Kristyn Hodgdon

When it comes to pregnancy tests, timing is everything. Whether you're hoping for a positive result or anxiously awaiting confirmation that you're not pregnant,...

Let's talk about a topic that's been the subject of countless debates, whispered conversations, and internal struggles: sex on the first date. It's a...

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects millions of women worldwide, and finding effective treatments can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. Enter Ozempic, a medication...

When we think of diapers, our minds usually jump to babies and toddlers. But what if we told you that diapers are making a...

Endometriosis is a chronic condition that affects 200 million people worldwide and at least 7-15% of women. Characterized by the growth of endometrial-like tissue...

Whether you’re newly pregnant or counting down the remaining weeks until you meet your baby, you probably already know that you would do anything...

Anyone who has been through fertility treatments knows that it’s a lot of hurry-up-and-wait. Hurry up: Make the appointment, contact your provider, pay...

You’ve decided you want to grow your family, and that using a sperm donor is on the path to getting there. Like with...

  For women experiencing the effects of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) — such as metabolic and hormonal imbalances — all eyes are on two...

  The more you understand during your family-planning journey, the easier it is to decide between two seemingly similar processes. Enter: egg freezing and...

In the past five years, I have been to more doctor’s appointments than I can count. From multiple rounds of IVF to being...

  This post is sponsored by BetterHelp, the world’s largest professional therapy platform done online. The state of your mental and physical health impacts...

The loss of a baby during pregnancy is traumatic. It doesn’t matter when or how it happens. In my experience, an early loss...

The world of assisted reproductive technology has seen remarkable advancements over the past few decades. From the inception of in vitro fertilization (IVF)...

The menstrual cycle is made up of four phases and 28-35 days that are each unique and bring with them their own ups...

If you're dealing with unpleasant symptoms like fatigue, weight changes, irregular menstrual cycles, and more, a thyroid condition could be to blame. Hashimoto’s...

  A fertility journey can involve many steps between you and your future baby. Some are in your control, some aren’t, but all usually...

If you’ve been trying to get pregnant for a while, or if you’re a single parent or same-sex couple who wishes to conceive,...

A fertility journey can sometimes feel like being stuck in the middle of a loud rush hour traffic jam. The noise is overwhelming,...

If you scour the internet these days, you’ll come across many different “natural remedies” for hormone health and fertility. Some are newer to...

If you’ve logged onto TikTok or Instagram recently, you may have noticed the seemingly endless scroll of videos claiming to help you improve...

When it comes to fertility, we know that optimal nutrition plays a crucial role in supporting reproductive health for both women and men....

Hearing your baby’s heartbeat for the first time is an exciting milestone — and not just because it’s proof of a future life,...

What’s for breakfast? Or lunch? Or dinner? Those are probably just some of the questions you sit with when deciding what to eat...

One night at dinner, a conversation came up with my 13-year-old son that reminded me of a moment I had when I was...

This article was sponsored by Fairhaven Health.  I was speaking with my new therapist recently, and in recounting the last several years of...

If you’re anything like us, you might find yourself learning something new on TikTok every day. Whether it’s a life hack that, as...

  Navigating a pregnancy loss can be difficult, no matter how early in the pregnancy it has occurred. Chemical pregnancies are miscarriages that...

For many people, diving into the world of infertility or fertility preservation comes with a lot of realizations about their own bodies and...

Many of us are familiar with abdominal ultrasounds: the cold gel, the wand being rubbed around on our torso, and the blurry images...

There’s no denying that women have more frequent and complex health needs than men. From PCOS and endometriosis to gynecological cancers and UTIs,...

In one study of reproductive-age women in the U.S., 40% were unfamiliar with the ovulatory cycle. Yes, you read that right: 40%. When...

  If you're considering surrogacy as a way to grow your family, then you know you have a lot of big decisions ahead....

  If you’re considering undergoing IVF or egg freezing, you’re likely nervous about so many aspects of the process. The financial toll, the...

  Ten years ago, miscarriages were largely suffered in silence. People carried on in the wake of heartbreaking losses, often not sharing their...

  Good sleep is essential for our physical, emotional, and mental well-being. While adults require about 7 to 9 hours of sleep every...

If you’ve been struggling to get pregnant, you may be piling worries on top of questions on top of more worries. Questions like,...

  Sometimes it can feel like information overload when it comes to everything you need to know while trying to conceive — and...

  Core Memory: The school nurse held a meeting with all of the 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade girls and asked, “Who has gotten...

  It's so satisfying to have one of those questions about fertility that includes very little guesswork. Finally, we actually have definite answers!...

If you’ve been trying to get pregnant for any amount of time, chances are good that you know the importance of taking a...

Fertility treatments are expensive and stressful, and for many of us, we only have a window of a few cycles to get it right....

