In this candid conversation, Carli reflects on the disappointment of failed transfers, the mental toll of multiple retrievals, the isolation of struggling in silence, and the unexpected vulnerability of feeling like her body was “failing” her after a lifetime of peak performance.

She opens up about navigating fertility over 40, learning to surrender when hard work wasn’t enough, and leaning on her high school sweetheart and husband, Brian, throughout the journey. Today, the couple are parents to their daughter, Harper – a chapter Carli describes as the greatest accomplishment of her life.

Through Carli’s voice, we’re reminded that even champions have to learn how to let go; and why vulnerability is ultimately a sign of strength. 

This episode, presented by Fertility Out Loud, made possible by Ferring Pharmaceuticals, features a midroll interview with Women's Health Advocate and Fertility Out Loud Partner, April Christina, who shares her personal fertility journey story and how fertility coaching has helped her navigate her own path to parenthood. Learn more about fertility coaching at no cost and find additional resources at FertilityOutLoud.com.

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Brittany shares her unconventional path to the Olympic podium—and how that journey led her to speak openly about the realities women, especially Black women, face in medicine and in sport.

At the heart of this episode is Brittany’s experience living with endometriosis: years of debilitating pelvic pain, medical dismissal, and the long road to diagnosis. She opens up about realizing something wasn’t normal, the dead ends she hit searching for answers, and the alarming medical advice she received before finally being diagnosed in 2023 through the USOPC network. She also reflects on the emotional journey that followed- the relief at being validated, paired with difficult questions about fertility, egg freezing, timing, and access, even as an elite athlete in the middle of a competitive season.

Perhaps most powerful is Brittany’s honesty about the risk of telling the truth publicly. In a world where contracts, sponsorships, and perception matter, she shares the very real fear of disclosure and the unexpected reward: connection, community, and a flood of women and athletes also navigating infertility diagnoses. 

Presented by Tru Niagen, the episode also features a special mid-roll conversation with Dr. Yasmeen Nkrumah-Elie, Global Director of External Research at Niagen Bioscience, exploring mitochondrial health, NAD+, inflammation, and why cellular energy matters for both athletic performance and reproductive health.  Use code EGGS20 for 20% off at TruNiagen.com 

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Presented by The World Fertility Project, this episode of pregnantish spotlights global advocates and thought leaders recently honored at the World Fertility Awards 2025, whose long and varied paths to parenthood highlight both the challenges of infertility and the resilience required to overcome them.

In this candid conversation, pregnantish founder Andrea Syrtash, who welcomed her daughter through gestational surrogacy after eight years of trying to conceive, sits down with Becky Kearns in the UK and Nathalia Bastos in Brazil. Both women navigated complex fertility journeys and, after years of persistence, are now proud mothers of three.

Becky, the voice behind Defining Mum, is a passionate advocate for destigmatizing egg donor IVF. She shares the realities of raising three donor-conceived children and works to expand fertility access in her region through Fertility Matters at Work, the company she co-founded.

After seven years of infertility, Nathalia transformed her experience into advocacy. Through N. Tentativas, she has built a nationwide movement in Brazil that has already helped nearly 150 couples access the support they needed to build their families.

This inspiring episode explores resilience, persistence, and connection—how to hold onto hope, protect relationships, and navigate the twists and setbacks of a long TTC journey. And it’s a reminder that even though we live in different corners of the world, we are united as one powerful global fertility community.

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Some may know her from the reality show Selling the City, from her music career with Interscope Records, or as Trevor Noah’s ex; but what they may not know is how much Jordyn dreams of motherhood, and why she’s empowered to share her fertility journey of freezing her eggs publicly. As a 35th birthday gift, Jordyn made the decision to preserve her fertility. In this candid conversation, she shares the real story behind that choice – the fears, the empowerment, and the emotional roller coaster that so many can relate to but rarely talk about.

This episode also features Dr. Kate Devine, Medical Director and Chief Research Officer at US Fertility, who brings a wealth of experience and insight to the conversation. Dr. Devine shares the newest published research on egg freezing and undergoing fertility treatments over 35 years old, and how modern medicine continues to expand the possibilities for family building.

This timely conversation is about what’s next for Jordyn in life and love, why she’s sharing her decision to freeze her eggs, and why there should never be shame attached to admitting that you dream of parenthood in your future. 

