This Is Infertility

The challenges of life and building a family can bring the best or the worst out of people, but in this case, it was both. This episode follows the story of Keia Jones-Baldwin, a woman who showed substantial amounts of physical and emotional strength during tough times. After going through countless miscarriages, empty conversations with fertility specialists, and more failed experiences, Keia began to blame herself. It came to a point where Keia and her husband, Richard , decided that it was time to look at other family building options.  Hear how Keia and Richard navigated fertility treatments, surrogacy, foster to adopt, and a challenge they didn’t think they’d encounter – the experience around a transracial adoption. Keia opens up about her experience around having a Caucasian baby, the need to educate others, and one universal theme of, “you don’t need to look alike to love alike.”  Guest: Keia Jones-Baldwin, Clinical Therapist and Life Coach  Host: Selena Campbell , Progyny  For more informatio

A family building journey may not always be straight forward and easy. And most times those feelings of hope and positivity may fade into confusion and gut-wrenching disappointment. This is what it was like for Claire and Patrick Gibson. As time passed and fertility treatments failed, Claire continued to struggle to find the right answers. However, those answers led to a breath of fresh air, building a family through adoption. In this episode, Claire discusses her debate over fostering or adopting a child, the experience and difference between domestic and international adoption, and what led her and husband to their decision. Guest: Claire Gibson, author of Beyond the Point Host: Lissa Kline, Progyny 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 thisisinfertility@progyny.com.

COVID-19 and its aftermath has changed everything, leaving us with more questions on how to navigate this new normal.  When it comes to the vaccine and fertility, pregnancy, and trying to conceive, new concerns have come to light about how to proceed. Progyny’s Lissa Kline, Senior Vice President of Provider and Member Services, and Dr. Alan Copperman, Progyny’s Medical Director, sat down in a recent webinar to discuss these key learnings, including the vaccine, booster shots, and how it impacts your family building journey.    While this episode is definitely worth the listen, we understand that life gets busy and have provided a summary for you here.  Expert: Dr. Alan Copperman, Progyny and RMA of NY.   Host: Lissa Kline, Progyny  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 th

Molly Ryman was nearing her due date with her second daughter, who she and her husband, Matt, had named Mabel, when suddenly, the baby stopped moving. An ultrasound revealed Mabel’s heart had stopped beating. Molly, Matt and their daughter were left to pick up the pieces.  October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month so this week, Molly sat down with her friend and our colleague, Lissa Kline, for a deeply personal conversation about pregnancy loss, grief, motherhood, strength, and the importance of connections.    Guest: Molly Ryman, Actress  Host: Lissa Kline, Progyny   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 thisisinfertility@progyny.com.  

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss and Awareness Month, and we want to shed light on the painful reality that is Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, sometimes shortened to RPL.   RPL is a diagnosis when a patient experiences two or more miscarriages. And while this reality can be overwhelming, it’s crucial to understand how common miscarriages are and not self-blame.  On today’s episode, Dr. Lora Shahine of Pacific Northwest Fertility answers those common questions associated with RPL, the differrent treatment options, and reminds us that no matter what, we’re not broken.   Guest: Lora Shahine, Pacific Northwest Fertility  Host: Dan Bulger  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 thisisinfertility@progyny.com.  

The Fertility 101 Series, because there’s no shortage of daunting terms to keep your mind running, is a quick and dirty breakdown on a specific topic with insights from a fertility expert. In today’s episode, we talk about oncofertility and the opportunity this gives to patients for life after cancer. Dr. Wael Salem of CCRM San Francisco joins us to help breakdown the most common questions and misconceptions when it comes to fertility preservation before undergoing cancer treatment. Guest: Dr. Wael Salem, CCRM San Francisco Host: Dan Bulger 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 thisisinfertility@progyny.com. 

Sometimes trying to have a child using your own eggs can be dangerous or impossible – this is where an egg donor comes in. We hear a lot about egg donation from the clinical perspective or from the intended parents, but what is the process like for the egg donor?  Holly Smith has donated her eggs to six different families. In today’s episode, she shares the physical and emotional aspects of her journey, recounts her own fertility experience, and stresses the importance and beauty in providing joy for others trying to conceive.  Guest: Holly Smith, Progyny Patient Care Advocate  Host: Dan Bulger  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 thisisinfertility@progyny.com.

There are a multitude of challenges that people face on their family building journey -- whether it’s being misdiagnosed, not having enough information about your health, or facing a global pandemic. Angela Vega experienced all three, among others.  Angela, a Progyny member through Expedia, was initially misdiagnosed with endometriosis at an early age but when she decided she wanted to have kids, they correctly diagnosed her with PCOS. Once she learnt what was going on in her body, she had to deal with a whole new set of challenges. From a misdiagnosis, to IVF, to finding fertility coverage, to having a baby while testing positive for COVID, Angela covers everything in her journey and what the experience taught her.  Guest: Angela Vega, Progyny Member  Host: Dan Bulger  Interested in learning more about how to bring the Progyny benefit to your workplace? Visit www.progyny.com/talktohr to learn more.   For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources

The Fertility 101 Series, because there’s no shortage of daunting terms to keep your mind running, is a quick and dirty breakdown on a specific topic with insights from a fertility expert.   In today’s episode, we discuss PCOS and the challenges that come with it. Dr. Todd Deutsch from Advanced Reproductive Center educates us on the causes of PCOS, treatment options, and how PCOS impacts fertility and family building.   Guest: Dr. Todd Deutsch, Advanced Reproductive Center Host: Dan Bulger For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources.  For more episodes around PCOS, check out series: Episode 13: PCOS and Fertility: Getting Pregnant with PCOS Episode 14: PCOS and Fertility: Creating Awareness about PCOS Episode 15: PCOS and Fertility: When the PCOS Symptoms Don’t Match Episode 49: PCOS and Fertility: Why it’s a Serious Challenge to Get Pregnant with PCOS Episode 50: PCOS and Fertility: How Certain Foods Can Help with PCOS Symptoms Episode 51: PCOS and Fer

One thing always leads to another, and in Eloise’s case, her actions illuminated a path of happiness and health for one family after another. Eloise Drain, founder of Family Inceptions and Reproductive Association of Minority Professionals (RAMP), started by donating her kidney to her cousin, and eventually Eloise found herself as a gestational carrier for many grateful couples over the years.   In this episode, Eloise talks about the process of being an egg donor and gestational carrier, as well as the ups and downs that come with it. During her journey, Eloise noticed the discrepancies in healthcare for women of color when she was told that “black women don’t have fertility issues.” This influenced her to create Family Inceptions, an agency that seeks out surrogates or egg donors that carefully places them with others who are a perfect match for them, as well as RAMP, an agency designed to prioritize minorities in their family building journey.   Guest: Eloise Drain, Family Inceptions, Reproductive Ass

We’ve said often on this podcast that sharing a journey can be very cathartic for both the person sharing as well as for the audience. This was certainly the case for author Amy Klein, author and fertility advocate who chronicled her four-year journey with IVF and recurrent pregnancy loss through a column in the New York Times and eventually, a book.  Amy’s story consists of ten doctors, nine rounds of IVF, four miscarriages, an international move, and eventually, a healthy baby girl. And while Amy’s experience was unique to her and her husband, her stories and advice have already helped thousands out there struggling with their own version of infertility.    Guest: Amy Klein, The Trying Game: Get Through Fertility Treatment and Get Pregnant Without Losing Your Mind  Host: Dan Bulger  If you want to purchase ‘The Trying Game’, you can find it here.   For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources.   Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInf

Society has come a long wayin finally providing fertility and family building benefits for same-sex male couples and single fathers by choice. But this journey can be complex and confusing. Which is why, for our third installment of our Journey to Fatherhood series, we pulled a panel of experts to give an overview on how to build family with a surrogate, donor eggs, and adoption. We also dive into how to maintain the relationships around you and how to ask for emotional support.   While this episode is definitely worth the listen, we understand that life gets busy and have provided a summary for you here.  If you missed our previous installments, check out:     Bonus Episode 11: Journey To Fatherhood: Finding Support in the Journey  Bonus Episode 13: Journey To Fatherhood: Male Infertility 101  Experts: Brandon Johnson, MHS, LGSW, Infertility Isn’t Inferior, Dr. Bradford A. Kolb, HRC Fertility and Progyny’s Medical Advisory Board    Host: Dr. Georgia Witkin, Progyny  For more information, visit Progyny’s Pod

When it comes to a family building journey, there are a lot of decisions to make along the way. ART has transformed family building options for the LGBTQ+ community, but there aren’t a ton of data points and studies chronicling their experiences.   Same-sex male couples have many options when it comes to family building, some of which could include finding a gestational carrier, donor tissue purchase, embryo transfer, PGT-A testing. etc. Progyny and some of its medical partners, including Dr. Mark Leondires, Fertility Specialist at RMA of Connecticut, facilitated a study assessing the clinical decisions same-sex male couples have to make throughout their journey. Tune into today’s episode to hear him discuss the findings and detail the experience of same-sex couple family building.   Expert: Dr. Mark Leondires, RMA of Connecticut, Gay Parents to Be  Host: Dan Bulger  For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources.   Be sure to follow us on Instagr

Did you know that one in three infertility cases is due to male factor? Which is actually just as common as female factor infertility. Male factor infertility has always been a taboo topic, but it’s time to start talking about male reproductive health and prioritizing a man’s journey on his path to parenthood.   It can be hard to figure out where to start when it comes to tests, treatments, or just finding emotional support throughout the process. Join Dr. McCoy, a director of surgery and male fertility, and Dr. O’Shaughnessy, a reproductive endocrinologist, in learning how men can take the first step in maintaining a healthy lifestyle which contributes to their family building journey.   While this webinar is definitely worth the listen, we understand that life gets busy and have provided a summary for you here.  Experts: Travis W. McCoy, Director of Surgery and Male Infertility at Piedmont Reproductive Endocrinology Group, Althea O’Shaughnessy, Reproductive Endocrinologist at Conceptions Reproductive

A lot of pressure is placed on women to start thinking about family building early in their lives due to the “fertility window” or “biological clock”.  Katie Becker, a Progyny member through Hearst (she works at Elle Magazine), felt the weight of having to pick between starting a family or focusing on her career. Katie’s journey led her to fertility preservation, aka egg freezing, which was made financially possible by her employer-sponsored coverage.  In this episode, Katie discusses the factors that went into her decision, and how sharing her story via Instagram helped build a safe space for other women going through the same process.   Check out Katie’s article on all things egg freezing to learn more about her experience!   Guest: Katie Becker, Progyny member  Host: Dan Bulger  Interested in learning more about how to bring the Progyny benefit to your workplace? Visit www.progyny.com/talktohr to learn more!  For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for

Due to advancements in assisted reproductive technology (ART) and more inclusive employer-sponsored family building coverage, the LGBTQ+ community has more options on their paths to parenthood than ever before. One of the most utilized technologies for LGBTQ+ singles or couples is donor tissue – the use of donor egg and/or sperm.   Tissue donation can be confusing to navigate, so Progyny recently hosted a webinar to discuss the ins and outs. Join Dr. Georgia Witkin, donor egg and sperm expert, as she explores how and why donor egg of sperm may be a good option, what to consider during the process, and the difference between a known donation vs. using an egg and sperm bank.   While this webinar is definitely worth the listen, we understand that life gets busy and have provided a summary for you here.   Experts: Jaime Shamonki, Chief Medical Officer at Generate Life Sciences, Juan P. Alvarez, Reproductive Endocrinologist at Fertility Centers of Illinois  Host: Dr. Georgia Witkin, Head of Member Service

Family building comes with its ups and downs, but as the old saying goes, what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.   That was the case for Matt Walters and his wife, Corinne. The couple went through IUI, IVF, and even a miscarriage, on their journey to create a family, but the difficult times gave way to a strengthened relationship and an appreciation of life’s small moments.  Matt, who has the Progyny benefit through his employer, LinkedIn, talks about the reassurance he felt through the support system at Progyny and how the couple felt a sense of relief when exploring fertility options without the steep financial burden.  Guest: Matt Walters, Progyny Member, LinkedIn   Host: Julie Hunt   Interested in learning more about how to bring the Progyny benefit to your workplace? Visit www.progyny.com/talktohr to learn more!  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 #Th

One of the largest misconceptions we hear is that infertility is a women’s issue when in fact, female-factor infertility is only the cause a third of the time. One third is attributed to male-factor reasons, and a third of the time it is either unexplained or a combination.  That is why we at Progyny are launching a three-part webinar series on men and infertility.  Our first installment focused on the emotional impact infertility can have on men, who often suffer in silence. Our experts discussed how to ask for support, talk about the journey, and recover from a loss.  While this webinar is definitely worth the listen, we understand that life gets busy and have provided a summary for you here.   Experts: Will Rivera II, Co-founder, Fertility in Colour for Men, Denny Ceizyk, Author of Almost a Father, Arthur J. McGrath, LCSW, CST, BCN, MPA, Psychotherapist  Host: Dan Bulger  For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources.   Be sure to follow

The Fertility 101 Series, because there’s no shortage of daunting terms to keep your mind running, is a quick and dirty breakdown on a specific topic with insights from a fertility expert.  In today’s episode, we explain some of the biggest misconceptions when it comes to fertility, male-factor infertility, and how lifestyle choices impact fertility.   Dr. Natan Bar-Chama, a reproductive urologist and Progyny network specialist, walks us through everything you need to know on male-factor infertility. Tune into this episode to also learn about how a post-COVID environment has made it easier for men to take the first steps in their family building journey.   Expert: Dr. Bar-Chama, Progyny Network Specialist, RMA of New York, Mount Sinai Hospital    Host: Dan Bulger  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

June is Pride Month, and this year we have an update from a couple we featured previously: Samantha and Jessica Pace. They shared their journey in this episode:  Episode 75: LGBTQ+ Family Building: 10 IUIs Before IVF Success.   When we left off, Jessica and Samantha were expecting their first child through IVF, after going through 10 failed IUIs first. Excitedly awaiting their daughter, the Paces had no idea that the COVID-19 pandemic was just around the corner, and their first taste of motherhood would be very different than they expected.  In today’s episode, Jessica and Samantha give us an update on motherhood, while Dr. Paula Amato of Oregon Health and Science University highlights family building options for same-sex couples.   Guests: Samantha and Jessica Pace, Progyny Members  Expert: Dr. Paula Amato, Fertility Specialist at Oregon Health and Science University Host: Dan Bulger  You can find Jessica and Samantha Pace’s first episode here.   For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast p