Pregnantish

What happens when reality TV stars face the reality of infertility? In this powerful pregnantish podcast episode, recorded live at our annual “Reality of Infertility” event, Andrea is joined by three bold voices/former and current reality stars: Miss USA 2014 Nia Sanchez (now seen on Bravo's “The Valley”), Miss USA 2006 Tara Conner, and Whitney Bischoff Angel, a former “Bachelor” winner and longtime fertility nurse. Together, they pull back the curtain on the funny and strange parts of recording their lives for millions to see, and the reality of family building despite the setbacks and challenges they faced.In this candid conversation, our guests get real about pregnancy loss, secondary infertility, mental health, egg freezing, life after IVF and the silence that still surrounds reproductive struggles that they're determined to break. Also featured in this episode is Kathy Lee-Sepsick, Founder & CEO of Femasys, sharing insights about FemaSeed, a next gen insemination innovation that's helping people conceive safely and affordably.Whether you're on your fertility journey or supporting someone who is, this compelling episode shares the highs, the lows and the reality of navigating stressful life chapters and getting pregnant “with help” ...even when the cameras are rolling. Today's episode is presented by FemaSeed, a breakthrough in insemination that delivers sperm where conception naturally happens - in the fallopian tube. Clinically backed by data, this safe and affordable option showed doubled pregnancy rates over IUI as a step before IVF. Learn more at femaseed.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this insightful and informative episode of the pregnantish podcast, first airing in honor of National Infertility Awareness Week '25, we're joined by Dr. Karen Tang, a board-certified gynecologist and minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon and the author of "It's Not Hysteria: Everything You Need to Know About Your Reproductive Health (but Were Never Told)" From media stories to medical discussions, fertility and infertility is full of misconceptions! This episode delves into how and why we should shift the conversation from fear-based, negative messaging about reproductive health to one that's positive, empowering, and focused on achieving the reproductive goals people desire. This episode's Midroll features Dr. Lucky Sekhon, Board Certified OBGYN & Fertility Doctor who practices at RMA of NY, the episode sponsor, to tackle some of the more common myths and why sexual and reproductive health education needs a major overhaul. Both doctors in this conversation have used their platforms, including on social networks like Instagram and TikTok, to educate audiences and tackle misinformation. After all, in a recent pregnantish survey of over 800 people, we learned that social media is the #1 way people today access fertility information and education. With 1 in 6 facing infertility and 1 in 4 navigating pregnancy loss today, there's nothing niche about this topic. This episode is a celebration of breaking down barriers, busting myths and encouraging people to take control of their fertility so they can best advocate for their health. Thank you to episode sponsor RMA of New York, a global leader in reproductive medicine who is partnered with US Fertility and its network of premier reproductive medicine practices. Get the facts about your reproductive health at rmany.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Bachelor star, In the Wild Dating founder, and passionate endometriosis advocate Lexi Young joins the Pregnantish Podcast to share her deeply personal journey with fertility, health struggles, and the power of speaking out. Lexi opens up about how endometriosis shaped her relationships—including the end of a long-term partnership—and why she chose to use her platform on The Bachelor to bring awareness to reproductive health challenges.In this episode, Lexi reflects on the physical and emotional toll of living with endometriosis while filming reality TV, from managing ovarian cysts to dealing with “endo belly” under the scrutiny of cameras. She also discusses her decision to freeze her eggs with the guidance of Dr. Valerie Libby, MD, MPH, FACOG—a double-board-certified reproductive endocrinologist at Shady Grove Fertility in Atlanta. Dr. Libby joins the conversation to break down why fertility awareness is critical, how endometriosis impacts reproductive health, and why a diagnosis doesn't mean giving up on the dream of parenthood.This episode is a candid conversation about love, fertility, and the importance of advocating for your health. Tune in to hear more about Lexi's journey and why sharing your story can be a powerful tool in supporting others.Thank you to Dr. Libby and her team at Shady Grove Fertility, who sponsored this episode. Shady Grove Fertility offers cutting-edge fertility treatments to help you grow your family. Explore the Shady Grove Fertility difference and their exclusive 100 percent refund for IVF at ShadyGroveFertility.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special new year episode of the Pregnantish Podcast, team member Carolyn Kossow—whose studies focused on assisted reproductive technology and third-party reproduction—joins award-winning journalist and author of “Elusive Mommyhood”, Ginanne Brownell, to explore the evolving landscape of fertility. From the rise of "ethical IVF" and surrogacy and third-party reproduction trends around the world, to the long-overdue focus on sperm factors and male factor infertility, we examine how reproductive technology is advancing—and where access and policies still lag behind. With global population declines, shifting attitudes in countries like China (which once enforced a one-child policy and now supports IVF) and reproductive rights under threat in parts of the U.S., these conversations are now part of the zeitgeist– though still wildly misunderstood by the general public. As pregnantish celebrates 8 years as the first media platform to help people navigate infertility and modern family building, and marks over one billion reached globally, with our fertility focused content and education, we remain committed to storytelling as a catalyst for awareness, advocacy, and change.Tune in as we unpack what's next in the future of fertility—and why our voices are more important now than ever. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it mean to lead a happy life and to achieve a state of well being despite our external circumstances?In this holiday episode of the pregnantish podcast, Daniel Lerner, co-instructor of NYU's most popular elective course “The Science of Happiness” explores what it means to live a truly fulfilling life - especially in the face of life's challenges.According to Dan, the goal isn't always to feel “happy” but to find meaning, build resilience and embrace a new perspective on stress. He introduces the concept of ‘post traumatic growth', revealing how life's most difficult moments can spark profound personal transformation and why, even if we wouldn't wish our tough circumstances on others, we can be positively impacted by the way we navigate and grow from these challenges. This inspiring and informative conversation offers hope, actionable insights, and a fresh take on navigating the ups and downs of family-building journeys and other non-linear grief chapters.This episode is supported by pregnantish, soon celebrating 8 years as the first media platform and community to help people navigate infertility and fertility treatments, and tell their stories. Since inception, we've reached over one billion people with fertility news and content. Visit www.pregnantish.com and follow @pregnantish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