This episode is presented by Shady Grove Fertility, a clinic in the US Fertility network. 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.

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For the first time in years, Ali had space to pause. And in that pause, she found clarity about her future, including her family-building goals. In a real talk and hopeful conversation, she shares how she and her husband are now exploring IVF, due in part to his diagnosis of Marfan Syndrome, and what she wishes for ahead. 

Ali also reflects on the lack of fertility education and access in elite athletics, and the change she's trying to bring not just to the soccer field -- but to the women's health field.

This episode includes a special midroll segment with Dr. Asima Ahmad, Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Carrot Fertility, who talks about the importance of reducing the financial barrier to access care, and why preparing your body for pregnancy during the 'premester' period is worth focusing on.

Ali’s story is one of resilience, perspective, and hope. It’s proof that going the distance for family isn't something to be ashamed of, but to celebrate. 

This episode is sponsored by Carrot Fertility, a global fertility and family-building platform whose comprehensive care drives clinical outcomes that create industry-leading cost savings. Learn more at get-carrot.com

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In this inspiring episode, Jenna speaks with pride about her family and stepping into motherhood, a role she never imagined but deeply cherishes, living with the BRCA gene, and the resilience she’s built through life’s challenges. 

We’re also joined by Dr. Nicole Ulrich, Reproductive Endocrinologist and Director of Advocacy at The Fertility Institute, part of the First Fertility Network. She offers fertility education that so many of us wish we knew and insights on the importance of self-advocacy in reproductive health.

This episode is presented by First Fertility, a network of clinics in 14 states supporting all paths to parenthood. For more, visit FirstFertility.com.

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Trystan made headlines as a transgender man to publicly share his journey of carrying a biological child. But behind the media frenzy was a deeply personal decision — rooted in love and the desire to expand his family with his partner, Biff. While his story was often sensationalized, Trystan has remained committed to educating others and speaking out, not just for himself, but for the broader trans community — especially trans women, who he says too often bear the brunt of bias and misinformation.

In this episode, Trystan reflects on how his family — which includes three beautiful children, two through adoption — is both ordinary and extraordinary. He opens up about the need for fertility clinics to better understand trans patients, the harmful assumptions people make, and why it’s so important to amplify positive stories about trans families, especially in a time of rising negativity and erasure.

As Trystan puts it, his family — like so many others — took the broken shards of glass life gave them and turned them into a beautiful mosaic. 

Thanks to our episode sponsor, Ferring Pharmaceuticals’ Fertility Out Loud and Director of Fertility Coaching, Connie Stark, for sharing the importance of fertility coaching for all aspiring parents, including LGBTQ+ individuals and couples. Explore personal stories, expert insights, and helpful tools at fertilityoutloud.com

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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 

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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 

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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

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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

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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 

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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. 

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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. 

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

Hayley Darknell-King is an editorial guest and isn’t affiliated with California Cryobank.

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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

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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.

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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. 

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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

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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

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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 lifetime
• The 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 Cirel

While 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.

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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 

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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

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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

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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 

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.  

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This episode is supported by Beli, prenatal vitamins optimized for fertility, prenatal & post pregnancy health.

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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

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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.

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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. 

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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.  

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Born with MRKH, a condition in which a woman is born without a uterus, Jennifer didn't imagine she could or would ever carry a pregnancy. But, through the generosity of a family she didn't know, and a scientific breakthrough that allowed a uterus transplant to happen, Jennifer delivered a healthy baby.

Jennifer is just the third woman in the world, and the second in the US to deliver a baby from a uterus that was donated to her from a deceased donor. And, she's the first one to speak about it publicly.  

Her successful uterus transplant surgery happened because of a donation made from a grieving family, who were mourning the loss of 'the best mother (they) ever knew', who tragically died at just 29 years old.

On this episode, hear how Jennifer and her husband navigated family building when she thought she couldn't easily conceive, how she heard about this cutting-edge option and why she's sharing her powerful story.

This episode is brought to you by First Response Pregnancy. When you're asking yourself, "Am I pregnant? Am I really, really, really pregnant?" - sometimes you want to triple check. The First Response Triple Check Pregnancy test gives you results 3 different ways for added reassurance. First Response Early Result & Digital Tests let you know 6 days sooner* and First Response Rapid Result gives you results in 60 seconds from the day of your missed period. All of these tests are over 99% accurate**.

*Than your missed period. In laboratory testing, Early Result Pregnancy Test detected pregnancy hormone levels in 76% of pregnant women 5 days before their expected period. In laboratory testing, Digital Pregnancy Test detected pregnancy hormone levels in 60% of pregnant women 5 days before their expected period. See package for details about testing early. Excludes Rapid Result Pregnancy Test. 

**Over 99% accurate. For Early Result and Digital Pregnancy Tests: >99% accurate at detecting typical pregnancy hormone levels from the day of your expected period. For Rapid Result Pregnancy Test: >99% accurate at detecting typical pregnancy hormone levels from the day of your missed period. Note that hormone levels vary. See insert. 

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These friends, who were single after divorce and relationships that weren't going anywhere, had dreams of motherhood and decided to build their families, instead of waiting for the right men to come along. 

After a series of failed IVF and IUI treatments due to Diminished Ovarian Reserve and other issues, Wendy pursued adoption - but still had frozen embryos that she had created, with the help of third party reproduction, years before.  Wendy decided to donate these embryos to her friend Abbey, who now has a baby thanks to Wendy's donation. And, Abbey donated the remaining embryo to her best friend in California, who is now expecting Abbey's daughter's genetic sibling. 

This is a story about being a single mom by choice and how girlfriends and single women today can build the family of their dreams.

This episode is brought to you by First Response, 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.

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Kelly became one of the one in the 1000 women who reach menopause before the age of 30. And yet, we don't hear these stories enough and many think infertility is almost always caused by a woman who just waited "too long" to start trying.

On this episode, Andrea sits down with Kelly to hear about this confusing diagnosis and the events that transpired after, including joining a group of 50-something year old women also navigating menopause, launching her passion for marathon running and embracing third-party reproduction.

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In 2014, after a 16 week pregnancy loss, Psychologist Dr. Jessica Zucker was compelled to change the conversation around miscarriage and created a campaign called "I had a miscarriage." She never expected the idea to take off so widely, and she now spends her time counseling and supporting people through loss through her private practice, her writing and her popular Instagram page.  

On this episode, Andrea sits down with Dr. Jessica to explore the topic of miscarriage and the grief that accompanies it for all involved -- not just the woman who was carrying the baby. 

They also explore how we can better support others, including ourselves, through this tough experience so that we are able to honor those who we've lost while being able to move forward.

We conclude the program with singer-songwriter Andrea England's song, 'I Won't Forget About You'.

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Today, Aprill's made history as one of the first women in the country (and the world) to donate her uterus to another woman, who she doesn't know, who has also faced infertility. 

On this episode, we hear about Aprill's wild path to parenthood, how she responded to unsolicited advice while trying to get and stay pregnant, and why she was compelled to undergo many months of preparation and a nine hour surgery to give another woman the opportunity to carry a child. 

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Unlike traditional surrogacy, which is less common today, gestational surrogacy occurs when the surrogate is not genetically related to the embryo she is carrying. The "Intended Parents" have undergone IVF, with their own genetic material (or potentially a donor egg or sperm), to produce an embryo that will be transferred into the gestational carrier's uterus.

On "When Your Mother Births Your Baby" Andrea sits down with Julie Loving and Breanna Lockwood, a mother and daughter who are expecting a baby in November. If that sounds unusual...it is! There are few cases where a mother is in the right shape to deliver a baby for her child.

Tune in to hear why Breanna, who was only 26 when she started trying to conceive, got to the point where she needed to find a surrogate, how her mother got involved, all the misconceptions they've faced as they've gone public (and viral!) with their family story, and how they're dealing with all of the unknowns around a pregnancy and delivery during a worldwide pandemic. 

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The first known baby born via egg donor was in the early 1980s. Just a few decades old, there’s still a lot we don’t know about egg donation. However, what we do know is that more agencies and donors pop up every year as the demand increases and there’s a lot of interest in this category, from intended parents, potential donors and from people born via egg donation.

In this episode, Andrea sits down with Michelle, who donated her eggs at 22 and now at 33 faces infertility and wonders if she will need to find an egg donor. (Spoiler: Her eggs are no longer at the clinics she donated to. She called to find out!) 

Andrea also interviews former New York Times columnist and author of "The Trying Game", Amy Klein, who discusses the trend of egg donation, both as someone who benefited from it and as a journalist who has covered this growing trend. 

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.