Her Fertility

By Jess TimsSociety & Culture Alternative Health Health & Fitness Religion & Spirituality Spirituality Relationships

Her Fertility episodes

November 0277. Is God Punishing Me With Infertility? Faith, Shame & Finding Your Voice
Is God Punishing Me With Infertility? Faith, Shame & Finding Your Voice
Episode Summary
Have you ever wondered if God is punishing you because you can't get pregnant? Or felt guilty that your prayers, faith, or manifestation practices haven't led to pregnancy?
In this episode of Dear Jess, Jess explores the often-overlooked relationship between infertility, religious beliefs, shame, and personal worth.
Drawing on her experience growing up in an evangelical Christian church and navigating infertility herself, Jess discusses why well-intentioned prayers and spiritual advice don't always feel supportive, how inherited beliefs can shape our experience of infertility, and why surrender doesn't mean giving up.
You'll also hear practical ways to communicate boundaries, ask for the support you actually need, and begin separating your own beliefs from the expectations of others.
In This Episode:
Why infertility can trigger feelings of guilt, shame, or divine punishment
How religious expectations around motherhood affect women struggling to conceive
Why "just keep praying" or "trust God's timing" can feel dismissive
The difference between personal faith and inherited beliefs
Why surrendering doesn't mean abandoning fertility treatment or hope
How to set boundaries around unwanted spiritual advice
Three reflective questions to help you reconnect with your own voice
A Reminder From This Episode
Infertility is not a moral diagnosis. You don't have to prove your goodness, your faith, or your worth to deserve motherhood.
Explore The Sanctuary
Infertility affects so much more than your reproductive health. The Sanctuary is a dedicated support space for the woman living through it, with tools and resources for navigating the emotional, mental, and everyday experiences of infertility.
Learn more: https://herfertility.support
Disclaimer
This podcast is for educational and emotional support purposes only and does not replace individualized medical, psychological, or mental health care. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about your personal circumstances.
26 min
October 19 76. When Should I See a Fertility Doctor? And When Should I Go Sooner?
When should you see a fertility doctor? And do you really have to wait 6 or 12 months? In this episode of the Her Fertility Podcast, Jess explains the general fertility-evaluation guidelines, when it may make sense to seek help sooner, what happens during a fertility evaluation, and why making an appointment doesn't mean you're committing to IVF. Pasted markdown
In this episode
01:28 When should you see a fertility doctor?
The 12-month guideline for women under 35; the 6-month guideline at 35 and older; why women over 40 may want a more immediate evaluation; and why these timelines are guidelines, not rules. Current ASRM guidance supports these timing recommendations. ASRM
03:23 When you shouldn't necessarily wait
Irregular or absent cycles, suspected endometriosis, uterine or tubal concerns, possible male-factor infertility, and medical histories that may warrant earlier evaluation.
04:19 What happens during a fertility evaluation?
Medical and reproductive history, potential evaluation of ovulation and ovarian reserve, the uterus and fallopian tubes, and why semen evaluation matters when a male partner is contributing to conception. ASRM recommends parallel evaluation of both partners when applicable.
06:38 Why more fertility testing isn't always better
The problem with ordering every available fertility test; why testing should answer a specific question; and asking what you would actually do differently because of a result.
08:34 “But I just feel like something isn't right”
Making room for intuition without assuming every fear indicates a medical problem; when to start a conversation with your OB-GYN; and one question you can bring to your appointment.
09:36 5 questions to ask before making the appointment
Your age and how long you've been trying; whether your cycles are regular; your medical and reproductive history; your partner's reproductive health; and what you're hoping to learn.
Related episode
What Does AMH Actually Tell Me About My Fertility?
If AMH testing has left you worried about what your number means, listen to this Dear Jess episode for a deeper look at what AMH can (and cannot) tell you.
Take the Free 2-Minute Quiz
If trying to get pregnant has you researching, second-guessing, worrying about what you're missing, or wondering what to do next, take the free Her Fertility quiz. You came here because you're trying to figure out how to get pregnant. I'm also interested in what all that figuring out is doing to you so that you get the support that you need.
Take the Free Quiz → www.herfertility.support/quiz
Have a Question for Dear Jess?
Submit your question anonymously through the Dear Jess question box. Jess reads every submission, and your question may be answered on a future episode of the Her Fertility Podcast.
Submit Your Question → www.herfertility.support/stories
Disclaimer
The Her Fertility Podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Recommendations about fertility testing, evaluation, and treatment should be discussed with your physician, reproductive endocrinologist, or another qualified healthcare professional.
13 min
October 1275. Why Don't I Trust My Body Anymore?
Why can infertility make it so difficult to trust your body? In this episode of the Her Fertility podcast, Jess explores how fertility tracking, testing, treatment, pregnancy loss, and uncertainty can change your relationship with your body, and why rebuilding body trust doesn't have to mean believing your body will get pregnant.
In This Episode
00:38 Why infertility can change your relationship with your body
When your body goes from simply being your body to something you're constantly analyzing
How pregnancy loss, failed treatment, or a fertility diagnosis can deepen distrust
Why your experience doesn't need to be compared with anyone else's
01:18 What taught you not to trust your body?
Why distrust usually has a story
The shift from listening to your body to monitoring it
The emotional consequence of constantly being measured
04:46 “My body failed me”
Why uncertainty makes us search for explanations
When your body becomes the easiest place to put the blame
The difference between “something happened in my body that I didn't want” and “my body betrayed me”
06:16 Body trust doesn't mean trusting yourself to get pregnant
Why forcing yourself into certainty can feel incongruent
Moving away from fertility affirmations you don't actually believe
Smaller, more honest ways to begin rebuilding trust
10:32 Has your body become a fertility project?
The endless urge to eat better, exercise differently, add supplements, eliminate foods, meditate, or “regulate better”
Caring for your body vs. constantly trying to correct it
What happens when your relationship with your body becomes conditional
11:54 How to start rebuilding trust
Listening for signals that have nothing to do with fertility
Responding to hunger, fatigue, tension, boundaries, movement, space, and connection
Creating small experiences of “I heard you” instead of “Are you working yet?”
14:27 Your body is more than where infertility is happening
Moving from “Why are you doing this to me?” toward “We're going to get through this”
Starting with neutrality instead of forcing body love
Learning to listen without constantly grading yourself
Take the Free 2-Minute Quiz
If infertility feels like it's taking over, take the free Her Fertility quiz to discover the pattern you're experiencing right now and what may help you move through this phase of your fertility journey.
Take the Free Quiz → www.herfertility.support/quiz
Have a Question for Dear Jess?
Have something you've been wondering about infertility, fertility treatment, or how you're experiencing this journey?
Submit your question anonymously through the Dear Jess question box. Jess reads every submission, and your question may be answered on a future episode of the Her Fertility Podcast.
Submit Your Question → www.herfertility.support/stories
Disclaimer
The Her Fertility Podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please seek individualized guidance from your qualified healthcare or mental health professionals when appropriate.
18 min
October 0574. Your AMH is not your fertility score
What does AMH actually tell you about your fertility? In this episode of the Her Fertility Podcast, Jess breaks down what AMH measures, what ovarian reserve really means, how AMH is used during IVF, and what a low (or high) AMH can and cannot tell you about egg quality, natural conception, and your fertility future.
In This Episode
00:34 What is AMH?
What anti-Müllerian hormone is
How AMH relates to the follicles in your ovaries
Why AMH gives us an estimate rather than an exact egg count
02:11 Ovarian reserve vs. fertility
What “ovarian reserve” actually means
Why ovarian reserve is primarily about quantity
Why “low AMH” and “low fertility” aren't equivalent statements Pasted text
04:28 Why fertility clinics use AMH
How AMH can help predict ovarian response during IVF
Using AMH for treatment planning
Why potential egg yield isn't the same thing as likelihood of pregnancy Pasted text
08:46 Does low AMH mean poor egg quality?
Why egg quantity and egg quality are different
What AMH doesn't tell you about your eggs
Why low AMH doesn't automatically mean you can't conceive naturally Pasted text
10:38 What low and high AMH can mean
Why very low AMH can still be clinically important
Why low AMH isn't synonymous with “you can't get pregnant”
Why higher AMH isn't automatically better
Looking at AMH within your complete fertility picture Pasted text
12:00 Should you try to increase your AMH?
Why changing the number itself shouldn't necessarily be the goal
Being cautious about supplements, diets, detoxes, and protocols promising to raise AMH
The more useful question: What does this number change about the decisions I need to make? Pasted text
13:32 Questions to ask your fertility doctor
What does my AMH tell you?
What doesn't it tell you?
How do my age, AFC, and other fertility testing affect your interpretation?
Does my AMH change what you recommend we do next—and why? Pasted text
Take the Free 2-Minute Quiz
If infertility is starting to feel like it's taking over, take the free Her Fertility quiz to discover the pattern you're experiencing right now and what support may help you move through this phase of your fertility journey.
Take the Free Quiz →
Have a Question for Dear Jess?
Submit your fertility question anonymously through the Dear Jess question box. Jess reads every submission, and your question may be answered on an upcoming episode of the Her Fertility Podcast.
Submit Your Question →
Ready for support?
www.herfertility.support
Disclaimer
The Her Fertility Podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always discuss fertility testing, results, supplements, and treatment decisions with your physician, reproductive endocrinologist, or other qualified healthcare provider.
19 min
September 2873. I'm terrified to do another embryo transfer. How do I know if I'm ready?
Terrified to do another embryo transfer after a failed transfer or pregnancy loss? In this episode of the Her Fertility Podcast, Jess explores what it actually means to be “ready” to try again, why fear doesn't automatically mean you're not ready, and how to consider your medical, practical, and emotional readiness before deciding what comes next.
In This Episode
[03:40] Does being afraid mean you're not ready?
Why another embryo transfer can feel completely different after a previous transfer or loss
Wanting another chance while simultaneously feeling terrified
Why fear isn't automatically a “no”
[05:15] Are you medically ready?
Questions to discuss with your fertility clinic
Understanding what changed after your previous transfer
Getting enough information to understand what you're consenting to and why Pasted text
[06:53] Are you practically ready?
Appointments, medication, work, finances, childcare, travel, and the waiting period
Why “I'm not ready” isn't always purely emotional
Giving yourself permission to consider what another transfer requires from your actual life Pasted text
[08:27] What does emotional readiness actually mean?
Why emotional readiness doesn't require being fearless
Considering whether you have the capacity and support to move through another transfer
Why you don't have to prove you could gracefully handle the worst outcome before allowing yourself to hope Pasted text
[10:06] What are you actually afraid of?
Failed implantation, pregnancy loss, using a remaining embryo, the two-week wait, losing yourself, and being afraid to hope
Why different fears need different kinds of support
When fear about the next transfer may also contain grief from the last one Pasted text
[12:37] How do you know when you're ready?
Why readiness may be quieter than “I'm not scared anymore”
Why waiting isn't failure and moving forward isn't proof that you've healed
Making the decision from a place that feels like yours Pasted text
[14:00] The four questions to ask yourself before another transfer
What do I know?
What am I afraid of?
What would help me feel supported?
If I knew I was allowed to be afraid and move forward anyway, what would I want to do? Pasted text
Take the Free 2-Minute Quiz
If infertility is starting to feel like it's taking over, take the free 2-minute Her Fertility quiz to discover the pattern you may be experiencing right now, and what you may need as you move through this phase of your fertility journey.
Take the Free Quiz →
Have a Question for Dear Jess?
Submit your fertility question anonymously through the Dear Jess question box. Jess reads every question, and yours may be answered on an upcoming episode of the Her Fertility Podcast.
Submit Your Question →
Disclaimer
The Her Fertility Podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The information shared in this episode should not replace individualized care from your physician, reproductive endocrinologist, mental health professional, or other qualified healthcare provider. Always consult your care team about decisions related to your fertility treatment.
18 min
September 2172. How Can I Improve My Egg Quality? Start With This Question
Can you actually measure egg quality? And how do you know if poor egg quality is a problem for you? In this Dear Jess episode, Jess breaks down what fertility testing can and cannot tell you about egg quality, what may be learned during IVF, and what to consider before spending hundreds of dollars on supplements intended to improve it.
In This Episode
00:59 How do you know if you have poor egg quality?
Why “How can I improve my egg quality?” may be starting one question too late
Why there isn't currently a simple test that gives you an “egg quality score”
What AMH and antral follicle count actually tell us and what they don't
03:12 What does “egg quality” actually mean?
What practitioners generally mean when they talk about egg quality
The role of chromosomal competence
Why age gives us information about probability, rather than directly inspecting your individual eggs
04:59 What can IVF tell us about egg quality?
What your fertility clinic can observe after egg retrieval
Maturity, fertilization, embryo development, and blastocyst development
Why even IVF doesn't necessarily give us one simple answer for why an egg, embryo, or cycle did or didn't work
07:18 Can you actually improve egg quality?
Why there isn't a protocol that can guarantee you'll “fix” your eggs
Supporting your overall health versus trying to perfect your fertility
Why Jess is cautious about promises to improve egg quality in three months
09:01 Before you buy another egg-quality supplement
Why being pro-individualized supplementation isn't the same as believing every woman needs an “egg quality protocol”
Five questions to ask before adding another supplement
How “it might help your egg quality” can become an incredibly expensive idea
10:20 What to ask instead of “How do I fix my eggs?”
Separating what we know, what we estimate, and what we assume
Asking what evidence-informed steps make sense for your circumstances
Why there may not always be another thing you need to add
Separating what you can support, what medicine can measure, what science can estimate, and what none of us can control
Have a Question for Dear Jess?
Have a fertility question you've been Googling, wondering about, or haven't gotten a clear answer to?
Submit your question anonymously through the Dear Jess question box below. Jess reads every submission, and your question may be answered in an upcoming episode of the Her Fertility Podcast.
Submit Your Dear Jess Question →
Resources
Listen to the Her Fertility Podcast: www.herfertility.support/podcast
Explore Her Fertility: www.herfertility.support
Follow Her Fertility TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@herfertility.support
Disclaimer
The Her Fertility Podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The information shared in this episode should not replace individualized care from your physician, reproductive endocrinologist, or other qualified healthcare professional. Always speak with your healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing supplements, medications, or treatment.
15 min
September 1471. I Can't Stop Researching. How Do I Know When I've Done Enough? | Dear Jess
When Have I Researched Enough? In this episode of the Her Fertility Podcast, I am answering your question around research. Researching isn’t the problem, but it can shift from gathering helpful information into seeking certainty that infertility cannot provide.
00:38 Dear Jess Question
02:27 Research vs Certainty
04:55 Three Question Framework to Use Today

08:32 Practical Next Step Plan
Her Fertility Support:
Take the free quiz here - www.herfertility.support/quiz
Get email updates - www.herfertility.support/newsletter
Follow Jess - www.tiktok.com/@herfertility.support
Dear Jess anonymous submissions: https://www.herfertility.support/stories
Disclaimer: The Her Fertility podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your healthcare professional regarding any symptoms or medical problems you are experiencing.
12 min
September 0770. Is stress affecting my fertility?
Dear Jess, “Does stress really affect my fertility?” In this episode of the Her Fertility Podcast, I am answering your questions. Yes, research shows stress can impact fertility, but stress is complex, dynamic, and bidirectional because infertility itself is stressful, so being stressed is not the reason you are infertile. Together, we dive into how uncertainty drives the mind to seek control through endless researching, scrolling, and supplement buying, and offers a compass question: are you getting useful information or trying to create certainty where it isn’t available?
support is about helping you through a hard experience, not achieving a perfect nervous system to get pregnant
Step 1: identify your specific stress source
Step 2: ask what you truly need
Step 3: choose one grounding regulating habit that genuinely works for you, like her client Heather using painting.
02:08 What Stress Really Means
04:24 Why Infertility Feels Stressful
07:32 The Mind Seeks Certainty
08:35 A Simple Compass Question
09:57 You Deserve Support
11:19 Three Steps to Try Today
Her Fertility Support:
Where is your fertility blocked? Take the free quiz here - https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/6a15dbe36fdbba85c3d2f5f1
Get email updates - www.herfertility.support/newsletter
Follow Jess - www.tiktok.com/@herfertility.support
Dear Jess anonymous submissions: https://www.herfertility.support/stories
Disclaimer: The Her Fertility podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your healthcare professional regarding any symptoms or medical problems you are experiencing.

KEYWORDS: TTC, infertility, get pregnant, fertility mindset, female fertility, fertility support, infertility support, IVF, miscarriage, pregnancy loss, unexplained infertility, fertility doula podcast, her fertility podcast
18 min
August 3169. How do I know when I'm ovulating? Dear Jess
Jess answers your question: how do you know when your ovulating. This episodes breaks down the three biological signs your body gives you for free to identify ovulation, and why understanding your own cycle is the most powerful foundation of your fertility journey.
In This Episode:
Why most women were never taught about ovulation, and why that's not your fault
The #1 most important ovulation sign: cervical fluid, what it is, how it changes throughout your cycle, and what healthy versus concerning discharge looks like
How to check your cervix at home and what the change in texture and position tells you about where you are in your cycle
Basal body temperature (BBT): how it works, what it reveals about your whole cycle health (including whether you're pregnant before a test can tell you), and the warning about when it becomes too much
The honest truth about ovulation predictor kits (OPKs): why I'm not a fan, and when they can actually mislead you into missing bigger issues
A real client story: what happened when someone relied exclusively on OPKs for months and missed crucial cycle information
When to stop self-tracking and take your questions to your practitioner
The book: Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler
Her Fertility Support:
Take the free quiz here - https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/6a15dbe36fdbba85c3d2f5f1
Get email updates - www.herfertility.support/newsletter
Follow Jess - www.tiktok.com/@herfertility.support
Dear Jess anonymous submissions: https://www.herfertility.support/stories

