What can endangered species teach us about the future of human fertility? Dr. D sits down at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park with Dr. Elena Ruggeri of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance to explore the groundbreaking work being done to preserve some of the world's most vulnerable species.

Learn how the Frozen Zoo, one of the world's largest collections of living cell lines from rare and endangered animals, is helping scientists protect biodiversity while advancing reproductive science. Dr. Ruggeri explains how fertility preservation, assisted reproduction, and cutting-edge biotechnology are giving threatened species a fighting chance—and how many of these innovations overlap with the technologies used in human fertility care.

In this episode, you'll learn all about:

• What the Frozen Zoo is and why it's so important

• How fertility preservation is helping save endangered species

• The role of assisted reproductive technologies in wildlife conservation

• Surprising similarities between animal and human fertility science

• Why protecting biodiversity is so important for all of us

Credit to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance for allowing us to film this episode on site at the Beckman Center for Conservation Research. Learn more about the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance & The Frozen Zoo

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Hosted by Said Daneshmand, MD FACOG

Produced by Phoebe Gurrola

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This week, Dr. D sits down with Stephanie Levich, Founder and President of Family Match Consulting, to discuss the many paths to parenthood, including surrogacy and egg/sperm/and embryo conception. Stephanie shares her own personal story of being an adopted child and pursuing IVF treatment to build her own family. They explore how modern families are created through third-party reproduction and why there is no one-size-fits-all approach to building a family.

Stephanie is also the co-author of the children's book, From the Start: A Book About Love & Making Families

Follow us on Instagram @fertiliteawithdrd for more fun facts about fertility!

Hosted by Said Daneshmand, MD FACOG

Produced by Phoebe Gurrola

Join the Learn at Pinnacle app ⁠to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode!

IVF protocols are complicated! But understanding the basics can make the fertility journey a little less daunting. In this episode, we break down the most common IVF protocols, including antagonist, long Lupron, microdose flare, and natural cycle approaches. Dr. D breaks down why your fertility specialist may choose a protocol, what medications are involved, and how treatment plans are tailored to individual patients.

Follow us on Instagram @fertiliteawithdrd for more fun facts about fertility!

Hosted by Said Daneshmand, MD FACOG

Produced by Phoebe Gurrola

Join the Learn at Pinnacle app ⁠to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode!

Dr. D chats with Lauren Berson, founder of Conceive, about her mission to make fertility support, education, and community more accessible for people navigating fertility treatment. Lauren shares the inspiration behind Conceive, tells us some common challenges fertility patients face, and offers insights on how to feel more informed and empowered throughout the process.

More information on how to work with Conceive HERE

Follow us on Instagram @fertiliteawithdrd for more fun facts about fertility!

Hosted by Said Daneshmand, MD FACOG

Produced by Phoebe Gurrola

Join the Learn at Pinnacle app ⁠to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode!

In this forward-looking episode, Dr. D explores how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the future of healthcare — and what that means for patients approaching fertility treatment in 2026. He breaks down the early history of A.I. in medicine and how machine learning is assisting healthcare teams in providing better care for patients. Most importantly, Dr. D shares practical advice for patients on how to responsibly use AI tools throughout their fertility journey in order to become more informed advocates for their care.

Follow us on Instagram @fertiliteawithdrd for more fun facts about fertility!

Hosted by Said Daneshmand, MD FACOG

Produced by Phoebe Gurrola

Join the Learn at Pinnacle app ⁠to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode!

We're walking you through exactly what to expect on the day of your egg retrieval! Dr. D breaks down the entire process step by step, from when you arrive at the clinic to what happens during the procedure itself. We talk about anesthesia, OHSS (ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome), and what happens while your eggs are being retrieved. Dr. D also covers the recovery period and what to expect physically after the retrieval.

Follow us on Instagram @fertiliteawithdrd for more fun facts about fertility!

Hosted by Said Daneshmand, MD FACOG

Produced by Phoebe Gurrola

Join the Learn at Pinnacle app ⁠to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode!

Dr. D sits down with investigative journalist and author Kathryn Blaze Baum to unpack the complex and growing world of the fertility industry. Drawing from her new book, In Fertility: The Story of a Miracle and the Big Business Behind It, Kathryn takes us through her own personal fertility story and her journey finding surrogacy. Dr. D and Kathryn also discuss the major differences in Canadian vs. US fertility treatments and access to fertility care.

Purchase Kathryn Blaze Baum's Book - In Fertility: The Story of a Miracle and the Big Business Behind It

More from Kathryn Blaze Baum HERE

Follow us on Instagram @fertiliteawithdrd for more fun facts about fertility!

Hosted by Said Daneshmand, MD FACOG

Produced by Phoebe Gurrola

Join the Learn at Pinnacle app ⁠to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode!

This week, Dr. D sits down with Tiffany Najjar from Fellow to unpack the growing shift toward at-home sperm testing and what it means for the future of male fertility care. Tiffany explains how Fellow, an at-home diagnostic tool, is making fertility testing more accessible, private, and convenient for anyone looking to test their sperm. They discuss how at-home testing works, why male fertility testing is becoming more important for couples trying to conceive, and how innovations like Fellow are changing the way people approach reproductive health.

Follow us on Instagram @fertiliteawithdrd for more fun facts about fertility!

Hosted by Said Daneshmand, MD FACOG

Produced by Phoebe Gurrola

Join the Learn at Pinnacle app ⁠to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode!

Advances in reproductive genetics are pushing the boundaries of what's possible and raising profound ethical questions along the way. In this episode, we discuss PGT-P (polygenic embryo screening) and the emerging debate around so-called "designer babies."

We're joined by Jonathan Anomaly from Herasight Genomics to explore the science behind polygenic screening and the moral landscape surrounding it. Together, we discuss how PGT-P works, the potential to reduce disease risk, the controversies around genetic selection, and whether the "designer baby" narrative helps or harms public understanding.

More from Herasight HERE

More from Jonathan Anomaly HERE

Follow us on Instagram @fertiliteawithdrd for more fun facts about fertility!

Hosted by Said Daneshmand, MD FACOG

Produced by Phoebe Gurrola

Join the Learn at Pinnacle app ⁠to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode!

In this episode, Dr. D sits down with Mike Snaric and George Moore, co-founders of Families Out Loud, a nonprofit dedicated to elevating the voices of those navigating infertility and family-building challenges. Families Out Loud is the ultimate family building experience!

Born from their own personal experiences, Families Out Loud focuses on advocacy, storytelling, and creating a positive environment at their weekend-long events. Mike and George share how their mission is helping to build a sense of community within the IVF world and ensure no family feels alone in the process of creating their family.

More from Families Out Loud HERE

Follow us on Instagram @fertiliteawithdrd for more fun facts about fertility!

Hosted by Said Daneshmand, MD FACOG

Produced by Phoebe Gurrola

Join the Learn at Pinnacle app ⁠to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode!