This is Fertility

Latest Episodes:

Protecting Her Fertility Future in the Face of Breast Cancer Oct 07, 2024

Show notes

In honor of October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we're highlighting Joyelle Fleming's story with breast cancer, which began at the young age of 31. During her journey, Joyelle was faced with a difficult decision – what to do about her future fertility given the impact of cancer treatment. With the support of her doctors and access to fertility benefits through Progyny, Joyelle was able to freeze her eggs and focus on fighting cancer.

In this episode, Joyelle reflects on her experience, from navigating fertility preservation to finding strength and support from loved ones and breast cancer advocacy groups. Her story highlights the power of proactive choices and the peace of mind they can provide in the face of life's toughest moments.

To learn more about oncofertiltiy, check out resources here

Breast cancer resources mentioned in this episode:

· Imerman Angles

· The Breasties

· Touch BBCA

· Hair & Hope

Guest: Joyelle Flemming, Progyny Member at Genentech

Host: Dan Bulger, 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.

The Importance of Celebrating Small Wins: Mandy's IVF Journey Sep 23, 2024

Show notes

Today's guest discusses her unexpected struggles with infertility. After a year of trying to conceive, Mandy Menaker trusted her instincts and decided to seek advice from others. She turned to Julie Campbell, at Progyny, who helped guide her on how to find the right fertility clinic, navigate insurance, and understand the ins and outs when it comes to fertility treatment.

After the rollercoaster of emotions and multiple rounds of fertility treatment, Mandy and her husband Eric finally achieved their dream of becoming parents. But the journey didn't stop there, Mandy later conceived her second child naturally, a surprise that reaffirmed the unpredictable nature of fertility.

Along the way, Mandy learned how to advocate for herself and celebrate small wins to help cope with the ups and downs of IVF. Inspired to help others facing similar challenges, Mandy wrote an article for PR Daily, offering practical tips and emotional support to those navigating a family building journey

You can read her article here: What a difficult fertility journey taught me about being a better communicator

Guest: Mandy Menaker, Fertility Advocate

Host: Julie Campbell, Progyny

Two Journeys, One Friendship: Egg Donation, Surrogacy, and Secondary Infertility Sep 09, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, we dive into a powerful story of two lifelong friends, Nicole Gomez Fisher and Mary Lamattina, who supported each other through some of the most challenging moments of their lives; navigating infertility.

They both faced their own unique struggles, Mary with secondary infertility, experiencing multiple miscarriages after her first child, and Nicole facing the heartbreak of failed attempts and what seemed like the never-ending emotional hurdles of egg donation and surrogacy.

With time, friendship, and medical intervention, both women found ways to grow their families and meaningful ways to incorporate their experiences into their careers.

Guests: Mary Lamattina, benefits consultant and Nicole Gomez Fisher, award-winning writer, director, and producer of the film, Good Egg

Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny

How Lauren Turned Her Infertility Story into an Infertility Non-profit Aug 26, 2024

Show notes

Today's guest is a testament to resilience, turning personal pain into a powerful purpose. Lauren Clements faced a long, difficult journey in her efforts to build a family, battling through a diagnosis of PCOS, blocked fallopian tubes, and undergoing numerous treatments. Yet, despite these significant setbacks, Lauren never lost hope.

In this episode, she opens up about how these challenges inspired her to create Chosen Infertility Group, a nonprofit dedicated to providing local resources, advocacy, and financial grants to those struggling with infertility in Detroit. Lauren's story is one of courage, perseverance, and a commitment to helping others find hope amidst their own.

Guest: Lauren Clements, Founder and President of Chosen Infertility Group

Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny

Teamwork makes a dream work: How Jennifer's village made parenthood possible Aug 12, 2024

Show notes

Today's episode is a story of teamwork. Along each step of her path to parenthood, Jennifer Osmond's obstacles were overcome with the help of her village; A doctor who laid out options and supported her along the way. An employer that provided Progyny and eased the financial strain of fertility treatment. And a wife who managed the logistics of their journey so that Jennifer could focus on her well-being.

