Infertile AF: Infertility and Modern Family Building through ART

My guest today, Leah McKendrick, is the writer, director and star of the new movie about egg freezing and fertility in your 30s, called "Scrambled." The movie is amazing -- it even got a 94 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, so go check it out on demand and show the Hollywood system that we want even more movies and content around egg freezing, fertility, infertility and more. Today, Leah tells us about her own egg freezing journey, which was the impetus behind the movie. She also talks about the fertility landscape in Hollywood, sex education or lack thereof, periods, family building through ART, IVF, where she is now in her own family building story, and so much more.  

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

Fertility; egg freezing; Hollywood and fertility/infertility; periods; sex education; IVF; ART; advocacy

EPISODE SPONSORS:

WORK OF ART Children's Book about IVF

https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books

Ali wrote her first children’s book, and it’s available now!

“Work of ART” is the story of an IVF kiddo the day he learns he is a “work of ART” (born via IVF and Assisted Reproductive Technology). For young readers 4-8. Hardcover. Written by Ali Prato; Illustrated by Federico Bonifacini

Personalized and non-personalized versions are available. Order yours now at https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books

For bulk orders of 10 or more books, go to https://www.infertileafgroup.com/bulk-order-request

FERTILITY RALLY @fertilityrally www.fertilityrally.com

No one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 5 to 6 support groups per week, three private Facebook groups, tons of curated IRL and virtual events, and an entire community of more than 500 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey.

Join today at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at www.fertilityrally.com/membership

RECEPTIVA DX

ReceptivaDx is the singular test capable of identifying endometriosis,

progesterone resistance, and endometritis in one comprehensive analysis. These conditions are often the hidden culprits behind unexplained infertility, directly impacting

the success rates of IVF treatments. Ask for the Receptvia DX test today, and use code INFERTILEAF24 for $75 off.

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My guest today, Julie Cohen, is an infertility warrior and advocate, and today, she tells Ali all about her roller coaster of a family building journey, including having her three boys, who are earthside with us today, and also her devastating experience with termination for medical reasons (TFMR), due to an extremely rare condition called Limb Body Wall Complex. Julie is amazing, and she's also the city manager of the Jewish Fertility in Birmingham. One caveat: We recorded this before the ruling in Alabama, so we don’t get into that specifically, but we do touch on women’s rights and healthcare. If you want to hear from Julie on what's going on in Alabama, follow her IG at @juliecohen18

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

IUIs, laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis; endometriosis; IVF transfer; pregnancy after loss; PCOS; twin pregnancy; NICU life; limb body wall complex; pregnancy not compatible with life; baby loss; miscarriage; advocacy 

EPISODE SPONSORS:

WORK OF ART Children's Book about IVF

https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books

Ali wrote her first children’s book, and it’s available now!

“Work of ART” is the story of an IVF kiddo the day he learns he is a “work of ART” (born via IVF and Assisted Reproductive Technology). For young readers 4-8. Hardcover. Written by Ali Prato; Illustrated by Federico Bonifacini

Personalized and non-personalized versions are available. Order yours now at https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books

For bulk orders of 10 or more books, go to https://www.infertileafgroup.com/bulk-order-request

FERTILITY RALLY @fertilityrally www.fertilityrally.com

No one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 5 to 6 support groups per week, three private Facebook groups, tons of curated IRL and virtual events, and an entire community of more than 500 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey.

Join today at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at www.fertilityrally.com/membership

RECEPTIVA DX

ReceptivaDx is the singular test capable of identifying endometriosis,

progesterone resistance, and endometritis in one comprehensive analysis. These conditions are often the hidden culprits behind unexplained infertility, directly impacting

the success rates of IVF treatments. Ask for the Receptvia DX test today, and use code INFERTILEAF24 for $75 off.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On today's special bonus episode, Ali is joined by Dr. Sahar Wertheimer, a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist practicing in Los Angeles, and InCircle Fertility founder, fertility coach and infertility warrior Abbe Feder to discuss the implications of the overturning of Roe V. Wade. Among the things they discuss: If life begins at fertilization, what does that mean for embryos, creating embryos, discarding embryos and things of that nature? Are women supposed to stock up on the abortion pill? How do we deal with losing bodily autonomy? What it's like to be "waiting to be unpregnant" after a loss, and how young women today will come of age with fewer rights than her mothers and grandmothers. Dr. Werthemier also tells Ali and Abbe what doctors are saying behind the scenes, and what the next few years might look like. Then Abbe talks about how she had to take the abortion pill at one point for a very wanted pregnancy, and also how she had to to take methotrexte for an ectopic pregnancy, and how she went through TFMR when she was pregnant with IVF triplets (and how if the law were different at that time, she would have had a very different outcome).

