IVF Uncovered

Embryologists play a huge part in the success of our embryos, but how many of us have ever had a conversation with one? Well, today we are talking with a very talented embryologist to get an understanding of what happens behind the scenes of a lab.    James Cooper has worked in 6 different countries and 12 clinics over the last 21 years doing all things IVF related. Throughout his career, James ha...

Today we are talking about physical therapy for our pelvic regions and we are very fortunate to have an expert, Dr. Jen Fraboni, on the topic joining us. This conversation blew my mind and debunked a lot of the things I have been told and thought were true about our bodies, healing and the pelvic floor.     Dr. Jen is a PT, DPT and an internationally renowned physical therapist who specializes in...

Did you know that your menstrual cycle provides valuable insight and information about your overall health?    I say it all the time, your fertility is a by-product of health and wellness and your menstrual cycle is a sort of built-in device for understanding your body's needs. On today's episode you will learn about yet another powerful tool for health and wellness that is directly connected to y...

Meet Amanda.   Amanda was on her fertility journey for six years, had tried 6 fresh transfers and 4 frozen all before meeting me. Today she is expecting her first child and looking forward to parenthood.    I am so happy to be able to share another inspiring Path to Parenthood interview. Listen to learn how Amanda shifted her mindset, did the work, and manifested her miracle baby.    What You'll L...

The relationship dynamic in a long-term marriage is tricky enough before adding IVF to the mix. But then, once you are in the thick of your fertility journey as a couple, it can seem like there are land mines everywhere.     How do you stay connected? How do you support each other and learn to be good communicators while dealing with a rollercoaster of emotions?    On this episode of the FU Projec...

It is National Infertility Awareness Week and the theme this year is "Be the Change You Want to See in the World." Our guest on the podcast happens to be a living example of this theme.    On this episode of the FU Project, we are joined by Eran Amir, Founder and CEO of GoStork; an amazing product that makes the fertility journey a little easier by helping with the process of choosing a clinic, ch...

Joining us on this episode is Dr. Tina Yang, a 4th generation Chinese Medicine doctor, licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, certified Reiki Master, and a fellow of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine.    As a student of this topic myself, I asked all the burning questions that we want to know. What are Chinese Herbs for Fertility? Are they the same as supplements? Do they work to...

I reference survival mode and reproductive mode often on the podcast because it's so foundational to healing and fertility. Many of us get stuck in survival mode due to our body's natural (and even biologically useful!) response to stressors. This can make getting and staying pregnant more difficult. The good news is that it's totally possible to train your brain and body to get into reproductive...

Are you a little intimidated by your fertility doctor? Does your mind go blank when it is time to have a conversation with them about their findings and protocol? Do you want to feel more empowered and like you are a collaborator in this journey? In this episode of the FU Project podcast, I'm going to teach you how to rock your relationship with your doctor and have more confidence by applying som...

Have you ever wondered "What the heck is the FU Project Workshop?"   Maybe you've never even heard of the FU Project Workshop...   In today's episode of the FU Project podcast, I am talking all about the FU Project Workshop. What it is. Who it's for. Who you'll be working with. Essentially I'll be answering all the questions that people ask me whenever they hear about what I do.   What You'll Lear...

What is keeping you from getting and staying pregnant? Why won't the embryos implant, or if they implant, why won't they stick?    It can be incredibly heartbreaking, after all the work and the emotions that go into the egg retrieval and transfer, just to get that negative pregnancy test or a positive test that doesn't stick.    While there are always going to be things that are simply out of our...

More often than not it is mental health and energy, not time and money, that prevents women from creating the family of their dreams. Whether it is physically running ourselves ragged or the mental toll it takes, it can all be incredibly draining on our energy if we are not mindful.    We need our energy to become and stay pregnant.    In this episode of the FU Project Podcast, I share ways to hel...

Trigger Warning! This episode discusses loss. If it is not supportive to your journey please skip this episode and join us next week. For those experiencing pregnancy after loss of a previous pregnancy, it can be a challenge to find the specific support you need. The experience is surely tumultuous, to say the least, and things like peer support groups can provide comfort and strategies for gettin...

"How do I improve egg quality?"   This is by far the most frequently asked question I receive from clients and listeners of the podcast.   Soon to follow are questions such as, "Is it even possible to improve egg quality? "Are there supplements I can take?" "What about sperm quality?"   In this week's episode of the FU Project podcast, I talk to Lauren Takata, a physician's assistant specializing...

In this week's episode of the FU Project podcast, we talk to Dr. Kris Wallace and get an in-depth look into the thyroid and how your thyroid and hormones could be affecting your fertility journey.   Dr. Kris Wallace is a licensed Naturopathic Physician at Desert Wellness Center. She graduated from Northern Arizona University with a master's degree in health psychology and began her career as a hea...

WELCOME BACK!   Welcome to 2022 and welcome to a new season of the FU Project podcast! It feels so good to be back in the seat and record new content that I know will help you on your fertility journey.   Following the spirit of the new year (it's a popular time to start new things), I figured it would be a good idea to use this first episode to go over Tips to Help You Achieve Control Over Your F...

Are you feeling analysis paralysis when it comes to your fertility journey?   There are so many decisions to make when you're on this journey and all of them feel so important.   Which clinic do you choose? Do you need a second opinion? Should you use an egg donor? Should you do another round of egg retrieval?   With so many decisions it's hard to know what feels right... how to find the clarity t...

For those faced with the decision to use an egg donor, sperm donor, or a surrogate it can feel impossible to know how to navigate the journey.    How do you protect yourself? How do you protect the surrogate? How do you protect the eventual child? There is SO much to consider.    In this week's episode of the FU Project podcast, I talk to Rijon Charne. Rijon is a fertility attorney and the founder...

At the origin of every single one of our patterns is a moment. Every interaction that you have where you feel triggered, where you enter into a pattern of behavior be it anger, anxiety, stress, fear has an origin outside of that moment.   The person or scenario triggering the pattern is merely acting as a mirror to help you work through and release that pattern.   In this week's episode of the FU...

It is SO gross how much it costs to do fertility treatments. I speak with hundreds of women that wonder if they'll ever be able to reach their goals of creating the family of their dreams because of said costs.    In this episode of the FU Project podcast, I want to dive into The Financial Costs of IVF and How to Protect Your Investment. So many people start fertility treatments engulfed in fear…...

Approximately 1/3 of infertility is attributed to the female, 1/3 to the male, and 1/3 is caused by a combination or is unexplained. So why does this conversation always feel so female-focused?   Males can have low sperm count, low motility, low viability, and more. Fertility is just as much a female challenge as it is a male challenge. So why do we feel embarrassed when our male counterparts face...

Laura has two children via IVF. So what makes her story so interesting you might ask? I'm glad you did. Laura's first child, Owen, is biologically her and her husband's child. Her second child, Julian, is biologically her husband's, but not her's.    That's right. Laura made the challenging decision to use an egg donor for her second child after having a biological child. I brought Laura on to the...

Meet Divya.   Divya was on her fertility journey, had already been to two different clinics and had multiple failed transfers. She was experiencing fertility journey fatigue and doubting whether or not IVF was going to work for her. Divya recognized it was going to be hard to move forward on her journey and be successful if she stayed stuck in that negative, self-doubt loop.   Join us this week fo...

Have you ever wondered why animals, after constantly fighting to stay alive, are never traumatized? The whole animal kingdom would not be what it is today if this were the case. Like, Tom & Jerry would have been a completely different show. So why is it that animals never seem to internalize their trauma, but we humans do?   Animals, after tapping into that sympathetic nervous system and initiatin...

Meet Ashley.   Before joining the FU Project, Ashley went through two failed IUIs and one unsuccessful IVF treatment. She felt stressed and bogged down by the constant search for, "Why can't I get pregnant?" Luckily, it only took a few failures before Ashley asked for help.    Ashley learned that infertility is not just a scientific process but a culmination of science, mind, and body. She realize...