Most people naturally focus on photos and eye color when choosing a donor. It’s the first thing you see and it feels concrete. But if that’s all you focus on, it’s easy to overlook some of the genetics and long‑term implications that may matter even more for your family.

In Part 2 of my conversation with social scientist and philosopher Jonathan Anomaly, we talk about how to think about donor eggs, donor sperm, and genetics in a way that actually helps you choose a donor. Jonathan works with a company developing and researching embryo testing tools, so he sits at the intersection of ethics, economics, and genetics.

In this episode, we cover:

– What to pay attention to in a donor’s medical and family history (and what matters less than you might think)

– How donor screening and embryo testing can work together – and where it’s overkill

Our goal is not to tell you which donor to pick, but to give you a clearer framework so you feel less lost and more grounded in what really matters for your family.

⚠️ Important: This episode is for education and reflection only. It is not medical, genetic, or legal advice. Always discuss your specific situation with your own care team.

🎓 Donor Conception Masterclass – Walk Through the Full 5‑Step Process

In this conversation I share parts of my 5‑step framework for choosing a donor. If you’re in the middle of donor selection (or know you’ll be there soon) and want to walk through all 5 steps with worksheets, examples, and support, that’s exactly what I do in my Donor Conception Masterclass.

👉 Learn more and join here: https://familybuilding.net/donor-conception-masterclass/

Learn more about Jonathan & Herasight

Jonathan Anomaly: https://jonathan-anomaly.com/

About Lisa

Lisa Schuman, LCSW, is the founder of the Building Your Family community, an expert‑led platform that provides evidence‑based education and support for people using fertility treatment, donor conception, and surrogacy – including LGBTQ+ families and single parents by choice. She is also the Director of The Center for Family Building, where she and her team provide counseling and screening for intended parents, gestational carriers, and donors.

Join the Building Your Family Community: 

https://familybuilding.net/building-your-family-community/

Follow on Instagram: @thecenterforfamilybuilding

The Building Your Family Podcast and content posted by Lisa Schuman is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes.

#DonorConception #EggDonation #SpermDonation

If you’re in IVF and being offered a menu of embryo tests – PGT‑A, PGT‑M, PGT‑P – it can feel overwhelming. What do they actually tell you? How much is genetics vs environment? And how do you think about ethics, money, and risk for your family?

In this two‑part series, I’m joined by Jonathan Anomaly, a social scientist and philosopher who works with a company developing and researching embryo testing tools, including PGT‑P.

In Part 1, we cover:

You’ll leave with a clearer framework for talking to your doctor or genetics team, without being told what you “should” do.

⚠️ Important: This episode is for education and reflection only. It is not medical, genetic, or legal advice. Always discuss your specific situation with your own care team.

🎁 Free IVF “Zoom Out” Decision Guide

If this episode left you feeling pulled in many directions about embryo testing, I created a short Zoom Out guide to help you:

👉 Get it free here: https://familybuilding.net/newsletter/

📅 Upcoming free workshops

If you’d like more free support on decisions, donor conception, or surrogacy, you can see all of my upcoming workshops here:

Learn more about Dr. Anomaly: https://jonathan-anomaly.com/

About Lisa

Lisa Schuman, LCSW, is the founder of the Building Your Family community, an expert‑led platform that provides evidence‑based education and support for people using fertility treatment, donor conception, and surrogacy – including LGBTQ+ families and single parents by choice.

#IVF #EmbryoTesting #PGTA #PGTM #PGTP

Journalist Pedro Andrade joins me to talk about his new documentary series Somewhat Familiar – a global journey through surrogacy, adoption, foster care and modern LGBTQ+ families, including his own path to fatherhood with his husband and their daughter via surrogacy.

From “illegal” same‑sex parenthood in Italy to adoption in Korea and foster families in the U.S., we explore how love, law and culture shape who gets to be a family.

In this episode, we talk about:

Why Pedro created Somewhat Familiar and how it changed his view of becoming a parent

📺 Watch Somewhat Familiar with Pedro Andrade

📩 Free support for your journey

Follow Pedro Andrade on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pedroandradetv/

This special Best of 2025 Learn episode brings together the most powerful insights on IVF, donor conception, and surrogacy to help you feel more prepared, informed, and less alone in your 2026 fertility journey.

Inside this episode, we revisit key moments from conversations with leading voices in reproductive medicine, psychology, and lived experience. Using my Zoom Theory (regulate vs learn), this is the Learn episode:

Part 1 – New Insights

Part 2 – What You Need To Remember

This episode is for anyone using IVF, donor conception, or surrogacy to build their family, and for professionals who support them.