October marks Pregnancy and Infant loss Awareness Month. Though research indicates that miscarriages impact 1 in 4 people, we know that that number is probably far greater as that reflects only what is reported. We also know that this experience is devastating, no matter how many people the experience touches.Recorded live during our annual thought leader event in New York City, The Diversity of Infertility, this episode breaks the silence around stories of stillbirth, pregnancy loss, healing, and hope.We dive deeply into the personal journeys of former ABC's “The Bachelor” contestants — Whitney Bischoff Angel, the winner of season 19, and contestant Ashley Spivey of season 15 — as they share their experiences with pregnancy loss and stillbirth in front of a live audience. Whitney, the first fertility nurse in the Bachelor franchise history, opens up about her heartbreaking path through multiple miscarriages, an ectopic pregnancy, and the quiet struggles faced by those in similar situations. Ashley advocates for stillbirth prevention, most recently with her call to support “The Shine for Autumn Act”, emphasizing the need for greater awareness, paid leave for parents grieving stillbirth, and enhanced societal support. She reveals the emotional impact of her own stillbirth with her son CJ, and the importance of capturing the fleeting moments.Clinical Therapist Dr. Alice Domar, Chief Compassion Officer for Inception Fertility at the Prelude Network, joins to shed light on the staggering statistics surrounding pregnancy loss and the lack of psychological support available. She calls for societal rituals to acknowledge these losses, underscoring the need for open conversations about grief and healing.While there may be no rulebook for loss, sharing our stories can pave the way for healing and connection.This powerful episode is presented by the Prelude Network, a leading network of fertility clinics in North America with 90 plus locations providing compassionate care at every step of the patient journey. For more visit preludefertility.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Those who watch the long running reality dating show franchise, ABC's The Bachelor, know that the women on it go the distance for a chance at love; and former contestant Clare Crawley is no exception. Clare is best known as the Runner Up in Season 16 of the series, leading to her role as ABC's Bachelorette in Season 18. She also appeared on Bachelor in Paradise twice and Winter Games, making her one of the most recognizable cast members in The Bachelor franchise. But in recent years, Clare has been known for something else – making headlines because of her fertility struggles.She first came out with her vulnerable fertility story via Instagram, when she was finally expecting via gestational surrogacy by sharing, “I can tell you how hard it has been to hold the secret as I've shared the last 10 years of my life with you all. This is one journey, though, that Ryan and I have been keeping close to our hearts as we navigated the uncertain world of IVF and all that comes with it….” Clare concluded the post by thanking her fertility specialist, Dr. Aimee “The Egg Whisperer” for ‘helping miracles happen'.Clare's doctor, Dr. Aimee Eyvazzadeh, joins our episode midroll to share more about how she worked with Clare and with other patients in her practice, many of whom are over 40 years old, and why she puts all of her patients on the clinically proven NAD plus boosting supplement, Tru Niagen.Tru Niagen, the episode sponsor, was developed by ChromaDex, and their Scientific Director, Mona Rosene also joins the episode midroll break to share more on the scientific standards of Tru Niagen and why people navigating reproductive journeys and who want to support healthy aging may want to consider taking the supplement. Pregnantish listeners! If you want to try Tru Niagen, use EGGCELLS20 for 20% off at truniagen.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month, July 2024, marks 46 years since the world's first IVF baby, Louise Joy Brown, was born in the northwest of England. Since this historic day of Brown's birth that made international headlines, the International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies estimates that at least 12 million babies have been born as a result of IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies, making “science babies” ubiquitous, albeit still too often misunderstood by the general public. The guests on this episode, Ellen Weir Casey and Laurie Sirus, underwent in-vitro fertilization in the early days of IVF, in the early 1980s and 1990s respectively, when the general public, news, and media called babies born from this procedure "test tube babies" -- even though no test tubes were involved!Ellen became Colorado's first IVF mom and Laurie delivered twins via IVF a decade later after grappling with the decision to pursue treatment due to the fact that it was still considered a somewhat experimental procedure, and since she knew the Catholic faith prohibited it. This episode also features an interview with Laurie's daughter, Abigail Sirus, who has a new appreciation for the incredible lengths her parents went to to have her and her brother now that she works in the fertility industry and since she and her partner, Stephanie, will one day explore building a family with Assisted Reproductive Technology.Dr. Sasmira Lalwani, Senior Medical Director Reproductive Medicine and Maternal Health at Ferring Pharmaceuticals, the episode sponsor, also joins the show's midroll to discuss Ferring's commitment to driving forward positive change in ART with their research and programs like Fertility Out Loud, a platform and social media community which provides resources and tools to help you along your fertility journey. Visit fertilityoutloud.com for more information. This episode "Happy Anniversary IVF" celebrates not only Brown's birthday, but all the birthdays made possible thanks to IVF. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month, July 2024, marks 46 years since the world's first IVF baby, Elizabeth Joy Brown, was born in the northwest of England. Since this historic day of Brown's birth that made international headlines, the International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies estimates that at least 12 million babies have been born as a result of IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies, making “science babies” ubiquitous, albeit still too often misunderstood by the general public. The guests on this episode, Ellen Weir Casey and Laurie Sirus, underwent in-vitro fertilization in the early days of IVF, in the early 1980s and 1990s respectively, when the general public, news, and media called babies born from this procedure "test tube babies" -- even though no test tubes were involved!Ellen became Colorado's first IVF mom and Laurie delivered twins via IVF a decade later after grappling with the decision to pursue treatment due to the fact that it was still considered a somewhat experimental procedure, and since she knew the Catholic faith prohibited it. This episode also features an interview with Laurie's daughter, Abigail Sirus, who has a new appreciation for the incredible lengths her parents went to to have her and her brother now that she works in the fertility industry and since she and her partner, Stephanie, will one day explore building a family with Assisted Reproductive Technology.Dr. Sasmira Lalwani, Senior Medical Director Reproductive Medicine and Maternal Health at Ferring Pharmaceuticals, the episode sponsor, also joins the show's midroll to discuss Ferring's commitment to driving forward positive change in ART with their research and programs like Fertility Out Loud, a platform and social media community which provides resources and tools to help you along your fertility journey. Visit fertilityoutloud.com for more information. This episode "Happy Anniversary IVF" celebrates not only Brown's birthday, but all the birthdays made possible thanks to IVF. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Actor Kimiko Glenn has been performing since she was young, with recognizable roles as the voices of Izzy in My Little Pony and Baby Shark Brooklyn, and the star of Waitress on Broadway. She's also known for her role as penitentiary inmate Brooke Soso on the popular Netflix series, Orange is the New Black, for which she received three ensemble Screen Actors Guild Awards.Now at 34 years old, Kimiko is embracing a new role: a woman taking charge of her fertility and freezing her eggs with two back-to-back egg retrievals this year. She wants others to see and learn the good, the bad, the ugly and the possible when it comes to undergoing fertility treatments and preserving your fertility. This episode explores why it's important to elevate the conversation about fertility and advocate for your health, what Kimiko wishes for her future when it comes to her dating life, family and career, and why being able to access treatments like egg freezing is so important.This episode also features an interview with IVF mom Vanessa Suker, Manager of Strategic Partnerships at PatientFi, a flexible financing platform and solution, that sponsored the conversation. PatientFi is designed to fit every fertility treatment patient's needs, so that they can get started with treatments like egg freezing or IVF without being delayed by cost. To learn more, visit patientfi.com/fertilityfinancing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you're navigating or considering undergoing fertility treatments like IVF, and are confused by all the tests and information out there, you are not alone. Sometimes in this process, we feel like we are given too much information and not enough information at the same time! This podcast episode, in honor of National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW) 2024, is a spotlight on why we should advocate for our reproductive health and know our options.Dr. Vrunda B. Desai, FACOG, the VP of Medical and Clinical Affairs at CooperSurgical, joins Andrea in studio to share how CooperSurgical is accelerating what's possible to help people build their families sooner, and how tests like PGT-A, PGT-M, and PGTai can revolutionize the embryo selection process. She is a Physician, Researcher, Educator and Medical Affairs leader at CooperSurgical and is a Board-Certified Ob/Gyn with fellowship training in Minimally Invasive Gynecological Surgery. Dr. Desai is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor in Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at Yale University School of Medicine. She's seen first hand how many options current fertility treatment patients have when trying to build or expand their families.This episode also features back Sydney Sharon, Social Media and Community Manager at California Cryobank by CooperSurgical, who shares how she and her wife Brit chose their sperm donor and why representation matters when we talk about infertility and modern family building. Thanks to episode sponsor CooperSurgical – a fertility and women's health company, that puts time on the side of women, babies and families at the moments that matter most – for supporting this conversation. For more, visit coopersurgical.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

