AllPaths Podcast

AllPaths Podcast

By AllPaths Family BuildingBusinessNon-Profit
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AllPaths Podcast episodes

  • Becca's Journey: "Leave all your assumptions at the door."

    In this episode, we speak with Becca Levin Nayak, an attorney specializing in adoption and assisted reproduction in Pennsylvania. Becca shares her own family building journey, begun with her ex-wife, where the couple navigated donor conception. The process of choosing a sperm donor was overwhelming, which Becca likened to selecting a partner on a dating app. Despite the challenges, Becca's first attempt at IUI resulted in a successful pregnancy, leading to the birth of her son. However, her path was not without heartbreak, as she faced miscarriages and the dissolution of her marriage, which prompted her to consider single parenthood. This journey took an unexpected turn when she met her current wife, who had two children from a previous co-parenting arrangement. The creation of their blended family is a beautiful illustration of the fact that genetic ties are not what make a family.

    The conversation then pivots to Becca's professional career, which was initially driven by her commitment to LGBTQ+ advocacy following decisions like Lawrence v. Texas. She discusses the evolving legal landscape for LGBTQ+ families, her shift to focusing on assisted reproduction and adoption law, and the importance of securing parental rights for non-biological or genetic parents. Currently, Becca is an active advocate for the Pennsylvania Uniform Parentage Act (House Bill 350), which will modernize and clarify parentage law in the state to recognize diverse family structures and protect the rights of all parent/child relationships, regardless of how their families are built.

    LINKS:

    Connect with Becca at https://www.hangley.com/team-member/rebecca-levin-nayak and learn how you can help advocate for the Pennsylvania Uniform Parentage Act at https://www.pennparentage.org/.

    TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

    family building, LGBTQ family, assisted reproduction, adoption attorney, blended family, parenting journey, sperm donor selection, intentional co-parenting, legal protections for families, family law advocacy, emotional support for parents, Pennsylvania Parentage Act, fertility clinic services, family structure diversity, parenting rights, miscarriage support, donor siblings, family formation resources, surrogacy laws, parenthood options, adoption, assisted reproduction, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, LGBTQ+, two moms, RMA Philadelphia, donor conception, donor sperm, donor siblings, IUI, miscarriage, pregnancy loss, intentional co-parenting, blended family, advocacy, parentage, LGBT Advocacy, family law, family formation lawyer, Pennsylvania Parentage Act, intent-based parenting, confirmatory adoption, legal protections, known donor, relationships, family groups


    CONNECT WITH ALLPATHS FAMILY BUILDING: https://allpathsfb.org

    Follow us on social media @allpathsfb

    Want to share your story or ask a question? Get in touch at [email protected]!

    48 min
  • Courtney’s Journey: Liberating Yourself from Uterine Shame

    On this episode, we welcome Courtney, a current PhD student at the Fletcher School of Tufts whose research focuses on the intersections of conflict, reproductive health, and humanitarian programming, to talk about her ongoing reproductive health journey. Her long medical path, which began with life-threatening blood clots (DVT and pulmonary embolism) at age 17, leading to a diagnosis of Factor 2 and Factor 5 clotting disorders and resulting in significant medical trauma. She was later diagnosed with endometriosis at 23, after struggling with symptoms for three or four years. Courtney discusses the difficulties of being gaslit and dismissed by medical providers regarding both her blood clots and her reproductive pain. She describes how she was eventually guided toward proper endometriosis care by a friend and colleague who had also experienced endometriosis and adenomyosis, providing essential support and guidance through an isolating experience.

    Courtney's severe pain and the eventual diagnosis of adenomyosis, the "evil cousin of endo," led her to the decision to pursue a medically indicated hysterectomy at 24. She explains that her clotting disorders meant that pregnancy would be dangerous due to the risk of increased clotting from estrogen flushes. She appreciated finding an endometriosis specialist, who respected her autonomy and supported her desire to reclaim her quality of life by rescinding the “ability to give life in a way.” While Courtney and her husband, Mark, aren’t quite ready to start growing their family yet, they plan to pursue international adoption.

    Courtney has since channeled her experiences into advocacy, testifying at the Massachusetts State House in support of comprehensive bills aimed at improving endometriosis care. She has become involved in the Endometriosis Alliance of Massachusetts (TEAM), an organization bringing together providers, patients, and caregivers to improve the lives of those with endometriosis through education and advocacy, of which AllPaths is a founding member. This November, Courtney is also running the Cambridge Half Marathon as a fundraiser for TEAM and AllPaths Family Building to support endometriosis advocacy efforts in Massachusetts, showcase the resilience of the endo community, and demonstrate that life can improve with proper treatment. Ultimately, Courtney stresses that there is no "ideal" or "normative" family building process, realizing through her own journey to this point that "what works for you is what the ideal is."


    LINKS

    Support Courtney’s Half Marathon Fundraiser at https://www.gofundme.com/f/donate-to-team-and-allpaths-family-building.

    Learn more about the Mount Auburn Center for Endometriosis Care at https://mountauburnhospital.org/services/gynecology/endometriosis-treatment.

    Get involved with endometriosis advocacy in Massachusetts at https://www.endoteam.org/ and https://allpathsfb.org/ma-advocacy/.


    TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

    Endometriosis, medical gaslighting, patient education, medical trauma, adenomyosis, pelvic floor physical therapy, trust, TEAM, Endometriosis Alliance of Massachusetts, Mount Auburn Hospital, hysterectomy, uterus, uterus party, MIGS, minimally invasive gynecological surgery, fertility, family building, patient autonomy, MA legislature, MA state house, advocacy, advocacy work, MA advocacy, endo bills, endometriosis bills, reproductive health, medical advocacy, women's health, infertility support, adenomyosis, patient empowerment, healthcare navigation, emotional support, community support, endometriosis awareness, advocacy efforts, PhD student experiences, personal health journeys, intersectionality in healthcare, fertility options


    CONNECT WITH ALLPATHS FAMILY BUILDING: https://allpathsfb.org

    Follow us on social media @allpathsfb

    Want to share your story or ask a question? Get in touch at [email protected]!

    45 min
  • Marea's Journey: Redefining Family Through Relationships, Commitment, and Connection

    Today’s episode features Marea Goodman, a licensed midwife, parent, co-author of the book Baby Making for Everybody, and founder of PregnantTogether, a virtual community supporting queer and solo parents from preconception through parenting. Marea’s family grew through a non-traditional and "growthful" journey that involved co-parenting, a romantic relationship developing unexpectedly, the use of a known donor, having a child of their own (after a chemical pregnancy and then successful IUI), and eventually navigating a separation. They described the fertility process, alongside their experiences of pregnancy, birth, and separation, as deeply "humbling" and realized that if the process was this overwhelming to them as an "quote unquote expert" with training, then they could only imagine how it felt for others. 

    This feeling of overwhelm and the observation that people often do not see the narratives of their non-traditional families in the mainstream world, led to the creation of the PregnantTogether community. By creating a space for LGBTQ+ individuals and solo parents, Marea hopes to provide a space where the unique stories of queer folks and solo parents are normalized and people can find the tailored support and resources that they wished they had had on their journey. PregnantTogether is excited to host the first virtual queer family building conference called “Together” this November 4th and 5th. Our conversation highlights the importance of normalizing diverse family structures, addressing the grief and disappointment inherent in the process, and connecting people to help smooth out the bumps of the family-building challenges. 

    Find Marea and the community on Instagram @pregnanttogether.community or the website www.pregnanttogether.com.

    TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

    Reproductive justice, queer parenting, queer family building, midwife, doula, fertility care, IUI, donor sperm, queer family stories, Baby-Making for Every Body book, grief, relationships, family, spiritual growth, at-home insemination, unsolicited advice, compassionate listening, family building, queer parenting, solo parenting, reproductive justice, LGBTQ+ family support, insemination process, parenting community, family planning resources, fertility challenges, emotional support for parents, non-traditional families, midwifery care, online parenting support, community for queer families, navigating parenthood, parenting after divorce, inclusive parenting resources, support for trying to conceive, parenting workshops, LGBTQ+ family building conference

    CONNECT WITH ALLPATHS FAMILY BUILDING: https://allpathsfb.org

    Follow us on social media @allpathsfb

    Want to share your story or ask a question? Get in touch at [email protected]!

    41 min
  • Elizabeth’s Journey: From Number One to a Voice for Many

    This week we’re celebrating the 50th episode of the AllPaths Podcast. For this milestone, we welcome special guest, friend, colleague, and AllPaths board member, Elizabeth Carr. Known worldwide as the first IVF baby born in the United States, Elizabeth shares the incredibly pioneering journey of her parents, Judy and Roger. Massachusetts residents who had to travel back and forth to Norfolk, Virginia because IVF was illegal in their home state at the time, they turned to IVF after medical complications from a ruptured appendix and three life-threatening ectopic pregnancies ultimately led to the removal of both fallopian tubes.

    Elizabeth details how her parents took a huge leap of faith based on a single, black-and-white, five-sentence flyer given to them by their OB/GYN. Their successful cycle involved developing the very first hormone protocol and resulted in only two eggs retrieved and one transfer. Despite facing intense media scrutiny around the birth, her parents immediately chose to forgo privacy so the world would know that this option was available and that their baby was "healthy and normal," a mission that Elizabeth actively carries on today. She explains that her work as a patient advocate, journalist, author, and board member is her deeply personal way of saying "thank you" to the entire fertility field—from doctors and nurses to therapists and organizations like AllPaths—for making her life possible.

    Driven by a fear that IVF offspring might become an "endangered species" following the Alabama court decision in 2024, Elizabeth has taken on a more urgent and powerful role in advocacy. She has leveraged her experience growing up under media scrutiny to become a loud voice for the community, which resulted in her being invited to the State of the Union and helping to rally efforts to restart IVF services in Alabama. Elizabeth, who currently works in patient advocacy and marketing for a genetic testing company, offers advice to those navigating infertility and for those supporting a loved one, but most importantly emphasizes that while she chooses to share her story, there is "zero pressure" for others to do so, affirming that everyone has a valuable place in the community regardless of how they show up.

    Connect with Elizabeth at https://ejordancarr.com/ or on Instagram @ejordan12

    Today we want to give a very special shoutout to our Presenting Sponsor, EMD Serono. Thank you for helping to make sure that no one who struggles with building their family has to walk alone.

    You can donate to or join the EMD Serono Walk team today at https://bit.ly/2025WalkTeamEMDSerono.

    TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

    family building, assisted reproductive technology, IVF support, infertility journey IVF, in vitro fertilization, family building community, emotional support for parents, infertility resources, personal IVF stories, connections through infertility, reproductive technology, infertility awareness, IVF success stories, patient advocacy, family planning options, fertility treatment, reproductive healthcare, insurance coverage, fertility advocacy


    CONNECT WITH ALLPATHS FAMILY BUILDING: https://allpathsfb.org

    Follow us on social media @allpathsfb

    Want to share your story or ask a question? Get in touch at [email protected]!

    1 hr
  • Colleen’s Journey: “Where are the casseroles?”

    This episode features longtime member of the AllPaths community Colleen, who shares her journey through the emotional devastation of recurrent pregnancy loss and IVF. After five losses and two unsuccessful IVF cycles, Colleen and her husband decided to take a much-needed break, but in a shocking turn of events, discovered she was pregnant the day after the sudden death of her father. Despite her history of loss and initial expectation that it would end badly, the pregnancy defied the odds, with HCG numbers doubling quickly, leading to the confirmation of a viable pregnancy. Their son, Liam John (named after her father, John), was born prematurely at 33 weeks and six days and required a two-week stay in the NICU. After deciding to try for a second child with strict parameters, they successfully conceived their son Logan on the very first attempt, who was born full-term in May 2020 during the early stages of the pandemic lockdown.

    Throughout the conversation, Colleen offers insights into coping with grief and the importance of community and advocates for using transparency and humor to break the isolation associated with loss, arguing that suffering in silence by "pretending I was okay" was the hardest part of the whole experience. From sharing about her experiences through her blog and social media and her volunteer work with AllPaths, Colleen has channeled her experiences into breaking the isolation and silence surrounding loss and the complexities of motherhood after loss, to help others feel less isolated while on their own difficult journeys.

    Connect with Colleen on Instagram @notquitejustright.

    A Special thank you to Mass General Brigham, for being a Champion Sponsor of our upcoming Footsteps for Family Building Walk!

    If the Center for Infertility and Reproductive Surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital or Massachusetts General Hospital Fertility Center have been an important part of your journey, you can donate to or join Team MGB at https://bit.ly/2025WalkTeamMGB.



    TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

    pregnancy loss, chemical pregnancy, HCG test, positive pregnancy test, miscarriage, recurrent pregnancy loss, unexplained infertility, fertility testing, IVF, genetic testing, ectopic pregnancy, methotrexate, NICU, humor as coping mechanism, blog, peer groups, relationships, grief, failed IVF cycles, pregnancy after loss, parenting after loss, parenting after infertility, family building, infertility support, pregnancy loss, recurrent miscarriage, IVF journey, emotional support, family growth, community support, pregnancy after loss, coping with grief, fertility treatments, parenting after loss, emotional wellness, support groups, navigating infertility, mental health in pregnancy



    CONNECT WITH ALLPATHS FAMILY BUILDING: https://allpathsfb.org

    Follow us on social media @allpathsfb

    Want to share your story or ask a question? Get in touch at [email protected]!

    1 hr 2 min
  • Maggie’s Journey: Hope in French Fries and Leap Days

    On this episode of the AllPaths podcast, we welcome Maggie Stryker, a former AllPaths group attendee and current volunteer to share her journey. Maggie and her partner began trying for a family in 2022, navigating a history of endometriosis while simultaneously undergoing multiple foot surgeries and recoveries. After eight or nine months of unsuccessful attempts, and facing physical and emotional pain, they pursued fertility testing, which ultimately led to the frustrating diagnosis of "unexplained infertility". This "worst diagnosis" meant discovering treatment effectiveness through trial and error, a process Maggie likened to being a "test bunny."

    Maggie's path included medicated cycles with Clomid and three rounds of IUI, all without success, eventually leading her to IVF. During this time, the world around her questioned her decision to pursue fertility treatments alongside her ongoing medical issues, but found crucial support, community, and practical advice through AllPaths’ support groups. After multiple egg retrievals, Maggie underwent a successful embryo transfer on a leap day, experiencing an early scare but ultimately having a successful pregnancy with her baby girl, Charlie. Throughout the conversation, Maggie emphasizes the crucial role of self-advocacy in medical care, the profound impact of genuine support from loved ones, and how the AllPaths community provided invaluable understanding and practical advice that outsiders couldn't. Planning to try to grow her family through remaining embryos, Maggie also hopes to become a fertility doula, drawing on her experience to support others on their journeys.

    A Special thank you to Champion Walk Sponsor Evernorth for their support and commitment to the fertility and family building community.

    If you've been helped by Freedom Fertility or VFP Pharmacy Group along your journey, you can donate to or join Team Evernorth at https://bit.ly/2025WalkTeamEvernorth.

    TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

    family building, infertility journey, endometriosis and fertility, IVF experiences, unexplained infertility, fertility testing, emotional support in infertility, egg retrieval process, Clomid cycles, intrauterine insemination (IUI), coping with medical issues, support groups for fertility, community support in IVF, challenges of family planning, navigating fertility treatments, advocacy in infertility, dealing with pregnancy loss, emotional resilience in family building, personal stories of infertility, empowering friends in support, endometriosis, clomid, IUI, IVF, egg retrieval, rescue ICSI, frozen embryo transfer, hope, pregnancy after infertility, self-advocacy, patient advocacy  

    CONNECT WITH ALLPATHS FAMILY BUILDING: https://allpathsfb.org

    Follow us on social media @allpathsfb

    Want to share your story or ask a question? Get in touch at [email protected]!

    41 min
  • Kristen’s Journey: “Out of the bedroom, out of my body, out of control”

    In this episode, we are joined by Kristen Darcy, a long-time professional in the fertility industry, shares her personal family-building journey, which she describes as "months tricked into years" before she transitioned "out of the bedroom into...surgery and procedures." She recounts questionable diagnoses and fertility treatment, experiencing an ectopic pregnancy requiring emergency surgery, a challenging physical and emotional recovery, and eventually the births of her son and daughter. Kristen emphasizes the "invisible" nature of infertility, where individuals may appear "normal" outwardly but struggle immensely internally.

    Kristen's experiences deeply impacted her professional path, transitioning her from a preschool teacher running an early childhood learning center to an author and fertility coach, driven by the desire that "no other woman should feel this way". Her coaching practice offers a holistic, energetic, and spiritual approach to fertility support, tailored to individual needs. And Kristen has authored three books based on her personal and professional experiences: Girlfriend to Girlfriend: A Fertility Companion, Love and Infertility, and Making Dads, co-written with Sara Naab. 

    As Kristen has seen the fertility industry evolve, the ongoing need for emotional support has largely remained unchanged. Kristen advocates for self-empowerment, encouraging listeners to find balance, and leverage their inner strength as they navigate treatment, advising that anyone struggling with family building commit to doing "one nurturing thing every day" that will “remind you about how powerful you are and how you are enough.”

    LINKS:

    Connect with Kristen at https://www.kristendarcy.com/.

    SPECIAL THANK YOU to The Lemon Grove: Doula Agency & Perinatal Wellness Collaborative, for being a Leader Sponsor of our upcoming Footsteps for Family Building Walk! 

    Donate to or join their Walk team at https://bit.ly/2025WalkTeamLemonGrove.


    TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

    Infertility, fertility treatment, IUI, IVF, ectopic pregnancy, pregnancy loss, secondary infertility, community support, support, author, coach, wellness, fertility planning, for family and friends, communication, setting boundaries, grief, emotional fatigue, hope, resilience, advocacy, women’s health, holistic health, family building journey, infertility support, emotional impact of infertility, fertility treatment options, coping with infertility, personal stories of infertility, support for parents, navigating fertility challenges, self-care during infertility, infertility coaching, resources for fertility, secondary infertility, emotional resilience in parenting, holistic fertility approaches, community support for infertility, fertility and relationships, understanding unexplained infertility, family building resources, advocacy in fertility care, the journey to parenthood


    CONNECT WITH ALLPATHS FAMILY BUILDING: https://allpathsfb.org

    Follow us on social media @allpathsfb

    Want to share your story or ask a question? Get in touch at [email protected]!

    40 min
  • Mirna’s Journey: From Struggle to Inspiring Hope

    In this episode, we talk with Mirna Nova, founder of Fertility Inspired, about her 12-year-long journey to parenthood. Mirna opens up about her early diagnosis of PCOS, which she knew would make conceiving challenging, the physical toll of undergoing various treatments including Clomid, IUI, and multiple rounds of IVF, and the profound emotional impact of her journey. After over a decade Myrna's story took a hopeful turn when she decided to follow her gut and seek a new fertility specialist, resulting in the birth of her "little miracle," a daughter born at 26 weeks.

    Despite the unwavering support of her husband, Mirna experienced deep feelings of isolation and self-blame throughout the years spent trying to conceive. Inspired by her own lack of resources and support during her arduous journey, Mirna founded "Fertility Inspired" offering connection and guidance for those who are still struggling to grow their families. By providing a safe space for people to share their stories and access resources, Fertility Inspired focuses on addressing the mental and emotional pressure of fertility treatments, beyond just the physical injections and hormonal changes.

    In a few weeks, Fertility Inspired is hosting its first event, Let's Talk Fertility brunch on Sunday, September 14, at Granite Links in Quincy, MA featuring Mirna’s own Reproductive Endocrinologist Dr. Aaron Styer of CCRM Boston and other experts to educate and build community support in the New England area. This free event aims to create a beautiful, nurturing space for connection and friendship, recognizing that those facing infertility deserve a supportive and understanding community.

    LINKS:

    Connect with Mirna at https://linktr.ee/FertilityInspired

    RSVP for the Let’s Talk Fertility brunch at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lets-talk-fertility-embracing-hope-on-the-journey-to-parenthood-tickets-1423799926909

    THANK YOU to the Advocate Sponsors of our Footsteps for Family Building Walk! 

    If any of these amazing clinics and organizations have been a part of your journey and you want a way to say thanks and give back, donate to or join their Walk team:

    • Boston IVF - https://bit.ly/2025WalkTeamBostonIVF
    • CCRM Boston - https://bit.ly/2025WalkTeamCCRMBoston
    • Femasys - https://bit.ly/2025WalkTeamFemasys
    • First Fertility - https://bit.ly/2025WalkTeamFirstFertility
    • Grain Fertility - https://bit.ly/2025WalkTeamGrainFertility
    • Labcorp - https://bit.ly/2025WalkTeamLabcorp
    • Seattle Sperm Bank - https://bit.ly/2025WalkTeamSeattleSpermBank


    TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

    family building, infertility support, PCOS and fertility, IVF journey, emotional toll of infertility, coping with miscarriage, resilience in family planning, natural remedies for fertility, fertility awareness, support for trying to conceive, navigating IVF, family building resources, community support for infertility, mental health and fertility, dealing with pregnancy loss, hope in infertility, Fertility Inspired, fertility inspired community, couples struggling to conceive, understanding infertility challenges, family planning journeys


    CONNECT WITH ALLPATHS FAMILY BUILDING: https://allpathsfb.org

    Follow us on social media @allpathsfb

    Want to share your story or ask a question? Get in touch at [email protected]!

    43 min
  • Olivia’s Journey: Finding Answers, Playing It Forward

    This episode of the AllPaths podcast features Olivia King, a Rhode Island-based singer-songwriter who, through sharing her fertility struggles on social media, has found purpose in helping others feel less alone as they navigate their own journeys. 

    Olivia and her husband married with the immediate intention of starting a family. However, after trying unsuccessfully on their own and an unexplained infertility “diagnosis” despite normal or even "better than average" test results, they embarked on a difficult journey through three unsuccessful IUI cycles and multiple IVF attempts. Olivia recounts the devastating setbacks, including a first IVF cycle where only one out of fifteen retrieved eggs fertilized, and eventually no embryos were viable, leading to a significant decline in her mental health. A crucial turning point came when her husband encouraged her to seek support, leading her to AllPaths Support Groups, which provided her with much-needed hope, shared experiences, and practical advice, reflecting that, “just having someone who really understands the weight of infertility can make such a difference in how you cope with the struggles that come along with it.”

    Despite switching doctors twice in pursuit of hope and solutions, Olivia's journey continued to be fraught with challenges, as doctors initially dismissed her long-standing, severe period pain. It was a third doctor who finally suspected and confirmed Stage 4 Endometriosis, a condition that had been "wreaking havoc" in her body for over 20 years and was likely the underlying cause of her "unexplained infertility". This diagnosis, despite prior dismissals from medical professionals, brought both validation and immense frustration at the systemic issues in endometriosis care and has made Olivia a vocal proponent of self-advocacy in the medical system. While Olivia doesn’t know where the next steps in her journey will lead, she now uses her platform and her music as a therapeutic outlet, partnering with Play it Forward to fundraise for AllPaths Family Building, turning her pain into a powerful purpose to educate and advocate for others.

    Get a free download of Olivia’s song "In My Head" and watch the music video by donating to AllPath at https://www.playitforward.com/projects/olivia-king-fertility-fundraiser


    TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

    Fertility treatment, IUI, unexplained infertility, IVF, gallbladder, patient advocacy, self-advocacy, endometriosis, endometriosis, excision surgery, MIGS surgery, family building, fertility journey, unexplained infertility, IVF experiences, endometriosis awareness, support for infertility, self-advocacy in healthcare, emotional impact of infertility, coping with fertility challenges, mental health and infertility, finding purpose in struggle, community support for family building, fertility testing, navigating fertility treatments, emotional support groups, growing your family, personal stories of infertility


    CONNECT WITH ALLPATHS FAMILY BUILDING: https://allpathsfb.org

    Follow us on social media @allpathsfb

    Want to share your story or ask a question? Get in touch at [email protected]!

    59 min
  • Trystan’s Journey: A trans uterus is NOT an uninhabitable environment

    In this episode of the AllPaths Podcast, we speak with Trystan Reese, a father of three, advocate, educator, and an "all-around nerd" when it comes to transgender fertility and family building. Trystan shares his personal and professional journey, starting with his experience growing up in a conservative town as a transgender man without the language to understand his identity, leading him to initially believe "there was something wrong" with him. He recounts how, after transitioning and taking testosterone, he chose to keep his reproductive organs, allowing him to ultimately build his family through both adoption and biology.

    Trystan reveals that as a young person, he never wanted to be a parent, a sentiment that aligns with data showing many transgender adolescents do not envision themselves in parental roles. Looking back on that time, Trystan reflects that “it's very possible that transgender youth, including myself at that age, just don't really see a world where they could ever be a parent.” He highlights the significant lack of fertility counseling he received 20 years ago when medically transitioning, where he was wrongly told testosterone would render him infertile. This experience fueled a healthy skepticism towards medical providers, as he found community knowledge often outpaced medical understanding. Trystan elaborates on his own pregnancy journey, describing it as a "cool weird science thing" that was mostly neutral, defying the universal expectation of dysphoria for trans pregnant people, as about a third feel neutral, and another third find it surprisingly improves their body comfort.


    His decision to go public with his pregnancy aimed to share a positive trans story and demonstrate expanded possibilities for others and was surprised that it was such a "big deal" outside the trans community. Since deciding to be public about his fertility journey, Trystan has been a passionate advocate for the entire trans community, including non-binary people, trans people of color, and transgender women. From training medical centers and fertility clinics globally on providing trauma-informed care and respectful communication for transgender patients to working towards reshaping public narratives and promoting broader trans inclusion through his sharing his own story, Trystan hopes to inspire everyone to use their "sphere of influence" to advocate for trans inclusion in their communities and workplaces.


    LINKS:

    Connect with Trystan at Collaborate Consulting and Trans Fertility Co..

    Read Trystan’s books How We Do Family (sharing his family's story through kinship adoption and pregnancy) and The Light of You (children’s book celebrating a pregnant transgender dad’s journey to bringing a new baby into a family)


    TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

    Trans fertility, reproductive care, adoption, kinship adoption, transgender community, dysphoria, gender identity, trans pregnant people, trans parents, feminist kids books, allyship, inclusion, provider support, reproductive justice, transgender reproductive justice, gay dad, transgender man, seahorse dad, author, activist, consultant, public speaker, transgender family building, fertility preservation for transgender individuals, LGBTQ+ parenting, parenting journeys, adoption and transgender families, transgender pregnancy experiences, support for transgender parents, navigating family building, reproductive health for transgender people, community support for LGBTQ+ families, emotional challenges in family building, resources for transgender parents, representation in media for transgender families, advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights, medical care for transgender individuals, stories of transgender parents, parenting advice for LGBTQ+ families, societal perceptions of transgender pregnancy, fertility options for transgender individuals, inclusive family planning practices


    CONNECT WITH ALLPATHS FAMILY BUILDING: https://allpathsfb.org

    Follow us on social media @allpathsfb

    Want to share your story or ask a question? Get in touch at [email protected]!

    52 min

About AllPaths Podcast

From the publisher's feed

Building a family can be a complicated, messy, lonely, and sometimes heartbreaking process, but you don't have to navigate this challenging journey alone.

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