In this episode of the Love & Science Fertility Framework, Dr. Erica Bove explores the relationship between chronic inflammation and oocyte quality.

Chronic inflammation affects folliculogenesis, meiotic integrity, hormonal balance, immune signaling, and embryonic developmental competence. While acute inflammation is essential to physiologic processes like ovulation and implantation, persistent immune upregulation may disrupt reproductive outcomes.

Topics discussed include:

• How cytokines and oxidative stress affect egg maturation

• Inflammation and meiotic spindle abnormalities

• Smoking and DNA methylation changes in granulosa cells

• Insulin resistance and inflammatory signaling in PCOS

• GLP-1 medications and inflammatory pathway interruption

• Autoimmune disease and fertility outcomes

• Endometriosis and inflammatory pelvic microenvironments

• Ovarian fibrosis and follicular atresia

• The role of adipose tissue as an endocrine organ

• Diet, microbiome health, and anti-inflammatory nutrition

• CoQ10, vitamin D, and antioxidant support

Dr. Bove also discusses modifiable lifestyle factors that influence inflammatory signaling, including diet, exercise, smoking cessation, stress reduction, and sleep optimization.

Chronic inflammation represents both a risk factor and an opportunity — as many contributors are within our control.

This episode is part of Season 1 of The Love & Science Fertility Framework: The Biology Beneath the Surface — a clinical series examining the physiology that drives reproductive outcomes.

Support the show

As always, please keep in mind that this is my perspective and nothing in this podcast is medical advice.

If you found this conversation valuable, book a consult call with me using this link:

https://www.loveandsciencefertility.com/private-fertility-consult

Follow us on social media:

IG: www.instagram.com/loveandsciencefertility

FB: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553692167183

Please don’t let infertility have the final word. We are here to take the burden from you so that you can achieve your goal of building your family with confidence and compassion. I’m rooting for you always.

In Gratitude,

Dr. Erica Bove

In this episode of the Love & Science Fertility Framework, Dr. Erica Bove explores how circadian rhythms influence reproductive function and fertility outcomes.

Circadian rhythms regulate hormone secretion, ovulation, inflammation, and implantation physiology. When sleep schedules are disrupted — whether from shift work, long call hours, or chronic stress — the reproductive system is directly affected.

Topics discussed include:

• GnRH pulse generator disruption and anovulation

• Brain–ovary signaling and altered hormonal secretion

• HPA axis activation and cortisol elevation

• Stress physiology and reproductive suppression

• Melatonin production and uterine receptivity

• Clock genes and light exposure

• Sleep disruption and testosterone levels

• Inflammation and implantation outcomes

• The impact of chronic sleep irregularity on fertility

Dr. Bove reviews the physiologic mechanisms linking sleep disruption to ovulatory dysfunction, implantation challenges, and miscarriage risk — and discusses why circadian stability may be particularly important for women in high-demand professions.

This episode is part of Season 1 of The Love & Science Fertility Framework: The Biology Beneath the Surface — a clinical series examining the physiology that drives reproductive outcomes.

Support the show

As always, please keep in mind that this is my perspective and nothing in this podcast is medical advice.

If you found this conversation valuable, book a consult call with me using this link:

https://www.loveandsciencefertility.com/private-fertility-consult

Follow us on social media:

IG: www.instagram.com/loveandsciencefertility

FB: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553692167183

Please don’t let infertility have the final word. We are here to take the burden from you so that you can achieve your goal of building your family with confidence and compassion. I’m rooting for you always.

In Gratitude,

Dr. Erica Bove

In this episode of the Love and Science podcast, Dr. Erica Bove sits down with Dr. Ali Domar, PhD — internationally recognized expert in stress and infertility and Chief Compassion Officer at Inception Fertility.

We cover the most controversial question in reproductive medicine: does stress impact fertility and IVF outcomes?

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

-How stress and infertility interact (and why infertility distress is comparable to other major medical diagnoses)

-What the research shows about psychological interventions and pregnancy rates

-How cortisol may predict IVF outcomes, including emerging physiologic measures

-Why the stimulation phase of IVF may be the most physiologically stressful part of the cycle

-How chronic stress can affect inflammation, blood flow, uterine receptivity, and potentially egg quality

-What mind body programs actually include and why there isn’t one “magic” intervention

-How to cope with loss, the two week wait, and the social pain of infertility

This episode is part of our Love and Science Fertility Framework series: Season 1, The Biology Beneath the Surface — where we explain fertility physiology in a clear, evidence-based way.

About Dr. Ali Domar 

Alice “Ali” Domar, Ph.D., joined Inception Fertility™ in 2022 as Chief Compassion Officer. She is also currently the Director of the Inception Research Institute and an associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology, part-time, at Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Domar is a health psychologist who focuses on the application of mind/body medicine to women’s health issues. Her research focuses on the relationship between stress and infertility, with a focus on the impact of cognitive behavioral interventions as well as access to care and patient retention.

@prelude_fertility

@inceptionfertility

Support the show

As always, please keep in mind that this is my perspective and nothing in this podcast is medical advice.

If you found this conversation valuable, book a consult call with me using this link:

https://www.loveandsciencefertility.com/private-fertility-consult

Follow us on social media:

IG: www.instagram.com/loveandsciencefertility

FB: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553692167183

Please don’t let infertility have the final word. We are here to take the burden from you so that you can achieve your goal of building your family with confidence and compassion. I’m rooting for you always.

In Gratitude,

Dr. Erica Bove

Download The Physician Fertility Roadmap- a 6-step, evidence-based plan to optimize your fertility over the next 6-12 months. 

https://support.loveandsciencefertility.com/The-Physician-Fertility-Roadmap

Ovarian reserve testing is widely used — but interpretation requires nuance.

In this episode, Dr. Erica Bove reviews a practical framework for interpreting AMH, antral follicle count (AFC), FSH, and estradiol in clinical practice, with emphasis on how those values influence treatment strategy.

Discussion includes:

• AMH as a surrogate for cohort size and medication responsiveness

• AFC correlation and discordance with AMH

• Elevated FSH as a compensated ovarian state

• Brain–ovary feedback physiology

• FSH resistance and stimulation response

• IVF medication dosing considerations

• Predicting ovarian response and hyperstimulation risk

• Why ovarian reserve is not synonymous with fertility

Rather than weighting one marker over another, Dr. Bove outlines a physiology-based framework that integrates laboratory values, age, genetics, and reproductive goals into individualized treatment planning.

This discussion is part of Season 1 of the Love & Science Fertility Framework: The Biology Beneath the Surface — a series examining the physiology that drives reproductive outcomes.

Support the show

As always, please keep in mind that this is my perspective and nothing in this podcast is medical advice.

If you found this conversation valuable, book a consult call with me using this link:

https://www.loveandsciencefertility.com/private-fertility-consult

Follow us on social media:

IG: www.instagram.com/loveandsciencefertility

FB: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553692167183

Please don’t let infertility have the final word. We are here to take the burden from you so that you can achieve your goal of building your family with confidence and compassion. I’m rooting for you always.

In Gratitude,

Dr. Erica Bove

Download The Physician Fertility Roadmap- a 6-step, evidence-based plan to optimize your fertility over the next 6-12 months. 

https://support.loveandsciencefertility.com/The-Physician-Fertility-Roadmap

What does Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) really tell you about your fertility?

In this episode of the Love and Science Podcast, Dr. Erica Bove, reproductive endocrinologist and fertility specialist, breaks down everything you need to know about AMH — what it is, what it is not, and how it’s actually used in clinical practice.

AMH is often misunderstood as a “fertility test,” but it is more accurately a marker of ovarian reserve — meaning it reflects egg quantity, not egg quality. Dr. Bove explains how AMH levels change over time, what causes fluctuations, and how it influences IVF medication dosing, PCOS diagnosis, egg freezing decisions, and ovarian hyperstimulation risk.

In this episode, we cover:

• What Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) measures

• AMH and ovarian reserve vs. egg quality

• How AMH changes with age

• Why AMH is not a fertility test

• High AMH and PCOS

• Low AMH and what it actually means

• AMH and IVF medication dosing

• Risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)

• AMH and egg freezing decisions

• Birth control, smoking, weight loss, and seasonal variation effects on AMH

• Why age is still the strongest predictor of egg quality

If you’ve ever wondered whether your AMH level predicts your ability to conceive — naturally or through IVF — this episode will give you clear, science-based answers.