🔍 Resources mentioned:

If this helped you, please subscribe, leave a review, or share it with someone on this path. No one should have to navigate third‑party reproduction and fertility treatment alone.

#IVFjourney #DonorConception #SurrogacyJourney

Struggling with PCOS and trying to understand your fertility options – and all the talk about PGT‑A, PGT‑M and PGT‑P?

In this episode, fertility specialist Dr Steven Palter walks through how he approaches PCOS treatment and lifestyle, then explains the differences between PGT‑A, PGT‑M and PGT‑P in IVF embryo genetic testing.

I frame this as a kind of “second opinion” conversation – not to replace your own doctor, but to give you another way of hearing the information so you can ask clearer questions at your own clinic.

Learn more about Dr. Steven Palter: https://www.goldcoastivf.com/

In this episode I share The Zoom Out Theory: a 30‑minute reset to calm your nervous system and regain perspective during IVF, donor conception, or surrogacy. You’ll learn why your brain spirals during treatment, how to “zoom out” in the hardest moments, and a simple way to come back to yourself when it all feels like too much.

Many people using donor conception or surrogacy feel “different” and quietly wonder what family really means when genetics aren’t shared in the way they expected.

In this episode, I talk about chosen family in the context of donor conception and surrogacy: how to see yourself not as “other,” but as part of a growing, very real type of family.

We’ll explore:

If you’re building your family with donor sperm, donor eggs, embryos, or surrogacy, you are not alone – and you are not less of a family. There are ways to navigate grief, boundaries, and conversations that honor you, your partner, and your child.

💬 Want more support?

Learn more or join here: https://familybuilding.net/building-your-family-community/

🔔 New episodes every week on donor conception, surrogacy, and parenting in these families. Subscribe so you don’t miss them.

#donorconception #donorconceived #surrogacy #chosenfamily #modernfamily #infertilitysupport #thirdpartyreproduction #intendedparents #lgbtqfamily #fertilityjourney

If you’ve been reassured that your donor will only create a “small number” of families, or even that they’re effectively “just for you,” this episode is important.

In this conversation, I unpack:

I also talk about openness: when having more access to a donor can be helpful for medical or emotional reasons, and why it’s still possible to raise a healthy, secure child with a non‑open donor. The goal is to replace scary myths with realistic expectations and practical steps you can take as a parent.

If this brought up questions for you, there are two free workshops that can help:

    Choosing a Donor: What Clinics & Websites Don’t Teach You – for people still in the donor decision or selection process

You can see dates and register for both at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1976369301784?aff=oddtdtcreator, or via the links in the show notes.

#donorconception #donoreggs #donorsperm

If you’re in IVF and quietly wondering, “How many more rounds can we do before we have to think about donor eggs?” this conversation with Dr. Moomjy is for you.

In this episode, we talk about:

This is not vague reassurance. We walk through what the research and real‑world data actually say, so you can have a more informed discussion with your own doctor and feel more grounded in whatever you decide next.

If you’re considering donor conception and want structured, research‑based guidance, you can learn more in our community. https://familybuilding.net/services/donor-conception-explained/

Learn more about Dr. Maureen Moomjy: https://www.drmoomjy.com/

#ivf #ivfjourney #donoreggs #donorconception #fertilitytreatment #fertilitysupport #ttccommunity #fertilitypodcast #reproductivemedicine

Luteal phase defect is one of the most hotly debated topics in fertility right now. Do you actually have it? And do you really need progesterone support… or not?

In this episode, I sit down with reproductive endocrinologist and researcher Dr. Parry to unpack what the science actually says about luteal phase defects, progesterone supplementation, and fertility treatment.

We cover: what a luteal phase defect is (and what it isn’t), when a short luteal phase or low progesterone is worth taking seriously, and when adding more progesterone doesn’t change outcomes. We also talk through the differences between progesterone support in natural cycles, IUI, IVF, and early pregnancy.

If you’ve been told you might have a luteal phase defect, are wondering whether to push for progesterone, or just want a clear, calm breakdown of the research… this episode is for you.

Next steps & support:

Subscribe for more evidence‑based conversations on fertility, donor conception, and surrogacy.

This episode is for information and education only and is not individual medical advice. Always discuss your own situation and treatment options with your doctor or fertility specialist.

#lutealphasedefect #progesterone #fertility #ttccommunity #ivfjourney #iui #recurrentmiscarriage #infertility #fertilitysupport #reproductivemedicine