Beyond AMH

Fertility is reproductive, but it's also metabolic.

In this episode of Beyond AMH, Dr. Marc Sklar sits down with Dr. Breanne Kallonen to explore the connection between PCOS, insulin resistance, blood sugar, hormones, and fertility.

They discuss the proposed renaming of PCOS to Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS), why metabolic dysfunction doesn't always look the way you might expect, and how symptoms like hair loss, irregular cycles, acne, and changes in body composition can offer important clues about your health.

Together, they explore how insulin resistance affects ovulation, why metabolic health matters beyond fertility, and the role of nutrition, movement, sleep, and stress in supporting hormonal balance.

They also unpack treatments and trends including inositol, metformin, berberine, GLP-1 medications, and the conversation around so-called "Ozempic babies."

If you're trying to conceive with PCOS, struggling with irregular ovulation, or wondering whether your metabolic health could be affecting your fertility, this episode is for you.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• Why PCOS is being discussed as PMOS

• Insulin resistance, blood sugar, and fertility

• Why PCOS isn't just about weight or ovarian cysts

• Hair loss, acne, and other metabolic clues

• The importance of regular ovulation

• Nutrition, movement, sleep, and stress

• Inositol, metformin, and berberine

• GLP-1 medications and the "Ozempic baby" conversation

• Why metabolic health matters beyond fertility

ABOUT DR. BREANNE KALLONEN

Dr. Breanne Kallonen is a Naturopathic Doctor and functional medicine practitioner specializing in women's hormonal and metabolic health, including insulin resistance, PCOS, thyroid dysfunction, and hair loss.

Through an evidence-informed, root-cause approach, she helps women understand how metabolic health influences hormones, ovulation, fertility, and long-term well-being. Her work focuses on identifying overlooked signs of metabolic dysfunction and advocating for more personalized care.

CONNECT WITH DR. BREANNE KALLONEN

Website: https://breannekallonen.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breannekallonen/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@breannekallonen

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drbreannekallonen2375

THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY HOPE

The HOPE Fertility Program, founded by Dr. Marc Sklar, takes a personalized, whole-body approach to fertility.

Rather than focusing on a single diagnosis or lab result, HOPE explores the bigger picture, including reproductive health, hormones, nutrition, lifestyle, and other factors that may be affecting your ability to conceive.

Through individualized guidance and ongoing support, the team helps women and couples navigate their next steps, whether trying to conceive naturally or preparing for fertility treatment.

Ready to take the next step? Book your FREE Fertility Assessment with Dr. Marc Sklar's team and discover how HOPE can support you.

https://bit.ly/hopebeyondamhpodcast

ABOUT BEYOND AMH

Beyond AMH is a fertility podcast hosted by Dr. Marc Sklar, The Fertility Expert, exploring the science, stories, and often-overlooked factors behind fertility.

Subscribe for expert conversations that go beyond the numbers and help you navigate your fertility journey with greater clarity.

Follow Marc on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/the_fertility_expert/

This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to medications, supplements, or fertility treatments.

What happens after a miscarriage when the medical appointments end, but the grief doesn’t?

In this episode of Beyond AMH, Dr. Marc Sklar is joined by Arden Cartrette, founder of The Miscarriage Doula and author of Moving Forward, Not Moving On, for an honest conversation about what pregnancy loss can really leave behind.

They talk about the physical and emotional reality of miscarriage, why grief extends far beyond the pregnancy itself, what it means to lose trust in your body, and why becoming pregnant again does not automatically make the fear disappear.

Most importantly, Arden explains why healing after loss is not about “moving on.” It is about learning how to move forward while still making space for what happened.

In This Episode

• What miscarriage can physically and emotionally involve

• Moving forward versus moving on

• The hidden losses within pregnancy loss

• Grief and trauma after miscarriage

• TTC and pregnancy after loss

• Fear and hypervigilance in a new pregnancy

• Supporting a partner or loved one after loss

• What better miscarriage care could look like

Connect With Arden Cartrette

The Miscarriage Doula:

https://themiscarriagedoula.co

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/themiscarriagedoula/

Arden’s Book

Moving Forward, Not Moving On: A Realistic Guide to Grief After Pregnancy Loss

https://www.wiley-vch.de/en?isbn=9781394324026&option=com_eshop&title=Moving+Forward%2C+Not+Moving+On&view=product

Work With Dr. Marc Sklar

Apply to join the HOPE Fertility Program: https://bit.ly/hopebeyondamhpodcast

Sponsorship: This episode is sponsored by the HOPE Fertility Program, Dr. Marc Sklar’s personalized fertility coaching program designed to help you look beyond the numbers and uncover what may be affecting your fertility.

Apply to join the HOPE Fertility Program: ⁠https://bit.ly/hopebeyondamhpodcast

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always speak with an appropriately qualified healthcare or mental health professional about your individual circumstances.

Fertility nutrition can get overwhelming very quickly.

Should you eat low-carb? Mediterranean? Keto? More protein? Cut dairy? Avoid meat? Take more supplements?

In this episode of Beyond AMH, Dr. Marc Sklar is joined by Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist and bestselling author Lily Nichols to cut through some of the conflicting advice around food and fertility.

They discuss why there is no single fertility diet that works for everyone, why protein and nutrient density matter, how metabolic health and blood sugar fit into the picture, and why supplements should support a strong nutritional foundation rather than replace one.

In this episode, we're diving into:

• Why fertility nutrition advice has become so confusing

• Keto, Mediterranean diets, intermittent fasting and why context matters

• Protein, fats and nutrient density before conception

• Vegetarian and vegan diets from a fertility nutrition perspective

• Metabolic health, blood sugar and insulin resistance

• Practical ways to build more balanced meals

• Why supplements cannot replace food

IVF gives patients a lot of numbers, but not always enough context to understand what those numbers actually mean.

In this episode of Beyond AMH, Dr. Marc Sklar is joined by fertility specialist and Gen 5 Fertility Center president Dr. Samuel Wood to look more closely at IVF protocols, age, AMH, embryo development, and what may be learned from an unsuccessful cycle.

They discuss why IVF treatment should be individualized, what AMH can and cannot tell you, why embryos may develop differently between day three and day five, and how much the laboratory and embryology team can influence an IVF outcome.

Dr. Wood also shares his work in ovarian rejuvenation and his perspective on where fertility science may be heading next.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why IVF protocols should be individualized and closely monitored

• What age and AMH really tell us about fertility

• Why two patients with similar numbers can have very different outcomes

• What IVF can and cannot overcome

• Day-three versus day-five embryos

• Why the IVF laboratory and embryology team matter

• What an unsuccessful cycle may teach you before trying again

• Ovarian rejuvenation and the future of fertility treatment

ABOUT DR. SAMUEL WOOD

Samuel Wood, M.D., Ph.D., M.A., M.B.A., HCLD/CC(ABB), FACOG, is the Director of Fertility Services and President at Gen 5 Fertility Center in San Diego, California.

He is one of the leading fertility specialists in the world and has helped patients from all continents have the babies they desired.

CONNECT WITH DR. SAMUEL WOOD

Website: https://gen5fertility.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gen5fertility/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gen5fertility

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gen5fertilitycenter645

DR. SAMUEL WOOD / GEN 5 FERTILITY

Learn more about Dr. Wood’s work in fertility care and ovarian rejuvenation at:

https://gen5fertility.com

Work With Dr. Marc Sklar

Book a Free Fertility Assessment:https://bit.ly/hopebeyondamhpodcast

This episode is sponsored by Rejoova, a fertility supplement company co-founded by Dr. Marc Sklar, Dr. Zaher Merhi, and Aimee Raupp, created to simplify fertility supplementation with thoughtfully formulated support for egg quality, sperm health, and reproductive wellness.

Learn more about Rejoova:

www.getrejoova.com/beyondamhUse code BEYONDAMH for 10% off your order.This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always speak with your qualified healthcare provider about your individual circumstances.

Fertility struggles rarely exist in isolation from the rest of your health.

For many women, the journey to conceive comes after years of painful periods, fatigue, digestive symptoms, brain fog, hormonal changes, metabolic issues, or simply knowing something in their body doesn’t feel right and struggling to get answers.

In this episode of Beyond AMH, Dr. Marc Sklar is joined by internationally recognized hormone expert, nutrition scientist, and bestselling author Dr. Jolene Brighten for a wide-ranging conversation about endometriosis, inflammation, metabolic health, ADHD in women, hormones, and fertility.

They explore why endometriosis can affect far more than periods and pelvic pain, how inflammation and metabolic health may influence reproductive function, and why body size alone tells us very little about metabolic health. They also discuss the emerging research around ADHD and women’s hormones, including how symptoms may change throughout the menstrual cycle and different hormonal stages of life.

Above all, this conversation looks beyond individual symptoms and lab results to the bigger picture of women’s health and fertility.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why endometriosis is about much more than painful periods, and why diagnosis can take so long

• “Silent” endometriosis, digestive symptoms, fatigue, sleep changes, anxiety, pelvic pain, and secondary infertility

• Why imaging doesn’t always identify endometriosis and specialist interpretation matters

• Chronic inflammation, mitochondrial health, ovulation, progesterone, egg quality, and the uterine environment

• Histamine, endometriosis, and reproductive health

• Metabolic health beyond body weight, including blood sugar regulation and insulin resistance

• GLP-1 medications, fertility, and preconception planning

• Nutrition, movement, sleep, and strength training as foundations for metabolic health

• ADHD in women and the relationship between hormones, inflammation, and changing symptoms across the menstrual cycle and life stages

• Why “normal” lab results don’t always explain what someone is experiencing

• Myth or Truth: endometriosis, blood sugar, insulin resistance, PMS, inflammation, and hormone testing

About Dr. Jolene Brighten

Dr. Jolene Brighten is an internationally recognized hormone expert, nutrition scientist, and founder of Dr. Brighten Essentials.

Board-certified in naturopathic endocrinology, a certified menopause specialist, and sex counselor, she is the bestselling author of Beyond the Pill, Is This Normal?, and the forthcoming ADHD and Women.

Through her clinical expertise, writing, and education, Dr. Brighten helps women better understand their hormones, reproductive health, brain health, and sexual wellness.

Connect with Dr. Jolene Brighten

Website:
https://drbrighten.com

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/drjolenebrighten/?hl=en

TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@drjolenebrighten

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/c/drjolenebrighten

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/drbrighten/

Dr. Jolene Brighten’s Resources

ADHD & Women

Learn more about Dr. Brighten’s forthcoming book and access preorder bonuses:

https://drbrighten.com/books/adhd-and-women/

Work With Dr. Marc Sklar

Book a Free Fertility Assessment:
https://bit.ly/hopebeyondamhpodcast

Sponsors

This episode is sponsored by Rejoova, a fertility supplement company co-founded by Dr. Marc Sklar, Dr. Zaher Merhi, and Aimee Raupp, created to simplify fertility supplementation with thoughtfully formulated support for egg quality, sperm health, and reproductive wellness.

Learn more about Rejoova:
getrejoova.com/beyondamh

Use code BEYONDAMH for 10% off your order.

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always speak with your qualified healthcare provider about your individual circumstances.

Trying to conceive can take up far more mental and emotional space than most people expect.

The waiting. The symptom checking. The constant decisions. The hope that this month might be different. The disappointment when it isn’t. The comparisons, age pressure, relationship strain, and feeling like your brain never truly switches off.

In this episode of Beyond AMH, Dr. Marc Sklar is joined by psychologist, mindfulness teacher, and author Elisha Goldstein for a conversation about the hidden mental load of fertility struggles and what may help when TTC begins to feel emotionally consuming.

Rather than telling people to “just relax” or stay positive, Marc and Elisha explore why uncertainty can send the mind into repetitive emotional loops, how stress can show up physically in the body, and how becoming more aware of those patterns may create space for a different response.

Elisha also shares the four-step framework from his book Tiny Shifts: Recognize, Release, Refocus, and Reinforce.

Together, they explore how these small psychological shifts can be applied to fertility stress, disappointment, comparison, communication, relationship strain, and the everyday moments when the journey starts to feel overwhelming.

This Episode...

• Why fertility uncertainty can feel so consuming
• How stress can show up mentally and physically
• Fear, comparison, and repetitive thought loops
• The Tiny Shifts 4R framework
• Creating space between what you feel and how you respond
• Why partners may cope very differently
• Fertility stress, intimacy, and disconnection

Connect With Elisha Goldstein

• Website: https://www.elishagoldstein.com
• Instagram: @drelishagoldstein
• TikTok: @drelishagoldstein
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drelishagoldstein

Free 3-Day Tiny Shifts Experience

Try Elisha’s free 3-day introduction to the Tiny Shifts method: https://3days.elishagoldstein.com

Tiny Shifts book is available wherever books are sold.

Work With Dr. Marc Sklar

Book a Free Fertility Assessment: https://bit.ly/hopebeyondamhpodcast

Sponsorship

This episode is sponsored by the HOPE Fertility Program, Dr. Marc Sklar’s personalized fertility coaching program designed to help you look beyond the numbers and uncover what may be affecting your fertility.

Apply to join the HOPE Fertility Program: https://bit.ly/hopebeyondamhpodcast

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always speak with an appropriately qualified healthcare or mental health professional about your individual circumstances.

Age is one of the biggest sources of fear in fertility.

Women are constantly told that time is running out, egg quality is declining, and decisions need to be made quickly. But while age absolutely matters, it is only one part of a much bigger fertility picture.

In this episode of Beyond AMH, Dr. Marc Sklar is joined by fertility expert, licensed acupuncturist, bestselling author, and Rejoova co-founder Aimee Raupp for a conversation about egg quality, fertility after 35 and 40, low AMH, inflammation, metabolic health, nutrition, stress, and the factors that may influence reproductive health beyond chronological age.

Marc and Aimee explore why fertility decisions are so often made from fear, what chronic stress may be doing physiologically, and why Aimee believes women need a more complete understanding of their fertility than age, AMH, and ovarian reserve alone.

They also discuss some of the areas that may be overlooked during fertility treatment, including insulin resistance, inflammation, autoimmune conditions, thyroid health, endometriosis, nutrition, mitochondrial function, and male factor fertility.

The conversation then turns to fertility nutrition and supplements, including why more is not always better, the importance of focusing on food and lifestyle first, and how Aimee approaches targeted nutritional support.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why so many fertility decisions are made from fear and urgency

• What prolonged fertility-related stress may do to the nervous system

• Why Aimee encourages women to make fertility decisions from a more grounded place

• The fertility “cliff” narrative after 35 and why age is only one part of the picture

• Chronological age versus overall biological health

• Egg quality versus egg quantity and ovarian reserve

• Why low AMH does not automatically tell you the quality of your eggs

• Factors Aimee and Marc look at when thinking about egg quality

• Insulin resistance, inflammation, mitochondrial health and autoimmune conditions

• Fertility testing and potential blind spots before or during IVF

• Why it may be worth looking deeper before repeatedly transferring embryos

• Fertility nutrition beyond restrictive diets and internet trends
• Why food and lifestyle should come before trying to “out-supplement” your fertility
• Nourishment, boundaries, slowing down and making space for yourself during TTC

About Aimee Raupp

Aimee Raupp, MS, LAc, is a leading fertility expert, women’s health advocate, licensed acupuncturist, researcher, and bestselling author with more than two decades of clinical experience.

Her integrative approach to fertility and reproductive health blends evidence-based medicine, functional nutrition, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and emerging research in metabolism, inflammation, mitochondrial health, and the microbiome.

Aimee is the author of five books on fertility and women’s wellness, including The Egg Quality Diet and the newly revised and expanded Yes, You Can Get Pregnant. She works with clients worldwide through virtual fertility coaching programs and sees patients in her New York and Connecticut clinics.

She is also the founder of Aimee Raupp Beauty and co-founder of Rejoova, a fertility supplement company focused on supporting egg quality, sperm health, and reproductive wellness.

Connect with Aimee

Website:

https://www.aimeeraupp.com

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/aimeeraupp

TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@aimeerauppfertility

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/aimeeraupp

Aimee's Resources:

Egg Quality Masterclass:

https://aimeeraupp.samcart.com/products/eggqualitymc

Use code BEYONDAMH

Aimee's Books & Workshops:

https://aimeeraupp.com/fertility-books-and-workshops/

This episode is sponsored by Rejoova.

This episode is sponsored by Rejoova, a fertility supplement company created by three fertility experts with one goal: to make fertility nutrition more intentional, targeted and easier to understand.

Learn more at getrejoova.com/beyondamh

Trying to conceive can slowly become the center of your life. Appointments, test results, treatment decisions, waiting, disappointment, and the pressure to keep going can leave you emotionally exhausted and disconnected from yourself.

In this episode of Beyond AMH, Dr. Marc Sklar is joined by Jennifer Edmonds, a fertility yoga and meditation teacher whose own journey included an early menopause diagnosis, multiple IVF cycles, pregnancy loss, chronic insomnia, and eventually two successful pregnancies.

Jen shares how fertility struggles affected her sleep, relationships, emotional wellbeing, and trust in her body, as well as the practices that helped her begin reconnecting with herself during an incredibly difficult season.

Marc and Jen also explore the emotional toll of highly medicalized fertility care, nervous system regulation, cycle awareness, gentle movement, creativity, and the importance of supporting the whole person rather than focusing only on procedures and test results.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Jen’s experience being diagnosed with early menopause after stopping birth control at 33

• Her first IVF cycle, which resulted in no eggs being retrieved

• Her second IVF journey and the birth of her daughter

• Returning to TTC and navigating low AMH, thyroid issues, partially blocked fallopian tubes, male factor fertility, and chronic insomnia

• How fertility struggles can affect sleep, relationships, identity, and emotional wellbeing

• Jen’s experience discovering fertility yoga and meditation during lockdown

• Pregnancy loss and the emotional impact of continuing to TTC afterward

• Why fertility treatment can leave women feeling disconnected from or distrustful of their bodies

• How prolonged fertility stress can affect the nervous system

• The role of cycle awareness in rebuilding body trust

• Gentle ways to support yourself through TTC, including yoga, walking, breathing practices, time in nature, and creativity

• Why needing a break from TTC does not mean you have given up

About Jennifer Edmonds

Jennifer Edmonds is a fertility yoga and meditation teacher and women’s wellbeing advocate. Her work grew out of her own experience navigating infertility, IVF, pregnancy loss, and the emotional and physical toll of trying to conceive.

Today, she supports women in reconnecting with their bodies through fertility-focused yoga, movement, meditation, cycle awareness, and nervous system support.

Connect with Jennifer

Website:

https://www.elementpilatesyoga.com/

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/jen.elementpilatesyoga/

TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@elementpilatesandyoga

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7OGYIuCxwJgH4KuaW1Jq4w

Jennifer’s Resources:

Trial Jen’s fertility yoga online program for $1:

https://www.elementpilatesyoga.com/in-your-element-membership

Free Fertility Yoga Guide:

https://jennifer-edmonds.mykajabi.com/fertilityyogaguide

Chapters / Timestamps:

00:00 Episode introduction

03:50 Jen’s path into fertility work

04:19 Early menopause diagnosis and first IVF cycle

06:12 Second IVF round and the birth of her daughter

07:57 Low AMH, thyroid issues, blocked tubes and insomnia

09:54 Reaching burnout after fertility treatment

10:21 Discovering fertility yoga and supporting sleep

11:20 Pregnancy loss and returning to TTC

13:18 Why TTC becomes mentally and emotionally consuming

14:14 Stress, sleep and the nervous system

18:58 When fertility treatment becomes a hamster wheel

23:02 How infertility can change your relationship with your body

27:29 Rebuilding body trust and understanding your cycle

35:46 How fertility struggles affect relationships

41:59 Why taking a break doesn’t mean giving up

50:03 Myth or Truth: TTC burnout, IVF and emotional support

If you’ve ever sat in a doctor’s office and felt like your entire fertility journey was being reduced to a single number on a lab report, Beyond AMH was created for you.

In this introductory episode, Dr. Marc Sklar shares why he created Beyond AMH, what the name really means, and the conversations he believes are missing from traditional fertility care.

After more than two decades working in fertility, Marc has seen how easily a person’s journey can become defined by an AMH result, age, diagnosis, IVF outcome, or treatment protocol.

But fertility is much bigger than any one number.

It includes your physical health, emotional wellbeing, relationships, identity, treatment decisions, uncertainty, grief, and all the questions that don’t always fit neatly into a fertility appointment.

Beyond AMH was created to make space for those conversations.

In this episode:

• Why Marc created Beyond AMH

• Why your fertility cannot be defined by AMH, age, or a single diagnosis

• The conversations Marc felt were missing from traditional fertility content

• Why fertility is a whole-body and whole-life experience

• The experts, perspectives, and topics you can expect throughout the podcast

• Why Beyond AMH will stay grounded in science without fear-based advice or miracle promises

About Dr. Marc Sklar

Dr. Marc Sklar, known as The Fertility Expert, has spent more than 20 years helping women and couples better understand their fertility and navigate complex fertility challenges.

Through his clinical work, online programs, Fertility TV YouTube channel, and educational content, Marc’s goal is to help people understand the bigger picture behind their fertility and feel more informed and empowered when making decisions about their care.

Connect With Dr. Marc Sklar

Book a Free Fertility Assessment:

https://bit.ly/hopebeyondamhpodcast

Website:

www.marcsklar.com

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/the_fertility_expert/

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@BeyondAMH

Fertility TV:

https://www.youtube.com/@MarcSklarTheFertilityExpert 

TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@the_fertility_expert

About Beyond AMH

Beyond AMH explores fertility beyond the numbers.

Hosted by Dr. Marc Sklar, the podcast brings together experts, research, real fertility experiences, and honest conversations about the physical and emotional realities of trying to conceive.

New episodes weekly.

Disclaimer

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always speak with your qualified healthcare provider about your individual circumstances.

Music Credits

“Hopeful Downtempo” by The_Mountain via Pixabay.