The infertility industry often presents IVF as the only solution, but what if we could actually heal the underlying causes of infertility instead? In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Naomi Whittaker, a board-certified OB-GYN and Restorative Reproductive Medicine specialist, joins the series to expose the gaps in women's healthcare and share a healthier, more ethical approach to fertility treatment.

Dr. Whittaker reveals:

• Why infertility is a "check engine light," not a disease.
• How IVF doctors often skip crucial medical workups
• The real risks of IVF for women and babies – including health complications, high miscarriage rates, and increased risks of cancer.
• Why women are not being properly educated about their own reproductive health.
• How cycle charting and restorative medicine can actually help women conceive naturally.
• Why couples should have an ethical "game plan" before walking into a fertility clinic.

Instead of pushing high-risk, high-cost procedures that bypass the problem, Dr. Whittaker’s work focuses on identifying and healing what’s actually preventing conception. She challenges the medical industry's reliance on IVF and explains why true healthcare for women should focus on root causes, not just expensive workarounds.

If you or someone you love is facing infertility, this episode is a must-listen.

https://www.naproebook.com/

https://www.fertilitycare.org/

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What happens when the fertility industry puts profits over people? In this eye-opening episode, Katy Faust joins Patience and Jenn to expose the fraud, negligence, and ethical violations rampant in the world of reproductive technologies.

From fertility doctors secretly using their own sperm to father dozens of children to IVF clinics implanting the wrong embryos, losing frozen children, and using toxic solutions, this episode uncovers the shocking lack of oversight in an industry that plays with human life.

We explore real-life horror stories, including the infamous case of Dr. Donald Cline, who fathered at least 94 children, and recent embryo mix-ups that devastated families.

But most importantly, we ask the hard questions: Are these just isolated mistakes, or is the system itself broken? Should we be making babies in laboratories at all? What about the rights of the children created through these procedures?

Join us as we shed light on the dark underbelly of the fertility industry, challenge the assumptions surrounding IVF, and advocate for a world that puts children’s rights before adult desires.

• https://www.usdcc.org/2024/02/14/a-donor-conception-nightmare-fertility-fraud-leads-to-accidental-incest/
• https://abcnews.go.com/Health/inside-ivf-mix-ups-left-women-carrying-embryos/story?id=119429927
• https://abcnews.go.com/US/9-couples-sue-ivf-clinic-alleging-staff-implanted/story?id=109491391
• https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-10-13/kindbody-fertility-clinic-embryo-errors-spotlight-ivf-business-risks
• https://news.bloomberglaw.com/litigation/ivf-patients-struggle-to-find-legal-recourse-for-lost-embryos

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What happens when you find out at 22 that your dad isn’t actually your dad? In this powerful episode, we welcome Kathryn Francisco, a donor-conceived woman who shares her journey of uncovering the truth about her origins, meeting her biological father, and grappling with the reality of being intentionally separated from half of her identity.

Kathryn describes the emotional and psychological impact of growing up unknowingly fatherless, the moment she saw her biological father for the first time, and why donor conception—often seen as a gift—can actually create deep wounds. She also discusses how her faith, marriage, and motherhood have helped her heal.

As the U.S. considers federal IVF subsidies, which could expand donor conception even further, Kathryn brings a crucial perspective: What happens when adults prioritize their desires over a child’s right to their biological parents?Join us for a compelling, thought-provoking discussion on family, identity, and why biology matters.

• https://thembeforeus.com/kathryn-francisco-its-okay-to-believe-that-the-method-of-your-conception-was-wrong-and-still-give-thanks-for-your-life/
• https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2020/01/59169/

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Emma Waters unpacks the growing surrogacy industry, its ethical concerns, and its link to IVF. While often portrayed as an act of kindness, 98% of U.S. surrogacy contracts are commercial, turning pregnancy into a transaction.

Who are these women? Who is buying these children? What happens when babies are separated from the only mother they’ve known?

We also expose how foreign nationals, particularly from China, use surrogacy for U.S. citizenship.

As surrogacy expands, are we creating families—or commodities? Tune in for a critical discussion on bioethics, children’s rights, and the future of family law.

• https://x.com/emlwaters
• https://ifstudies.org/blog/inconclusive-the-research-on-surrogacys-impact-on-children
• https://wng.org/podcasts/emma-waters-1714401432
• https://americanmind.org/salvo/california-new-handmaids-tale/
• https://www.heritage.org/china/report/the-new-face-birth-tourism-chinese-nationals-american-surrogates-and-birthright
• https://thefederalist.com/2025/01/31/trumps-executive-order-still-allows-foreigners-to-buy-u-s-citizenship-via-surrogacy/

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In this episode episode, journalist Ari Schulman unpacks the future of assisted reproductive technology. We explore the next frontier beyond IVF— in vitro gametogenesis (IVG), three-parent embryos, and genetic modifications that could enable single-parent conception.

Are we approaching a world where children are designed to fit parental preferences? Could technology erase the need for biological mothers and fathers?

Schulman raises urgent ethical concerns about human experimentation, kinship engineering, and the long-term consequences of these advancements. As science accelerates, will society set limits, or embrace a future once thought impossible? Tune in for this critical conversation.

• https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/09/opinion/ivf-debate.html
• https://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/the-new-kinship-engineering

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Join us for a deep dive into the ethical, scientific, and cultural implications of in vitro fertilization (IVF) with Dr. David Prentice, a leading bioethicist and scientist. In this episode of the Them Before Us podcast, we uncover the hidden realities of the fertility industry, the staggering number of embryos lost in the IVF process, and the rise of designer babies through gene editing.

Are we sacrificing millions of human lives for the pursuit of reproduction? What are the long-term consequences of manipulating human genetics? With policymakers pushing for a ‘right to IVF,’ we explore what this means for the future of life and bioethics.

Don’t miss this eye-opening discussion on the unintended consequences of assisted reproductive technologies.

• https://lozierinstitute.org/designing-babies-science-ethics-and-policies-of-a-post-genomic-era/
• https://stemcellresearchfacts.org/
• https://lozierinstitute.org/3-parent-embryos-and-gene-edited-babies-a-visual-aid/




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In this episode of the IVF FYI series, we sit down with Dr. Tara Sander Lee, a scientist with expertise in cell and molecular biology, to discuss the ethical and scientific concerns surrounding IVF and the lack of accountability in the IVF industry.

With firsthand experience in both medical research and personal struggles with infertility, Dr. Sander Lee shares her perspective on the high failure rates, health risks for women, and the fate of IVF embryos. We discuss the lack of regulation, the commodification of human life, and whether an ethical approach to IVF is possible. If you're considering IVF or want to understand the broader ethical implications, this episode is a must-listen.

Tune in to hear Dr. Sander Lee’s insights on how we can balance scientific advancements with respect for human dignity and why she believes the conversation around IVF needs to change.

• https://www.math3ma.institute/blog/reflections-on-in-vitro-fertilization
• https://lozierinstitute.org/charlotte-lozier-scholars-discuss-bioethical-challenges-and-exploiting-nascent-human-beings/
• https://lozierinstitute.org/a-handbook-of-bioethical-considerations-regarding-nascent-human-beings-and-their-cells-handbook-ii/ 

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Is IVF truly the miracle solution it's made out to be? In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Craig Turczynski, a former IVF lab director turned restorative reproductive medicine expert, takes us behind the scenes of the fertility industry. From his early days in animal reproductive science to his eventual departure from the IVF field due to ethical concerns, Dr. Turczynski shares his experience in the IVF industry.

We dive deep into the unspoken consequences of IVF—high embryo loss rates, medical risks to mothers and babies, and the emotional toll on couples struggling with infertility. What happens to the “extra” embryos? How does the industry prioritize profit over patient health? And is there a better way to treat infertility?

If you've ever questioned the ethics of IVF, wondered about alternative treatments that honor both life and family, or simply wondered how IVF works, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Listen now to uncover the truth about the fertility industry and explore a pro-life, science-backed approach to reproductive medicine!

https://craigturczynskiphd.com/

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Is IVF just about making babies, or is there more beneath the surface? With IVF making headlines—from the Alabama Supreme Court ruling to political promises of federal funding—most people don’t know what really happens behind the scenes. From embryo destruction to surrogacy and genetic screening, the implications are massive.

In this special Them Before Us podcast series "IVF | FYI: What Happens If IVF Becomes a Right", we explore the ethical, legal, and political dimensions of in vitro fertilization and its impact on children’s rights.Join us as we unpack the realities of IVF, its growing legal status as a “right,” and what that means for the future of family and human dignity.

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