Fertility Forward

As the year comes to an end, we’re reminded of the value of reflecting on the past, looking ahead, and setting meaningful goals. In this episode of the Fertility Forward podcast, join Rena and Dara as they take a moment to ground themselves and reflect on all that 2024 brought. They share their thoughts on words that have taken on new meaning, the transformative power of journaling, and the concept of life as a balance beam. They also discuss books they’ve read, those still on their to-read list, and the trends they’ve observed among patients and in their work over the past year. Tune in to hear all this and much more! Thanks for listening.  

Are you overwhelmed by the whirlwind of emotions that come with infertility? Today, we welcome Sarah Geissah, a Columbia University School of Social Work graduate, to explore the transformative power of somatic therapy. Sarah explains how this bottom-up approach, focusing on bodily sensations before thoughts, can ground you during stressful times. She contrasts it with traditional cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and highlights its benefits in dealing with anxiety and emotional distress before sharing practical self-soothing techniques and grounding exercises. She explains how these tools can help you process emotions, reconnect with your body, and find solace amid the challenges of infertility. Sarah also discusses the importance of acknowledging and validating all feelings, from joy to sadness, and how somatic practices can be applied to everyday life. Tune in to learn how to embrace your emotions, foster self-compassion, and navigate the infertility journey with grace and resilience. 

When access to fertility treatments is under threat, advocates like Dr. Kimberley Thornton step up to protect the rights of patients. In this episode of Fertility Forward, Dr. Thornton, a leading reproductive endocrinologist at RMA of New York, discusses her advocacy efforts with RESOLVE, a national infertility organization dedicated to improving access to fertility care. She shares RESOLVE’s work pushing for the Right to IVF Act, which aims to safeguard IVF access and expand treatment coverage for everyone, including veterans. Despite legislative setbacks, Dr. Thornton emphasizes the importance of sharing personal stories with lawmakers and the small but significant victories achieved in the ongoing fight for accessible care. Tune in to learn how you can support the cause and make a difference by advocating for greater fertility treatment access! 

Does ejaculatory abstinence really affect embryo mosaicism? Today on Fertility Forward, Fellow at RMA New York, Dr. Atoosa Ghofranian joins us to discuss her study titled: ‘Evaluating the Relationship Between Ejaculatory Abstinence and the Incidence of Embryo Mosaicism.’ Tuning in, you’ll hear about her inspiration behind the study, what mosaicism is, what her findings of the study were, why she thinks another study is needed, and more! We even discuss what we can learn from the concrete evidence this provided us. Finally, Atoosa tells us what she is grateful for today. Thanks for listening in! 

Joining Rena and Dara on the Fertility Forward podcast today is Dr. Erkan Buyuk, who is a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist, infertility specialist, and OB-GYN practicing at RMA of New York’s Eastside office. He currently serves as the Director of the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) Fellowship Program and as an examiner for the REI Division of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Before joining RMA of New York in 2019, Dr. Buyuk was the Director of the Fertility Preservation Program and Reproductive Tissue Bank and the Director of the REI Fellowship Program at Einstein/Montefiore Medical Center. We are very excited to have Dr. Buyuk share a fascinating abstract presented at the most recent American Society for Reproductive Medicine Conference in Denver. Join the conversation to hear from Dr. Buyuk about why their research topic is important, why they chose to do this study, how they completed it, the results, and much more. Be sure not to miss out on this very insightful episode!  

Knowledge is power and understanding the nuances of egg maturation is incredibly helpful in any fertility journey. Based on her abstract on Assessing the Reproductive Potential of Late Mature Oocytes and Egg-Freezing Cycles, Reproductive Endocrinologist Dr. Keri Bergin shares her knowledge on this episode. We begin with background information on the study: when you do egg freezing, you want to stimulate the ovaries to grow as many eggs as possible; at the time of retrieval, the embryologist will determine which are mature and which are immature. At her lab at RMA, Dr. Bergin keeps the immature eggs in culture in the hope that they will mature. If they do, she will freeze them. This study looks at the potential of mature and late-to-mature eggs, and how they fare down the line, and this conversation covers what that means for your fertility journey. Join us as we unpack this important aspect of the egg-freezing cycle. 

Imagine a world where parents have the power to protect their future children from inherited genetic disorders before they even take their first breath. In this episode, we dive into the groundbreaking science of single euploid embryo transfers and Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) with returning guest, Dr. Rachel Danis, a reproductive endocrinologist, infertility specialist, and board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist at RMA of New York. Join us as we discuss Dr. Danis’ research on this topic, how this technology is revolutionizing fertility treatments, and what it means for parents hoping to eliminate the risk of passing on genetic diseases. You’ll also learn more about the ASRM 2024 Scientific Congress and Expo, where Dr. Danis will present her findings. Tune in as we uncover the science, the stories, and the ethical debates shaping the next generation of reproductive medicine! 

Each patient’s journey comes with a unique set of challenges – especially in the vast landscape of infertility treatments – and finding the right support is essential. Christina Honeysett, co-founder of The Revive Project at Well Collab, joins the podcast to share her personal journey through infertility treatments and surrogacy, which has fueled her dedication to supporting others facing similar challenges. Through Revive, she’s helping patients advocate for themselves while driving systemic change in healthcare. In our conversation, Christina delves into the power of trauma-informed care and community support when navigating fertility treatments, before unpacking Revive’s easy-to-use resources and supportive network of patients and practitioners. She also introduces Revive’s "Pause" approach, a simple, yet impactful five-step method for creating a more compassionate, patient-centered experience. Tune in for a conversation about empathy-driven healthcare and the importance of community in navigating your unique fertility journey!

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.