Fertility Forward

Many patients who discover they have fibroids often have a lot of fear associated with the diagnosis. The aim of all of these episodes is, as always, to put out reputable information. Today’s episode should help you feel a little bit less fearful and more understanding about what fibroids are, how they can be treated, and how it affects your fertility. Tuning in, you’ll hear from Dr. Tia Jackson-Bey of RMA of New York. Dr. Jackson-Bey is a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist and board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist who cares for patients at RMA of New York’s Brooklyn office. Her professional interests include physician-patient education, IVF outcome improvement, global public health, and mentoring underrepresented college and medical students on careers in medicine. Dr. Jackson-Bey is passionate about reproductive justice and increasing access to fertility care for all. She was recently appointed a member of the newly formed ASRM Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Taskforce, which will enhance opportunities in reproductive medicine for underrepresented minority populations and reduce health disparities and access to care. She is a talented surgeon and dedicated fertility expert, who is focused on fertility preservation, IVF success, and great outcomes for her patients. As she dives into the topic of fibroids, she shares some knowledge around what they are, where they are located, factors associated with increased and decreased risk of uterine fibroids, possible treatments, and much more. Tune in today! 

Welcome back to another episode of Fertility Forward. Today’s guest is Dr. Rachel Gerber Gerber from RMA of New York. Dr. Gerber is a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist and board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist who cares for patients at RMA of New York’s Eastside and Westchester offices. In addition to her medical expertise, Dr. Gerber prides herself on treating every patient with compassion, empathy, and respect. We dive into the topic of unexplained infertility, one of the most difficult things that some people face, and certainly a very tough and frustrating issue. Listening in, you’ll find out what it means and how it’s diagnosed, as well as the different types of treatment options, and so much more. So tune in today! 

Resources regarding men's reproductive health are few and far between. We have such a deep association between women and reproduction, that men are often left out of the conversation entirely. Today's guest, Rene Almeling, is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Yale University with research and teaching interests in gender and medicine. Rene uses a range of qualitative, historical, and quantitative methods to examine questions about how biological bodies and cultural norms interact with scientific knowledge, medical markets, and individual experiences. She has also authored the book, Sex Cells, which offers a look at the American sperm and egg donor markets. Her new book, GUYnecology, explores why there is so little attention on men's reproductive health, offering insights into its influence on medical knowledge, health policy, and reproductive politics. Our conversation today unpacks some of the themes in this must-read work. We talk about a relatively emerging field of study, paternal effects, which examines the influence that sperm has on reproductive outcomes and hear what studies are showing. Information around men's reproductive health is vital because of the historical skewness toward maternal health knowledge generation. Rene also shares findings from her discussions with men for her book, the importance of including all bodies in reproductive health conversations, and where she sees this field of study heading. Join us today for this enlightening discussion.   

Today on the Fertility Forward podcast we welcome back the Medical Director of RMA of New York, Dr. Alan Copperman. A lot has transpired, especially over the last nine months with COVID-19, and you’ll hear from Dr. Copperman to see how things have been professionally and personally. We talk about what we can look forward to in the future, in terms of clinic closures and what COVID-19 means for those trying to conceive, those who are pregnant, and more. Dr. Copperman sharing the hardest things, in his experience, in running a fertility clinic during the pandemic, and he does an excellent job explaining the mechanisms behind the coronavirus vaccinations and the role they play in pregnancy and fertility. We explore and elaborate on all the positives that have stemmed from the pandemic and how the power of positivity impacts our mindsets and dispositions, how we strive to empower patients to self-advocate and why, and so much more on today’s show. Tune in for all this, and more!

Welcome to this mini-episode of the Fertility Forward Podcast where, today, it’s just your hosts, Rena Gower and Dara Godfrey. Listen in as they debrief on the biggest topic of 2020 – the COVID-19 pandemic – and share some of their hopes for 2021. Find out what Rena and Dara’s experience of the pandemic has been like, including recording via Zoom rather than at the studio, having less time for self-care, and missing human connection, and hear how they have both been coping with these challenges. While this past year hasn’t been easy for anyone, there are also some silver linings, including the time to reflect on the relationships that don’t serve us and foster deeper connections with those who are important and understanding the importance of relaxing. As always, Rena and Dara close the show with their gratitude, which they hope have been as inspiring for you as they have been for them. Tune in today!

One of the most hotly debated topics in fertility right now is whether it is safe to get vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to conceiving, while pregnant, or while breastfeeding. The difficulty of the decision lies in the fact that there is no human safety data regarding the COVID-19 vaccine in pregnancy as the currently available vaccines have not been tested on pregnant women. Accepting a vaccine in pregnancy without safety data from human trials is a hard pill to swallow and, in today’s episode, reproductive endocrinologist, infertility specialist, and board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist, Dr. Lucky Sekhon weighs in on this topic. She explains that, essentially, it comes down to a risk-benefit analysis in the absence of data and she cautions against misinformation, asserting that there is no evidence to support a correction between COVID and pregnancy loss or reduced sperm quality. At the end of the day, it is a very personal decision – remember that you have the power of choice! All you can do is use your expertise, common sense, and understanding of the vaccine and the technology that is being used to make the best decision for yourself. Tune in today to arm yourself with additional information.

Today’s guest on the show is Dr. Taraneh Nazem, who is a reproductive endocrinologist, an infertility specialist, and a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist, who cares for patients at RMA of New York’s Manhattan West Side office. Dr. Nazem came to RMA after completing her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the New York University School of Medicine and receiving her medical degree from The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She completed her undergraduate education at Yale University where she graduated with honors. Throughout her career, Dr. Nazem has distinguished herself as a clinician and researcher. She has presented numerous prize-winning abstracts at national conferences and has multiple publications in peer-reviewed journals regarding genetics, access to care, and embryonic development. In this episode, listeners hear from Dr. Nazem as she shares the basics of thyroid function, from the role it plays in our bodies to the types of tests and treatment available, should thyroid function be abnormal. She also explains the role that hypo- or hyperthyroidism plays in infertility, the difference between the two, and how their symptoms are sometimes misdiagnosed as mental health issues, as well as her advice for getting regular check-ups and looking after your mind and your body. Tune in today to find out more! 

Many of us will experience some kind of trauma during our lifetime. Sometimes, we escape with no long-term effects but, for millions of people, those experiences linger, causing symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, and negative thoughts that interfere with everyday life. Today’s guest is a well-known psychotherapist, clinical director, CEO, and published author. Joelle Rabow Maletis utilizes reflective listening and builds rapport with her clients, incorporating CBT and DBT skills, along with talk therapy and solution-focused therapy to provide a structure that allows clients to make changes in their own lives. She focuses on establishing collaborations, promoting self-growth while incorporating mindfulness training to achieve client results. Joelle works with diverse clientele that includes C-suite executives, active and retired military personnel, first responders, and those experiencing trauma and PTSD. Joelle is a member of TED International, having created TED-Ed’s video on post-traumatic stress, and she is a member of TED Women and TED Salon. She has also been featured on ABC’s 60 Minutes: Beyond The Headlines, and has received multiple Outstanding Achievement Awards for Top Female Executive. In this episode, Joelle defines post-traumatic stress and asserts the importance of normalizing it without calling it a disorder, even reframing it as post-traumatic growth. Hear her advice for validating, recognizing, and honoring your trauma, and some of the coping mechanisms she recommends. Find out why acceptance is crucial for growth – as is working through anger and resentment – as well as the importance of finding the right therapist and knowing you’re not alone.

Margaret Marsh and Wanda Ronner are sisters who have been collaborating for the past three decades and writing about the history of infertility, reproductive medicine, and reproductive technology. Margaret Marsh, who is currently serving as the Interim Chancellor of Rutgers University–Camden, is a university professor of history at Rutgers, and Wanda Ronner is a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Their 2019 book, The Pursuit of Parenthood: Reproductive Technology from Test-Tube Babies to Uterus Transplants, was published by Johns Hopkins University Press. Margaret and Wanda are also the authors of two previous books on the history of infertility and reproductive medicine, including The Empty Cradle, and The Fertility Doctor. It was working on these books that inspired their interest in contemporary issues and assisted reproduction and, in this episode, they share some of their findings. Tune in to hear about the origins of assisted reproduction techniques like IVF in the US, the ethical controversy around embryos, and the stigma associated with infertility, as well as why Marsha and Wanda believe the US is behind the times and the various barriers to entry in the country, including missing data and the national healthcare scheme.

Amy Klein is the author of the new book The Trying Game: Get Through Fertility Treatment and Get Pregnant Without Losing Your Mind, a guide that is based on her successful ‘Fertility Diary’ column for The New York Times. She writes frequently about health, fertility, and reproductive rights for publications such as Newsweek, Slate, The Washington Post, and others. After four years of infertility, involving countless doctors, treatments, and miscarriages, Amy joins us today to talk about the personal experiences that inspired the book, how her perspective on fertility and pregnancy changed since she first thought of starting a family, and why she is so grateful for the accessibility of resources and information on the topic these days. Back in 2011 when she started her fertility journey, there were very few people talking about the struggles of infertility, which is why she decided to write the book she wishes she had back then. After touching on the importance of advocating for yourself, our guest shares how therapeutic the writing process had been, what she has in mind for future content, and why now is the time to send even more kindness into the world. Tune in today!