Disclaimer: The Her Fertility podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your healthcare professional regarding any symptoms or medical problems you are experiencing.
KEYWORDS: ovulation, TTC, BBT, getting pregnant, ovulation predictor kits, LH hormone, getting pregnant fast, fertility support, infertility, fertility doula podcast, her fertility podcast
15 min
August 2468. Why is secondary infertility on the rise? I Dear Jess
In this Dear Jess episode on the Her Fertility Podcast, Jess Tims, holistic fertility expert, answers your question about why so many parents seem to be struggling to conceive a second (or third) time. Jess breaks down the two major contributing factors behind secondary infertility, introduces her H.E.R. Fertility Method (body, mind, energy), and explains why you don't have to wait a full year to start gathering data about your body.
In this episode:
Why secondary infertility affects roughly 15% of couples, yet remains rarely discussed
The link between parental load, stress, and the body's "non-essential" reproductive system
Which fertility tests to ask your doctor for now, without waiting for an official diagnosis
How the subconscious mind creates doubt around wanting another child — and how to release it
Why energy levels matter for conception, and a simple daily check-in to gauge yours
Submit your own question for a future Dear Jess episode, click here: https://www.herfertility.support/stories
Take the free quiz to find out what type of support you need now on your fertility journey: click here

Jess Tims is a researcher, educator, and creator of Her Fertility Support. She supports you so that you can step into your next chapter of motherhood fully in your power. Start with the free quiz.
Disclaimer: The Her Fertility podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your healthcare professional regarding any symptoms or medical problems you are experiencing.

KEYWORDS: secondary infertility, TTC, fertility doula, fertility doula podcast, her fertility podcast, infertility support, cycle tracking, cycle syncing, infertility, IVF, IUI, miscarriage, family planning
8 min

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