Fertility: Let's Be Honest

We're so excited to share with you our latest episode featuring Karen Jeffries of Hilariously Infertile. Karen is a dual language teacher outside of New York City and author of Hilariously Infertile: One Woman's Inappropriate Quest to Help Women Laugh Through Infertility. Listen along as Calisse and Karen discuss Karen's infertility journey and thoughts, including how the process can open up barriers with your partner, the irony of a fertility clinic feeling like a funeral home, and the importance of maintaining a sense of humor during a difficult situation.Visit hilariouslyinfertile.com and find Karen on social media by searching Hilariously InfertileThank you to our sponsor, Cannon Fertility Supplements. Get 10% off your order with code HILARIOUS at cannoncollc.com

We're back with our first remote interview since lockdown! Calisse joined Dr. Vuk Jovanovic for a coast-to-coast interview to discuss his practice and how they've adapted during COVID, why fertility practices and insurance coverage vary between countries, and how frozen embryos are like frozen pizzas—ready to go! Dr. Vuk Jovanovic ranks among the top fertility doctors in Los Angeles. He completed his fellowship training in Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility at Columbia University in 2010 and residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Duke University in 2007. During his fellowship in New York, Dr. Jovanovic also attended the Mailman School of Public Health. Dr. Jovanovic completed his medical school in Germany at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz in 2003. He was an exchange student with Harvard University, University of Texas, Baylor College of Medicine, and University of California San Diego. Dr. Jovanovic is double board-certified in Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Also, he is double board-certified in Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology in Germany. He is a multinational physician that has trained and worked in several countries and has treated patients from all over the world, and is fluent in German, Serbian and Russian.Visit www.afmc.com

Kimberly LaRocque, PhD, is the IVF laboratory director of a large fertility clinic in Colorado. Kimberly got her start in the surprising field of equine reproduction at Colorado State University before shifting to human embryology. Calisse asks Kimberly about the stresses of creating embryos with sometimes sub-optimal eggs or sperm, and Kimberly discusses the importance of putting her best efforts into each process every time. Kimberly details her work in horse embryology (including how to collect semen from a stallion!), and shares her thoughts on an Ohio clinic that lost thousands of embryos due to storage failures. Calisse asks Kimberly about the pressure of creating embryos for royal families, and Kimberly discusses her own fertility journey and explains why she gives a little tap on the incubator after storing the embryos she created.

Paul Wexler, M.D., is hesitant to say when he went to medical school, but he will tell you that he began before the correct number of chromosomes had been discovered in humans. Through his illustrious career, Dr. Wexler has performed tens of thousands of abdominal diagnostic procedures and expanded the application of ultrasound technology in obstetrics. In 1980, he opened the Rose Medical Center Prenatal Diagnosis Program in Denver, CO. In this episode, Calisse and Dr. Wexler discuss DNA storage, "ethnic screening," the use of genetics in cancer detection, and genetic deficiencies or disorders that can be eradicated from one's future lineage by testing embryos. Dr. Wexler explains why CRISPR is exciting for the possibilities it holds, while admitting that many people in the scientific community often get too excited about "what's possible rather than what we should do." You'll also hear from Dr. Wexler's son and CFO of Genassist, Keith Wexler, who joins the conversation to discuss insurance coverage, eases the eugenics fears depicted in films like Gattaca, and explains why it's important to know and document your family's genetic history.Dr. Wexler is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and a Clinical Professor in the Division of Genetics/The Department of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and The Children's Hospital. Dr. Wexler is also the Medical Director of the first female-owned genetics company, Genassist, founded by Dr. Wexler's wife, Hildegarde. 

In this episode, Kimberly Walker, MSN, WHNP-BC speaks to Calisse about her PCOS journey through 7 failed IUIs, miscarriage, adoption and her faith-based decisions regarding her fertility. Kimberly discusses how people of faith often struggle through moral dilemmas regarding IVF, including discarding abnormal embryos, as well as compassionate transfers, embryo donation, and indefinite freezing. Calisse asks Kimberly about her journey adopting her son, and Kimberly shares details of the process such as meeting the biological mom and extended family, home studies, preparing for a child who does not have a genetic link, and skin to skin contact in the earliest days of a baby's life. Please enjoy our episode with Kimberly (recorded pre-social distancing)!

Amanda Bird, MPAS, PA-C, is a Physician Assistant who is passionate about women's health and giving her patients the best care and reassurance in their journeys. Calisse invited Amanda (pre-social distancing) to discuss newly adopted telemedicine practices, reducing pain during hysteroscopies, azoospermia, crying with patients, the varied circumstances requiring sperm donations, and more. In this episode we find out more about the evolving role a PA plays during patients' cycles and procedures, and why Amanda's empathy and love for her job makes her such a special member of the fertility team. 

Dr. Ryan M. Riggs, MD, FACOG, has spent more than 10 years helping patients succeed in their fight against infertility. Prior to returning to the Kansas City area and opening Blue Sky Fertility, Dr. Riggs was the Physician IVF laboratory director at a large practice in Colorado (with Calisse!), where his team achieved some of the highest pregnancy rates in the world. Dr. Riggs was also named one of Kansas City's "Top Doctors" by 435 Magazine. In this episode, Calisse visits her friend Dr. Riggs at his office in Kansas City, MO (recorded pre-social distancing), where they discuss uterine anomalies, swimming with sharks, the latest technology at his practice, being wary of "fast food IVF," and treating each patient with special care at his office, "where everybody knows your name."

Today Calisse sits down with Kim Kluger-Bell, to whom Calisse has referred dozens of patients for their fertility counseling. Kim and Calisse discuss psychological issues regarding donor procedures, examining spousal and partnership disagreements around fertility choices, talking to children about their donor stories, and why speaking with a counselor prior to your procedure is often required and beneficial. Kimberly Kluger-Bell is a licensed marriage and family therapist with decades of experience counseling those struggling with reproductive challenges. She works and consults for fertility clinics throughout the US and is especially interested in helping parents of donor-conceived children talk with them about their origins. She is the author of the acclaimed book Unspeakable Losses: Coping with Miscarriage and Other Pregnancy Losses and The Pea That Was Me series, which includes egg donation, sperm donation, and embryo donation. She is also the author of The Very Kind Koala: A Surrogacy Story.

In this episode, Calisse invites Jeffrey S. Faudem, L.Ac. Dipl. MSTOM. FABORM, to discuss his experience as a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine and how to improve fertility using holistic methods - often overlooked by Western medicine - that have been around for centuries. Calisse and Jeff discuss healthy lifestyles, complementing Western fertility treatments with acupuncture and other methods, balancing stress loads of work and family, needle fears, and everyone's favorite term: "Cervical mucus!" Jeff is a member of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine, truly a master of his craft, seeking to help people pursue their lifestyle goals in any way he can. Jeff is one of only about 100 Fertility Specialists in the United States and Canada who has demonstrated proficiency in both Western Reproductive Medicine and Oriental Reproductive Medicine by passing the rigorous Board Certification Examination. Please enjoy his conversation with Calisse!

*If you haven't listened to pt. 1 of Stephanie's story, please go back to last week to catch up!* In part two, we rejoin Stephanie as she continues her remarkable story, recounting her traumatic surgery and its lasting effects on her life and her loved ones. Calisse and Stephanie further discuss Stephanie's near-death experience, and her journey through triumph, loss, genetics, perseverance after tragedy, and the true meaning of "family." Expect to fall even more in love with Stephanie as you listen to part two!

Stephanie Keith, RN, BSN, is a fertility nurse who truly understands her patients' struggles. Stephanie underwent so many failed rounds of fertility treatments herself, including IUI, IVF, and FET, that she's nearly lost count. In part one, Calisse invites Stephanie to discuss Stephanie's five years' worth of fertility treatments, including the frustrations, jealousy, euphoria and grief that comes along with, all culminating in an epic account that you'll need to hear to believe. This episode is as vulnerable and potentially triggering as it gets, and Stephanie's story is so incredible we had to make it a two-parter! Please enjoy part one of Stephanie's story.*Note about COVID-19: We record these episodes weeks in advance, and are aware of the current necessity of social distancing. We hope all of you are heeding the advice of medical professionals and taking care of yourselves! We'll get through this together. Love to you all.*

Dr. Robert Greene, MD, FACOG, is one of the most highly regarded fertility specialists in the world. His studies were featured on NBC's Dateline and ABC News as well as Oprah & Friends with Dr. Mehmet Oz and various print publications including Cosmopolitan, Self, Glamour, Fit Pregnancy, OK! Magazine, and Shape. Dr. Greene has authored four direct-to-consumer books explaining the latest research and practical applications for women experiencing various health challenges. Recorded on-site at his office, Dr. Greene and Calisse discuss correlation vs. causation, mindfulness, multiple pregnancy, and the frustration of an "unexplained infertility" diagnosis. 

Sonja Bell, RDMS, is a sonographer (no, she doesn't work with marine life), and Calisse's friend! Today we talk to Sonja about her career, new heartbeat flutters, crazy fibroids, and the heartbreaking necessity of a healthy work/life balance during personal tragedy. Calisse and Sonja are here to remind everyone that fertility specialists are people too. Welcome to our first episode of Fertility: Let's Be Honest!

Welcome to my new podcast, Fertility: Let's Be Honest. I'm Calisse, your host and fertility expert, and I will be interviewing my colleagues, specialists in the industry, and guests who share their struggles with infertility. In this trailer you will get to hear a sampling of what's to come this season, from physicians' fascinating discoveries during ultrasounds to an embryologist with a surprising background. Fertility can be really messy and confusing, so I'm here to break it down for you in a real, honest way. We're here to make all topics of fertility accessible to the public in a helpful, conversational format as we educate, commiserate, and share fascinating stories. Let's be honest!Disclaimer: All content on Fertility: Let's Be Honest and any materials on its website and social media are for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding your health.