RESOURCES:

https://resolve.org/resolve-statement-supreme-court-dobbs-decision/

https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/roe-v-wade-overturned-how-to-help-action/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw5ZSWBhCVARIsALERCvz0frUWttW5kc_pTnHQoHUTJl3IdqwWZ2EIgFpmyerb3GBkdwNhYyAaAm0EEALw_wcB

https://www.asrm.org/news-and-publications/asrms-response-to-the-dobbs-v-jackson-ruling/

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Caryn Johnson is the Co-Founder and CEO of BOND, an innovative line of supplements reimagining hormone and reproductive health, inspired by her experience with infertility. In 2017, when trying to start a family, Caryn learned she was autoimmune infertile. Today, Ali and Caryn unpack all of it, including exactly what "autoimmune infertile" means, how she was "pregnant for a few hours;" navigating pregnancy loss; cancelled IVF cycles; taking infusions; and the treatment she got for her immune system. She also talks about choosing joy; transferring two embryos and miscarrying one of them: visiting a psychic; pivoting to a surrogacy journey and finding a match, and life today with her two children, a boy and a girl. Caryn also talks about founding BOND, and how her goal is to give back to women and help them navigate infertility with less trauma than she went through. 

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

Autoimmune infertility; autoimmune infertile; egg retrieval; OHSS; cancelled IVF cycles; not viable pregnancy; antinuclear antibodies; IVF transfer; pregnancy after loss; embryo transfer with two embryos; vanishing twin; meditation

EPISODE SPONSORS:

WORK OF ART Children's Book about IVF

https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books

Ali wrote her first children’s book, and it’s available for pre-order now!

“Work of ART” is the story of an IVF kiddo the day he learns he is a “work of ART” (born via IVF and Assisted Reproductive Technology). For young readers 4-8. Hardcover. Written by Ali Prato; Illustrated by Federico Bonifacini

The first 200 copies will be numbered, personalized and shipped free in the U.S. There is also a non-personalized version available!

Order yours now at https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books

For bulk orders of 10 or more books, go to https://www.infertileafgroup.com/bulk-order-request

FERTILITY RALLY @fertilityrally www.fertilityrally.com

No one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 5 to 6 support groups per week, three private Facebook groups, tons of curated IRL and virtual events, and an entire community of more than 500 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey.

Join today at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at www.fertilityrally.com/membership

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Kristin Dillensnyder is a certified life coach who specializes in working with women who are consumed by their infertility to help them find their strength and joy again. And she should know--because she's gone through her own infertility journey too. On this episode, Kristin talks to Ali about male factor infertility, IUIs, going through IVF, fresh transfers, frozen transfers, getting pregnant after infertility, having her daughter, and doing a sibling cycle that unfortunately was not successful. She also drops some expert knowledge about navigating infertility, no matter where you are. 

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

IUI; male factor infertility; fresh transfers; frozen tranfers; IVF; pregnancy after IVF; IVF success; sibling cycles

EPISODE SPONSORS:

WORK OF ART Children's Book about IVF

https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books

Ali wrote her first children’s book, and it’s available for pre-order now!

“Work of ART” is the story of an IVF kiddo the day he learns he is a “work of ART” (born via IVF and Assisted Reproductive Technology). For young readers 4-8. Hardcover. Written by Ali Prato; Illustrated by Federico Bonifacini

The first 200 copies will be numbered, personalized and shipped free in the U.S. There is also a non-personalized version available!

Order yours now at https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books

For bulk orders of 10 or more books, go to https://www.infertileafgroup.com/bulk-order-request

FERTILITY RALLY @fertilityrally www.fertilityrally.com

No one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 5 to 6 support groups per week, three private Facebook groups, tons of curated IRL and virtual events, and an entire community of more than 500 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey.