World figure skating champion and sports commentator, Tara Lipinski, is known for breaking records and winning awards throughout her competitive skating career, including being the youngest athlete to win a gold medal at just 15 years old at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Japan. But, in the last year since Tara achieved another big dream and became a mom via gestational surrogacy, after five years of struggling to conceive, failed IVF cycles and devastating miscarriages, more have heard Tara's voice as a passionate advocate in the infertility community with a goal of spreading awareness and education. In honor of Surrogacy Awareness Month and Endometriosis Awareness Month, both of which touched Tara and pregnantish podcast host Andrea's lives, this episode is about persevering in the face of challenges, the truth about resilience and endurance on the rink and in life, and why fertility education is so important.This conversation is supported by All Families Surrogacy, a premier surrogacy agency that supports all families by providing unwavering guidance to all surrogates and hopeful parents, regardless of their cultural identity, location or financial status. Whether you're interested in pursuing surrogacy or being a potential surrogate yourself, find out more at https://allfamiliessurrogacy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former MTV Asia VJ and Television Presenter/Producer, Denise Keller, and Miss Universe Japan 2021, Juri Watanabe, are the definition of beauty, smarts and grace to their audiences who have followed them as celebrated major pageant winners and popular on-air talent. But, what they their fans may not know is the desire and drive both of these women have when it comes to breaking down taboos in Asian culture, and beyond, around issues like infertility, pregnancy loss and mental health. Denise, who resides in Singapore and is of Chinese and German ancestry, and Juri, who now lives in Los Angeles and who is of Japanese and Korean descent, strive to elevate the conversation on their public platforms so that others who are struggling, feel less isolated as they once did. This episode's midroll includes a conversation with Reproductive Endocrinologist, Dr. Janelle Luk, Co-Founder and Medical Director of Generation Next Fertility, who says that one reason she has a passion for women's health is because of her experience as a young girl growing up in Hong Kong and learning that her mother was given away at birth. Dr. Luk also shares how certain conditions that impact fertility, like Diminished Ovarian Reserve and PCOS, show up in higher numbers and/or display differently in people of Asian descent than their white counterparts. The subject of “Asian Infertility” is a highly under-researched and under-covered topic. As a result, some people may not access the care they need. This dynamic conversation with newsmakers and thought leaders, which is also in honor of the Chinese New Year, and “The Year of the Dragon” (known to see an uptick in fertility!), strives to continue and expand the conversation so that people get the help they need and know that they are not alone.This episode is supported by Generation Next Fertility in New York City, whose mission is to provide individualized patient centric quality care and innovative technologies to help patients become parents. For more, visit generationnextfertility.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Professional organizer and Author of “Unstuff your Life” and “Calling Bullsh*t On Busy”, Andrew Mellen, has been called “The most organized man in America”, and has spent his career helping people not only declutter their homes and schedules, but also their minds, their hearts and their lives. Andrew knows that during some of life's hardest chapters, like infertility and loss, it can seem overwhelming or even insurmountable to manage all the moving pieces - but he's determined to show that it's not only possible to lessen load, but that when we do we can alleviate stress, find new sources of productivity, and access more life-balance and success.This episode is presented by pregnantish, the first media and patient advocacy platform dedicated to providing high quality content, community, reproductive education, and support for all the people who need “help” to build their families. Pregnantish is also the home to Pregnantish Insights, dedicated to providing insights to benefit the entire fertility care spectrum and improve the future of patient care. For more, visit pregnantish.com and/or by following @pregnantish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

American lawyer and bestselling author of “Bet on Black”, Eboni K. Williams, has been known to her audience on her daytime TV show, “Equal Justice with Judge Eboni K. Williams”, and during her time as the first Black cast member on The Real Housewives of NY, as an independent, outspoken and multi-talented woman. What some of her fans may not know is that in addition to all of these jobs, Eboni wants to add another important role to her work: mom. As a single woman, Eboni is hoping to start a family with the help of sperm donation and IVF and is well aware not only of the shortage of Black sperm donors available, but also the stigma of being “another Black single mom in America.”In this episode, taped in front of a live audience in New York City at the "Diversity of Infertility" pregnantish event, Eboni shares why she's pursuing single parenthood at this stage of her life, what she wishes others knew about the process, including why 'open donation' was important to her, and why we need to elevate the conversation about the need for more diverse sperm donor options. This episode is presented by California Cryobank, a top sperm bank in the U.S., shipping to all 50 states and to over 40 countries. With one of the largest and most diverse selection of sperm donors, California Cryobank is proud to have helped more than 75,000 people create their families for over 45 years. Visit cryobank.com for more information, and use promo code SPERMISH for a FREE Level 2 Subscription for access to their portfolio of donors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Miss Michigan and Michigan State Football player Jaclyn and Jon Misch are best known for their time together on CBS's “Survivor”, where Jaclyn won the title of first runner-up in Season 29 and where the couple had to navigate incredible challenges together on the island.One challenge that the couple knew they'd have to overcome together back at home was starting a family, as Jaclyn was born with MRKH - a condition that rendered her infertile and born without a uterus. In fact, Jaclyn was one of the first public people to bring more awareness to the disorder, which impacts approximately 1 out of every 5000 women.While Jaclyn and Jon knew that she wouldn't be able to carry a pregnancy, they never imagined all the twists and turns they'd experience on the way to parenthood - including a devastating 20-week stillbirth with a gestational surrogate who was carrying their little girl, Harper. Through faith, science and the generosity of Jon's first cousin, their gestational surrogate, Jaclyn and Jon are now the parents of a healthy little boy named Logan. And, while they now recognize that the experience strengthened their bond, they will never forget how infertility changed their marriage and their lives.This episode, which explores love, loss, resilience, and the realities of surrogacy, also features Staci Swiderski, Founder/CEO/Owner of Family Source Consultants, who supported this episode. Family Source Consultants is a leading authority in third party reproduction that matches and facilitates Gestational Surrogacy and Egg Donation arrangements for individuals and couples of all backgrounds in the US and Internationally. For more information, or to schedule a consultation, visit familysourceconsultants.