The Daily Try

If you’ve ever noticed a twinge, headache, or wave of tiredness and immediately opened 15 tabs to Google what it could mean, this episode is for you.Trying to conceive can make uncertainty feel enormous—and searching for answers online can seem like a way to feel more in control. But comparing your symptoms to strangers’ stories, forum posts, or AI-generated answers can quickly turn a moment of reassurance into hours of worry. No search engine knows your personal medical history or can tell you whether a symptom means you’re pregnant, ovulating, or something else entirely.Today, Lara invites you to pause before your next search and ask: what am I hoping this will tell me? Learn how to record what you’ve noticed, close the tabs, change your surroundings, and decide when it’s better to speak with a healthcare professional. This isn’t about banning Google—it’s about noticing whether searching is genuinely helpful or simply feeding anxiety.You have permission to stop analysing every sensation and try to conceive without treating your body like a mystery to solve. Plus, find out how to send in anonymous questions for Dr Jill’s weekly episodes.For more support, check out my ⁠MonthlyFertility Snail Mail letter subscription

If you need some pregnancy tests, my 99% paper eco midstream tests are back in stock, and youcan order online here: https://hoopsy.com/eco-pregnancy-test/
Got a question/comment or feedback?  Drop me an email [email protected] and I can answer it on the podcast

When someone responds to your fertility struggles with, “Why don’t you just adopt?”, it can feel like your emotions—and the family you’re hoping to build—have been dismissed.In this episode of *The Daily Try*, we unpack why adoption isn’t a simple alternative or quick solution to IVF, infertility, or trying to conceive. It’s a deeply personal, often lengthy path with its own complexities, and no one should have to explain or defend their choices while navigating an already difficult journey.If you’ve been met with unsolicited advice when what you really needed was understanding, you’re not alone. This episode offers reassurance, compassion, and practical phrases you can use to set boundaries—including permission to change the subject, say “I’m not looking for suggestions,” or simply choose not to respond.Your family-building decisions are yours to make, at your own pace.For more support, check out my ⁠MonthlyFertility Snail Mail letter subscription

If you need some pregnancy tests, my 99% paper eco midstream tests are back in stock, and youcan order online here: https://hoopsy.com/eco-pregnancy-test/
Got a question/comment or feedback?  Drop me an email [email protected] and I can answer it on the podcast

What does HCG really tell you—and why can it create so much anxiety during fertility treatment?In this episode of *The Daily Try*, we unpack the pregnancy hormone detected by urine and blood tests. Learn why HCG levels can vary widely from person to person, how clinics monitor whether levels are rising, and why a single result can’t always tell the full story. We explore testing thresholds, the typical 48–72-hour rise, the possibility of testing too early, and what a chemical pregnancy means.You’ll also hear why HCG levels may remain detectable for some time after a miscarriage—an understandably difficult but important part of the process to understand.Whether you’re trying naturally, undergoing IUI or IVF, or feeling overwhelmed by the numbers, this episode offers clear context and reassurance: one result is only part of the picture, and your doctor’s guidance matters.hCG chart on instagram https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dd77w4CNWPa/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&stkn=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

For more support, check out my ⁠MonthlyFertility Snail Mail letter subscription
Got a question/comment or feedback?  Drop me an email [email protected] and I can answer it on the podcast

What happens when one partner is making major sacrifices for fertility treatment—and the other isn’t making changes at all?In this episode of *The Daily Try*, Lara explores a Reddit discussion about IVF, alcohol, sperm health, and the loneliness of feeling like you’re carrying the entire fertility journey. From drinking and smoking to diet, exercise, and other lifestyle factors, fertility isn’t only about the person undergoing scans, injections, surgery, or egg retrieval. Sperm health matters too—and both partners deserve to feel equally invested.This conversation is about more than who is “trying harder.” It’s about being honest when the effort feels unequal, setting boundaries without turning them into threats, and asking for support without feeling needy or controlling. Your partner doesn’t have to be perfect, but they should be willing to bring their best effort to something you’re facing together.If you’ve ever felt alone while trying to conceive, this episode offers reassurance, perspective, and a reminder: your sacrifices matter, your feelings are valid, and you’re allowed to ask not to face this journey by yourself.

For more support, check out my ⁠MonthlyFertility Snail Mail letter subscription
Got a question/comment or feedback?  Drop me an email [email protected] and I can answer it on the podcast

What does “unexplained infertility” really mean—and what comes next?In this supportive episode of *The Daily Try*, Lara is joined by board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Jill Palco to unpack a diagnosis that can feel confusing, devastating, and deeply unfair. Together, they explore what standard fertility testing can—and cannot—identify, including ovulation and ovarian reserve, fallopian tube health, and semen parameters.You’ll learn why normal results don’t always explain difficulties conceiving, and how factors such as egg and sperm quality, embryo implantation, inflammation, and other microscopic processes may remain hidden by routine tests. Most importantly, “unexplained” does not mean your struggle isn’t real—or that you’re out of options.Dr. Jill explains the structured treatment pathways that may follow, from medicated timed intercourse and IUI to IVF, and why these approaches can help bypass barriers that current testing can’t detect.If you’ve received an unexplained infertility diagnosis—or fear you might—this episode offers clarity, validation, and hope. You are not stuck. You’re simply moving to the next step in the map.For more support, check out my ⁠MonthlyFertility Snail Mail letter subscription
Got a question/comment or feedback?  Drop me an email [email protected] and I can answer it on the podcast

Feeling bitter, jealous, or angry when someone announces a pregnancy—or when you’re surrounded by babies—doesn’t make you a bad person. It makes you human, especially when you’re carrying the grief of not having what you so deeply want.