Join today at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at www.fertilityrally.com/membership

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Stacy Since found out she was conceived via donor sperm at the age of 41, and today, she's talking all about her experience, including why her mom and dad chose to keep it a secret; how Stacy found out she was donor conceived; and what happened when she met up IRL with her bio-dad. She also talks about her own infertility journey, which started with IUI and went on to include 10 egg retrievals. Stacy eventually ended up transferring two embryos, neither of which were deemed "normal or healthy" -- and she shares what happened during that transfer, including how she became pregnant and gave birth to her healthy, now-eight-month-old son. 

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

Sperm donor conception; IVF in the 70s and 80s; sperm donor children; 23 and me; IUI; infertility; euploid embryos; "unhealthy" embryos; uterine PRP; trisomy 14; pregnancy after IVF; IVF success

EPISODE SPONSORS:

WORK OF ART Children's Book about IVF

https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books

Ali wrote her first children’s book, and it’s available for pre-order now!

“Work of ART” is the story of an IVF kiddo the day he learns he is a “work of ART” (born via IVF and Assisted Reproductive Technology). For young readers 4-8. Hardcover. Written by Ali Prato; Illustrated by Federico Bonifacini

The first 200 copies will be numbered, personalized and shipped free in the U.S. There is also a non-personalized version available!

Order yours now at https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books

For bulk orders of 10 or more books, go to https://www.infertileafgroup.com/bulk-order-request

FERTILITY RALLY @fertilityrally www.fertilityrally.com

No one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 5 to 6 support groups per week, three private Facebook groups, tons of curated IRL and virtual events, and an entire community of more than 500 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey.

Join today at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at www.fertilityrally.com/membership

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today, Ali is talking to solo mom by choice Julia Karol, Stork'd podcast host, about everything from when she decided to embark on the solo parenting route to where she is today. Julia talks about freezing her eggs, why she prefers the term "solo parent by choice" to "single parent by choice;" the complex, interesting process of choosing a sperm donor; going through IUIs; and what happened when Covid hit and the clinics shut down (think at-home insemination). She also talks about the financial side of assisted reproductive technology and using a sperm donor, the legal documents one needs as a solo parent; having her son; what happened when she told friends she wanted a second child; and what's going on with her family building journey now. 

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

Solo parent by choice vs. single parent by choice; IUIs; IVF; choosing a sperm donor; the financial side of ART; anxiety; miscarriage; pregnancy via IUI; dating as a solo parent; secondary infertility

EPISODE SPONSORS:

WORK OF ART Children's Book about IVF

https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books

Ali wrote her first children’s book, and it’s available for pre-order now!

“Work of ART” is the story of an IVF kiddo the day he learns he is a “work of ART” (born via IVF and Assisted Reproductive Technology). For young readers 4-8. Hardcover. Written by Ali Prato; Illustrated by Federico Bonifacini

The first 200 copies will be numbered, personalized and shipped free in the U.S. There is also a non-personalized version available!

Order yours now at https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books

For bulk orders of 10 or more books, go to https://www.infertileafgroup.com/bulk-order-request

FERTILITY RALLY @fertilityrally www.fertilityrally.com

No one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 5 to 6 support groups per week, three private Facebook groups, tons of curated IRL and virtual events, and an entire community of more than 500 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey.

Join today at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at www.fertilityrally.com/membership

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Khaled Kteily is the Founder and CEO of Legacy, the largest male fertility clinic in North America. Founded at Harvard, Legacy has raised $45M from some of the world’s best investors: Justin Bieber, DJ Khaled, The Weeknd, and Orlando Bloom, to name a few. Today, Ali is talking to Khaled about his own family building journey, and how an accident with a scalding hot cup of tea in his lap from Starbucks ultimately led him to create Legacy, which aims to change outdated views of fertility as a "women's issue." Legacy helps you test and freeze your sperm through a mail-in kit, so you don't have to see a doctor or go to a clinic. They work with everyone from Navy SEALs to the LGBTQIA+ community. Khaled talks about how he's always wanted to be a father, why he felt that sperm banks he went to in college were less than stellar, how sperm health is affected by everything these days, and how Legacy's at-home sperm testing and freezing services are revolutionizing the industry.