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emmy-award winning news anchor and reporter Jenny Anchondo has reported on stories for over a decade, and has spent her career hearing people's life stories, but admits that until being touched by pregnancy loss and secondary infertility, she never had the desire to share her own story. Part of Jenny's story is the lack of awareness and knowledge she says that she had about her fertility, especially after easily conceiving her first child with her husband. As Jenny admits, “I didn't think you can age out of this process…like everybody else, I saw celebrities having children well into their 40s and 50s and it seemed to be happening frequently. Nobody was telling the story otherwise…”Now, at 41 years old, as Jenny prepares to have a baby after many years of losses and IVF setbacks, she says she's an open book so that people can learn what she wishes she knew and so that she can support others who are struggling to conceive, or feeling as isolated as she did through the devastation of pregnancy loss. This episode also features commentary from Dr. Dorette Noorhasan MD, a CCRM Fertility Specialist who deeply understands this pain point both professionally and personally. She shares important education on miscarriage and fertility in this episode's mid-roll. This episode is presented by CCRM Dallas-Fort Worth, a world class fertility clinic dedicated to providing industry-leading patient care and outcomes. For more or to book a consult, visit CCRMIVF.com/dallasfortworth Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emma Groenbaek grew up not only with the awareness about the fact that she was conceived via sperm donation, but pride connected to it. In fact, as a child, her bedtime book was the story of how she was created with the help of science and donor conception. So, perhaps it's no surprise that when social media came around, Emma, now 27 years old, started blogging, educating and posting about her donor conceived experience. Though she's grateful to the sperm donor and her parents for pursuing this step to give her life, she's well aware that people who find out that they were donor conceived later, or whose parents kept this a secret, have a much different relationship than she does to this part of their identities.As Emma says, “The truth hurts less than secrets.” In this interview, Emma shares more on why her parents were open about how they got pregnant via sperm donation, even though they were advised not to share this with her, why she has no desire to meet her genetic father, and what she wants others to know about donor conception. This episode is presented by Cryos International, “The World's Largest Sperm and Egg Bank,” where Emma works as a Donor Child Consultant. Every day, Cryos International helps people around the world make their dream of having a child come true. For more visit cryosinternational.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Benjamin Carmichael and Becca met doing advocacy work for Planned Parenthood in New England in 2018, they never imagined that months later, they'd match on Tinder, get engaged to marry exactly three years to the day, and set out to have children together. But both have always known that they wanted to become parents. For any couple, this chapter of trying to have a baby can be exciting and overwhelming; but for Benjamin and Becca, it's heightened by the fact that Benjamin is a trans man who has had to come off testosterone and inject multiple hormones in order to retrieve eggs for the possibility of having a baby. Even though Benjamin and Becca are hardly the first couple in the LGBTQ+ community to undergo fertility treatments, it's still largely misunderstood by some health care providers and networks and insurance carriers. In fact, much of Becca's work now has been to explore the experience of trans people in healthcare settings. And in addition to personally navigating Modern Family building, both seek to create positive change for others in the LGBTQ+ community who face discrimination or disparities here. As a member of the Transgender Educational Network, and a longtime advocate for LGBTQ visibility and rights, it's perhaps no surprise that Benjamin has used his social media platform to shine a light on fertility from his point of view. And this is ultimately what this episode is about. “Why This Couple Wants to Raise Awareness of Trans Fertility” is in honor of Pregnantish Pride, where we share fertility stories in the LGBTQ community and show the many diverse ways families today are created. For more, visit pregnantish.com/lgbt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For over 25 years, Karen Salmansohn has been a multi bestselling author with approximately 2 million books sold globally. Her first book, “How To Be Happy Dammit” gained a slew of public fans including Madonna, Tony Robbins and Deepak Chopra and Karen has since added coaching, speaking and consultation to her body of work. In this episode on happiness, which also explores how Karen became a mom at 50 years old, listeners are invited and instructed on how to best challenge negative messages and self-limiting beliefs …even during some of life's most challenging moments. This episode is presented by pregnantish, who is expanding the success of the 2019 “Why I Left My Fertility Clinic” study to look at the fertility treatment patient experience today, with the main goal of bridging the gap between patients and their providers, and creating a better experience for all involved. Visit pregnantish.com/insights for more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When model and wellness influencer Tess Annique met retired NHL hockey star, Sheldon Souray in treatment for addiction in January 2017, she never imagined the two would later fall in love and marry. The two were good friends and shared life's most vulnerable moments as they tried to get sober. But months later, when they reconnected through a text message, Tess admitted she knew something had changed between them. After that, Tess and Sheldon fell in love, had a fairytale wedding and were excited to start a family together. What she never imagined was that in her 20s, she'd struggle to conceive with her husband, and how miscarriage, IVF and infertility would be one of the most sobering experiences Tess and Sheldon would share together. This episode, in honor of Resolve's National Infertility Awareness Week 2023, is about love in the face of challenges, why others should never judge a book by its healthy cover, and what Tess and Sheldon dream of as they look towards their future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just three months after Mallory Weggemann was rendered paralyzed after treatment for her back pain, she re-entered her happy place - the pool - and tried to regain not only her sense of strength, but her sense of self.Through this incredible challenge, Mallory learned about resilience, vulnerability, hope and persistence – qualities that not only helped her excel as a Paralympic Champion on the US swim team, but strengths that also helped her push forward during her struggle to conceive with her husband, Jay.While Mallory initially wondered about her ability to get pregnant and have children when she found out about her paralysis, and while others seeing her in a wheelchair may assume the infertility is on ‘her side', the couple faced hurdles due to Jay's Male Factor Infertility – something that is a reality for many men and couples, and a diagnosis too often left out of the storytelling of infertility.Now Jay and Mallory are new parents and believe this tough chapter of navigating infertility, a MicroTESSE surgery to try to extract Jay's sperm, and the experience of doing fertility treatments together ultimately brought them even closer.This episode on finding hope in the face of challenges, how to love your body when you feel it's failing you and why vulnerability is a sign of strength, also features Scott Brown and Lauren Isley from California Cryobank™ who share insight and advice for those facing male factor infertility and may need sperm donation to build their families.Today's episode, in honor of National Infertility Awareness Week 2023, is presented by California Cryobank™, which carefully selects the highest quality sperm donors to give clients the best possible opportunity for a safe and successful pregnancy. For more, visit cryobank.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When CNN Entertainment Reporter and New York Times best-selling author Chloe Melas married her husband, Fitness Influencer Brian Mazza, she expected them to start their family when they were ready, just as their friends had. After all, she was healthy and in her 20s and she didn't know anyone who had openly struggled with infertility. But when she was diagnosed with Low Ovarian Reserve at 29 and told that her husband had Male Factor Infertility, she knew that if she wanted to become a mother, she needed to pursue IVF and this led to feelings of confusion, anger and depression. Now, as an outspoken advocate, and using her platform to spread infertility awareness, Chloe is passionate about sharing her story so others don't feel as helpless as she once felt and so more are educated about the fact that being young or having sex doesn't guarantee a pregnancy.This episode is about balancing life and love while struggling with grief, what she has learned about resilience both through her experience and her grandfather's experience as a POW, and what she hopes and advocates for when she looks toward the future of assisted reproductive technology.Today's show is presented by Generation Next Fertility in New York City, whose mission is to provide individualized patient centric quality care and innovative technologies to help patients become parents. Tune in to this episode to hear how Dr. Janelle Luk helps patients navigate tough diagnoses like Diminished Ovarian Reserve and Male Factor Infertility. For more, visit generationnextfertility.