Jason Rudman and his husband Alvin utilized a gestational surrogate to start their family, and then, two years later, utilized another one to continue their family. Along the way Jason used his voice to change his employer’s paternity leave policy and ended up helping more than just his immediate family. Today’s host is Salaia DaCruz, Sr. Account Manager at Progyny. Guests: Jason Rudman If you missed it, we released a few episodes on family building for same-sex couples: https://progyny.com/podcast/episode-5/ https://progyny.com/podcast/episode-6/ https://progyny.com/podcast/episode-7/ https://progyny.com/podcast/episode-8/ For more information, visit http://www.progyny.com/podcast Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected]

Julie Hunt had been a Patient Care Advocate for years, and in that time she became an expert in all things related to fertility, like PCOS. How could it be that years later, at 27 years old, she discovered that she had PCOS the entire time? In the final episode of our three part series in honor of PCOS Awareness Month, host Julie Hunt, Business Development Associate at Progyny, discusses her own experience with PCOS, and her winding road to diagnosis with her good friend and colleague Lissa Kline, Director of Member Services at Progyny. Today’s Host is Julie Hunt. Guests: Lissa Kline Host: Julie Hunt For more information visit: www.progyny.com/pcos www.progyny.com/podcast Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected]

When Megan Stewart, founder of the PCOS Awareness Association (PCOSAA), was told to change her outlook on her condition she decided to change the world instead. In the second of the three-part series on PCOS, we hear from Megan who tells us about a traumatic experience that drove her to create the PCOS Awareness Association, how she’s are trying to help others with PCOS, and the different events and resources available. Today’s host is Julie Hunt, Business Development Associate at Progyny. Fertility For more information visit: www.progyny.com/pcos www.progyny.com/podcast  http://www.pcosaa.org/ Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected]

September is PCOS Awareness Month! Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a frustrating condition that can have symptoms like weight gain, excess hair on the face, stress, anxiety, depression, and…infertility. For this month, we’re doing a three-part series on PCOS. Today we hear from Satoya Foster, Co-Founder of the PCOS Awareness Association, who tells us about when she started experiencing symptoms, her diagnosis, and her infertility struggles. Today’s host is Julie Hunt, Business Development Associate at Progyny. For more information visit: www.progyny.com/pcos www.progyny.com/podcast  http://www.pcosaa.org/ Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected]

So many people just don’t know what to say when they find out that someone in their life is struggling with fertility. Today we hear from Jess Moran, who just started her fertility treatment journey. She has found speaking about her experience has not only helped her through this emotional and frustrating time, but it has also been her most valued resource. Jess’s story includes Tinder, unexplained infertility, intrauterine insemination, her good friend Johanna, and what really happens when people stop worrying about awkwardness and stigma and start saying the F word. Today’s host is Selena Campbell, Patient Care Supervisor at Progyny. For more information visit: https://resolve.org/infertility-101/what-is-infertility/infertility-diagnosis/ www.saythefword.com www.progyny.com/podcast Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected]

It’s often crucial for people going through fertility treatments to have an outlet for their emotions. Today’s guests, Matt Mira, and Doree Shafrir have created their own outlet: their hit podcast Matt and Doree’s Eggcellent Adventure. Matt is a television writer (ABC’s The Goldbergs) and veteran podcaster, and Doree is an author (Startup), and together they share their story of male factor infertility, unexpected hurdles, and what it’s like to podcast their way through all of it. Today’s host is LaTisha Maxwell, Patient Care Advocate at Progyny. Guests include: Matt Mira, Doree Shafrir, and Dr. Natan Bar-Chama of RMA of NY. For more information, visit https://progyny.com/podcast/ and https://eggcellentadventure.com/ We have a new instagram page! Find us at @thisisinfertilitypodcast Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected]

Dealing with infertility can often feel like you’re living two different lives. One in public, pretending to be ok and go about life as you know it, and one behind the scenes, worrying, waiting, wondering when your dream of having a family will finally come true. Our guest came up with the perfect term that incapsulates this life in limbo: Pregnantish. Andrea Syrtash is a relationship expert, founder, and editor-in-chief of pregnantish.com, and today she’ll share her story of how she stopped focusing on getting pregnant and started focusing on becoming a parent to build the family she always wanted. Today’s host is Dr. Georgia Witkin, Head of Patient Services Development at Progyny. Guests include: Andrea Syrtash and Dr. Brad Kolb For more information, visit www.progyny.com/podcast and www. pregnantish.com Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected]

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]