This is Fertility

Latest Episodes:

Wrapping Season 6 with Your Burning Questions Dec 18, 2023

Show notes

As the sixth season of This Is Infertility comes to a close, we wanted to thank all of our incredible listeners for keeping us part of your journey. This episode has been requested by many of our listeners, and certainly could not have been made without you.

Today our host sits down with 30 of our amazing in-network reproductive endocrinologist to answer your burning questions. Wondering what these doctors are thinking along your journey? Tune in for their expert medical opinions, taste in waiting room music, and unrelenting support for the people they treat every day.

For more episodes featuring our medical experts, check out:

Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny

Guests:

Alex Quaas, Shady Grove Fertility
Allison Rodgers, FCI
Anate Brauer, Shady Grove Fertility
Anish Shah, Shady Grove Fertility
Emily Barnard, Shady Grove Fertility
Gayane Ambartsumyan, RPMH
Ian Waldmen, CCRM
Jason Yeh, Aspire HFI
John Crochet, Shady Grove Fertility
Jonah Bardos, CCRM
Joseph Davis, Shady Grove Fertility

A Mic for the LGBTQIA+ Community: The Queer Family Podcast Dec 04, 2023

Show notes

Almost three years ago, we published a list of our Top 17 Favorite Fertility Podcasts. Topping that list was a podcast called, If These Ovaries Could Talk, a show centered around the lesbian experience of fertility and family building.

Today's guest, Jaimie Kelton, created this podcast after going through the journey to build her family, and struggling to find relatable content and education for queer identities. As her following has grown, so has her podcast. Jaimie explains how her show has now evolved into The Queer Family Podcast, a podcast for diverse identities, and all LGBTQIA+ stories alike. She dives deep into her story, the evolution of the podcast, and the reality of family building in the LGBTQIA+ community.

Guest: Jaimie Kelton, Host of The Queer Family Podcast

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.

Finding the Right... Everything: A Journey of Trial and Error Nov 20, 2023

Show notes

Today's guest walks us through her experience with the wrong physician, the wrong clinic, the wrong treatment, the wrong coverage, and the wrong...well, everything. Sherri Sawyerr describes her experience of trial and error in pursuing parenthood, and how taking the wrong path can often pave the way for the right one.

During her journey with multiple physicians and IVF cycles, inadequate coverage, limited representation, and ultimately, the decision to use donor eggs: Sherri realized that it's important to have a voice through all of this. And she uses that voice on her YouTube, @SherriYvette, where she encourages perseverance and togetherness through an experience that so many women are silently living through. In this episode, hear from Sherri on the other side of trial and error. She dives into how she found Progyny through her new employer, a clinic that suits her needs, and the progress she's been able to make in her journey.

Guest: Sherri Sawyerr, Progyny Member

Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny

Music:

Artist: Kai Engel Track: Brand New World

URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/

Artist: Lee Rosevere Track: Maximum Relax

URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/ Track: All the Answers

URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/ Track: Easy Life

URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/ Track: Sad Marimba Planet

URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/ Track: Making a Change

URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/ Track: Betrayal

URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/

WorkLIFE Balance: The Need for Family Building Support in the Workplace Nov 06, 2023

Show notes

This Veteran's Day, we're featuring Brian Tucker, a Veteran who is outspoken about his experience with male factor infertility. He is also an HR disruptor who knows that employers, are, in part, responsible for executing the American Dream.

On the path to building a family, Brian and his wife, Jenny, found themselves at a financial crossroad. Their coverage for fertility treatment was miscommunicated, which left them confused about what they actually need to pay vs what was covered. Left completely in the dark, with one common goal of having a child, they chose the only clear-cut financial benefit that was laid out for them, a Veteran's discount. Having experienced this, Brian now speaks about his experience – and has presented at DisruptHR, where he discussed the need for more support in the workplace.

Listen to him here: Brian Tucker: Work LIFE Balance Talk

We also hear from Dr. Tolulope Bakare, a Reproductive Urologist from Posterity Health, and Dr. Ron Feinberg, Reproductive Endocrinologist from RADfertility of CCRM, about the treatment options when diagnosed with male factor infertility.

Guest:

Brian Tucker, Director of Human Resources at Elior North America, Veteran, and Infertility Advocate
Dr. Ron Feinberg, RADfertility
Dr. Tolulope Bakare, Posterity Health

Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny

Transformative Benefits: An Inside Look at an Amazonian's Family Building Journey Oct 23, 2023

Show notes

In the LGBTQIA+ community, options for family building are often limited – some by the ways employers choose to define infertility, and who can gain access to the benefit. Today's guest, Stephanie Kalili, always knew she wanted to be a mom, but she didn't know what this journey might look like for her. After meeting her wife and building a life together, Stephanie knew she was interested in conception through reciprocal IVF. The only problem was access and affordability.

Luckily for Stephanie, she happens to be employed Amazon, an employer that offers inclusive family building benefits through Progyny.

In fact, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, honors an organization each year with the Hope Award for Access. This award is given to an organization that is really moving the needle and expanding access to fertility and family building care – and this year this honor goes to Amazon.

To learn more about Amazon's benefits, visit here. To learn more about RESOLVE's annual Night of Hope gala, visit here.

Guest: Stephanie Kalili, Progyny Member

Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny

Episode 168: Egg Freezing 101 Oct 09, 2023

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, our host speaks with Dr. Anate Brauer, IVF Director at Shady Grove Fertility New York about all things egg freezing. She answers questions ranging from, "Why do people freeze their eggs?" to "How does it even work?"

If you're questioning whether you would like to freeze your eggs, or just wonder about this modern medical practice, let this educational episode serve as a starting place.

For additional resources and answers to frequently asked questions, check out:

Guest: Dr. Anate Brauer, IVF Director at Shady Grove Fertility New York

Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny

Egg Freezing: The Backup Plan Sep 25, 2023

Show notes

People are increasingly having children later in life and for some, the decision is to have no children at all. Those who teeter between the options, unsure of their decision, know that one thing is true; time is ticking.

Today's guest, Shannon Fender, wasn't always certain about parenthood, but at one point she realized she should put things in place in case that was something she wanted to pursue in the future. In this episode, Shannon dives into her experience with egg freezing and her gratitude for employers like hers, who have chosen to invest in the lives of their employees. Shannon is joined by Dr. Kathy Hong, an REI from RMA of NJ, where she describes the medical preparation and procedure that's part of the egg freezing process.

Guests: Shannon Fender, Progyny member, Dr. Kathy Hong, RMA of New Jersey

Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny

Reproductive Urologists and Endocrinologists: What's the Difference? Sep 11, 2023

Show notes

September is Urology Awareness Month, which is quite necessary considering there are less than four hundred practicing Reproductive Urologists in the United States. This episode serves as an opportunity to understand the intense training it takes to become a Reproductive Urologist (RU), what role they play in men's health and reproductive health, as well as how they work in conjunction with Reproductive Endocrinologists.

In today's episode, Progyny's Chief Medical Officer and Reproductive Endocrinologist, Dr. Janet Choi gives insight into the role of RUs and how they differ from Reproductive Endocrinologists (REIs).

Dr. Choi expands on her own position as an REI; what kind of training she received, who she treats, and how male patients can benefit from seeing an RU if they are already seeing an REI.

Video mentioned in this episode: Reproductive Urologists Can Help Men with Infertility

Guest: Dr. Janet Choi, Chief Medical Officer at Progyny

Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny

Fertility 101: Menopause Aug 28, 2023

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, Progyny's Chief Medical Officer and Reproductive Endocrinologist, Dr. Janet Choi gives an overview about all the things you need to know about menopause.

Menopause has long been an undiscussed and overlooked medical issue despite the fact that it will impact half of the population after the age of 50. While the scope of care for those going through menopause is not yet where it needs to be, becoming well-versed in the concept is the first step to caring for yourself or others in this transitional stage of life. Dr. Choi breaks down the classic symptoms and mental health effects surrounding menopause, as well as how one might mitigate these bodily changes with treatments. She also touches on her own experience and outlines life with menopause, next steps, and why menopause should be better supported.

Guest: Dr. Janet Choi, Chief Medical Officer at Progyny

Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny

Music:

Artist: Doctor Turtle

Track: The Ants Built a City on His Chest

URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/

Track: Where I lay my hat that's my wife URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/

Artist: Steve Combs Track: Small Spaces URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/

Artist: Jahzzar Track: Sleepin' URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/ Track: Dew URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/ Track: MainSquare URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/

Endometriosis, Male-Factor Infertility, and the Waiting Game Aug 14, 2023

Show notes

Football is a waiting game. Fans all over America watch their teams anxiously for months with one common desire, a chance to win. Today's guest, Patriots fan, Chris Callahan, knows this waiting game quite well and it may have even prepared him for the most worthwhile wait of his life – the journey to his son, Brady.

In this episode, Chris dives into their dual diagnosis of endometriosis and male-factor infertility, and the obstacles he and his wife faced on their path to parenthood. While they did have fertility coverage through Chris' work, two rounds of IVF were still a financial burden. Chris, impacted mentally, physically, and financially, decided to share his story on social media in hopes to encourage others to know they're not alone in this journey. In his post, he highlights the importance of employers choosing to invest in the lives of their employees through family building benefits. The responses took him a bit by surprise, and he soon found a whole community that was standing with him in solidarity and sharing stories of their own.

Guest: Chris Callahan, Workplace Fertility Advocate

Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny

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