  Sponsored by Organon.  Photo not of a real patient. Angeline N. Beltsos, MD, is the CEO, Clinical at Kindbody and is board certified in...

It’s no secret that kids are expensive. From providing for their basic needs to the exorbitant cost of childcare, they tend to soak...

  Here’s the thing about infertility: It isn’t just about the painful, physically draining tests and treatments. It isn’t even just about the...

  We’ve all been there, whether we’d like to admit it or not: finding yourself frantically Googling “how soon can I get a...

  You may have heard the saying that a “cold uterus” can cause infertility. This dates all the way back to Traditional Chinese...

  In the aftermath of the Dobbs decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the worry surrounding state anti-abortion laws — and their potential...

  Whether you’re actively trying to conceive or just want to learn more about your reproductive health, there’s no denying that knowledge is...

  It’s no secret that IVF is time-consuming, physically and emotionally draining, and expensive. The average cost for one IVF cycle ranges from...

  As much joy as the holiday season never fails to bring, it is often simultaneously stressful. It takes a lot out of...

  The world of fertility meds can be a confusing and overwhelming place. With so many different treatment protocols and pharmaceutical options available,...

If there’s one thing you get familiarized with very quickly during fertility treatments, it’s hormones. How much you have, what you’re lacking, what...

  Not everyone decides to pursue parenthood in their 20s or 30s. Some may be focused on their careers or haven’t yet found...

  Navigating infertility is a layered experience that stretches you and a partner pretty thin. On the same day that you could be...

Update: Ferring resumed shipments of Menopur® (menotropins for injection) to wholesalers and pharmacies in the United States beginning on November 22, 2022 in...

  Reproductive diseases like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), interstitial cystitis, and endometriosis can make family planning more challenging. Another lesser-known condition many women...

  After spending a good chunk of my adult life trying to get pregnant and failing, I was incredulous when I got pregnant...

  Up until last year, I considered myself one of the lucky ones. Despite going through several failed IUIs and a round of...

  If you’ve been trying to conceive for a while without success, you may have started looking at your daily routine with a...

  If you’ve considered pursuing surrogacy — either as an intended parent or as a gestational carrier — you may have no idea...

  Entering the world of TTC, or trying to conceive, can lead to a whole new spin on sex. If you’ve been trying...

  If you have been diagnosed with PCOS, it’s likely you have also heard some diet advice (perhaps unsolicited). PCOS can not only...

  The IVF process can be a time filled with difficult decisions, and trying to work with your doctor to figure out the...

Unexplained infertility can be incredibly frustrating because it suggests an underlying diagnosis has not been identified for your unsuccessful attempts at getting pregnant...

  Sponsored by Organon. Photo not of a real patient.Kristyn Hodgdon is an IVF mom, proud fertility advocate, Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer...

  I’ve always been a relatively confident, self-possessed person. I was the first to raise my hand in school. First to ask the...

  “Loss is a unique experience.”  We hear this said often when comforting those who have lost a loved one they knew and...

  When thinking about your fertility and the many, many parts that play a role in it, sometimes we overlook certain aspects of our...

A job I do not covet from my freakishly fertile friends is having to break the news to me or other TTC warriors that...

  Most people grow up wanting to eventually become parents. While many do so through traditional partnerships, more and more are separating their...

  Two hearts become one and then two people become three. The fairy tale makes it all sound so effortless. Real life often...

  If you’re dealing with infertility, chances are good that you’ve paid a visit (or two or three) to Dr. Google to see...

  Women are born with all of the eggs they will ever have, which makes maintaining egg quality and healthy ovulation incredibly important...

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) has been used in the United States since 1981 to help individuals and couples grow their families. During the...

Going through in vitro fertilization (IVF)  – or any infertility process – can feel like an endless cycle of waiting. You try unassisted –...

I’m currently in the two-week wait following my fourth frozen embryo transfer, and honestly, it feels like the stakes couldn’t be any higher for...

  For many, the right to an abortion is believed to be a black and white issue: you either support it, or you...

  Nationally celebrated holidays can feel isolating when your personal story doesn’t fit into the narrative of those days. For instance, Father’s Day...

  Sponsored by Organon Kristyn Hodgdon is an IVF mom, current fertility patient, Co-founder and Chief Community Officer of Rescripted. This article is the opinion of...

When you have been trying to conceive for a while without any luck, it can be difficult to know what your next steps should...

  I am a clinical embryologist, a position that has held the highest place of honor among the many accomplishments I have achieved...

  As a Reproductive Urologist, I specialize in treating male patients who want to get their partner pregnant or preserve their fertility. Even...

  In May of 2015, I married the love of my life. It was a whirlwind romance that took my breath away. I...

  Maybe you’ve decided that your family is complete or have opted to stop pursuing treatments. Perhaps you’ve chosen not to transfer certain...

Fertility seems like it should focus solely on the reproductive system, but it can be impacted by our other bodily systems and functions....