For more, go to https://www.givelegacy.com/

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

At-home sperm testing and freezing; sperm storage; sperm donations; male factor infertility; environmental effects on sperm health and quality; 

EPISODE SPONSORS:

WORK OF ART Children's Book about IVF

https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books

Ali wrote her first children’s book, and it’s available for pre-order now!

“Work of ART” is the story of an IVF kiddo the day he learns he is a “work of ART” (born via IVF and Assisted Reproductive Technology). For young readers 4-8. Hardcover. Written by Ali Prato; Illustrated by Federico Bonifacini

The first 200 copies will be numbered, personalized and shipped free in the U.S. There is also a non-personalized version available!

Order yours now at https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books

For bulk orders of 10 or more books, go to https://www.infertileafgroup.com/bulk-order-request

FERTILITY RALLY @fertilityrally www.fertilityrally.com

No one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 5 to 6 support groups per week, three private Facebook groups, tons of curated IRL and virtual events, and an entire community of more than 500 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey.

Join today at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at www.fertilityrally.com/membership

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dr. Marcy Crouch is a pelvic floor physical therapist, so she helps women prepare for delivery, get through their pregnancies with less pain, and much more. So you can imagine how difficult it was to go through infertility while working with pregnant women. Today on the show, Marcy tells Ali about her own journey, including going through IUIs, moving to the "big guns" of IVF, and her first heartbreaking miscarriage at 11 weeks. She also talks about being "a complete wreck," the "constant anxiety," and what happened when they moved to a new clinic. She also talks about getting pregnant through IVF, why she didn't want a baby shower; having her son, and then doing another transfer, which resulted in their second son. 

For more, follow Marcy at @thedowntheredoc 

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

IUI; ISCI; miscarriage; IVF: embryos; pelvic floor therapy; low sperm motility; egg retrieval; frozen embryo transfer; IVF pregnancy; transferring two embryos; pregnancy after infertility; placental abruption

EPISODE SPONSORS:

WORK OF ART Children's Book about IVF

https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books

Ali wrote her first children’s book, and it’s available for pre-order now!

“Work of ART” is the story of an IVF kiddo the day he learns he is a “work of ART” (born via IVF and Assisted Reproductive Technology). For young readers 4-8. Hardcover. Written by Ali Prato; Illustrated by Federico Bonifacini

The first 200 copies will be numbered, personalized and shipped free in the U.S. There is also a non-personalized version available!

Order yours now at https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books

FERTILITY RALLY @fertilityrally www.fertilityrally.com

No one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 5 to 6 support groups per week, three private Facebook groups, tons of curated IRL and virtual events, and an entire community of more than 500 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey.

Join today at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at www.fertilityrally.com/membership

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dr. Marcy Crouch is a pelvic floor physical therapist, so she helps women prepare for delivery, get through their pregnancies with less pain, and much more. So you can imagine how difficult it was to go through infertility while working with pregnant women. Today on the show, Marcy tells Ali about her own journey, including going through IUIs, moving to the "big guns" of IVF, and her first heartbreaking miscarriage at 11 weeks. She also talks about being "a complete wreck," the "constant anxiety," and what happened when they moved to a new clinic. She also talks about getting pregnant through IVF, why she didn't want a baby shower; having her son, and then doing another transfer, which resulted in their second son. 

For more, follow Marcy at @thedowntheredoc 

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

IUI; ISCI; miscarriage; IVF: embryos; pelvic floor therapy; low sperm motility; egg retrieval; frozen embryo transfer; IVF pregnancy; transferring two embryos; pregnancy after infertility; placental abruption

EPISODE SPONSORS:

WORK OF ART Children's Book about IVF

https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books

Ali wrote her first children’s book, and it’s available for pre-order now!

“Work of ART” is the story of an IVF kiddo the day he learns he is a “work of ART” (born via IVF and Assisted Reproductive Technology). For young readers 4-8. Hardcover. Written by Ali Prato; Illustrated by Federico Bonifacini

The first 200 copies will be numbered, personalized and shipped free in the U.S. There is also a non-personalized version available!

Order yours now at https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books

FERTILITY RALLY @fertilityrally www.fertilityrally.com

No one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 5 to 6 support groups per week, three private Facebook groups, tons of curated IRL and virtual events, and an entire community of more than 500 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey.

Join today at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at www.fertilityrally.com/membership

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy