Welcome to another heartfelt episode of the Fertility in Focus Podcast with your host, Dr. Christina Burns.

In this episode, Dr. Christina is joined by Michelle Villatoro, a hospitality strategist and founder of Just Think Hospitality, who courageously shares her deeply personal and emotional fertility journey. Together, they explore the emotional highs and lows of trying to conceive, how she struggled with a very low ovarian reserve, multiple IVFs, an ectopic pregnancy, and more. They talk through the suggestions on how to speak to someone going through a fertility challenge and the effects of the medications and process on the mental health of the patient.  As always Dr. Christina is solutions focused and so covers ways to find peace and power in the process. The conversation explores everything from logistical aspects of the fertility journey such as self advocacy and the deeper, very powerful effects of spirituality and manifestation. Michelle happens to have a great sense of humor and brings a lightness to the conversation with her hilarious anecdotes. 

Whether you're going through fertility treatments or supporting someone who is, this episode offers a powerful mix of vulnerability, wisdom, and inspiration.

In this episode, you will learn:

How Michelle’s fertility experience shaped her work in improving patient care

• The emotional impact of IUI, IVF, pregnancy loss, ectopic pregnancy and hormone treatments
• Why compassion and validation matter in fertility treatment

The power of mindset, self-advocacy, and community in fertility journeys
Michelle’s inspiring story of becoming a mom—and the unexpected miracle that followed

Timestamps:

[0:26] Meet Michelle and her work in hospitality and patient experience
[2:17] Empathy gaps in fertility care and what to say instead of “I know how you feel”
[8:45] Michelle’s fertility journey begins and her first pregnancy loss
[15:04] IUI struggles, Clomid side effects, and switching to Letrozole
[18:25] Going all in with IVF and lifestyle changes
[23:12] Embryo loss, emotional lows, and staying committed
[26:41] The B embryo transfer—and the long wait
[28:35] The call that changed everything

Michelle's info:

https://www.instagram.com/mc_szmajda/?next=%2F
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleszmajda/
https://justthinkhospitality.com/