This is Fertility

In the previous episode, you heard about Gretchen Rossi and Slade Smiley's fertility journey. In this episode you'll hear their hilarious story about how they finally got to their reproductive endocrinologist, Dr. Mark Surrey from SCRC. Today's host is Lissa Kline, Director of Member Services at Progyny. For those who are still searching for a fertility specialist, check out Progyny's Provider Network. If you're a Progyny member, please contact your dedicated Patient Care Advocate.

There are many reasons couples go through IVF, and for Gretchen Rossi and Slade Smiley they first tried IVF because of Slade's vasectomy, a procedure that keeps the sperm from reaching the seminal fluid. While the idea seemed straight forward, the journey that followed tested their relationship and threatened to bring them to their breaking point. Today's host is Lissa Kline, Director of Member Services at Progyny. Guests include, Gretchen Rossi, Slade Smiley, and Dr. Mark Surrey from Southern California Reproductive Center. For more information, visit www.progyny.com/podcast Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected]

According to a recent study by Reproductive Medicine Associates of NJ, almost 58% of people are forced to forego fertility treatment due to the anticipated financial burden. But what if your employer covered your treatment? We hear from Lindsey and Chrissy Callahan who were eager to start a family when they learned their employer-sponsored inclusive benefit would make their dream of having a child a reality. Today's host is Manuela Henderson, Patient Care Advocate, Progyny. Guests include, Lindsey & Chrissy Callahan For more information, visit www.progyny.com/podcast For additional resources: www.resolve.org www.familyequality.org www.menhavingbabies.org www.progyny.com/education Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected]

Any fertility journey can be complex, but for same-sex couples there are additional legal and political challenges that vary state by state. We hear from Trystan Reese, a transgender activist who works to ensure that every LGBTQ person has the right and ability to start their own family at Family Equality Council, and Theresa Witherspoon who, with her wife, found their family through reciprocal IVF. Today's host is Parawana Yasmin, Patient Care Advocate, Progyny. Guests include, Trystan Reese, Director of Family Formation at Family Equality Council, and Theresa Witherspoon. For more information visit: www.progyny.com/podcast and www.familyequality.org Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected]

Surrogacy can allow same-sex male couples, or single men, to have a biological child by using the intended parent's sperm with the assistance of an egg donor and gestational carrier. We hear from Benjie and Jimmy Hyde, who found themselves at a crossroads when their original egg donor was unable to produce embryos. Today's host is Justin Alvis, Manager of Member Services, Progyny. Guests include, Benjie and Jimmy Hyde, and Shelly Marsh, Marketing Director at Men Having Babies For more information visit: www.progyny.com/podcast www.menhavingbabies.com/ Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected]

For same sex female couples, one of the first decisions to make when you decide to start a family is who will carry the baby. But sometimes those roles don't turn out as planned. We hear from Katie Acosta and Hilary Smith, a couple who had worked through those details. But when their chosen path didn't work, they embarked on a new fertility journey called reciprocal IVF. Today's host is Melissa Maldonado, Patient Care Supervisor, Progyny. Guests include, Katie Acosta, Hilary Smith, and Dr. Shahin Ghadir from Southern California Reproductive Center (SCRC). For more information visit: www.progyny.com/podcast Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected]

Age is often the primary factor when it comes to fertility, but what happens when you encounter fertility struggles in your 20's? We hear from Jenna Marinelli who shares her personal story of early menopause, difficult decisions, and a life without regret. Today's host is Taylor Burbach, Patient Care Supervisor at Progyny. Guests include, Dr. Georgia Witkin, Clinical Psychologist, Mount Sanai, and Head of Patient Services Development at Progyny, and Dr. Marcy Maguire, a board certified Reproductive Endocrinologist, Obstetrician and Gynecologist, at Reproductive Medicine Associates of New Jersey. For more information visit: www.progyny.com/podcast Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected]

Fertility is not a dirty word. In January, Celmatix, the next generation women's health company, launched the #SaytheFword campaign to shatter stigmas and empower women to talk about fertility. It's time to break the silence and support each other. Today's host is Selena Campbell, a Patient Care Advocate at Progyny. Guests include, Karin Ajmani, President at Progyny, Angie Lee, Chief Product Officer at Celmatix, and millennial women in New York City. For more information visit: www.saythefword.com www.progyny.com/podcast Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected]

Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL) is a heart wrenching and physically difficult challenge many women and couples face when trying to start a family. We hear from Karin Ajmani, President at Progyny, who tells us her personal struggle with RPL. Today's host is Dr. Georgia Witkin, Clinical Psychologist, Mount Sanai, and Head of Patient Services Development at Progyny and the guest is Karin Ajmani, President at Progyny. For more information visit: www.progyny.com/podcast Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected]

National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW) is a week dedicated to uniting millions of Americans who want to remove the stigmas and barriers associated with infertility. The best way to remove infertility stigma is to talk about our experiences with infertility, and the best way to remove barriers to fertility treatments like IVF and IUI is to ensure coverage for these treatments are made available to the masses.

In this inaugural episode, we'll hear from Barb Collura, CEO of RESOLVE, the National Infertility Association. Before Barb became the CEO, she was struggling to start a family of her own. She says, "When I started experiencing some [fertility] failures, I did not anticipate how emotionally trying that would be on me. So, when I faced some adversity and faced some challenges, I really just fell apart." We'll learn about the history of RESOLVE, the origins of NIAW, and how awareness is an important first step to removing the stigma and shame of infertility and bringing access to fertility treatments to those who need it.

Guests: Barb Collura, CEO at RESOLVE, and Mary Pharris, Director of Business Development and Partnerships at Fairygodboss

Experts: Dr. Marcy Maguire, RMA of New Jersey, and Dr. Tanmoy Mukherjee, RMA of New York

Host: Lissa Kline, Director of Member Services at Progyny

For more information, visit:

• Resolve
• Resolve's National Infertility Awareness Week
• Fairygodboss
• RMA of New Jersey
• RMA of New York

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].