Without Jennifer's support system, her journey would not have been made possible.

Guest: Jennifer Osmond, Progyny Member at AT&T

Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny

Fertility 101: Egg Donation: Transparency for the Intended Parent and Donor Jul 29, 2024

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 this episode, we dive into the detailed process of egg donation and its profound implications for families with Aisha Lewis, President of Everie, a known donor egg program.

Aisha discusses the steps involved on both ends of the egg donation process, from the pivotal choices donors can make surrounding their anonymity and the meticulous screening process donors undergo, to the legal considerations that ensure clarity and protection for all parties involved.

Join us as we unravel the complexities of egg donation, the different considerations, and how patients and donors can be empowered in their decisions.

Guest: Aisha Lewis, Everie

Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny

This episode is also a video: https://youtu.be/_Wh0UdTfnrU

A Decade with Whitney: Freezing her Eggs, Winning the Bachelor, and Becoming a Mom Jul 15, 2024

Show notes

You may know her as the winner of ABC's The Bachelor from season 19, but patients at OVA Egg Freezing Specialty Center in Chicago know Whitney Bischoff Angel as their fertility nurse who can also relate to their journey.

In this episode, Whitney tells us about her decision to freeze her eggs in 2013, a decision that provided her with peace of mind as she navigated life's uncertainties. She also shares where she is today, almost a decade later, and her journey to parenthood.

Whitney now uses her personal journey to empower women with choices and provide compassion and support to patients during their own egg freezing journeys.

Guest: Whitney Bischoff Angel, RN, BSN, OVA Egg Freezing

Host: Julie Campbell, Progyny

This episode is also a video! Watch it here: https://youtu.be/1yuxJ1if_9U

Experiencing the Unexpected: Sarah's IVF Journey Jul 01, 2024

Show notes

Today's episode is a story of trial and error. Sarah Freese was not expecting to have difficulty conceiving until she discontinued her birth control and found that her menstrual cycle didn't return. She was suddenly thrusted into a new world, one filled with new medical terms, fertility doctors, and a treatment plan that came with a high price tag.

Sarah then discovered her employer, LinkedIn, offered coverage for fertility treatment through Progyny. This meant she didn't need to make cost-based decisions and instead was able to pursue treatment that would result in the best possible outcome. Join us for this episode to hear how Sarah navigated her family building journey, the highs and lows that came with it, and how through trial and error, she found a path that worked.

Guest: Sarah Freese, Principal Customer Success Manager at LinkedIn, Infertility Advocate, and Progyny Member

Host: Lissa Kline, Progyny

This episode is also a video! Watch it here: https://youtu.be/zrTFKlhA7qs

Fertility 101: Transgender Family Building Options Jun 17, 2024

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.

This week's episode answers all the questions around transgender family building options and how it works. Dr. Daniel Potter at HRC Fertility joins us to discuss the impact of hormone affirming therapy, the importance of fertility preservation, questions to consider if one is deciding to build a family, and how to better serve this community.

Guest: Dr. Daniel Potter, Regional Medical Director at HRC Fertility

Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny

Building Your Family; The Complete Guide to Donor Conception Jun 03, 2024

Show notes

In today's episode, we explore the complex world of donor conception with experts Dr. Mark Leondires and Lisa Schuman, LCSW. They provide an overview of their book, Building Your Family; The Complete Guide to Donor Conception, which serves as a resource for those considering donor conception due to infertility, medical issues, same-sex partnerships, or gender orientation.

The book covers everything from initial considerations and emotions to the medical and genetic processes involved, selecting the right donor, and talking to children about their donor conception.

Tune in to hear how to manage the challenges of a donor conception journey.

Guest: Dr. Mark Leondires and Lisa Schuman, LCSW, authors of Building Your Family; The Complete Guide to Donor Conception

Dr. Mark Leondires

Medical Director and Founding Partner

at Illume Fertility and Gay Parents to Be

Lisa Schuman, LCSW

Founder of The Center for Family Building

Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny

This episode is also a video! Watch it here: https://youtu.be/kX60smGnP9k