Infertile AF: Infertility and Modern Family Building through ART

Today Ali is talking to a dear friend of hers who she met through Instagram. Her name is Jess Veit,and she is an IVF Warrior and advocate, a bright light in the IG community, and mama to her rainbow baby, whose nickname is Sunny. You probably know her from IG @onesunnystory. On this episode, Jess tells Ali how she got to where she is today, including 9 years of trying, 𝟼 𝙸𝚄𝙸s, 𝟼 𝙵𝙴𝚃s (frozen embryo transfers) and her one miracle baby. They also talk about thyroid issues, natural killer cells, painful periods, and Asherman's Syndrome. And big news: Jess reveals what's happening next in her family building journey. 

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

Infertility; painful periods; IUIs; FETs; frozen embryo transfers; thyroid issues; natural killer cells; pregnancy after miscarriage; Asherman's Syndrome.

EPISODE SPONSORS:

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 4 support groups per week, 3 private Facebook groups, tons of curated events, and an entire community of more than 450 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey. Doors open the 1st of every month! Join at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at fertilityrally.com

RECEPTIVA DX

The ReceptivaDX test can help couples struggling with unexplained infertility. It can help identify endometriosis before an embryo transfer, and has the potential to save women the stress, anxiety, and cost of multiple failed IVF attempts. Learn more at receptivadx.com or download the ReceptivaDX app. Use code INFERTILEAF for $75 off.

PROOV

Today’s episode is sponsored by Proov, a women’s health company dedicated to providing information and solutions on key fertility hormones so they can reach their goals faster. The best part is that they’re giving Infertile AF listeners a special discount code. Go to proovtest.com, enter the code ALI25, and you’ll get 25% off your first Proov order of $25 or more.

Support this podcast at: https://redcircle.com/infertile-af/donations

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

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

Ali is talking to best friends this week! Today, her guests are Ronit and Vida, who met while working together at Nike in Los Angeles, who both come from health and fitness backgrounds, and who both found themselves going through infertility at the same time. 

Today, they both share their infertility journeys, including how they each had a miscarriage one week apart, how they supported each other as best friends, how the losses affected their relationships with their husbands, and how they blamed themselves. They're also going to discuss how after delving into some deep research and trying to figure out the root cause of their fertility issues, they decided to found a company called We Natal. WeNatal is the first prenatal supplement intentionally optimized for her and for him. Reimagining the gender paradigms around fertility and pregnancy, WeNatal is shifting prenatal care from women-centered to couples-centered—from Me to We. For more, check out https://wenatal.com/

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

Miscarriage; infertility; sperm health; male factor infertility; pregnancy after miscarriage; prenatal supplements; genetic abnormalies; "It Starts With the Egg" book. 

EPISODE SPONSORS:

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 4 support groups per week, 3 private Facebook groups, tons of curated events, and an entire community of more than 400 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey. Doors open the 1st of every month! Join at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at fertilityrally.com

RECEPTIVA DX

The ReceptivaDX test can help couples struggling with unexplained infertility. It can help identify endometriosis before an embryo transfer, and has the potential to save women the stress, anxiety, and cost of multiple failed IVF attempts. Learn more at receptivadx.com or download the ReceptivaDX app. Use code INFERTILEAF for $75 off.

PROOV

Today’s episode is sponsored by Proov, a women’s health company dedicated to providing information and solutions on key fertility hormones so they can reach their goals faster. The best part is that they’re giving Infertile AF listeners a special discount code. Go to proovtest.com, enter the code ALI25, and you’ll get 25% off your first Proov order of $25 or more.

Support this podcast at: https://redcircle.com/infertile-af/donations

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

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

Get ready for a very entertaining conversation! Today Ali is talking to Lauren Massarella, a wellness and lifestyle blogger from Chicago, who co-hosts "Cozy Conversations," a bi-weekly podcast about everyday life experiences, pop culture, current events, and everything in between, with her sister, Michelle. Ali and Lauren dive deep into Lauren's infertility struggles, starting with "horrible" endometriosis for a big chunk of her life, the lack of sex education she got as a young woman, going through IVF with her husband, Anthony, how they finally got pregnant, some unique pregnancy complications, and finally, having their healthy baby girl.  

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

Endometriosis; surgery; infertility; IVF; sex education; pregnancy after infertility; parenthood after infertility. 

EPISODE SPONSORS:

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 4 support groups per week, 3 private Facebook groups, tons of curated events, and an entire community of more than 400 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey. Doors open the 1st of every month! Join at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at fertilityrally.com

BELI @beli.baby

Beli is formulated with the right nutrients to help boost your fertility, increase egg quality and support IVF to increase your chances of conception and a healthy pregnancy. To get started with Beli, go to belibaby.com and use code ALI15 for 15% off your first month of either Beli Women or Beli Men.

Support this podcast at: https://redcircle.com/infertile-af/donations

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

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

Today, Ali is talking to Keegan Prue, whose book, "The IVF Dad," chronicles he and his wife's struggle with infertility, going through two rounds of IVF, two miscarriages, and three embryo transfers before the birth of their first daughter--and then even more before having their next baby girl, who was just born less than a month ago. Keegan talks about how to be a supportive partner through infertility, why he's always wanted to have kids, what happened when they "hit the wall," how his wife had a blighted ovum, hearing the dreaded phrase, "I'm sorry, there's no heartbeat," pregnancy after loss, and so much more. 

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

Unexplained infertility; the male point of view; Letrizole; IVF; FET; blighted ovum; miscarriage; grief; successful cycles; genetic testing; a double-thawed embryo; pregnancy after infertility; parenthood after infertility. 

Follow Keegan @theivfdad and check out his book here: https://www.theivfdad.com/

EPISODE SPONSORS:

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 4 support groups per week, 3 private Facebook groups, tons of curated events, and an entire community of more than 400 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey. Doors open the 1st of every month! Join at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at fertilityrally.com

BELI @beli.baby

Beli is formulated with the right nutrients to help boost your fertility, increase egg quality and support IVF to increase your chances of conception and a healthy pregnancy. To get started with Beli, go to belibaby.com and use code ALI15 for 15% off your first month of either Beli Women or Beli Men.

Support this podcast at: https://redcircle.com/infertile-af/donations

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

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

Lisa White is an author, an IVF mentor and an occupational therapist, and today, she's going to talk about riding the emotional rollercoaster of the infertility and IVF journey, and how it can feel incredibly overwhelming, lonely and painful. Lisa asks, "How do you stay hopeful and not lose yourself or your dreams for your family in this process?" 

Lisa tells Ali about being told they had less than one percent chance conceiving without assisted reproductive technology (ART), discovering polyps in her uterus, getting no embryos during a round of IVF, her lifelong love of journaling, the importance of surrounding yourself with like-minded people during infertility, achieving IVF success with only one healthy embryo, becoming a mom at the age of 40, the emergency hysterectomy that saved her life, and a ton more. 

Follow Lisa on IG at @ivf.manifesting.a.miracle and check out her book, "Hold On, Baby" here: https://ivfmanifestingamiracle.com/holdonbaby

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

Male factor infertility; miracle mindset; polyps; IVF; failed cycles; successful cycles; polyp surgery; scar tissue surgery; fibroid surgery; fertility coaching; motherhood after 40. 

EPISODE SPONSORS:

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 4 support groups per week, 3 private Facebook groups, tons of curated events, and an entire community of more than 400 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey. Doors open the 1st of every month! Join at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at fertilityrally.com

BELI @beli.baby

Beli is formulated with the right nutrients to help boost your fertility, increase egg quality and support IVF to increase your chances of conception and a healthy pregnancy. To get started with Beli, go to belibaby.com and use code ALI15 for 15% off your first month of either Beli Women or Beli Men.

Support this podcast at: https://redcircle.com/infertile-af/donations

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

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

Reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Lora Shahine is on the show today! You guys probably know her from TikTok, IG, and also her passion for educating and supporting the fertility community. Today, she's talking about all the things, including her own infertility journey--and why so many doctors (one in four actually!) face infertility. Lora talks about the importance of social media in her medical practice, egg freezing, being diagnosed with secondary infertility, the 3 IVF transfers she went through, and why working remotely has had some pros and cons for patients when it comes to going through treatment. 

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

Secondary infertility; IVF; transfers; failed transfers; stims; egg freezing; doctors going through infertility. 

EPISODE SPONSORS:

FERTILITY RALLY LIVE

Do not miss our FREE VIRTUAL EVENT: Fertility Rally Live For Anyone Trying to Conceive and New Moms After Infertility on 10/22! The All-Day, Educational and Inspirational Event Returns to Support the ‘Worst Club with the Best Members’

For the first time ever, tickets to the event are totally free. All ticket holders have 30 days to watch the 8+ hours of talks, and they also each receive our Virtual Swag Bag full of discounts and offers. Tickets can be reserved HERE.

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 4 support groups per week, 3 private Facebook groups, tons of curated events, and an entire community of more than 400 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey. Doors open the 1st of every month! Join at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at fertilityrally.com

PROOV

Today’s episode is sponsored by Proov, a women’s health company dedicated to providing information and solutions on key fertility hormones so they can reach their goals faster. The best part is that they’re giving Infertile AF listeners a special discount code. Go to proovtest.com, enter the code ALI25, and you’ll get 25% off your first Proov order of $25 or more.

Support this podcast at: https://redcircle.com/infertile-af/donations

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

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

Today, Ali is talking to Samantha Bloom, who, in March 2020, learned she had the  BRCA gene variant after taking a 23andMe test. Samantha, a mother of twins, was trying to have a third child. And it was mid-Covid, so once she was finally able to see her OBGYN a few months later and confirm she was BRCA positive, her gynecologist advised that she stop trying to get pregnant and instead consider starting IVF.  Samantha tells us her entire story,  including how she was diagnosed with PCOS as a teenager, and what happened when she did go down the IVF road. 

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: 

Genetic testing; PCOS; BRCA gene variant; 23andMe test; miscarriage; IVF. 

EPISODE SPONSORS:

FERTILITY RALLY LIVE

Do not miss our FREE VIRTUAL EVENT: Fertility Rally Live For Anyone Trying to Conceive and New Moms After Infertility on 10/22! The All-Day, Educational and Inspirational Event Returns to Support the ‘Worst Club with the Best Members’

For the first time ever, tickets to the event are totally free. All ticket holders have 30 days to watch the 8+ hours of talks, and they also each receive our Virtual Swag Bag full of discounts and offers. Tickets can be reserved HERE. 

FERTILITY RALLY @fertilityrally www.fertilityrall.com 

No one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 4 support groups per week, 3 private Facebook groups, tons of curated events, and an entire community of more than 400 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey. Doors open the 1st of every month! Join at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at fertilityrally.com

MAGIC MIND

Magic Mind’s mission is to make the world more productive by giving people the tools to be the best version of themselves. Their goal is to get you into that glorious flow-state more often, so you can do your best work more efficiently and spend more time doing what you love. Go to magicmind.co/infertile and use code INFERTILE20 for 20% off. The best part is that they have a money back guarantee. If you get the subscription, it’s a 40% off. My 40% off code only lasts 10 days, so hurry up!

Support this podcast at: https://redcircle.com/infertile-af/donations

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

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

Priscilla Brown is an incredible mama of four kiddos named Liam, Bear, Ziggy and Olive. But it took Priscilla a long time to become a mom of four, and included a lot of heartbreak, and many twists and turns along the way. Today, Priscilla tells Ali all the things, including being diagnosed with unexplained infertility; doing five back-to-back IUIs; giving up big important life events because of treatment; having a miscarriage; being diagnosed with DOR; moving onto IVF; fresh transfers versus frozen transfers, and so much more. She also talks about her collection of poems, "Waiting on the Universe," which were written while she was going through her infertility journey, to help others feel less alone. 

EPISODE SPONSORS:

FERTILITY RALLY and FERTILITY RALLY LIVE, @fertilityrally

No one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 4 support groups per week, 3 private Facebook groups, tons of curated events, and an entire community of more than 400 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey. Doors open the 1st of every month! Join at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at fertilityrally.com

MAGIC MIND 

Magic Mind’s mission is to make the world more productive by giving people the tools to be the best version of themselves. Their goal is to get you into that glorious flow-state more often, so you can do your best work more efficiently and spend more time doing what you love. Go to magicmind.co/infertile and use code INFERTILE20 for 20% off. The best part is that they have a money back guarantee. If you get the subscription, it’s a 40% off. My 40% off code only lasts 10 days, so hurry up!

Support this podcast at: https://redcircle.com/infertile-af/donations

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

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

Today, Ali is talking to "Tales of the Walking Dead" actress and "Egg Party" director Kersti Bryan about her new short film, "Egg Party." Egg Party (click link below to watch it!) tackles the incredibly tough topic of pregnancy and infertility—and so much more. The movie is about six women in their late-thirties gathering together for a not-so-sober afternoon to laugh and dye Easter eggs—and to contemplate their fertility. Ali and Kersti about how she created the story behind Egg Party, filming during the Pandemic, the overturning of Roe V. Wade, the importance of good maternal health, miscarriages, egg freezing, the stigma of infertility, and where Kersti is now when it comes to family building.

WATCH EGG PARTY MOVIE HERE: 

https://vimeo.com/589975618

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE

Infertility; fertility; egg freezing; miscarriage; maternal health; Egg Party movie; Kersti Bryan. 

EPISODE SPONSORS:

FERTILITY RALLY, @fertilityrally

No one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 4 support groups per week, 3 private Facebook groups, tons of curated events, and an entire community of more than 400 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey. Doors open the 1st of every month! Join at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at fertilityrally.com

RECEPTIVA DX

The ReceptivaDX test can help couples struggling with unexplained infertility. It can help identify endometriosis before an embryo transfer, and has the potential to save women the stress, anxiety, and cost of multiple failed IVF attempts. Learn more at receptivadx.com or download the ReceptivaDX app. Use code INFERTILEAF for $75 off.

PROOV

Today’s episode is sponsored by Proov, a women’s health company dedicated to providing information and solutions on key fertility hormones so they can reach their goals faster. The best part is that they’re giving Infertile AF listeners a special discount code. Go to proovtest.com, enter the code ALI25, and you’ll get 25% off your first Proov order of $25 or more.

EXTEND FERTILITY

Extend Fertility--co-founded by Ali's brilliant doctor, Joshua U. Klein, believes in being personal and data driven. They’re passionate about delivering fertility care in a more compassionate and transparent way. To help proactively explore your fertility options, Extend Fertility has an exclusive offer for all Infertile AF listeners. If you schedule a consultation and mention that you are a Infertile AF listener, you will receive $500 off your first IVF or egg freezing cycle. Visit extendfertility.com and mention Infertile AF.

CIRCLE SURROGACY 

When you’re ready to explore options, Circle Surrogacy & Egg Donation is ready to hear your story, and to talk about the different options for parenthood. Circle offers a variety of programs that fit YOUR needs – and they have a 99.3% success rate for parents. Plus, 44% of Circle’s staff has personal experience as surrogates, egg donors or parents through surrogacy, IVF or adoption. To learn more, go to circlesurrogacy.com or call the Circle Team at 617-439-9900.

Support this podcast at: https://redcircle.com/infertile-af/donations

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

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

Today, Ali is talking to Cristy Murray, an Infertility warrior who has a passion for helping women who struggle with infertility. As a veteran and women's health provider, Cristy has made it her mission to give back and empower women to be their own advocates for their health. Cristy talks about ways to boost fertility, toxin-Free living, and of course, her own experience while going through the painful journey of trying to conceive. Cristy explains how her Catholic upbringing played into her family building journey. She is also a military veteran, and she talks about something that Ali has never talked about before on the show: how heavy metals may have affected her fertility, and the procedures she used to get them out of her body.  

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE

Infertility; military veterans; fertility; advocacy; heavy metals; toxin-feel living; Catholic faith; natural conception. 

EPISODE SPONSORS:

FERTILITY RALLY, @fertilityrally

No one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 4 support groups per week, 3 private Facebook groups, tons of curated events, and an entire community of more than 400 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey. Doors open the 1st of every month! Join at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at fertilityrally.com

RECEPTIVA DX

The ReceptivaDX test can help couples struggling with unexplained infertility. It can help identify endometriosis before an embryo transfer, and has the potential to save women the stress, anxiety, and cost of multiple failed IVF attempts. Learn more at receptivadx.com or download the ReceptivaDX app. Use code INFERTILEAF for $75 off.

Support this podcast at: https://redcircle.com/infertile-af/donations

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

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