This is Fertility

In this episode, an expert breaks down irregular periods, what they are, how do you know if you're experiencing them, and what to do next?

Dr. Ijeoma (Ij) Iko, Pinnacle Fertility Chicago
https://www.pinnaclefertility.com/phy... 

For more information about advocating for fertility benefits, visit Progyny's Talk To HR page at progyny.com/talktohrtoday

Visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @Progynyinc.

In this video, an expert breaks down genetic testing of embryos, from PGT-A to PGT-M. What does it mean, and who should consider this option during an IVF cycle. 

Dr. Katherine Koniares, CCRM Boston 
https://www.ccrmivf.com/  

For more information about advocating for fertility benefits, visit Progyny's Talk To HR page at progyny.com/talktohrtoday 

Visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ProgynyInc 

What does it really mean to own your fertility? 

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Jaime Knopman from CCRM Fertility of New York and author of Own Your Fertility, for a candid conversation about egg freezing, fertility preservation, and grief. 

Dr. Knopman shares what inspired her to write the book, who it’s for, and why fertility preservation can be one of the first acts of agency in reproductive health. We unpack common misconceptions about egg freezing. 

The conversation also turns to a topic often left unspoken: fertility-related grief. Dr. Knopman reflects on how grief shows up when timelines shift and how patients can hold both hope and loss at the same time. 

This episode is for anyone navigating fertility decisions, questioning timing, or seeking clarity and compassion along the journey. 

Own Your Fertility is now available on Amazon! 

Guest: Dr. Jaime Knopman, Board-Certified Reproductive Endocrinologist and Director of Fertility Preservation for CCRM Fertility of New York 

Hosts:  

Dr. Janet Choi, Chief Medical Officer, Progyny 

Lissa Kline, LCSW, SVP, Provider and Member Services, Progyny 

--- 

For more information, visit Progyny’s Education page. This show does not constitute medical advice. 

Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @progynyinc, and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more resources. 

Music: YH1DOJKVSNXFR8GG

• (00:00) - Intro

In today's episode, we want to take a moment to thank you for being part of This Is Infertility and to share what's ahead as the podcast evolves. This is not a goodbye, but a transition. One that allows us to continue telling meaningful stories while expanding into education and new conversations across 3 podcasts: fertility, women's health, and menopause. To follow along on this journey, follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn @ProgynyInc.

Visit Progyny's Education page for more resources. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected].

Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny

Thank You for Your Stories & Thank you for Listening

Dan Bulger: Since 2018, we've released hundreds of episodes. We've spoken with people from all walks of life, different backgrounds, different family structures, different paths to parenthood, and different outcomes. We've heard stories of hope and heartbreak, of waiting rooms and phone calls, of cycles that didn't work and moments that finally did. We've talked about grief, resilience, uncertainty, joy and everything in between. And what stands out most looking back is the generosity of the people who trusted us with their stories. To every guest who came on this podcast and spoke honestly about their experience, we just want to say thank you. You helped countless people feel less alone. You helped normalize conversations about this stuff, and you helped build a community rooted in empathy and understanding. This is Infertility really is your show. And to you, our listeners, I want to thank you too. We hope you found some value in hearing others going through these emotions, treatments, and journeys. We started this podcast because people needed it, and it lasted for so long because you found meaning in it, and that's something we'll always be proud of.

What's Next?

Dan Bulger: Why change things now? When This is Infertility began, the focus was clear. Infertility stories needed space and visibility, and that work is still incredibly important. But today, the organization behind the podcast and the place that I work, Progyny, supports people across a much broader spectrum of care, from fertility and family building to pregnancy and postpartum and leave benefit navigation to menopause. It's a full suite of benefits that supports life's most important stages. Now we didn't want to start talking about menopause or pregnancy and postpartum on a podcast that people have come to expect stories about infertility, so it only makes sense to change things up. We also wanted to update our formula. We love sharing your stories, but we also know that you love hearing from experts, and you'd like to hear them unscripted and uncensored. So, we're shaking things up a little bit, starting in January. We're expanding into three podcast experiences; each focused on a different stage of care, fertility, women's health, and menopause. We're excited to get started with this new format and these new channels. We know that we can provide the kind of content that you're looking for wherever you might be in life. Personal stories will always matter. They're at the heart of everything we do at Progyny and here on our podcast channels, this evolution simply allows us to tell more stories in more ways for more people across every stage of care.

Guest: Julie Eshelman, Founder & CEO, Building Military Families Network Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny

Today's guest always dreamed of building a family. But when she and her husband began trying to conceive, they faced years of unanswered questions and a string of devastating losses.

Like many military families, Julie Eshelman's journey was shaped not just by infertility, but by deployments, changing doctors, starting over in new states, and a healthcare system that doesn't always recognize the unique challenges military families face in building a family. Julie and her husband were unable to access full fertility coverage under TRICARE, creating a financial burden to top up the physical and emotional stress they were already experiencing.

These years of heartbreak also led to joy and purpose. Julie is now the mom of a rambunctious three-year-old, and she founded the Building Military Families Network, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting military and veteran families through infertility, loss, and family building. Through resources, education, and support groups, she's working to ensure others in her position don't walk this path alone.

In this episode, Julie shares her story of why she's determined to help others navigate a system that has historically overlooked the reproductive needs of those who serve.

For more information, visit Progyny's Podcast page and Progyny's Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast, and use #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected].

Guest: Deniece and Gardy Delerme, AHA Grant Recipients Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny

Deniece discovered a lump that led to a stage two breast cancer diagnosis just days before her 33rd birthday. In today's episode, she and her husband Gardy share their emotional journey navigating cancer treatment, fertility preservation, and the financial burden that comes with unexpected medical challenges.

Faced with a fast-moving and shocking diagnosis, Deniece made the decision to freeze her eggs before beginning chemotherapy. That choice offered a sense of control, hope, and the possibility of family for her and Gardy. A few years later, Deniece was cancer-free, married to Gardy, and they were ready to embark on family building.

But their journey was far from straightforward. Deniece experienced miscarriage, underwent major surgery to remove dozens of fibroids, and faced multiple rounds of unsuccessful fertility treatments. Each setback tested her endurance, but Deniece was strong and resilient, backed by Gardy's continued love and support.

With renewed strength and financial support from programs like the AHA Grant from The Broken Brown Egg and Progyny, they are one step closer to making their dream a reality. This time with experience, hope, and support behind them.

Check for applications cycles of AHA Grants at www.thebrokenbrownegg.org

For more information, visit Progyny's Podcast page and Progyny's Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected].

Guest: Justine Galloway, Progyny Member Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny

Many of the stories we share on this show end with successful pregnancy, that's the goal of family building, after all. But not every journey reaches that destination, and it's important to shine a light on those stories. Sometimes the family building journey means embracing the family you already have and giving yourself permission to come first.

Today's episode features Justine Galloway, who is no stranger to overcoming obstacles. As an avid runner, diagnosed with focal dystonia, a neurological condition that made running forward nearly impossible without falling, she reinvented herself, going on to complete two half-marathons, the NYC Marathon, and even setting a Guinness World Record all by running backwards. That same grit carried her into the world of family building.

Justine got married at 38 and was hopeful about starting her family. At first it seemed fairly easy, they got pregnant quickly but soon miscarried, which was not abnormal for a first-time pregnancy. But after three miscarriages in one year, she knew something wasn't right.

That's when she turned to IVF. The medications and shots were difficult, but with the support of her partner, it was doable. Still, the cycles didn't bring the results they hoped for. The couple found new hope when Justine had access to Progyny through her employer. It felt like they could really try again. She got pregnant again, and she even graduated from the fertility clinic into the care of her OB-GYN. But when she came back to check the heartbeat, she was met with the devastating news again.

That's when Justine knew, after five years of dedicating their time to having a baby, they needed to move on. She needed to put her mind and body first. She wants people listening to this podcast to know that it's okay to make that decision, to choose yourself and your partner as family, and that you are not alone in this.

For more information, visit Progyny's Podcast page and Progyny's Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected].

Guest: Teonna Woolford, CEO & Co-Founder, SC RED Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny

Teonna had always known she wanted to have a lot of kids. At the age of nineteen, she discovered something that would change the trajectory of her life: she might be infertile due to sickle cell disease.

Despite years of managing sickle cell, in and out of hospitals, doctor's offices, and attending sickle cell conventions, no one had ever talked to her about the link between sickle cell and infertility. Unfortunately, fertility preservation was too financially out of reach.

But Teonna's story didn't stop there. She endured a failed bone marrow transplant, chronic pain, and the emotional toll of navigating a healthcare system that often overlooks the reproductive needs of those living with this chronic illness. Out of that struggle came a new purpose. Teonna co-founded SC RED (Sickle Cell Reproductive Health Education Directive) to raise awareness, expand education, and fight for equitable access to fertility care for those with sickle cell disease.

In this episode, Teonna opens up about her journey and why she's determined to ensure no one else faces the same barriers alone. This Sickle Cell Awareness Month, she hopes that the future of living with sickle cell can be about thriving and not just surviving.

For more information, visit Progyny's Podcast page and Progyny's Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected].

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/tJXUXwChtA8

Guest: Maia Brown, President of The Beltane Guild Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny

Firefighters face physical and emotional challenges at work, but what about when they're facing challenges with fertility?

In this episode we hear from Maia Brown, a firefighter paramedic and president of The Beltane Guild, a nonprofit dedicated to firefighter reproductive health. Maia shares her deeply personal journey, from discovering diminished ovarian reserve in the middle of paramedic school, to undergoing IVF, to realizing how little support exists for firefighters facing fertility and family building challenges.

Now, through The Beltane Guild, Maia is helping fire departments nationwide create comprehensive reproductive health policies and offering grants to firefighters undergoing treatment.

She raises the question; can this job have an effect on our reproductive health? Firefighters are exposed to unique circumstances like stress, toxins, irregular sleep schedules and Maia has been partnering on groundbreaking research and resources to protect future generations of firefighters who see families in their futures.

For more information, visit Progyny's Podcast page and Progyny's Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected].

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7fOu6C7p-h4

Guest: Ashley Rodón, President of the Carlos Rodón Foundation Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny

In this powerful and personal episode, Ashley Rodón, wife of Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón and President of the Carlos Rodón Foundation, opens up about their emotional path to parenthood. Ashley shares how her dreams of starting a family were met with unexpected heartbreak, multiple pregnancy losses, and the resilience to keep moving forward.

From the devastation of her first miscarriage to the miracle of her daughter Willow, Ashley reflects on the highs and lows of her fertility journey. Along the way, she found strength and support through her partner, family, friends, and community. Now living life as parents of three, she and Carlos founded The Carlos Rodón foundation, a non-profit bringing people hope through The Willow Grant, which offers the opportunity for families to afford fertility treatment.

Ashley shares how their foundation has grown, partnering with organizations like the Nest Egg Foundation and Columbia Fertility to make family building more accessible to all.

This episode proves how the right platform, purpose, and lived experience can spark lasting change for those who need it most.

To learn more or apply for a Willow Grant, visit https://rodonfoundation.org/apply/

For more information, visit Progyny's Podcast page and Progyny's Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected].

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/CCfSsklVXes