Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday

Send us Fan Mail

What happens when IVF success leaves you with more embryos than you ever planned for?
 In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols tackles the emotional and practical side of “extra embryos.” He explains why the U.S. system often pushes patients to create as many embryos as possible — and how cost, culture, and regulation shape that pressure.

You’ll learn the pros and cons of mini-IVF, selective fertilization, and egg-only freezing, and why “more” isn’t always better when it comes to embryo creation. Dr. Amols also breaks down five crucial questions to ask your clinic before you start stimulation, so your IVF plan aligns with your values, not just your clinic’s routine.

Whether you’re planning your first cycle or staring at a freezer inventory you never expected, this episode helps you find the balance between success, cost, and peace of mind.

Thanks for listening to another episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday with Dr. Mark Amols.

If you found this episode helpful, please share it with someone who might benefit—and don't forget to follow the show and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

Want to explore more fertility topics? Visit TacoBoutFertility.com, where you can search our entire episode library, find episodes about the questions that matter to you, try our interactive fertility tools, and submit questions or topic requests for future episodes.

Join us next Tuesday for another episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, where we make fertility medicine easier to understand—one topic at a time.

Send us Fan Mail

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols opens up about something doctors rarely say out loud — that we have feelings too.

Step behind the white coat to hear the human side of fertility care: the burnout that comes with modern medicine, the emotional weight of every failed cycle, and the reality of being judged not by effort, but by outcomes. Dr. Amols shares raw stories about patient misunderstandings, communication breakdowns, and the painful impact of online reviews that don’t always reflect the truth.

This episode is an honest conversation about empathy — for both patients and doctors — reminding us that medicine isn’t perfect, but the people behind it care more than you’ll ever know.

💬 Topics include:

• The emotional toll of infertility care on physicians
• Burnout and documentation overload in modern medicine
• Why communication breakdowns can feel like neglect — but usually aren’t
• The illusion of perfection in fertility treatment
• How empathy and understanding can bridge the gap between patients and providers

Whether you’re a patient, provider, or simply curious about what it’s like behind the scenes of fertility medicine, this episode will change the way you see your care team forever.

Thanks for listening to another episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday with Dr. Mark Amols.

If you found this episode helpful, please share it with someone who might benefit—and don't forget to follow the show and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

Want to explore more fertility topics? Visit TacoBoutFertility.com, where you can search our entire episode library, find episodes about the questions that matter to you, try our interactive fertility tools, and submit questions or topic requests for future episodes.

Join us next Tuesday for another episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, where we make fertility medicine easier to understand—one topic at a time.

Send us Fan Mail

This week on Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols sits down with fertility naturopath and nutritionist Tasha Jennings to explore how natural and medical approaches to fertility can work hand in hand.

Together, they break down the science behind how nutrition, lifestyle, and epigenetics can influence egg and sperm quality — and how collaboration between naturopaths and fertility specialists can lead to healthier pregnancies and better IVF outcomes.

From real patient stories to myth-busting the “magic of IVF,” this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to take control of their fertility journey — naturally and scientifically.

🎧 Topics include:

• The science of epigenetics and how diet can affect your genes
• How naturopaths and REI doctors can work together for better results
• Why the 90 days before conception may be the most important for your future baby
• What patients should know before starting IVF

Thanks for listening to another episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday with Dr. Mark Amols.

If you found this episode helpful, please share it with someone who might benefit—and don't forget to follow the show and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

Want to explore more fertility topics? Visit TacoBoutFertility.com, where you can search our entire episode library, find episodes about the questions that matter to you, try our interactive fertility tools, and submit questions or topic requests for future episodes.

Join us next Tuesday for another episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, where we make fertility medicine easier to understand—one topic at a time.

Send us Fan Mail

Can you really boost your IVF success rate by doing everything before an embryo transfer? In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols breaks down one of the most common misconceptions in fertility treatment — the belief that more testing automatically means better results. From ERA and Receptiva testing to add-ons like PRP or HCG washes, Dr. Amols explains why these extra steps can’t push your chances beyond what the embryo already has — because you can’t beat the math.

Using simple numbers, national success rate data, and a memorable coin-flip analogy, he helps you understand how cumulative odds really work, when testing does make sense, and why giving “120%” isn’t possible in IVF. Whether you’re preparing for your first transfer or recovering from a failed one, this episode will help you focus on what truly improves your chances — patience, persistence, and perspective.

Thanks for listening to another episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday with Dr. Mark Amols.

If you found this episode helpful, please share it with someone who might benefit—and don't forget to follow the show and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

Want to explore more fertility topics? Visit TacoBoutFertility.com, where you can search our entire episode library, find episodes about the questions that matter to you, try our interactive fertility tools, and submit questions or topic requests for future episodes.

Join us next Tuesday for another episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, where we make fertility medicine easier to understand—one topic at a time.

Send us Fan Mail

Are fertility clinics telling you the whole truth about their success rates? In this episode, Dr. Mark Amols breaks down the hidden math behind IVF statistics — and exposes how “creative marketing” can make average results look amazing.

Learn why pregnancy rates don’t always mean babies, how clinics use “per transfer” versus “per cycle” numbers to their advantage, and what to look for in real CDC data before choosing a fertility center.

From the “we take the toughest patients” myth to the truth about PGT and donor egg statistics, you’ll walk away knowing how to read through the hype and make sense of the numbers that actually matter — the ones that lead to a baby in your arms.

🎧 Listen now to become a fertility stat detective and discover the truth behind the numbers.

Thanks for listening to another episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday with Dr. Mark Amols.

If you found this episode helpful, please share it with someone who might benefit—and don't forget to follow the show and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

Want to explore more fertility topics? Visit TacoBoutFertility.com, where you can search our entire episode library, find episodes about the questions that matter to you, try our interactive fertility tools, and submit questions or topic requests for future episodes.

Join us next Tuesday for another episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, where we make fertility medicine easier to understand—one topic at a time.

Send us Fan Mail

Not all fertility pills are created equal. In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols breaks down the real differences between Clomid (clomiphene citrate) and Femara (letrozole)—two medications that may look the same but work in totally different ways.

Learn how each medication triggers ovulation, why increasing your dose doesn’t always improve your chances, and when doctors decide to switch from oral pills to injectable gonadotropins. Dr. Amols also shares the surprising origins of both drugs (spoiler: one started as birth control and the other as a cancer treatment!) and explains why “doing more” isn’t always the right move in fertility treatment.

Whether you’re trying to understand your options, navigating PCOS, or wondering why your doctor didn’t bump your dose, this episode will help you make sense of your fertility journey—one taco at a time. 🌮

Thanks for listening to another episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday with Dr. Mark Amols.

If you found this episode helpful, please share it with someone who might benefit—and don't forget to follow the show and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

Want to explore more fertility topics? Visit TacoBoutFertility.com, where you can search our entire episode library, find episodes about the questions that matter to you, try our interactive fertility tools, and submit questions or topic requests for future episodes.

Join us next Tuesday for another episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, where we make fertility medicine easier to understand—one topic at a time.

Send us Fan Mail

Freezing is one of the most powerful tools in modern fertility—but it’s also one of the most misunderstood. In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols unpacks the science behind freezing sperm, eggs, and embryos. Why do eggs and embryos need vitrification while sperm are slow-frozen? Does freezing harm fertility? Why can’t multiple sperm samples just be frozen and combined for IUI? And does the length of time embryos are frozen affect success?

From the history of freezing to survival rates and real-life applications, this episode answers your biggest questions and clears up the myths.

Thanks for listening to another episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday with Dr. Mark Amols.

If you found this episode helpful, please share it with someone who might benefit—and don't forget to follow the show and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

Want to explore more fertility topics? Visit TacoBoutFertility.com, where you can search our entire episode library, find episodes about the questions that matter to you, try our interactive fertility tools, and submit questions or topic requests for future episodes.

Join us next Tuesday for another episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, where we make fertility medicine easier to understand—one topic at a time.

Send us Fan Mail

ICSI—also known as intracytoplasmic sperm injection—sounds complicated, but it’s one of the most powerful tools in modern IVF. In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols breaks down what ICSI really is (hint: it’s the ‘needle in the egg’), when it’s a game-changer, and when it might just be an unnecessary add-on. From male factor infertility to frozen eggs, genetic testing, and even rescue ICSI, you’ll learn exactly when this treatment makes sense and when it doesn’t—so you can make the right choice for your journey.

Thanks for listening to another episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday with Dr. Mark Amols.

If you found this episode helpful, please share it with someone who might benefit—and don't forget to follow the show and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

Want to explore more fertility topics? Visit TacoBoutFertility.com, where you can search our entire episode library, find episodes about the questions that matter to you, try our interactive fertility tools, and submit questions or topic requests for future episodes.

Join us next Tuesday for another episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, where we make fertility medicine easier to understand—one topic at a time.

Send us Fan Mail

Are Day-7 embryos doomed to fail — or are they just late bloomers? In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols explains why embryos that don’t reach blastocyst until Day 7 have lower implantation and live birth rates compared to Day 5 or 6. Using a marathon analogy, he breaks down how timing reflects embryo quality, metabolism, and chromosomal health. You’ll also hear the surprising history of Day-7 embryos — from being discarded in the early 2000s to becoming a viable option thanks to advances in culture systems and vitrification. Most importantly, Dr. Amols puts these odds into perspective: while Day-7 embryos aren’t front runners, many healthy babies have still been born from them.

Thanks for listening to another episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday with Dr. Mark Amols.

If you found this episode helpful, please share it with someone who might benefit—and don't forget to follow the show and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

Want to explore more fertility topics? Visit TacoBoutFertility.com, where you can search our entire episode library, find episodes about the questions that matter to you, try our interactive fertility tools, and submit questions or topic requests for future episodes.

Join us next Tuesday for another episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, where we make fertility medicine easier to understand—one topic at a time.

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols takes a deep dive into the ZyMōt microfluidic sperm chip — a device designed to mimic nature’s way of selecting the healthiest sperm.

We explore:

• Why sperm DNA fragmentation matters for fertilization, embryo quality, and miscarriage risk.
• How the ZyMōt chip works compared to traditional methods like swim-up and density gradient centrifugation.
• What the science really shows — from lab data to clinical trials — including studies where the chip nearly doubled live birth rates in male-factor infertility, and others where it made little difference in unselected IVF populations.
• Which patients benefit the most: men with high DNA fragmentation, couples with male-factor infertility, and those with failed fertilization or poor embryos in past cycles.
• Practical considerations — cost, limitations, and why some clinics use it for everyone while others use it selectively.

Is it a true game changer, or just another lab gadget? Tune in to find out.

Thanks for listening to another episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday with Dr. Mark Amols.

If you found this episode helpful, please share it with someone who might benefit—and don't forget to follow the show and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

Want to explore more fertility topics? Visit TacoBoutFertility.com, where you can search our entire episode library, find episodes about the questions that matter to you, try our interactive fertility tools, and submit questions or topic requests for future episodes.

Join us next Tuesday for another episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, where we make fertility medicine easier to understand—one topic at a time.