The Daily Try

Wondering whether it’s time to seek a second opinion on your fertility care? In this episode, Lara explores why looking for another perspective isn’t disloyal, difficult, or ungrateful—it’s a powerful way to make informed decisions about something that matters deeply to you.From doctors and IVF clinics to acupuncturists, nutritionists, and other members of your support team, you deserve to work with people who listen, explain your options, and genuinely have your best interests at heart. Lara shares her own experience of feeling rushed and unsupported by an IVF clinic, and how changing direction helped her recognise the importance of trust, communication, and feeling truly cared for.If your treatment plan no longer feels right, you don’t understand a recommendation, or you’re questioning whether your care team is putting you first, this episode offers reassurance and practical encouragement. Explore your options, make a pros-and-cons list, meet with another provider, and remember: you are the most important person in this process.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 is it time to talk to a doctor about fertility? In this episode of *The Daily Try*, Lara is joined by board-certified OBGYN Dr. Jill Palco to explain the age-based guidelines for seeking a fertility evaluation—and why you don’t always need to wait.Learn when the usual 12-month timeline applies if you’re under 35, why it shortens to six months at 35 and older, and which risk factors—such as irregular periods, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, or possible male-factor concerns—mean you should speak with a clinician sooner.Dr. Jill also breaks down what to expect at an initial fertility appointment, from hormone blood tests and ultrasound to semen analysis, and explains how your results and age may shape the next steps. Most importantly, a first visit doesn’t mean being pushed straight into IVF—it’s about gathering information and creating a clear, collaborative plan.Plus, discover a simple script to help you start the conversation with your doctor and feel more confident taking charge of your reproductive health.Have a question for Dr. Jill? Get in touch via the email in the show notes. Don’t forget to follow or subscribe for more daily fertility support.

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

The two-week wait can feel like an emotional marathon: counting down the days, resisting early tests, and trying not to spiral while your phone serves up everyone else’s pregnancy news.In this episode, discover a simple way to reframe the wait—not as time spent helplessly hoping, but as a chance to focus on something that’s entirely yours. Choose a finite project to complete before testing day: crochet, knitting, sewing, cross-stitch, a puzzle, a reading list, or anything that keeps your hands and mind occupied. The goal isn’t to distract yourself from your feelings, but to give this uncertain time a sense of purpose—and something tangible to look back on, whatever the result.You’ll hear why creative projects can be so grounding, along with ideas for making gifts, learning a new skill, or starting a seasonal project during your next two-week wait.Plus, find out how to send in your anonymous fertility questions for our resident OB-GYN, Dr. Jill. What will your two-week-wait project be?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

Starting your fertility journey can feel overwhelming—but knowing what to ask can make all the difference.In this episode of *The Daily Try*, we explore how to prepare for a fertility appointment and which tests and conversations may be important early on. Learn why tracking ovulation with LH test strips can provide more useful insight than period apps alone, and how to ask about ovulation support, an HSG to check whether your fallopian tubes are open, and a semen analysis for your partner.We also discuss the impact of lifestyle choices on sperm quality, when to seek help based on your age and circumstances, and why you don’t have to wait until you feel completely emotionally drained to ask questions or pursue testing.Plus, discover practical ways to get more from your consultations—including bringing a support person, taking notes, asking for follow-up information, and requesting permission to record the appointment. Fertility care comes with a lot of unfamiliar language and information, so preparation is power.Whether you’re just starting to try or preparing for your first specialist visit, this episode offers clear, compassionate guidance to help you feel more informed and confident.

To find out more about Disha and how she can help at OM Fertility go to www.omfertility.com.

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

Today’s Sunday permission slip is simple: you don’t have to solve your fertility journey today.You’re allowed to stop researching, step away from comparisons, ignore the five-year plan, leave messages unanswered, and take a break from treatment decisions—even if you’re still waiting for results, your period, a test, an appointment, or a call back.Instead, choose one small act of care that’s just for you: take a walk without your phone, enjoy a slow shower, call someone who makes you laugh, cook something delicious, read, rest, change the sheets, or finally organise that drawer that’s been bothering you. You don’t have to earn rest or have everything figured out before you’re allowed to feel good.Lara also shares a simple way to protect your time out: keep a pen and paper nearby and write down any fertility-related thoughts as they arise, rather than reaching for your phone and getting pulled back into research mode.Your fertility journey may be a huge part of your life, but it doesn’t have to occupy every moment. Today, you have permission to be a whole person—not a project, science experiment, or pin cushion. Take the break. It will still be there when you return.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 you’re navigating fertility, it can be comforting to believe in a higher power—but hope and faith don’t have to mean waiting passively for things to change.In this episode, Lara explores the idea that help can arrive in unexpected forms: a recommendation, a treatment option, a supportive clinician, or information that prompts you to ask better questions. She shares how hearing about acupuncture during IVF led her to investigate it, try a few sessions, and discover that the relaxation and calm it offered felt valuable to her.This isn’t about prescribing one approach—or turning fertility into a spiritual debate. It’s about staying open, curious, and proactive while using your judgment. Some suggestions may have a reasonable basis and be worth discussing with your care team; others may be little more than myths or wishful thinking.Your clinicians can guide you, but they may not have every answer. Learn how to explore additional options without getting overwhelmed by endless research, and how to take an active role in your fertility journey—whatever you believe.