In this compassionate episode, we explore why jealousy can be “grief in a different outfit” and how to respond to those difficult emotions without judging yourself.

You’ll discover the difference between envy and resentment, along with practical ways to process both: journaling, sharing your feelings, setting boundaries around social media and events, and giving yourself permission to step away when something feels too painful.

You’ll also hear how creating a small “job” at baby-focused gatherings can help ease the pressure and give your nervous system somewhere else to place its energy.

You don’t have to perform being okay. You can love people and still protect your heart. If you’re tired, grieving, and finding it hard to celebrate everyone else while navigating your own fertility journey, this episode is a reminder that you’re not alone—and there is nothing wrong with you.

For more support, check out my ⁠MonthlyFertility Snail Mail letter subscription
Got a question/comment or feedback?  Drop me an email [email protected] and I can answer it on the podcast

This is the episode I mentioned https://open.spotify.com/episode/555tuzW3kxCw5KLo96oUoQ?si=8vw2jFQsQUaruQICma7hCA

“It can’t hurt” sounds reassuring—but on a fertility journey, it can quietly become another source of pressure.From supplements and tests to diet changes and add-on treatments, there always seems to be one more thing you could try. But does “more” really mean better? This episode explores the hidden costs of fertility extras—not just money, but time, energy, mental space, and the emotional weight of hoping something will make a difference.You’ll be reminded that you don’t have to say yes to every new option, follow every trend, or prove how much you want a baby by doing everything possible. Instead, pause and ask: What is this meant to help with? Is it relevant to my history? What are the benefits, risks, and alternatives? And what happens if I decide not to do it right now?Your fertility journey is personal, and what works for someone else may not be right for you. Give yourself permission to sleep on it, ask questions, and choose only what genuinely feels suitable—not what leaves you feeling pressured.For more support, check out my ⁠MonthlyFertility Snail Mail letter subscription
Got a question/comment or feedback?  Drop me an email [email protected] and I can answer it on the podcast

What do you wish you’d known before trying to conceive or starting IVF? In this honest, reflective episode of *The Daily Try*, Lara shares the lessons she learned along her fertility journey—including the things she wishes her doctors had explained sooner.Explore the realities behind conception odds, egg and sperm quality, lifestyle factors, and why preparation may begin months—or even a year—before trying. Lara also discusses the importance of reliable research, finding the right support network, and the physical impact of IVF medications, including unexpected changes to your body.With candid thoughts on age, statistics, hope, and the emotional challenge of preparing for outcomes you desperately want to avoid, this episode is a reminder that fertility journeys are deeply personal. Whether you’re someone who needs facts, numbers, emotional support—or all three—this conversation will help you think about what information and preparation matter most to you.Have a fertility question for Dr Jill, our resident OBGYN? Send it in via the email in the show notes.

For more support, check out my ⁠MonthlyFertility Snail Mail letter subscription
Got a question/comment or feedback?  Drop me an email [email protected] and I can answer it on the podcast

Online fertility communities can be comforting—especially at 2 a.m.—but they can also fuel anxiety, comparison, and endless symptom-checking.

In this episode of *The Daily Try*, Lara explores why offline support matters during the trying-to-conceive journey and how small, slower rituals can help you feel grounded.From hurtful online comments to the relief of a phone call, handwritten letter, mindful walk, or personal care box, discover how offline moments offer something social media can’t: a clear ending, space to breathe, and support that asks nothing of you.

You’ll hear simple, meaningful ways to create your own offline care routine—without spending much time or money—and learn why stepping away from the scroll can help you feel less overwhelmed and more supported.

Plus, Lara shares the inspiration behind her fertility snail mail subscription: a quiet, monthly moment of encouragement delivered straight to your mailbox.Because you don’t need Wi-Fi to feel cared for.

For more support, check out my ⁠MonthlyFertility Snail Mail letter subscription
Got a question/comment or feedback?  Drop me an email [email protected] and I can answer it on the podcast

When fertility treatment or trying to conceive brings another negative test, period, or disappointing result, knowing how to support each other can be difficult—especially when everyone responds to hurt differently.In this episode of *The Daily Try*, Lara explores the many ways you might need comfort during the downs: a hug and quiet companionship, a chance to cry and acknowledge that it feels unfair, or an encouraging pep talk and a plan for what comes next. Your partner may mean well, but they’re not mind readers—and what feels supportive one day may feel frustrating the next.Discover how to identify what you need, communicate it with honesty and kindness, and give yourself permission to process disappointment in the way that works best for you. Whether you’re seeking comfort, space, a “this really sucks” solidarity session, or motivation to try again, there’s no right or wrong response—only what helps you feel ready to move forward.

For more support, check out my ⁠MonthlyFertility Snail Mail letter subscription
Got a question/comment or feedback?  Drop me an email [email protected] and I can answer it on the podcast