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Actor Camille Guaty is known for her many roles on TV and in films including Gotta Kick it Up, Prison Break and Scorpion. But what people watching her may not know is that behind the scenes, she struggled for many years to get and stay pregnant.Since getting pregnant via egg donor IVF in 2019, Camille has been public about her experience and why she not only doesn't hold shame for using an egg donor, but feels a source of pride connected to it. In this episode, Camille shares the moment she realized she may need to move on to third party reproduction, what she wants others to know about it, and why she's used her public platform to share her experience and her infertility journey so widely.Today's episode is presented by Donor Egg Bank USA, a leader in frozen donor egg. Two of their many financial plans include a guarantee that you'll bring home a baby or receive a 100% refund. To learn more, visit donoreggbankusa.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NASCAR fans may know Samantha Busch as the wife of stock car racing driver Kyle Busch; but in more recent years, more have learned that in addition to being a wife, a mom, and a lifestyle blogger, Samantha is also an infertility advocate through her non-profit, “The Bundle of Joy Fund” and her book, “Fighting infertility, Finding my Inner Warrior Through Trying to Conceive, IVF and Miscarriage.”As anyone in the infertility community knows, there is rarely a straight line to parenthood. In Samantha's case, trying to become a mom again after she and Kyle had their son Brexton, was a chapter full of heartache, set backs, confusion and unexpected beauty after they found their surrogate match.On this episode, Andrea and Samantha discuss how she navigated tough decisions during her most recent miscarriage, why nobody should ever say “just” get a surrogate, her advice on how to navigate the surrogacy process, and why, despite finding resolution and completing her family, she's still committed to advocating for people struggling to conceive. This episode is sponsored by Donor Concierge, a leading fertility service helping intended parents navigate the challenging process of finding an egg donor, sperm donor or surrogate. For more, visit donorconcierge.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emmy winning reporter Darla Miles never imagined that she'd be the center of a story involving infertility, repeated miscarriages and trying to conceive at 50 years old, especially as she has reported on extraordinary stories throughout her career.In her 30s, Darla met her husband and was thrilled to get pregnant at 36 just before their wedding; but that pregnancy ended and kicked off a decade+ long challenge to conceive and other challenges, including the sudden loss of Darla's husband, who was also her best friend.With a history of miscarriage, an autoimmune disease and now being considered of “advanced age”, some people think Darla's goal of having a baby is unrealistic. But, Darla is determined to exhaust her options as it's in her heart to become a mom.This episode is about resilience in the face of adversity, why we need more education about our fertility, and how far some of us will go to fulfill our most important goal of parenthood.This episode is presented by Donor Egg Bank USA, a leader in frozen donor egg. Two of their many financial plans include a guarantee that you'll bring home a baby or receive a 100% refund. To learn more, visit donoreggbankusa.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sperm donation has been around since the 1950s and has helped build countless families for people with male factor infertility and/or for women without male partners.When it started, and in the decades that followed, most sperm donors were anonymous and many people who used sperm donors were actually discouraged from telling their offspring that they were conceived this way. But, as donor conception grew, so did the data and feedback from this group, who often demanded to know their genetic roots.On this pregnantish podcast, Andrea interviews two women, Sydney Sharon & Hayley Darknell-King, who live in different countries but share a similar experience of learning as adults that their biological dads were sperm donors. Sydney's dad was a sperm donor in the 1980s and Hayley was conceived, via sperm donation, during the same period. Both women know sperm donation from another perspective, too, as women in lesbian marriages who relied on sperm donation to build their respective families.This episode explores Sydney and Hayley's personal stories and discoveries as they learned about their conception stories and DNA, how this information has positively changed their lives and/or made them question their identities, and how this information has shaped them as parents of donor conceived people today.This episode is sponsored by California Cryobank, which carefully selects the highest quality sperm donors to give clients the best possible opportunity for a safe and successful pregnancy. In fact, less than 1% of applicants can become a California Cryobank donor. Interested in starting your search? Head to cryobank.com and enter the code PREGISH to gain access to a free Level Two subscription in 2023. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How will the recent Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe Vs Wade impact the infertility community and those who face complicated pregnancies?According to the guests on the pregnantish podcast, Dr. Krishna Upadhya, VP of Quality Care and Health Equity at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, reproductive specialists Dr. Serena Chen and Dr. Lucky Sekhon, and fertility advocate, Davina Fankhauser, the future implications of assigning 'personhood' status to embryos will create less access to necessary fertility treatments, more vulnerability for doctors and patients, and worse and potentially dangerous outcomes for those who have pregnancies that require medical attention.This episode and conversation was recorded in front of a live studio audience of fertility advocates in New York City in the fall of 2022, and is supported by Doctors For Fertility, a non-profit whose mission is to educate and advocate for IVF and reproductive care. Find out more at doctorsforfertility.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Fabi traveled from California to Nashville for a football game in 2014, she never imagined her life would radically change. One night at a bar she met Josh, a handsome Army Ranger who had been stationed nearby. They would later describe the encounter as "love at first sight." The two were just starting out their lives in their 20s when Josh received a devastating diagnosis, he had a rare form of cancer called synovial sarcoma. Josh knew he wanted to preserve his sperm and later spoke to Fabi about his wish to marry her and try to have a baby with her, despite the fact that he may not be there to raise their child. Josh and Fabi married on November 12, 2016 and Josh passed away just one month later. While this part of Josh and Fabi's love story together ended, in many ways it continues to this day as she undergoes multiple IVF rounds to try to create healthy embryos and the chance at getting pregnant with her great love and continuing his legacy. This episode is presented by The American Cancer Society, the leading cancer-fighting organization, with a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. For more, visit cancer.org. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Those who have followed Sarah Kennedy Ellis' career as a top CMO for blue chip companies, like Adobe, and now as a VP of Global Growth and Demand at Google, know how talented, driven and successful she is. What they may not know is that no matter how dedicated and focused Sarah is on one of her most important goals - having a baby - she has silently struggled behind the scenes... until recently.In one of her most vulnerable tweets to her business focused audience earlier this year Sarah shared, “After three and a half years & counting, nine cycles of IVF, two miscarriages in the last six months, I think it's time for me to finally just say it out loud publicly. Infertility is a special kind of Fresh Hell that takes a toll on even the strongest, most resilient people I've met in life.” She added “..one thing I've learned most is how important it is to share your journey to be part of a community of women battling the same. I built my career being transparent as a leader, and I have with my team, but I've been weirdly shy to share this new part of who I am here.”In this episode, Sarah shares her story of building her career while navigating fertility treatments, why she knows she picked the right man to marry and company to work for, and what she wants others at Google - and outside of her work - to know about why it's important to advocate for your health and fertility.Today's episode is brought to you by Fertility Out Loud, a platform and social media community which provides resources and tools to help you along your fertility journey, and support from a community of women and couples who have been where you are. Visit fertilityoutloud.com for more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rebecca Soffer's life changed overnight in 2006 when her mom died in a car accident, and her dad died of a heart attack on a business trip just a few years later. She never expected to be living without her parents in our early 30s navigating jobs, relationships and life. From this isolating and heartbreaking experience, Rebecca launched a platform that she desperately craved - Modern Loss - a community for real talk around grief and grieving. She knew that she wasn't alone in wanting an approach to grief that wasn't full of platitudes and toxic positivity or Band Aid solutions, but one that honored not only how people mourned and remembered loved ones, but that allowed them to process these life defining moments in whatever way made sense for them. Rebecca has authored two books on grief, including her newest, The Modern Loss Handbook: An Interactive Guide to Moving Through Grief and Building Your Resilience. On this episode, Andrea and Rebecca talk about the messy reality of grief, how people can better support those grieving and why building resilience can be helpful and empowering during our most challenging times.This episode on Grief and Resilience, is presented by pregnantish - the first and only media site that helps people navigate the complexities of infertility and modern family building and tell their stories. For more, follow us on social @pregnantish (@pregnantishmag on Twitter) or find us online at pregnantish.com Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ariel Taylor had her first pregnancy and child in her early 20s and realized soon after that that she not only loved being pregnant, but that she loved being a mother and couldn't bear the thought that some people who wanted to become parents wouldn't be able to either because of their infertility, or because they didn't have the anatomy to create or deliver a baby themselves. So in 2015, Ariel decided to become a gestational surrogate for the first time, helping a couple in her area who were going through secondary infertility. Since then, she's been a surrogate four times, and recently announced her next surrogacy journey with a friend who lost her ability to carry a pregnancy because of cancer treatment. Ariel has also been an egg donor five times, and recently started an infertility therapy practice. This episode explores why Ariel wants to work with people on all sides of this journey, including intended parents and egg donors/surrogates, why she advocates for change and better access to fertility treatments, and what she wants the infertility community and the general public to know about Third-Party Reproduction. This episode was sponsored by EMD Serono, a leader in the fertility space for more than 20 years. They have a legacy of helping couples throughout their fertility journey by offering resources, medications and support. Learn more by visiting fertility.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ever since the first IVF baby was born, just over 40 years ago, the fertility field has grown steadily and rapidly. What does the future hold?On this episode, which is divided into three parts, Andrea invites experts in the field to explore what we can expect moving forward with the advancements in the field, how to best protect ourselves and our specimens over time, and why we need better access to treatment and advocacy for people who are building their families 'with help'.This episode delves into: The start of IVF, with the first American 'test tube baby', advocate Elizabeth Jordan Carr, and what she's witnessed in ART in her lifetimeThe future of fertility, with members of the TMRW Life Sciences Team, Tara Comonte and Cynthia Hudson, who speak about transparency and scalability as more eggs and embryos are frozen.The ethics and law around fertility preservation and accountability, with Family and Fertility Lawyer, Alexis CirelWhile it's never a good time to be infertile or need assistance to have a baby, this conversation shows that the future of fertility looks bright.This episode is sponsored by TMRW Life Sciences, whose mission is to safeguard life's most precious cells. They have created a technology so your frozen eggs or embryos are digitally identified and tracked, linking them to you forever, and giving traceability and transparency that hasn't existed in this way prior. Learn more by visiting tmrw.org. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

*This episode is part of the pregnantish 'Reality of Infertility' series featuring reality stars and public personalities who have undergone fertility treatments to build their families and are sharing their fertility journeys in honor of awareness, education, and advocacy.Those who watch reality TV and Bravo, in particular, know that Golnesa "GG" Gharachedaghi from “Shahs of Sunset” has never been shy to use her voice to challenge and support people she loves and that she's not scared to go after what she wants; but what people may not know is how much this has extended to the way Golnesa became a mom. Golnesa has been vocal about her path to parenthood with sperm donation, which also includes a devastating ectopic pregnancy that could have literally killed her. This experience led to the removal of both of her fallopian tubes. Determined to try again, Golnesa pursued IVF months later and got pregnant with her baby boy Elijah, the love of her life, who is now a toddler.In this episode, Andrea and Golnesa discuss the many extraordinary ways families are created today, why Golnesa pursued single motherhood, and why she feels her fertility and family story was always meant to be.This episode is sponsored by Donor Concierge, a leading fertility service helping intended parents navigate the challenging process of finding an egg donor, sperm donor or surrogate. For more or for a free consultation, visit donorconcierge.com/contact See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In honor of National Infertility Awareness Week, this "Reality of Infertility" episode featuring reality stars Kendall Long and Caroline Lunny from Bachelor Nation, and Golnesa "GG" Gharachedaghi from Shahs of Sunset, is a candid talk about egg freezing, IVF, navigating fertility treatments without a partner, miscarriage, how to pick a sperm donor and more. Taped live in front of an audience at the 'reality show restaurant', Sur in West Hollywood, these popular TV personalities share what they wish they knew before pursuing egg retrievals and fertility treatments, and why they are passionate about using their voices to educate young women about their fertility today. This episode is sponsored by Extend Fertility, the nation's largest egg freezing clinic which was founded on the premise that democratizing egg freezing could ultimately deliver better results for both patients and providers. If you're thinking about preserving your fertility through egg freezing or IVF, and for a free egg freezing consultation, contact them at extendfertility.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

For fans of the hit CBS show Survivor, Season 29 runner-up Jaclyn Misch is the definition of bravery. She competed and dominated challenges that would make many of us bow out or buckle. In some ways Jaclyn's "Survivor" journey mirrored her journey with her husband, fellow survivor contestant Jon Misch, as they tried to conceive over the years.Born with MRKH Syndrome, a condition in which a woman's reproductive system is not fully developed. Jaclyn knew she'd need help to bring a baby into the world, but she didn't expect the tough twists and turns that she and her husband would have along the way. This episode is a candid look at surrogacy, why Jaclyn has used her voice to spread awareness of MRKH, miscarriage and infertility, and how she's managed to keep hope and resilience alive on and off camera.Thanks to episode sponsor, CSP, The Center for Surrogate Parenting, part of Ovation Fertility and the most experienced and longest standing surrogacy agency in the world. For over 40 years, they have successfully matched thousands of intended parents and surrogates to ensure a healthy journey and a happy outcome for all. For more, visit https://www.creatingfamilies.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

If you saw Lauren McGregor walking down the street, you'd see a woman glowing with pride that she's in her third trimester, pregnant with a baby she only dreamed about. What you wouldn't see is everything behind this pregnancy - the fact that Lauren is carrying the love of her life Chris's baby, and that he will never be earthside to raise his son with her. You wouldn't see how devastating the year 2020 was for Lauren after Chris passed away. And you wouldn't know that despite these circumstances, Lauren still feels really lucky.Lauren and her late partner, Chris, decided to freeze his sperm after he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She now shares her story in the hopes that it can help others consider preserving their fertility when faced with a terminal illness, to ensure that people fill out the necessary paperwork that she's grateful to have completed before her partner's death, and to support others who look to build a family and life after death, despite heartbreaking circumstances. Thanks to today's episode sponsor, EMD Serono, a leader in the fertility space for more than 20 years. They have a legacy of helping couples throughout their fertility journey by offering resources, medications and support. Learn more by visiting fertility.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

If you've ever watched the reality show “The Bachelor” you may remember Holly, who was on the 12th season of the popular series and the winner of Season Two of the reality show spin off, The Bachelor Pad. Holly actually met her husband, Blake Julian, on the show, and they're one of the few couples in “Bachelor Nation” who are still together today. Millions watched as a pair fell in love and followed their story when they got married in 2012. But, what fans didn't know about the pair was that they were struggling behind the scenes to get and stay pregnant. Diagnosed with Stage Four Endometriosis in 2014, Holly had surgery to try to treat it, believing it would lead to a successful healthy pregnancy. She never imagined all the years and all the tears that her journey to parenthood would take. As she processed multiple failures and losses, she and Blake largely kept quiet, at least to their fans. But when her daughter Poppy arrived through adoption in 2019, Holly came out in a vulnerable and "real talk" Instagram post, which was titled, “My Seven Year Secret.” On this episode, Andrea talks to Holly about why she's now “out loud” with her fertility story, how she and Blake navigated miscarrying, and the challenging experiences they faced in their marriage while trying to build their family, and why she now says that Poppy was worth the wait -- even if she had to wait another seven years to be her mom.Today's episode is brought to you by Fertility Out Loud, a platform and social media community which provides resources and tools to help you along your fertility journey, and support from a community of women and couples who have been where you are. Visit fertilityoutloud.com for more. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Meet Matchmaker Rachel Russo, a solo parent who believes that having a baby on her own is one of the single best decisions she's made for her love life.At 30 years old, Rachel had a client who was also a top fertility doctor and offered her the opportunity to freeze her eggs for free. Rachel declined, thinking marriage and babies would soon come. Little did she know then that six years later, as she faced a tough fertility journey, she would look back on the doctor's offer with some regrets. Rachel says that with "a ticking clock" and a strong desire for motherhood, she decided to pursue having a baby without a partner in her mid 30s, thinking that not only can love come later, but that this step may actually improve her love life.In this interview, Andrea and Rachel discuss why the term 'single mom by choice' doesn't resonate with Rachel, how picking a sperm donor is the same and different from the love matches she picks for her clients, and why she wants to share her story publicly and inspire other singles to consider this step.This episode is supported by California Cryobank, the #1 sperm bank recommended by physicians, which maintains the highest quality standards to give clients the best possible opportunity for a safe and successful pregnancy. To learn more, visit www.cryobank.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This month, December 2021, IVF turns 40. Or, more specifically, Elizabeth Carr, the first US IVF baby, turns 40. Making headline news in 1981, Elizabeth was known as a “test tube” baby. The Washington Post coverage at the time said that the test tube baby, "is the first successful product of a 21 month old in-vitro fertilization program that literally fertilizes human eggs in plastic dishes at the Eastern Virginia Medical School. Both the baby and our mother Judith Carr, a 28 year old Westminster Mass school teacher leader were pronounced perfectly healthy. 'The baby cried right away. And that was very reassuring', said Dr. Mason Andrews who performed the cesarean. 'It was a relief to know this was a “normal” baby'."Elizabeth was, in fact, healthy and “normal”; but nothing about the attention she received as an early "science baby" was normal.On this episode, Andrea sits down with Elizabeth to talk about what it was like to grow up knowing she was created in a lab, what she has seen change in the world of reproduction during her lifetime, and what she hopes the future holds not only for her, but for the future of fertility. This episode is brought to you by First Response™, America's most trusted Pregnancy Test Brand.* First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test can tell you 6 days sooner than your missed period.** *Voted 'most trusted Pregnancy Test brand" by American shoppers based on the 2020 BrandSpark® American Trust Study.**In laboratory testing, the Early Result Pregnancy Test detected pregnancy hormone levels in 76% of pregnant women 5 days before their expected period. See package for details about early testing. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

To many SoulCycle riders and fans, Master Instructor Emma Zaks looks like the model of good health as she inspires people in her weekly classes to live up to their fullest potential. Others know Emma from her time on Broadway, following in her parents footsteps. What some of her fans and followers may not know is that Emma is also a stroke survivor and an infertility advocate. Navigating her undiagnosed autoimmune disease in her early 30s & and now struggling to conceive with her husband, popular child actor Geoffrey Wigdor, has inspired Emma to speak out and use her voice to advocate for change, so other people navigating confusing and upsetting health diagnoses like these don't feel as unsupported and alone. This episode is supported by Donor Egg Bank USA, the only egg bank in America with the 100% Assured Refund Plan™ guaranteeing that you'll bring home a baby or you'll receive your money back. To lean more, visit www.donoreggbankusa.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Nia Sanchez, Miss USA 2014, never thought she'd have a fertility issue as she was young and healthy when she and her husband, actor Daniel Booko, started trying to conceive in 2019. To their surprise, they were diagnosed with 'unexplained infertility' and pursued fertility treatments, all the while finding ways to support each other through the tough experience. On this episode we explore why it's a fallacy that women of Latin descent are always fertile, why what you see isn't always what you get when it comes to getting or staying pregnant, and how infertility brought Nia and Daniel even closer. The two are in the public eye and are now public about their fertility journey and their excitement to welcome a baby this fall. Today's episode is presented by First Response Pregnancy and their new Comfort Check Pregnancy Test Kit, which includes 8 pregnancy tests so you can test early & often. The 3 First Response™ Early Test Result Tests and 5 First Response™ Pregnancy Test Strips means more ways to test and be certain of your result. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

