This is Fertility

Latest Episodes:

Fertility 101: Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL) Oct 18, 2021

Show notes

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss and Awareness Month, and we want to shed light on the painful reality that is Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, sometimes shortened to RPL.

RPL is a diagnosis when a patient experiences two or more miscarriages. And while this reality can be overwhelming, it's crucial to understand how common miscarriages are and not self-blame.

On today's episode, Dr. Lora Shahine of Pacific Northwest Fertility answers those common questions associated with RPL, the differrent treatment options, and reminds us that no matter what, we're not broken.

Guest: Lora Shahine, Pacific Northwest Fertility

Host: Dan Bulger

For more information, visit Progyny's Podcast page and Progyny's Education page for more resources.

Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility.

Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at thisisinfertility@progyny.com.

Fertility 101: Oncofertility Oct 04, 2021

Show notes

The Fertility 101 Series, because there's no shortage of daunting terms to keep your mind running, is a quick and dirty breakdown on a specific topic with insights from a fertility expert.

In today's episode, we talk about oncofertility and the opportunity this gives to patients for life after cancer. Dr. Wael Salem of CCRM San Francisco joins us to help breakdown the most common questions and misconceptions when it comes to fertility preservation before undergoing cancer treatment.

Guest: Dr. Wael Salem, CCRM San Francisco

Host: Dan Bulger

For more information, visit Progyny's Podcast page and Progyny's Education page for more resources.

Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility.

Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at thisisinfertility@progyny.com.

Egg Donation from the Egg Donor's Point of View Sep 27, 2021

Show notes

Sometimes trying to have a child using your own eggs can be dangerous or impossible – this is where an egg donor comes in. We hear a lot about egg donation from the clinical perspective or from the intended parents, but what is the process like for the egg donor?

Holly Smith has donated her eggs to six different families. In today's episode, she shares the physical and emotional aspects of her journey, recounts her own fertility experience, and stresses the importance and beauty in providing joy for others trying to conceive.

Guest: Holly Smith, Progyny Patient Care Advocate

Host: Dan Bulger

For more information, visit Progyny's Podcast page and Progyny's Education page for more resources.

Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility.

Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at thisisinfertility@progyny.com.

PCOS and Fertility: How Expedia's Fertility Benefit Gave New Hope Sep 20, 2021

Show notes

There are a multitude of challenges that people face on their family building journey -- whether it's being misdiagnosed, not having enough information about your health, or facing a global pandemic. Angela Vega experienced all three, among others.

Angela, a Progyny member through Expedia, was initially misdiagnosed with endometriosis at an early age but when she decided she wanted to have kids, they correctly diagnosed her with PCOS. Once she learnt what was going on in her body, she had to deal with a whole new set of challenges. From a misdiagnosis, to IVF, to finding fertility coverage, to having a baby while testing positive for COVID, Angela covers everything in her journey and what the experience taught her.

Guest: Angela Vega, Progyny Member

Host: Dan Bulger

Interested in learning more about how to bring the Progyny benefit to your workplace? Visit www.progyny.com/talktohr to learn more.

For more information, visit Progyny's Podcast page and Progyny's Education page for more resources.

Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility.

Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at thisisinfertility@progyny.com.

Fertility 101: PCOS Sep 06, 2021

Show notes

The Fertility 101 Series, because there's no shortage of daunting terms to keep your mind running, is a quick and dirty breakdown on a specific topic with insights from a fertility expert.

In today's episode, we discuss PCOS and the challenges that come with it. Dr. Todd Deutsch from Advanced Reproductive Center educates us on the causes of PCOS, treatment options, and how PCOS impacts fertility and family building.

Guest: Dr. Todd Deutsch, Advanced Reproductive Center

Host: Dan Bulger

For more information, visit Progyny's Podcast page and Progyny's Education page for more resources.

For more episodes around PCOS, check out series:

Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility.

Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at thisisinfertility@progyny.com.

Bringing Joy to Others: POV of a Gestational Surrogate and Egg Donor Aug 23, 2021

Show notes

One thing always leads to another, and in Eloise's case, her actions illuminated a path of happiness and health for one family after another. Eloise Drain, founder of Family Inceptions and Reproductive Association of Minority Professionals (RAMP), started by donating her kidney to her cousin, and eventually Eloise found herself as a gestational carrier for many grateful couples over the years.

In this episode, Eloise talks about the process of being an egg donor and gestational carrier, as well as the ups and downs that come with it. During her journey, Eloise noticed the discrepancies in healthcare for women of color when she was told that "black women don't have fertility issues." This influenced her to create Family Inceptions, an agency that seeks out surrogates or egg donors that carefully places them with others who are a perfect match for them, as well as RAMP, an agency designed to prioritize minorities in their family building journey.

Guest: Eloise Drain, Family Inceptions, Reproductive Association of Multiethnic Professionals

Host: Dan Bulger

For more information, visit Progyny's Podcast page and Progyny's Education page for more resources.

Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility.

Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at thisisinfertility@progyny.com.

The Trying Game: IVF, Miscarriage, and a Book Aug 09, 2021

Show notes

We've said often on this podcast that sharing a journey can be very cathartic for both the person sharing as well as for the audience. This was certainly the case for author Amy Klein, author and fertility advocate who chronicled her four-year journey with IVF and recurrent pregnancy loss through a column in the New York Times and eventually, a book.

Amy's story consists of ten doctors, nine rounds of IVF, four miscarriages, an international move, and eventually, a healthy baby girl. And while Amy's experience was unique to her and her husband, her stories and advice have already helped thousands out there struggling with their own version of infertility.

Guest: Amy Klein, The Trying Game: Get Through Fertility Treatment and Get Pregnant Without Losing Your Mind

Host: Dan Bulger

If you want to purchase 'The Trying Game', you can find it here.

For more information, visit Progyny's Podcast page and Progyny's Education page for more resources.

Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility.

Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at thisisinfertility@progyny.com.

Bonus Episode 14: Journey to Fatherhood: Same Sex Couples + Single Fathers by Choice Aug 02, 2021

Show notes

Society has come a long wayin finally providing fertility and family building benefits for same-sex male couples and single fathers by choice. But this journey can be complex and confusing. Which is why, for our third installment of our Journey to Fatherhood series, we pulled a panel of experts to give an overview on how to build family with a surrogate, donor eggs, and adoption. We also dive into how to maintain the relationships around you and how to ask for emotional support.

While this episode is definitely worth the listen, we understand that life gets busy and have provided a summary for you here.

If you missed our previous installments, check out:

Bonus Episode 11: Journey To Fatherhood: Finding Support in the Journey

Bonus Episode 13: Journey To Fatherhood: Male Infertility 101

Experts: Brandon Johnson, MHS, LGSW, Infertility Isn't Inferior, Dr. Bradford A. Kolb, HRC Fertility and Progyny's Medical Advisory Board

Host: Dr. Georgia Witkin, Progyny

For more information, visit Progyny's Podcast page and Progyny's Education page for more resources.

Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility.

Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at thisisinfertility@progyny.com.

LGBTQ+ Family Building: The Importance of Decision Making and Fertility Coverage Jul 26, 2021

Show notes

When it comes to a family building journey, there are a lot of decisions to make along the way. ART has transformed family building options for the LGBTQ+ community, but there aren't a ton of data points and studies chronicling their experiences.

Same-sex male couples have many options when it comes to family building, some of which could include finding a gestational carrier, donor tissue purchase, embryo transfer, PGT-A testing. etc. Progyny and some of its medical partners, including Dr. Mark Leondires, Fertility Specialist at RMA of Connecticut, facilitated a study assessing the clinical decisions same-sex male couples have to make throughout their journey. Tune into today's episode to hear him discuss the findings and detail the experience of same-sex couple family building.

Expert: Dr. Mark Leondires, RMA of Connecticut, Gay Parents to Be

Host: Dan Bulger

For more information, visit Progyny's Podcast page and Progyny's Education page for more resources.

Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility.

Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at thisisinfertility@progyny.com.

Bonus Episode 13: Journey to Fatherhood: Male Infertility 101 Jul 16, 2021

Show notes

Did you know that one in three infertility cases is due to male factor? Which is actually just as common as female factor infertility. Male factor infertility has always been a taboo topic, but it's time to start talking about male reproductive health and prioritizing a man's journey on his path to parenthood.

It can be hard to figure out where to start when it comes to tests, treatments, or just finding emotional support throughout the process. Join Dr. McCoy, a director of surgery and male fertility, and Dr. O'Shaughnessy, a reproductive endocrinologist, in learning how men can take the first step in maintaining a healthy lifestyle which contributes to their family building journey.

While this webinar is definitely worth the listen, we understand that life gets busy and have provided a summary for you here.

Experts: Travis W. McCoy, Director of Surgery and Male Infertility at Piedmont Reproductive Endocrinology Group, Althea O'Shaughnessy, Reproductive Endocrinologist at Conceptions Reproductive Associates of Colorado

Host: Dan Bulger, Producer and Host of This Is Infertility Podcast

For more information, visit Progyny's Podcast page and Progyny's Education page for more resources.

Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility.

Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at thisisinfertility@progyny.com.