Whether your AMH is high, low, or somewhere in the middle, understanding the nuance can help you make informed decisions about your reproductive health and fertility timeline.

This is part of Season 1 of the Love & Science Fertility Framework: The Biology Beneath the Surface — where we unpack the physiology shaping fertility outcomes.

Support the show

As always, please keep in mind that this is my perspective and nothing in this podcast is medical advice.

If you found this conversation valuable, book a consult call with me using this link:

https://www.loveandsciencefertility.com/private-fertility-consult

Follow us on social media:

IG: www.instagram.com/loveandsciencefertility

FB: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553692167183

Please don’t let infertility have the final word. We are here to take the burden from you so that you can achieve your goal of building your family with confidence and compassion. I’m rooting for you always.

In Gratitude,

Dr. Erica Bove

Download The Physician Fertility Roadmap- a 6-step, evidence-based plan to optimize your fertility over the next 6-12 months. 

https://support.loveandsciencefertility.com/The-Physician-Fertility-Roadmap

If you’re worried about declining egg quality, low AMH, or ovarian aging, this video explains what actually drives the process.

In this episode, Dr. Erica Bove breaks down the science behind ovarian aging, including egg quality, egg number, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), mitochondrial function, and how fertility changes over time. We discuss why women are born with all the eggs they will ever have, how those eggs decline from fetal life through menopause, and what influences both egg quantity and egg quality.

You’ll learn:

• What ovarian aging really means

• The difference between egg number and egg quality

• How AMH reflects ovarian reserve

• Why age is the strongest predictor of egg quality

• How smoking accelerates egg decline

• The impact of diet, antioxidants, and CoQ10 on egg health

• The role of BMI, inflammation, and metabolic health in fertility

• How endocrine-disrupting chemicals and environmental toxins may affect ovarian aging

• The connection between oxygen, sleep apnea, and IVF outcomes

• Emerging therapies like ovarian PRP and rapamycin

We also explore the genetics of ovarian aging, why menopause timing often runs in families, and what current research suggests about slowing reproductive decline.

If you are navigating infertility, low ovarian reserve, diminished egg quality, IVF, or simply want to understand how fertility changes with age, this episode provides a clear and science-based explanation of what drives ovarian aging.

This is part of Season 1 of the Love & Science Fertility Framework: The Biology Beneath the Surface — where we unpack the physiology shaping fertility outcomes.

Support the show

As always, please keep in mind that this is my perspective and nothing in this podcast is medical advice.

If you found this conversation valuable, book a consult call with me using this link:

https://www.loveandsciencefertility.com/private-fertility-consult

Follow us on social media:

IG: www.instagram.com/loveandsciencefertility

FB: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553692167183

Please don’t let infertility have the final word. We are here to take the burden from you so that you can achieve your goal of building your family with confidence and compassion. I’m rooting for you always.

In Gratitude,

Dr. Erica Bove

Download The Physician Fertility Roadmap- a 6-step, evidence-based plan to optimize your fertility over the next 6-12 months. 

https://support.loveandsciencefertility.com/The-Physician-Fertility-Roadmap

In this episode of the Love and Science Podcast, Dr. Erica Bove sits down with Dr. Mel Thacker — board-certified otolaryngologist and rhinologist, master coach, host of the podcast Surgeons of Purpose, and co-founder of Hippocratic Collective — for a powerful conversation about surgeon burnout, nervous system regulation, trauma response, and building a purposeful life in medicine.

Dr. Thacker shares how unresolved trauma and chronic overachievement led to panic attacks in the operating room during the pandemic, forcing her to stop pushing through and finally listen to her body. She explains David Brooks’ “two mountains” framework (achievement → meaning), how coaching helped her heal, and why she ultimately left a lucrative private practice to focus on resourcing surgeons.

You’ll hear practical insights on:

• Recognizing “whispers” from the body before burnout hits

• Trauma response vs. drama response vs. empowered response

• Why you can’t solve problems from a scared brain

• Embodiment tools for anxiety (including pendulation)

• Redefining failure, shame, and self-criticism in high-stakes work

• Infertility stress in women surgeons and the language of “failed” cycles

• Protecting the asset: sleep, nutrition, movement, and recovery in a demanding culture

This episode is especially relevant for women physicians and surgeons navigating burnout, anxiety, infertility-related stress, and the pressure to “push through” at all costs.

About Dr. Mel Thacker

Dr. Mel Thacker is a board certified otolaryngologist, rhinologist, master coach, host of the podcast surgeons with purpose, co-founder of the multi-media company Hippocratic Collective, and two-time TEDx speaker.

website: https://www.melthackercoaching.com/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/the_surgeon_coach/

Support the show

As always, please keep in mind that this is my perspective and nothing in this podcast is medical advice.

If you found this conversation valuable, book a consult call with me using this link:

https://www.loveandsciencefertility.com/private-fertility-consult

Follow us on social media:

IG: www.instagram.com/loveandsciencefertility

FB: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553692167183

Please don’t let infertility have the final word. We are here to take the burden from you so that you can achieve your goal of building your family with confidence and compassion. I’m rooting for you always.

In Gratitude,

Dr. Erica Bove

Download The Physician Fertility Roadmap- a 6-step, evidence-based plan to optimize your fertility over the next 6-12 months. 

https://support.loveandsciencefertility.com/The-Physician-Fertility-Roadmap

In this deeply moving episode of the Love and Science Podcast, Dr. Erica Bove sits down with Dr. Tasha Faruqui — pediatrician, author, speaker, and mother of a daughter with a rare, life-limiting genetic condition.

Dr. Faruqui shares the early signs that something wasn’t right, the years-long diagnostic journey, and the reality of parenting a medically complex child while navigating anticipatory grief. Together, they explore powerful parallels between raising a child with uncertainty and walking the fertility journey.

In this conversation, they discuss:

• Trusting your intuition as a physician and patient

• Advocating for yourself within a broken medical system

• Balancing trust and self-advocacy

• The emotional weight of infertility and uncertain outcomes

• What anticipatory grief really means

• Letting go of the life you planned

• Choosing joy intentionally in the middle of suffering

• How to support families facing complex medical diagnoses

Whether you are navigating infertility, parenting through uncertainty, experiencing miscarriage, or supporting someone in a medically complex season, this episode offers wisdom, honesty, and hope.

Dr. Faruqui is also the author of Keep Your Head Up: A Mother’s Story of Chasing Joy in the Face of Grief, and she shares how writing her story became part of her family’s healing.

This conversation is a reminder that grief and joy can coexist — and that you do not have to walk hard seasons alone.

About Dr. Tasha Faruqui

Tasha Faruqui joined the National Health Service Corps following her graduation from medical school. Her plan was to take over her father’s practice once her commitment was complete, but this was diverted when her second daughter, Soraya, was born with a rare, little-known genetic disorder that remains largely a mystery thirteen years later.

Tasha’s focus then shifted to pediatrics, with particular attention to advocacy and
support for parents of medically complex children and those with a limited life
expectancy. Today, she regularly brings her dynamic message of fierce and loving hope to medical students at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, the top pediatric medical facility in the country, Make-A-Wish events, and her Instagram community (@thefaruqui5). Her debut memoir, Keep Your Head Up: A Mother’s Story of Chasing Joy in the Face of Grief, was published by Jossey-Bass in September 2025. Tasha was named a top doctor by Cincinnati Magazine in 2022, 2024, and 2025. Connect and learn more at www.tashafaruqui.com.

Support the show

As always, please keep in mind that this is my perspective and nothing in this podcast is medical advice.

If you found this conversation valuable, book a consult call with me using this link:

https://www.loveandsciencefertility.com/private-fertility-consult

Follow us on social media:

IG: www.instagram.com/loveandsciencefertility

FB: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553692167183

Please don’t let infertility have the final word. We are here to take the burden from you so that you can achieve your goal of building your family with confidence and compassion. I’m rooting for you always.

In Gratitude,

Dr. Erica Bove

Download The Physician Fertility Roadmap- a 6-step, evidence-based plan to optimize your fertility over the next 6-12 months. 

https://support.loveandsciencefertility.com/The-Physician-Fertility-Roadmap

If you’ve ever been told your embryos are “high quality” but your transfers keep failing, this episode will change how you think about implantation.

In this powerful and science-forward conversation, Dr. Erica Bove sits down with Dr. Sadikah Behbehani — board-certified Reproductive Endocrinologist and fellowship-trained Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgeon — to unpack one of the most overlooked causes of IVF failure: endometriosis.

Up to 50% of women undergoing IVF may have undiagnosed endometriosis. Yet many are told everything “looks normal.”

In this episode, we explore:

• Why high-quality embryos fail to implant

• The role of inflammation in recurrent implantation failure

• Silent endometriosis and unexplained infertility

• When to consider laparoscopy

• Excision surgery vs. Lupron suppression

• How endometriomas impact egg quality and ovarian reserve

• Adenomyosis and its effect on embryo transfer outcomes

• Natural pregnancy rates after endometriosis surgery

• What REIs may miss — and when to advocate for deeper evaluation

Dr. Behbehani explains why endometriosis is not just a pain disorder — it is an inflammatory disease that can distort anatomy, disrupt egg development, and interfere with implantation, even when embryos are genetically normal.

This episode is essential listening for anyone navigating IVF, recurrent failed transfers, diminished ovarian reserve, chronic pelvic pain, or a diagnosis of “unexplained infertility.”

If you’ve felt like something is being missed in your fertility journey, this conversation offers clarity, nuance, and a path forward grounded in both love and science.

About Dr. Behbehani

Dr. Sadikah Behbehani is a nationally recognized OBGYN and one of the leading endometriosis doctors in Los Angeles & Newport Beach, specializing in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, as well as Minimally Invasive Gynecologic and Robotic Surgery. With double fellowship training, which is an achievement held by only a handful of physicians in the country, Dr. Behbehani offers a unique blend of surgical expertise and fertility care. As an experienced endometriosis excision surgeon and pelvic pain specialist Los Angeles, she is highly skilled in treating even the most complex gynecologic conditions affecting fertility, such as endometriosis and uterine fibroids. Her advanced training allows her to address these challenging medical conditions with precision, helping patients achieve better health outcomes and improved quality of life.

Find her:

Instagram: dr.sadikahbehbehan

Support the show

As always, please keep in mind that this is my perspective and nothing in this podcast is medical advice.

If you found this conversation valuable, book a consult call with me using this link:

https://www.loveandsciencefertility.com/private-fertility-consult

Follow us on social media:

IG: www.instagram.com/loveandsciencefertility

FB: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553692167183

Please don’t let infertility have the final word. We are here to take the burden from you so that you can achieve your goal of building your family with confidence and compassion. I’m rooting for you always.

In Gratitude,

Dr. Erica Bove

Download The Physician Fertility Roadmap- a 6-step, evidence-based plan to optimize your fertility over the next 6-12 months. 

https://support.loveandsciencefertility.com/The-Physician-Fertility-Roadmap

What does authentic hope really look like in fertility care especially when outcomes are uncertain?

In this episode of Love & Science Fertility, we explore how hope can remain steady and empowering without drifting into false reassurance or unrealistic expectations. Grounded in evidence-based medicine and compassionate care, this conversation reframes hope as something patients can build, not just wait for.

We discuss how clear communication, structured treatment roadmaps, and an understanding of individual clinical factors—such as age, embryo quality, and diagnosis can help patients feel informed rather than overwhelmed. Rather than bypassing difficult emotions, authentic hope allows space for uncertainty while still supporting resilience, clarity, and forward movement.

This episode is for anyone navigating fertility treatment who wants to feel supported, informed, and emotionally anchored even when the path ahead feels unclear.

Support the show

As always, please keep in mind that this is my perspective and nothing in this podcast is medical advice.

If you found this conversation valuable, book a consult call with me using this link:

https://www.loveandsciencefertility.com/private-fertility-consult

Follow us on social media:

IG: www.instagram.com/loveandsciencefertility

FB: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553692167183

Please don’t let infertility have the final word. We are here to take the burden from you so that you can achieve your goal of building your family with confidence and compassion. I’m rooting for you always.

In Gratitude,

Dr. Erica Bove