Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday

Send us Fan Mail You’ve heard of estrogen, maybe even LH—but the real superhero in fertility? It’s progesterone. In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday , Dr. Mark Amols reveals how progesterone silently supports pregnancy, stabilizes the uterine lining, and prevents early contractions—all without the recognition it deserves. We break down the science: how progesterone is made from choleste...

Send us Fan Mail You've been told your sperm shape is the problem—but is it really? In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday , Dr. Mark Amols breaks down what sperm morphology actually means, how it's measured, and whether a low morphology score truly impacts your chances of getting pregnant. We’ll explore: What “teratozoospermia” is—and why it sounds scarier than it is Why a 1% mo...

Send us Fan Mail This week’s episode is deeply personal. Dr. Mark Amols shares the journey that led him to become a fertility doctor—from his early days as a nurse, to witnessing a friend’s struggle with infertility, to navigating his own fertility challenges with his wife. You’ll learn how these experiences shaped his mission to make fertility care more compassionate, more accessible, and more af...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday , Dr. Mark Amols breaks down one of the most commonly overlooked causes of infertility: elevated prolactin levels , also known as hyperprolactinemia . If you’ve ever been asked about nipple discharge at a fertility consult and thought, “What does that have to do with getting pregnant?”—this episode is for you. Dr. Amols dives into: Wh...

Send us Fan Mail Can you still get pregnant if one fallopian tube is blocked? In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday , Dr. Mark Amols breaks down what it really means when one of your fallopian tubes isn’t working. From proximal vs. distal blockages to the surprising truth about which ovary ovulates—and how often—it all matters more than you think. You’ll learn: Whether natural pregnancy i...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols pulls back the curtain on the often-unspoken truth: fertility treatments don’t always go as planned. From failed ovulation and sperm no-shows during IUI, to egg retrieval curveballs, fertilization failures, and embryo transfer nightmares in IVF—this episode covers the chaos that can catch patients off guard. But don’t...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday , Dr. Mark Amols explores one of the most common emotional pitfalls in IVF: the heartbreak of a failed transfer using your top-graded embryo. Using a relatable medical school analogy, he explains why even “average” embryos can still lead to pregnancy—and why the term “best” isn’t a guarantee of success.  Learn how embryo grading works...

Send us Fan Mail How many eggs should you expect during IVF? Is 8 enough? Is 20 too many? In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday , Dr. Mark Amols cracks open the real data behind egg retrieval numbers and answers the question everyone’s asking: “Am I making enough eggs?” We break down what’s normal by age, what counts as mature, and why having more eggs isn’t always better. Learn how AMH,...

Send us Fan Mail They say life begins at 40—but what about fertility?  In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday , Dr. Mark Amols breaks down the real numbers, treatment options, and emotional journey of trying to conceive after 40. We take a deep dive into the groundbreaking FORT-T trial and how it flipped the script on fertility treatment for women over 40—proving that for many, IVF isn’t t...

Send us Fan Mail What if your uterus looked normal on the outside—but inside, it was glued shut? In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday , Dr. Mark Amols breaks down the rarely discussed but deeply impactful condition known as Asherman's Syndrome. From why some women are more likely to develop intrauterine adhesions (think “keloid-level healing”) to how it affects menstruation and fert...

Send us Fan Mail Are all IVF cycles created equal? Not even close. In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday , Dr. Mark Amols dives deep into the science of IVF priming—covering everything from birth control pills, estrogen, progesterone, and Lupron to the emerging role of androgen priming with DHEA and testosterone. Learn how synchronization, FSH receptor upregulation, and strategic suppress...

Send us Fan Mail Can embryos labeled as “abnormal” still lead to healthy babies? Are fertility clinics discarding embryos that could result in a pregnancy? In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday , Dr. Mark Amols breaks down the controversy surrounding Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy (PGT-A). You’ve seen the headlines — abnormal embryos resulting in live births — but was the...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday , Dr. Mark Amols breaks down one of the most misunderstood aspects of fertility treatment: what PGT (preimplantation genetic testing) really does—and what it doesn't. Contrary to popular belief, PGT doesn't improve embryo quality. It simply helps prioritize which embryos to transfer first, potentially reducing the number of...

Send us Fan Mail In this heartfelt episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday , Dr. Mark Amols honors the life and legacy of Hailey Marie Okula—beloved nurse, influencer, and new mother—who tragically passed away from amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) shortly after giving birth. Hailey’s story, while devastating, has left many women afraid to pursue pregnancy. In this episode, we separate fear from facts...

Send us Fan Mail You've done the ultrasounds, the shots, the bloodwork — and then retrieval day comes, and... nothing. Zero eggs. What just happened? In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday , Dr. Mark Amols dives into one of the most confusing and emotionally crushing outcomes in IVF: Empty Follicle Syndrome (EFS) . But before you panic, know this — most cases aren’t what they seem. We...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday , Dr. Mark Amols dives into the world of online fertility advice—from Facebook groups to TikTok trends—and explores why some well-meaning suggestions can actually do more harm than good. You’ll hear real stories of patients misled by online advice, the dangers of taking recommendations out of context, and how to become your own best a...

Send us Fan Mail When it comes to fertility, timing is everything . In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday , Dr. Mark Amols breaks down the "window of opportunity" —the crucial period where certain fertility treatments are most effective. Using football analogies , Dr. Amols explains why some treatments, like IUI , can be done at almost any age, while others, like IVF , require a...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever heard of giving an embryo a second chance at genetic testing? In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday , Dr. Mark Amols dives deep into the fascinating world of embryo rebiopsy—what it is, why it’s performed, and whether it’s the right choice for your IVF journey. When genetic testing of embryos (PGT-A) yields unclear results, such as inconclusive findings or m...

Send us Fan Mail Could free IVF really become a reality? President Trump recently signed an executive order aimed at expanding access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) , and it’s stirring up big conversations in the fertility world. But what does this order actually do —and just as importantly, what does it not do? In this episode, we break it all down : ✅ What the executive order includes —and whe...

Send us Fan Mail The two-week wait after fertility treatment can feel endless, but what if a single blood test could give you insight into your pregnancy’s future? In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday , we break down the science behind hCG levels at 16 days post-ovulation and how they predict pregnancy outcomes. We’ll discuss the role of hCG beyond just a pregnancy test, how it rescues t...

Send us Fan Mail The moment you see a positive pregnancy test, excitement kicks in—but so does fear. Every cramp, every symptom (or lack of symptoms) can send you spiraling into anxiety. And for those who’ve battled infertility, that fear is even more intense. But when does the risk of miscarriage truly drop? When can you finally breathe easier and enjoy your pregnancy? In this episode of Taco Bou...

Send us Fan Mail A positive pregnancy test, rising HCG levels, and all the symptoms of early pregnancy—yet no embryo ever forms. In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday , we unravel the mystery of blighted ovums. Why does a pregnancy start but not develop? Is it a genetic issue or a developmental failure? Why do some women not realize there's an issue until their 12-week ultrasound, wh...

Send us Fan Mail Many patients panic when their PGT results show numerous abnormal embryos, fearing that this means they have a high chance of having a baby with a chromosomal disorder. But is that really true? In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday , Dr. Mark Amols breaks down the math behind aneuploid embryos, explaining why most won’t lead to a live birth and how natural pregnancy risks...

Send us Fan Mail Fibroids are common, but when do they actually impact fertility? In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday , Dr. Mark Amols dives into everything you need to know about fibroids—their types, how they’re diagnosed, their effect on fertility, and the latest treatment options. Whether you're trying to conceive or just curious about how fibroids can affect your health, this...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols explores why transferring one embryo at a time often leads to better outcomes than transferring two simultaneously. Building on previous discussions about statistics and probabilities, this episode dives into the math, biology, and risks associated with multiple embryo transfers. Dr. Amols also addresses misconceptions...