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

When you’re navigating fertility treatment, the last thing you may need is another suggestion to research, supplement to try, or story about what worked for someone else. Sometimes you don’t need advice—you need support.In this episode of *The Daily Try*, Lara explores the difference between offering solutions and simply being there. Learn how to set gentle boundaries with well-meaning friends, ask for the kind of support you actually need, and give yourself permission not to have all the answers.From quiet beach walks to watching silly TV and talking about anything but fertility, discover the comfort of finding someone who helps you feel cared for rather than overwhelmed. Because support can be as simple as listening, sitting beside you, or reminding you that you don’t have to face this journey alone.This week’s try: find the person who leaves you feeling more loved, lighter, and looked after.For more support, check out my ⁠MonthlyFertility Snail Mail letter subscription
Got a question/comment or feedback?  Dropme an email [email protected] and I can answer it on the podcast

Feeling physically fine doesn’t always mean feeling emotionally reassured. In this episode of *The Daily Try*, Lara explores the uncertainty of trying to conceive when your cycles seem regular, you’re doing everything “right,” and yet pregnancy hasn’t happened as quickly as you hoped.From coming off the pill to wondering whether a few months of trying is “normal,” it’s easy for unanswered questions to spiral into worry—even without a diagnosis or obvious symptoms. Lara reminds you that you don’t need to earn the right to feel concerned, and that wanting information or reassurance doesn’t make you alarmist or ungrateful.She also encourages you to look more closely at the things you’ve come to accept as “normal,” from persistent tiredness to heavy periods, and to bring your questions and observations to your doctor or OB-GYN. Keeping a note of symptoms can help you feel more prepared and ensure nothing important gets overlooked.You may be feeling fine and still need support. This episode is a gentle reminder that uncertainty is difficult, your feelings are valid, and asking questions is always okay.

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

Trying to conceive can feel like a full-time job—with ovulation tracking, supplement routines, “perfect” eating, and endless worry about doing something wrong. But do you really need to put your life on hold to get pregnant?This episode offers a reassuring, evidence-informed reset. We explore what medical research says about four common fertility concerns: alcohol, exercise, stress, and diet. Discover why an occasional drink before a positive pregnancy test isn’t the same as heavy drinking, how moderate movement can support your health, why everyday stress doesn’t “cancel out” your chances, and why sustainable, nourishing eating matters more than a flawless diet.Most importantly, you’ll hear why fertility isn’t a perfection test—and why guilt and anxiety over every choice may be far more burdensome than the choices themselves. You are allowed to enjoy life, move your body, eat flexibly, and experience normal human emotions while trying to conceive.Take a breath, step off the perfection treadmill, and make room for clarity, kindness, and being human. Have a question for our fertility expert? Send it in for a future episode. Dropme an email [email protected] and I can answer it on the podcast

For more support, check out my ⁠MonthlyFertility Snail Mail letter subscription

What if you took a break from fertility admin—even for just an hour?In this episode of *The Daily Try*, Lara invites you to step away from symptom-googling, forums, social media, tracking, researching, planning and clinic conversations. Whether you’ve just had an appointment, completed a procedure or simply feel overwhelmed by the constant mental load, creating some space can help you rest, regain perspective and reconnect with the person you are beyond your fertility journey.Turn off notifications, give yourself permission not to problem-solve, and fill the time with something grounding and completely unrelated to fertility: a walk, a swim, cooking, reading or watching something that has nothing to do with babies, bodies or treatment.Everything will still be there when you return—and you may find that a little distance brings unexpected clarity. Most importantly, you’re allowed to have moments that belong only to you.For more support, check out my ⁠Monthly Fertility Snail Mail letter subscription
Got a question/comment or feedback?  Dropme an email [email protected] and I can answer it on the podcast