Fertility Forward

Believe it or not, the new legislation surrounding abortion laws will have an impact on fertility care and IVF. Today on Fertility Forward, we are joined by hope counselor, Kimberly Thornton, and lawyer and owner of Reproductive Possibilities, Melissa Brisman, to discuss exactly how Wade vs. Roe will affect fertility care. Tuning in, you’ll hear how the reduction of multiples may be problematic un...

Today, on Fertility Forward, we are joined by a true hero in the world of fertility rights. Risa Levine is an attorney, a volunteer advocate for expanding fertility rights, and a Fierce Women’s Health and infertility advisor. We discuss what the overturn of Roe v. Wade means for fertility and IVF, with Risa offering us a definition of trigger laws, the differences between safe or blue states and r...

Everyone’s IVF journey is different. Here with us today to discuss the ups and downs of their experience are Rokia and Tina. We discuss why they chose RMA to assist them in creating a family and why they felt it was important that they both felt they were a part of the process. Next, we look at the research that goes into IVF planning and why it can only help you to a certain extent before discuss...

Everyone’s fertility journey is different, and this is particularly true for members of the LGBTQ+ community. Joining us today for Pride Month are two very special guests, Finn Brigham and Dr. Juliet Widoff from Callen-Lorde. Dr. Juliet Widoff is an internist with a specialization in HIV care. She has been a primary care provider in a myriad of settings, and, for the bulk of her career, she has be...

Struggling with infertility and trying to conceive can often feel lonely and isolating. If only there was a simple and practical guide for those on this journey. Well, now there is! Join us today for an intimate conversation about Rena Gower’s new book, Infertility 101: A Quick & Concise Guide to the Club You Never Wanted to Join , which touches on a diverse range of topics and materials that...

Today on the Fertility Forward Podcast, we welcome a very special guest, Elizabeth Carr. Elizabeth was the very first baby born, in the United States, via in vitro fertilization! Elizabeth has been in the media since she was 3-cells old and is a passionate advocate for those fighting for fertility rights. From battles over insurance coverage to educating doctors on how to interact with patients go...

We often hear questions about ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) and its role in fertility. So to answer them, today we are joined by Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility Specialist Dr. Matthew Lederman, who operates from the new RMA of New York clinic in Westchester. Dr. Lederman explains what ICSI is and how it can help to improve fertilization rates in male-factor infertility. Tuni...

Traditionally, infertility has been seen as a woman's issue, to the point where even infertility centers focus predominantly on the female evaluation. But we all know that it takes two to tango: not only does this impact women's mental health in an already stressful situation, but it also doesn't acknowledge the impact that sperm quality has on miscarriages or the health of the chil...

There is a growing consumer awareness about the negative health impacts of various commonly-used chemicals, but not many people link this to their fertility. When Dr. Jenna Hua was facing her own fertility struggles, this is exactly what she did, and she has not looked back. As a dietician, environmental health scientist, and founder and CEO of Million Marker, Jenna is an expert on the toxins we a...

The COVID-19 pandemic has not made things any easier for pregnant women, or those who are planning to conceive. Pregnant women are at higher risk for severe infection from COVID-19 as well as an increased likelihood of ICU admission, deaths, preterm labor, stillbirth, and other complications. While the development of COVID-19 vaccines has posed its own questions, due to its novelty, a new study of...

The dialogue around infertility is filled with cultural myths and enduring stereotypes that significantly shape the experiences of Black women. As a result, there are few spaces for marginalized individuals to discuss their fertility struggles and, as today’s guest explains, this could actually be impacting their access to care. For this thought-provoking discussion about Black fertility, we welco...

When one starts IVF and fertility treatments, it can be a lot to take in. There’s tons of jargon to familiarize yourself with and seemingly endless academic articles on every topic imaginable. This can be especially overwhelming when you are presented with embryo options and you don’t know which one to choose, or whether the single option you’re being presented with is worth pursuing. Here to help...

One of the hottest topics in IVF is mosaic embryos, but not many of us understand what this means, or how mosaic embryos happen. Joining us in conversation is genetic counselor at RMA New York, Teresa Cacchione. Teresa’s position at the junction of science and reproductive medicine gives her unique insight into the latest research and clinical outcomes of mosaic embryos in IVF, and she shares this...

Women from Latina and African-American communities are the least likely to seek medical advice when struggling with infertility. Today we talk to community leader, businesswoman, advocate, professor, writer, and mother, Dr. Anna Flores Locke about her new book ( Body Betrayal: Understanding and Living with Infertility ) and how she came to terms with her fertility struggles as a Latina woman. We h...

From a career in finance before her foray into food, facing her fertility battles and more, join us as we talk to the inspirational Chloe Lafosse. Chloe launched her flagship zero-waste café, Ancolie, and her plastic-free vending machines, Fresh Bowl, in 2016… And then embarked on her pregnancy journey in 2017! After suffering two miscarriages and subsequently throwing herself into her work, Chloe...

When you are consumed with negative thoughts or going through a difficult time, it can be really hard to pull yourself out of these thought patterns. Although there are so many affirmations and self-help apps out there, when Leo Skepi was going through a challenging period in his own life, none of these platforms resonated with him, and so to solve this, he created his own. Positive Focus helps in...

Trauma affects people in different ways. Just because something is not traumatic for some else, doesn’t mean it won’t be traumatic for you. Talking to us today about acknowledging trauma, and Post Trauma Growth is psychotherapist Joelle Rabow Maletis. Joelle’s focus in this episode is on learning to shift from being a victim to a warrior, by choosing to take ownership of your trauma and honoring t...

Mental health struggles are stigmatized and when women are pregnant or become mothers, these issues are almost completely overlooked. Dr. Emily Watts specializes in women's mental health and perinatal psychiatry and applies a holistic approach to the care of her patients. She sees the interplay between the physical, mental and social wellbeing of her patients as vital to their overall health....

A growing awareness that you don't need to have a partner in order to become a parent is changing the narrative about parenthood. Today’s guest to discuss this topic is Dr. Rachel Gerber, a reproductive endocrinologist, infertility specialist, and board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist who cares for patients at RMA of New York’s Eastside and Westchester offices. In this episode, we dis...

The month of September is PCOS Awareness Month and, in today’s episode, we are joined by Dr. Lucky Sekhon, OBGYN and fertility specialist based in New York City, to discuss polycystic ovarian syndrome and her unconventional approach to the disorder. We also dive a little deeper into the emotional impact of PCOS and the loss of control that patients often feel when diagnosed during their fertility...

The COVID-19 vaccine is raising a lot of questions and anxiety, but it is particularly pertinent to those with a special interest in fertility. On today’s episode, we talk to Dr. Lucky Sekhon, OBGYN and fertility specialist based in New York City. We kick off our discussion by acknowledging that pregnant women are a vulnerable population when it comes to COVID before discussing the misinformation...

So often when women struggle with their fertility, they are told to follow treatments that may not work for their bodies. Perhaps they are told to lose weight or live healthier, but for many women, this is not enough. Melissa Groves Azzaro is an integrative dietician who helps women with hormone imbalances, PCOS, and fertility issues regain their periods and get pregnant naturally. Through her fun...

Choosing to follow a healthy diet should be pretty straightforward, right? But with all the information available to us online it can often be difficult to know which sources to trust, especially when they contradict one another. Here to shed some well-informed light on the topic is registered dietician nutritionist, and certified diabetes educator, Lily Nichols. Lily is a researcher and author of...

Many parents who pursue donor-assisted reproduction often feel alone in their journey, but the truth is they usually share the same fears. Today we welcome back Nancy Kaufman, a licensed clinical social worker, and psychoanalyst who has been practicing in New York City for over 30 years. Nancy works with individuals, couples, and groups dealing with infertility and parenting after infertility. For...

Today, we speak with holistic nutritionist and women’s wellness expert, Erin Parekh, who specializes in guiding women to nurse themselves on their journey to and through motherhood. You’ll hear the story of how Erin’s own fertility journey sparked her special interest in women’s wellness and the pivotal moment when she realized how little clinics offered to those on a fertility journey. We touch o...