Fertility Forward

So many women battle with having thin uterine linings when trying to conceive and today’s guest, Kristen Tomlan joins us today with her reproductive endocrinologist, Dr. Rachel Danis, to walk us through how she combatted this issue and brought two beautiful children into this world. In this conversation, we discuss what sparked Kristen’s courage to advocate for herself and seek a second opinion during IVF treatment, how she ended up working with Dr. Danis at RMA, why Dr. Danis was happy to work with her, and how she stayed strong through her infertility struggles. We delve into factors to consider when selecting a reproductive endocrinologist before hearing some insights into fertility treatment from both the patient’s and doctor’s perspective. Our guests even tell us about Kristen’s thin uterine lining, misconceptions about how thick it needs to be to carry a pregnancy, and remind us of the dangers of Googling information when undergoing fertility treatment! Finally, and as always, we share what we are grateful for today. Thanks for tuning in! 

Choosing the right fertility clinic can be overwhelming for prospective parents, with so many options and factors to consider. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Eric Flisser, a leading reproductive endocrinologist at RMA of New York, to help you demystify the process of selecting a clinic. He provides clear, actionable guidance for navigating SART (Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology) reports, understanding clinic statistics, and making informed choices that bring you closer to your family-building dreams. Tune in as Dr. Flisser shares his wisdom and expertise on what to look for when choosing a reproductive endocrinologist, why reviews might not tell you the whole story, the crucial questions you should ask your clinician, and much more. Don't miss this opportunity to empower yourself with the knowledge you need to make the best decisions for your fertility journey. 

In today's episode, we're thrilled to welcome Dr. Katie Lee, a multifaceted professional hailing from Aurora, Colorado. Dr. Lee is a dentist, speaker, author, and coach. She also consults for health technology companies and provides implant education for general dentists. Dr. Lee's passion for dentistry and empowering fellow practitioners stems from her firsthand experiences, particularly in understanding the link between oral health and systemic well-being. Her recent book, Saved by the Mouth, underscores the significance of oral health for both patients and clinicians. We use today’s conversation to delve into the surprising connection between oral health and fertility, the physiological factors involved, and what Dr. Lee’s research reveals about this important topic. Our conversation delves into the impacts of oral health on fertility, how you should approach oral health as a pregnant person, and why taking a trip to the dentist can make such a huge difference. To learn more about this field of study and Dr. Lee’s important discoveries, be sure to tune in to this thought-provoking conversation! 

We are excited to welcome Dr. Mary Sabo to the podcast. Dr. Sabo is a licensed and board-certified acupuncturist, Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, and the founder of Lily +Horn, an integrative reproductive health clinic in New York City. Today, she joins us to discuss acupuncture and its role in the fertility journey. Dr. Sabo shares how she marries Eastern and Western approaches, the mission behind Lily + Horn, and her views on the importance of an interdisciplinary team and the collaboration of healthcare workers in achieving optimal health. We delve into the specifics of acupuncture and fertility, exploring what acupuncture entails and when, during your fertility journey, it’s best to see an acupuncturist. Tune in now to hear her valuable tips and advice about acupuncture! Thanks for listening.

Most people know (or have at least heard) of gluten and understand that some may be affected by an intolerance of it, but many are unaware that this immune reaction to eating gluten is actually called celiac disease. Today on Fertility Forward, Jessica Lebovits, RD, CDN, joins us to discuss her journey with celiac disease and how the diagnosis ultimately affected her fertility. Jessica is now a celiac disease specialist (among others) and she explains how her positive outlook on her diagnosis led her to pursue and embrace it as a specialization in nutrition. We discuss the ins and outs of celiac disease: what causes it, why it’s still relatively unknown, and how to treat it. Jessica then walks us through her fertility story and how a PCOS diagnosis sparked a lasting relationship with RMA’s very own Rena Gower. To end, here’s a gentle reminder that there is always something to be grateful for.  

Medical professionals have a duty to educate their patients and help them learn how to advocate for themselves and a great platform to do so is social media! Today on Fertility Forward we welcome Dr. Lucky Sekhon back to discuss her experience as a reproductive health influencer. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about what inspired Dr. Sekhon to become an influencer, how she leverages pop culture to educate her audience, the kind of content she produces, how she balances it with her job and family, and so much more! We then delve into the importance of empowering our patients to advocate for themselves before she tells us how we can separate valid and trustworthy medical advice on social media from nonsense. Finally, Dr. Sekhon shares her goals and why she is grateful that her amazing presence on social media came out of the dark times of the pandemic. Thanks for listening in! 

Navigating infertility is an incredibly difficult journey as it is, but there are even more hurdles involved for same-sex couples. Today on Fertility Forward, we are joined by wonderful RMA clients, Ashley and Amy Deal to discuss their fertility journey. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about our guests’ fertility journey, the struggles they have faced, particularly as a lesbian couple, how they each got involved in the process, why support and a ‘village’ are invaluable throughout IVF, taking breaks, and more! We delve into how they stayed positive even through bad news before discussing the stress and joys they have experienced from their infertility journey. We also talk about how IVF has taught them about true strength. Finally, they share some advice for other couples experiencing fertility treatment. To hear all this and be reminded to find joy in difficult circumstances, press play now! 

Whatever the nature of your fertility journey, you’re bound to face some stressful decisions and the truth is that we could all use some extra support. One of the areas where American moms could really use a helping hand is in the realm of nutrition. That’s where Chiyo comes in, a personalized meal delivery service for new moms that integrates Eastern food therapy with Western nutrition! Joining us today is Chiyo Cofounder and Chief Culinary Officer, Jennifer Jolorte Doro, to discuss the founding of Chiyo, the programs they’ve developed, and how they are prioritizing accessibility to bring maternal nutritional care to families across the country. We delve into the role of traditional Chinese medicine in their recipes, the concept of food as medicine, their fertility-focused program, and why giving the gift of nutritional peace of mind can serve as a beautiful gesture of support for moms and families. To hear the full scope of our conversation with Jennifer on fertility, maternal health care, nutrition, and more, tune in today! 

We need to be talking more about perinatal, postpartum, and peripartum depression to reduce the stigma around these disorders. Here today, to do just that, is Dr. Ida A. Eden. Dr. Eden is a board-certified psychiatrist with formalized training and expertise in women's reproductive mental health. She has particular interests in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and the psychological burdens of infertility and perinatal loss. She graduated with honors in Neuroscience and Medical Anthropology from the University of Michigan, earned her M.D. with honors from the University of Maryland, and completed her residency at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. She also completed fellowship training in Women's Mental Health at NYU/Bellevue Hospital. Dr. Eden is passionate about teaching and remains on the faculty at Weill Cornell where she supervises and mentors trainees interested in reproductive psychiatry. Join Rena and Dara as they delve into a discussion with Dr. Eden about reproductive depression, how preexisting conditions can influence their likelihood, and why we should be optimizing our mental health as best we can before, during, and after pregnancy. We talk about why optimizing mental health is essential, and she unpacks different stressors and psychological strains common in the peripartum period. Furthermore, we discuss the difference between Baby Blues and Post Partum Depression (PPD), how a diagnosis of PPD is treated, and dive into the hot-button topic of medication use in this period. Don’t miss out on these valuable insights offered by Dr. Eden, start listening now!

Are you considering acupuncture on your fertility journey? Well, this is the podcast for you! Today, we are joined by Dr. Beck Hoehn, a Los Angeles-based board-certified acupuncturist who treats pain, digestive disorders, stress, and hormonal imbalances and specializes in supporting women’s wellness and fertility. Dr. Hoehn challenges her patients to look beyond the quick fixes offered by Western medicine and adopt a more holistic “whole systems” approach to optimizing their health. In this episode, Dr. Hoehn shares her advice for those trying to conceive and offers us some insight into her work at the intersection of Eastern philosophy, functional medicine, and Western fertility interventions. To find out how integrative medicine (including traditional Chinese herbs) can increase your chances of success with fertility treatment, lower stress and anxiety, and improve your overall wellbeing, don’t miss this fascinating and insightful conversation with Dr. Beck Hoehn!