Have you ever wondered what will happen if your fertility treatments don't end up working? If at some point you decide to stop treatments and live a childfree life? I believe deeply that we need to consider these questions much earlier in the process. It does not mean that we are giving up, but rather that there are many meaningful ways to live this life, both with and without children. Lana generously shares her journey with us, in terms of the following: her IVF journey which did not ...

Have you ever been told that your rheumatologic disease precluded you from trying to conceive? Or that the medications you needed were unsafe in pregnancy and that would dictate your trajectory? Or that nothing could be done for your diminished ovarian reserve in the context of a rheumatologic diagnosis? Please join us today as we challenge previously held assumptions about the following: The crossover between infertility and rheumatologic disease, and the "why" of it all Diagnosis...

In this very moving and powerful episode, my mentor, Dr. Una, shares her wisdom so generously with our community. We discuss the following: her mission of helping 100,000 physicians live life on their own terms possibility thinking mindset work for creating belief and then massive resultscultivating your "A" teamthe power of communityWe can be vision boards for each other, if we allow ourselves to dream. Guest Details Dr. Nneka Unachukwu is the founder of EntreMD, a company o...

Can you really “test” your fertility? Is everything you’ve heard about fertility assessments kind of a myth? This week I’m revealing why “fertility testing” isn’t what most people think it is and how they don’t actually define your fertility or your worth. Topics in this episode: AMH numberssemen analysisanatomy scansholistic care and coaching toolsturning survival mode off You’ll leave with more clarity, more hope, and the sense that you’re not as far off as you think. Listen to find...

Today's episode is very dear to me-- a Love and Science graduate shares her successful fertility journey. Although she joined less than a year prior to the date of this recording, her next transfer was successful, and now she is a mother. Please listen with the understanding that someone just like you has walked this journey and, with the help of a trusted guide, is on the other side of parenthood--whole, supported, and grateful. We discuss the following: her personal story prio...

Have you ever done an IVF cycle and lost a good amount of your hair? Or suffered from adult acne which you don't remember ever having before? Or how about noticing new wrinkles and gray hair and being told you can't use certain products like Botox, Retin A or hair dye? How can you feel good in your own skin while going through this process? In this episode we discuss: hair loss and strategies to prevent ithormonal acne and safe and effective treatmentsBotox and fillers Melasma ...

Have you ever asked your fertility physician if you should eliminate gluten and/or dairy? Have you wondered if your diet and gut health are optimal enough for a successful outcome? Have you done all of the elimination diets and then beat yourself up after having a pastry or something similar? You are not alone. The majority of people in your situation have these recurrent thoughts, and the question is--how do we sort what is evidence-based and what is not? How do we live our lives with some e...

This episode explores the complex factors behind recurrent implantation failure. I take an evidence-based approach to the role of endometrial health, different types of testing, and the impact of conditions like endometriosis and chronic endometritis. We will discuss: Recurrent implantation failureWhat makes the uterine lining receptive to an embryoVarious tests, including the ERA (Endometrial Receptivity Analysis)Strategies for addressing silent endometriosis and adenomyosis befo...

Have you ever gone back and forth about whether to do PGT-a testing? This podcast goes over what is known in 2025 about when PGT-a testing might add benefit to your treatment planning, and also when it might be best to leave it out. We will discuss: evolving science factors in your history future planning considerationshow to make the best choice for you and your situationJoin me as we discuss the science in detail. As always, please keep in mind that this is my perspective a...

Have you ever wondered if there was a guidebook for the IVF journey? Have you ever felt lost during the process, like there was no roadmap? For most women physicians on the fertility journey, even seemingly simple questions can be a cause for stress and worry. IVF is such a complex process, and up until now, no one resource has addressed the various aspects in one place. My colleagues Drs. Hudson, Bedient and Eben have done just that. They are all double board certified REIs with tremen...

Did you originally envision a large family with your spouse, and at this point you would be happy with 1-2 children? Or perhaps you are single with advanced reproductive age, and you're thinking about having one child instead of more, like you originally envisioned. Or perhaps you're like me--an abrupt divorce changed your family building vision, and we all know that egg freezing is not a solution in and of itself. On the fertility journey, there are all sorts of unanticipated forks in ...

If you're like me, you have a complex relationship with food and body image. Back in the day, I even had a diagnosable eating disorder and received treatment for it. Thankfully, I've been in recovery for quite some time, but more stressful phases of life have challenged my ability to stay in recovery. Let's consider the fertility journey. Most of us gain some weight while undergoing treatments, and as female physicians we are taught that the lower the BMI, the better (in most cases). Th...

Have you ever been diagnosed with a cavity and then realized your egg retrieval was only a week away? Or perhaps you were in the two week wait, and your dentist told you that you needed antibiotics for a dental infection. Were their recommendations compatible with a possible pregnancy? Is it worse to treat or not to treat in these circumstances? These questions can cause so much stress unless they are handled with expert-level care and concern. Dr. Valerie Mukanga elucidates these...

If you're like me, you didn't learn about the microbiome in medical school. Or if you did, perhaps it was a cursory review, and nobody ever discussed how it could affect the Gyn tract and fertility. And yet, in 2025 we know it's real, and the data about the many ways in which it affects our lives are humbling. Today's episode is filled with pathophysiology and the latest science. I promise--you will learn a lot when you listen, and my hope is that it will influence your fertility journe...

Are you at your wits end with seemingly normal test results, however fertility treatments aren't working? Or perhaps you've been told that there are only mild abnormalities, and yet still you're in "the 5%" of people who haven't conceived yet? In medical school, we were taught that we just needed to diagnose a problem if we wanted to treat it and cure the patient. And yet, the fertility world doesn't often seem to work this way. Please join me for a very insightful conversation with Dr...

With the growth of the Love and Science community, it feels like we are always navigating a birthday in the group. This can be fraught with many complexities-- grief for where we thought we would be by now, cognitive dissonance of people wanting to celebrate us when we feel sad and angry, and also the sheer fact that our ovaries are getting older. I've known Dr. Jessie Mahoney for a long time, and in fact we are birthday twins. July is our birthday month. We decided to team up and share...

What do we do when the strategies which have worked for us in the past are no longer serving us? We have gotten so good at overfunctioning, and yet we are feeling burdened, depleted, and resentful of not just our jobs but the fertility journey. We also feel incredibly alone in our struggle. In today's episode, we discuss the following: overfunctioning and how to recognize itmindful self compassionhealing in communitypermission to resttrusting ourselvesnavigating uncertainty why we ...

As a female physician, have you considered dropping to part time to make it all work? Have you tried a scribe or AI, or even "Thrive" courses (as I've done), yet you're still pulling out your hair and feeling like it will never get better? What if the charting piece were solved for you--would that make a difference in your fertility journey and your life in general? Dr. Mary Leung reclaimed 2.5 hours of her life each day by combining coaching tools and charting efficiency strategies. In this ...

In this evidence-based and wisdom-filled episode, we discuss how there are many ways to use science to start to feel better and achieve better fertility outcomes. We consider the following: awarenesschoosing your A teamtrusting the processconnecting with your soul and allowing for transformationbreathwork and the relaxation/parasympathetic responseobjective data to show it's working (heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, continuous glucose monitoring) other lifestyle medicine too...

Today's episode goes into how support groups are the essential element to bridging people to parenthood. Ending isolationRenewing strengthCelebrating the wins and sharing the burdensGaining practical adviceCreating a safe space for women physiciansFocusing the next steps Creating massive resultsWe are truly stronger together. Even if you are a massive introvert like me, the group is the only empowered way to endure your journey with ease, support, strength, and ultimate...