.com/

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Ep 18 History and Perspective of Assisted Reproduction from Living Fertility Legend Dr. Cappy Rothman May 18, 2022

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Building a family with donor sperm is more common today than ever before. In this episode of Baby or Bust, Dr. Lora Shahine meets with the father of modern sperm donation, Dr. Cappy Rothman, who explores the past, present, and future of the sperm donation process.

As the co-founder of California Cryobank, the world's largest sperm bank, Dr. Rothman has been at the forefront of assisted reproduction since its inception. Dr. Shahine and Dr. Rothman dig into the history of sperm banking (spoiler alert: The concept wasn't well-received when first shared in the 1950s) and his advocacy for sperm bank access for couples experiencing infertility. The episode also touches upon 23andMe and Ancestry.com's implications with donor anonymity, what people generally want in a donor, the information captured by sperm banks, and much, much more.

You can learn more about Dr. Rothman here: https://www.laweekly.com/the-god-of-sperm/

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Ep 17 Sperm Donation: Myths vs. Reality from a Sperm Donor May 11, 2022

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Sperm donation is more common than ever, but it's rare to hear about the donor's motivations and repercussions—until now. Host and reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Lora Shahine meets with long-time sperm donor Zack to learn about his experience discovering, applying, and becoming a frequent donor.

Zack's initial motivation for becoming a sperm donor seems like something out of a movie script: He was a starving student who needed to pay the rent. What started as a solution to make ends meet has grown into a mission to help others build families, and this Baby or Bust episode explores the ins and outs of embracing this much-needed role in the fertility process. From detailing the application process to remembering his own family's reactions, this refreshing discussion will open your eyes to the possibilities that come from sperm donations.

You can learn more about The Seattle Sperm bank here: https://www.seattlespermbank.com/

Connect with Dr. Lora Shahine on social media!

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Baby Or Bust is Produced by Mark Ramsey, Jaime Solis, and Greg Moga. Executive Produced by Nick Panella, and Andrew Greenwood for Workhouse Media. Baby Or Bust is produced in partnership with the Seattle Sperm Bank.

Advertising Inquiries: info@audiotocracy.com

Ep 16 Surrogacy: Finding Purpose and Fighting Misconceptions with Eloise Drain May 04, 2022

Show notes

Surrogacy is shrouded in misconceptions, and it's often the answer to the end of a long infertility journey. Eloise Drane, the owner of egg donor and surrogacy agency Family Inceptions, tackles the misunderstood topic head-on with Baby or Bust host and reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Lora Shahine.

Eloise Drane is deeply familiar with the surrogacy process—personally and professionally. As a six-time egg donor and three-time gestational surrogate, this episode highlights Eloise's perspective on traditional vs. gestational surrogacy, the role of a surrogacy agency, considerations with surrogacy compensation, and advice for intended parents. Together with Dr. Shahine, this episode gives an honest depiction of surrogacy while dispelling common stigmas.

You can learn more about Eloise here: https://familyinceptions.com/about-us/meet-our-team/

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Ep 15 Men Matter: The Other Half of Infertility from Male Fertility Expert Dr. Paul Turek Apr 27, 2022

Show notes

Male infertility: How common is it, and what can you do to beat the odds? In this information-packed episode of Baby or Bust, reproductive endocrinologist and host Dr. Lora Shahine speaks with Dr. Paul Turek, a leading innovator in male reproductive health and founder of The Turek Clinic, to separate fact from fiction with male infertility.

This episode gives you all the must-knows about improving male fertility—from the food you consume and the lifestyle you lead. Dr. Turek shares his wisdom on why history is the most crucial consideration for a low sperm count, clarifies what evidence says about ideal nutrition, and addresses if someone can *really* be too fit to be fertile. Our host and guest also touch upon marijuana's effect on sperm motility, the risks of BPA exposures with reproductive health, supplements that might improve sperm count, and Dr. Turek's views on COVID-19's relationship to sperm production. A must-listen for anyone interested in the male factor of infertility.

You can learn more about Dr. Paul Turek here: https://www.theturekclinic.com

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Ep 14 Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis: Fighting Misconception and Finding Hope with Pelvic Pain Specialist Dr. Sonia Bahlani Apr 20, 2022

Show notes

Many women suffer in pain—from periods, intercourse, and everyday life—for years before getting a diagnosis. In today's episode, Dr. Lora Shahine meets with guest Dr. Sonia Bahlani, a chronic pelvic pain specialist, to uncover advice that helps listeners advocate for the care they need and deserve.

The two doctors discuss our society's acceptance of pain as part of the female experience (spanning back to the 1800s) if periods are supposed to be painful, and common signs of endometriosis. Dr. Bahlani also shares her recommendations for listening to your body, rejecting gaslighting, recognizing racial bias in medical environments, and considering a holistic approach to health for pain relief.

You can learn more about Dr. Sonia Bahlani here: https://www.pelvicpaindoc.com

Connect with Dr. Lora Shahine on social media!

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Advertising Inquiries: info@audiotocracy.com

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