If you saw Krisily Fernstrom on Instagram today, you'd see a woman going through infertility and egg retrievals quote, “hoping, praying and waiting” to become a mom. IVF warrior is in her bio, along with TV host, Movie Critic and Miss Rhode Island USA. She was also a contestant on The Bachelor and the popular reality show spinoff, The Bachelor Pad. Some people may remember her as Krisily Kennedy, from Charlie O'Connell's season, when she was runner-up and considered by some as 'the most hated woman in America'! Her no B.S, candid tell-it-like-it-is attitude is exactly why she's decided to share her infertility journey on social media, in the hopes that it will help others feel less alone. On this episode, Krisily and Andrea have a candid chat about how to keep intimacy and relationships alive during setbacks, what infertility and reality TV have in common, and why Krisily thinks this current chapter of trying to build her family with science is one of the hardest and most defining experiences of her life. This episode is supported by two plus fertility, an easy-to-use device to help guide sperm to egg when you're trying to conceive at home. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Deidre Downs Gunn, M.D, held the state title of Miss Alabama, before entering the national Miss America competition in 2005. And, she holds another title today: Deidre is the first Miss America to enter a same sex marriage and build a family with her wife.Deidre and her partner Abbott met on a dating site in 2017 while Deidre was finishing a fellowship and reproductive endocrinology and infertility. She now practices as a fertility specialist at UAB Fertility and is expecting a baby with Abbott, conceived through an IVF transfer performed by Dr. Deidre herself! In this interview, in honor of Pride 2021, Andrea and Deidre discuss why she entered the pageant and what it was like to hold the Miss America title, when she knew she was gay, and what she has learned on the "other side" of fertility treatments, as an IVF patient herself.This episode is presented by "A Lifetime of Pride and Joy" which is customizing a free fertility journey, including IVF and surrogacy services up to $75,000, to a random winner in the LGBTQ+ community. No purchase necessary. To learn more, see the contest rules and apply, visit pridejoybaby.com. The winner will be announced in early July, 2021. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

You may recognize the Dürt family: Matthew and his partner Elliot, from the headlines their family story made just a couple of years ago.Elliot's sister Lea donated her eggs to the couple and Matt's 61-year-old mother, Cecile, carried and delivered their first baby (who is also her first granddaughter!) -- making her one of the oldest women in the world to give birth! Matt and Elliot are now the proud parents of a little girl named Uma.As if this wasn't already a very modern family story, the Dürt family is helping another queer family achieve their dreams of parenthood. Matt is the sperm donor for his childhood best friend, MB, and her partner August, who recently transitioned from female to a trans masculine non-binary person. Today, August and MB call Matt their 'Fairy Godfather', and all know how extraordinary and lucky they are to build their families, considering all of the personal, practical and societal challenges they faced to get there. On this episode, in honor of Pride 2021, these four friends - now connected for life - show what is possible when families are built from love. Thanks to episode sponsor, A Lifetime of Pride and Joy, which is customizing a free fertility journey, including IVF and surrogacy services up to $75,000, to a random winner in the LGBTQ+ community. No purchase necessary. To learn more, see the contest rules and apply, visit pridejoybaby.com in June 2021. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Identical twin sisters Amy and Courtney, who jokingly refer to themselves as 'lefty' and 'righty', both knew that they'd have to pursue IVF in order to have children so they wouldn't pass down a rare genetic condition. They didn't imagine the years of fertility treatments, set-backs and losses they'd experience, or that they would become even more connected than they already were.36 years after sharing their mother's uterus, the twins are sharing a pregnancy journey again -- this time through Courtney, who is acting as gestational surrogate for Amy and her husband's baby.This is a story of preserving through challenges, building a family when the odds are stacked against you, and the deep love and connection shared by twin sisters.This episode is supported by Marin Fertility Center, a National Center of fertility excellence located in Marin, CA with the highest quality medical care, a patient-centered approach and affordable effective treatment options. Continue to follow Amy & Courtney’s journey on Instagram @twinfertility_sisters See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

If you saw meditation and mindfulness expert Josephine Atluri with her family today, you may think she had no issues trying to conceive. She has 5 children and twins on the way!But, Josephine’s path to parenthood was anything but straight or simple. Multiple IVF rounds, late term pregnancy loss, international adoption and surrogacy are all part of her family story. And each chapter of her family building journey, which is still unfolding now, has its own story with plenty of unexpected twists and turns, beautiful and unexpected surprises and life lessons.This episode is not just about infertility - it's one that examines how to overcome adversity in the darkest and most unpredictable times in our lives. *****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************This episode is supported by Beli, prenatal vitamins optimized for fertility, prenatal & post pregnancy health. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

"So Tell Me About the Last Time You Had Sex" is a question Ian Kerner often asks people in his sex therapy practice and it's the title of his new book. In this interview, Ian and Andrea discuss the difference between procreative sex and recreational sex, and Ian shares why we may need to update our 'sex script' in order to stay connected through tough challenges like grief and infertility. Ian s a licensed psychotherapist, best-selling author and nationally recognized sexuality counselor who specializes in sex therapy, couples therapy and working with individuals on a range of relational issues that often lead to distress. Whether or not you've experienced infertility and/or pregnancy losses, this episode is helpful for anyone who wants to keep intimacy alive in their lives as challenges arise. This episode is presented by "This Is What Infertility Looks Like", a program produced by pregnantish with support from First Response Pregnancy. Visit pregnantish.com/infertilitylookslike for more See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When people look at entrepreneur Samantha Busch and her husband, NASCAR driver Kyle Busch, they may see a picture-perfect life and family, and have no idea how much this couple struggled behind the scenes to become parents. Both faced an infertility diagnosis that led them on a path they never expected while in the public eye, and one that resulted in their Bundle of Joy Fund. They developed this non-profit in an effort to advocate for infertility awareness and remove financial barriers by granting monetary awards to couples who require fertility treatments.On "First Comes Loves, Then Comes Marriage, Then Comes...Infertility?!", Relationship Expert Andrea Syrtash, and Samantha Busch, author of the new book, "Fighting Infertility: Finding My Inner Warrior Through Trying to Conceive, IVF and Miscarriage" get real about how their lives and marriages have been affected by failed IVF transfers and pregnancy losses, and explore what it means to keep intimacy alive and marriages connected during the immense challenges that infertility can bring into relationships. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

If you came across Gregory Sdeo on Twitter, you may think his account is a joke. After all, his handle is "Balls Don't Work" and his name is listed as "Got No Sperm" -- but there's no joke here. Greg is one in the estimated 40-50% of men with an infertility diagnosis that's impacted his ability to start a family with his wife. This episode explores why we often frame infertility as a woman's issue, how Greg and his wife have navigated this diagnosis and how to support more men facing this medical reality. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Actress and Entertainer Athena Reich, who has been called one of the best Lady Gaga impersonators, created a show called #ARTBIRTH just around the time that birth was on her mind. When Athena was in her mid-30s, she did what she says, 'Any clock-ticking lesbian would do' and she picked a sperm donor with the goal of getting pregnant via IUI or IVF. What Athena didn't know at this time was that she'd embark on a painful infertility journey that eventually led her to embrace the other side of third party reproduction, egg donation.Today, as a proud single lesbian mom of two and a fertility advocate, Athena has a lot to share about all the unexpected twists and turns her path to parenthood took, what straight people can learn from the LGBT world when it comes to building a family 'with help' and why she's used her voice consistently to talk about her double-donor conceived children.This episode is brought to you by First Response™ Pregnancy, voted 'most trusted pregnancy test brand" by American shoppers based on the 2020 BrandSpark® American Trust Study. First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test can tell you 6 days sooner than your missed period. In laboratory testing, the Early Result Pregnancy Test detected pregnancy hormone levels in 76% of pregnant women 5 days before their expected period. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.