In this episode of The Repro Files Podcast, Elizabeth sits down with Jess, a science teacher, mother of two, and patient advocate who bravely shared her story on Capitol Hill earlier this month.

Jess opens up about her fertility journey with PCOS -- the conservative measures she tried, the doctors she saw, and the online voices she trusted along the way. Together, we unpack how misinformation spreads, particularly the dangerous claim that “Restorative Reproductive Medicine” is an equivalent alternative to IVF.

We set the record straight with clinical accuracy and real-world experience. From the existing ASRM-endorsed diagnostic framework to the lived reality of infertility patients, this episode makes one thing clear -- science, not ideology, must guide reproductive healthcare.

Above all, Jess’ resilience shines through. With honesty and courage, she shares how IVF gave her the gift of two beautiful children—a 3-year-old daughter and a 4-month-old son.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation at the intersection of evidence, policy, and the patient voice.

This week on The Repro Files, we pick up where we left off in “Nurse Lee Goes to Washington.” Elizabeth shares her experiences on Capitol Hill—what surprised her most in D.C., how the Restorative Reproductive Medicine briefings landed with lawmakers, and whether there’s any hope of bipartisan agreement on reproductive health policy.

Then, we tackle the latest headline-grabber: the administration’s announcement linking acetaminophen to autism. With the help of rigorous data from JAMA, ACOG, and the CDC, Elizabeth and Ann Marie bring clarity to a complex issue and explains why oversimplifying autism’s causes is misleading and dangerous.

Finally, AnnMarie lightens things up with a PSA you didn’t know you needed on reproductive hygiene. From “the hair down there” to period hacks, testicular self-exams, and yes… smegma, we talk about the real-world questions patients obsess over but rarely get straight answers to.

It’s 45 minutes of science, advocacy, and a little bit of humor . . . because reproductive health deserves both expertise and honesty.

On this week’s episode of The Repro Files Podcast, AnnMarie and Elizabeth confront the hard truth that lives are on the line when it comes to reproductive freedom. They begin with the tragic school shooting in Minnesota, honoring the children and families whose futures were stolen by gun violence—a crisis that shapes not only public safety but also the ability of parents to raise their children without fear.

From there, the focus shifts to Mississippi, where the Department of Health has declared a public emergency as infant mortality rates climb to the highest levels in more than a decade. The hosts discuss proposed solutions, from building an OB System of Care to eliminating maternity care deserts, while underscoring the political barriers—like hospital closures and Medicaid expansion—that continue to cost lives.

The conversation then moves to state-level policy battles that threaten the very foundation of reproductive healthcare. In Texas, a new law opens the door for citizens to sue anyone connected to abortion medication. In South Carolina, a fetal personhood bill could criminalize standard IVF practices, endangering patients desperate to build their families. And in Florida, lawmakers push to weaken vaccine protections, leaving children and communities more vulnerable.

Zooming out, AnnMarie and Elizabeth situate these developments within a broader global context—reminding listeners that the United States remains the only wealthy nation without guaranteed paid parental leave—and even take a lighter detour through history with 200-year-old condoms on display in Amsterdam.

The episode closes with Elizabeth’s upcoming trip to Capitol Hill, where she will advocate for IVF protections, expanded insurance coverage, and policies that affirm the right to family building as a cornerstone of reproductive freedom.

This week, Elizabeth and AnnMarie tackle a topic that half the population will experience but too few are prepared for: menopause. From hot flashes to hormone replacement therapy, they cut through the stigma, myths, and misinformation to bring clarity to one of the most misunderstood stages of life.

In this episode, they break down:

• The science of perimenopause and menopause—what’s happening in the body and why
• Common symptoms (yes, it’s more than hot flashes) and how they affect daily life
• Evidence-based treatment options, including HRT, non-hormonal therapies, and lifestyle interventions
• Why menopause remains under-researched, underfunded, and too often dismissed by providers
• How cultural silence and workplace stigma make an already challenging transition harder for millions of women
• Practical tips for patients, families, and providers to start better conversations about this universal life stage
  

With humor, hard truths, and heart, Elizabeth and AnnMarie turn up the heat on a subject long overdue for honesty. The message is clear: menopause isn’t the end of the story—it’s a new chapter, and it deserves respect, science, and support.

This week, Elizabeth and AnnMarie decode yet another acronym in the fertility alphabet soup: RRM (Restorative Reproductive Medicine). At first glance, it sounds innovative and holistic. But dig deeper, and it’s less about science and more about ideology.

In this episode, they break down:

• What RRM actually is — and why it’s just old diagnostics repackaged
• How politics and personhood laws are driving its rise as a supposed “alternative” to IVF
• The real risks of embedding conservative ideology into fertility care
• Why RRM excludes entire groups of patients, from cancer survivors to LGBTQ+ families
• How misinformation spreads when patients feel dismissed in traditional fertility settings

With humor, history, and hard truths, Elizabeth and AnnMarie connect the dots between patient care, policy, and propaganda. The takeaway? Infertility is medical, not moral — and patients deserve evidence-based options, not bait-and-switch ideology.Bonus: It’s PCOS Awareness Month, and your hosts aren’t letting that slip by unnoticed.

In this episode, Elizabeth and AnnMarie tackle the word everyone whispers but rarely discusses out loud: sex. From awkward childhood lessons to today’s culture wars, they trace how sex education has evolved, and why silence, shame, and politics have shaped generations of misunderstanding.

Listeners can expect:

• Personal stories of early sex-ed experiences (yes, including Saved by the Bell and nuns in Catholic school)
• How U.S. sex ed shifted from abstinence-only to risk reduction to today’s fractured landscape
• Why silence and shame put kids at risk, from abuse prevention to reproductive health
• The role of inclusivity in fighting stigma, toxic online spaces, and rape culture
• Real-world solutions that work: peer educators, LGBTQ+ support programs, and healthcare–school partnerships

The bottom line? Comprehensive sex education saves lives.

Elizabeth and AnnMarie close with a call to action for parents, educators, and advocates: know your state’s policies, reflect on your own education, and commit to breaking the silence for the next generation.

Next week: the curtain lifts on fertility clinics — from snake oil to evidence-based care.

Politicians love to make promises about protecting families and expanding access to care — but what happens when those promises collapse under the weight of politics and power?

In this episode, Elizabeth and AnnMarie take you inside the fight for reproductive healthcare access. From the Senate’s repeated failures to pass the Right to IVF Act, to Trump’s bizarre claims of being the “father of IVF,” to the devastating Medicaid cuts wrapped inside the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” we unpack how broken promises create broken systems that leave patients behind.

We’ll dive into:

• The political theater around IVF and how it impacts real families
• Medicaid cuts and the rural hospital crisis ... and what that means for parents, patients, and providers
• The dark history of maternal mortality in the U.S. and why disparities persist
• Why abortion bans are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to losing access to OB care

Most importantly, we’ll talk about what you can do now .... from demanding accountability from lawmakers to supporting policies like the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act.

This episode is raw, informed, and rooted in both history and lived experience. If you care about IVF, maternal health or just the right to basic medical care, this is one you won’t want to miss.

Tune in, share your story ([email protected]) and join us in demanding better. Because when politicians treat reproductive healthcare like laundry ... piling it up, ignoring it, and letting it turn into a mess ... it’s patients who pay the price.

In this inaugural episode of "The Repro Files," hosts Elizabeth Lee and Ann Marie Luft delve into the complex intersection of politics and healthcare. As experienced nurses, they share personal stories and insights on how political decisions impact healthcare access and quality. From the challenges of fertility treatments to the systemic issues within hospital systems, they explore the pressing need for policy changes that truly understand and support healthcare professionals and patients alike.

Join them as they pull back the curtain on the injustices hidden behind sterile waiting rooms and state house doors. Tune in for a raw, real, and sometimes ridiculous journey into the heart of healthcare advocacy.