In this episode of the Love and Science podcast, Dr. Erica Bove sits down with Dr. Ali Domar, PhD — internationally recognized expert in stress and infertility and Chief Compassion Officer at Inception Fertility.

We cover the most controversial question in reproductive medicine: does stress impact fertility and IVF outcomes?

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

-How stress and infertility interact (and why infertility distress is comparable to other major medical diagnoses)

-What the research shows about psychological interventions and pregnancy rates

-How cortisol may predict IVF outcomes, including emerging physiologic measures

-Why the stimulation phase of IVF may be the most physiologically stressful part of the cycle

-How chronic stress can affect inflammation, blood flow, uterine receptivity, and potentially egg quality

-What mind body programs actually include and why there isn’t one “magic” intervention

-How to cope with loss, the two week wait, and the social pain of infertility

This episode is part of our Love and Science Fertility Framework series: Season 1, The Biology Beneath the Surface — where we explain fertility physiology in a clear, evidence-based way.

About Dr. Ali Domar 

Alice “Ali” Domar, Ph.D., joined Inception Fertility™ in 2022 as Chief Compassion Officer. She is also currently the Director of the Inception Research Institute and an associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology, part-time, at Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Domar is a health psychologist who focuses on the application of mind/body medicine to women’s health issues. Her research focuses on the relationship between stress and infertility, with a focus on the impact of cognitive behavioral interventions as well as access to care and patient retention.

@prelude_fertility

@inceptionfertility

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As always, please keep in mind that this is my perspective and nothing in this podcast is medical advice.

If you found this conversation valuable, book a consult call with me using this link:

https://www.loveandsciencefertility.com/private-fertility-consult

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Please don’t let infertility have the final word. We are here to take the burden from you so that you can achieve your goal of building your family with confidence and compassion. I’m rooting for you always.

In Gratitude,

Dr. Erica Bove