  Sponsored by Organon Dr. Alice Domar is a health psychologist with over 34 years of experience as a fertility therapist and has...

  You get another negative pregnancy test, grab your phone, and head straight to Google. You start searching for fast ways to get...

  There are many different paths that a fertility journey can take, and sometimes one of the biggest hurdles is figuring out the...

  When you’re trying to get pregnant, everything else in your life gets put on hold. This lack of control and structure is...

  You've been trying to conceive for a long time. Perhaps it's only been a year, but that year has felt like an...

There’s no sugarcoating it: a failed IVF cycle is devastating. Whether your egg retrieval ended with no viable embryos or the embryo you...

  Picture this: you have been trying to conceive for a while without success. You finally make an appointment with a fertility clinic...

  If you’re considering using frozen donor eggs to help grow your family, you might also be wondering what sort of biological impact,...

When you have been trying to conceive for a while, the two-week wait can be a highly anticipated time filled with feelings of...

  Going through fertility treatments can be filled with many seemingly impossible decisions. Should I alter my diet to improve my chances of...

  When you’re new to IVF, it can be difficult to wrap your mind around all of the different medications involved and the...

  When I was going through fertility treatments for the first time, I was 27 years young. I was newly married, recently diagnosed...

  If you’re trying to conceive, knowing when you ovulate is incredibly important. After all, contrary to what Sex Ed taught us in...

Sex is one of the most intimate experiences a couple can share. Likewise, the decision to have a child. In both, two individuals...

  I took sex-ed in Northwest Arkansas in what was, at the time, a small town. I consider myself fortunate that I come from...

  Lie with your feet up in the air after sex.  Have an orgasm.  Eat pineapple core. Pick up McDonald’s fries after an...

  My husband Nic and I fell in love quickly. Our relationship has always been full of spontaneity and big plans. We travel,...

  The only thing most people know about IVF is that it involves needles. Lots of needles. And they’re not wrong; injections, unfortunately, play...

  Since the beginning of time, women and couples struggling to conceive have been subject to a litany of ”well-meaning” but hurtful comments...

  When I started my IVF cycle, I had heard of the “IVF funnel,” or how the number of eggs retrieved can whittle...

  Let me tell you a little story about my first round of IVF. Spoiler alert: it was a big fat failure. When...

Staring down the long road of infertility is massively intimidating for many reasons. First of all, there’s the whole you-have-no-control-over-your-life-and-everything-you-thought-you’d-have-and-would-come-easily-is-nowhere-to-be-found thing. Second of...

  As a fertility clinic veteran, and now, finally, mother of two, I know what it's like to desperately want to get pregnant....

  The holidays can be a bittersweet time of year, especially for those of us whose journey to parenthood hasn’t been a smooth...

  When I think about the different “fertility types,” my mind immediately jumps to the various personalities in our community and the ways...

  In 2008, I discovered To Write Love on Her Arms after a close friend died by suicide. When I learned about their...

  Our story begins like so many. We were married on a beautiful October day. We waited a year before deciding to start...

  You're sitting in the parking lot of a fertility specialist's office, and your chest feels a little tight. You know that this...

  Pregnancy loss is a deeply painful, and unfortunately, all-too-common experience. I know this firsthand, after recently experiencing a missed miscarriage with my...

  We all know that what we put into our bodies affects our health in many ways. So if you are trying to...

  Something happens after you’ve been trying to conceive for a few years. You get tired of keeping the whole thing a secret....

  Recently, I had a realization. My Co-Founders and I were attending the American Society for Reproductive Medicine Conference (ASRM), and while we...

  A lot of people sense that they will have trouble conceiving, but I actually did not have that innate fear. Despite all...

  Nearly three-quarters of men who are trying to conceive or thinking about starting a family have no knowledge of their sperm quality,...

  When you are in the middle of infertility, there is so much that is out of your control. In my opinion, that’s...

  It was over two years ago when we found ourselves at a crossroads on our journey to parenthood. After exhausting our insurance-covered...

  There is no one-size-fits-all way to make a baby. Whether you’re in a heterosexual relationship, have a same-sex partner, or are a...

  I will never forget the day I was sitting in my therapist's office, telling her how poorly my relationship with my husband...

  Beta day. A day filled with so much hope, and yet so much anxiety. A day when you find out that either you’re...

Fertility medications can be one of the most confusing and frustrating parts of the IVF process. In fact, 22% of patients don’t comply...

  The only time I cried on my wedding day was during my best friend Hailey’s Maid of Honor speech. The way she...

  While there’s no hack or trick that is guaranteed to get you pregnant, if you’re still trying to conceive ‘the old-fashioned way,’...

  These are things I hear every day from my patients: “I have never felt this sad and anxious," “If I see another...

  If it feels like going through infertility is a full-time job, well that’s because it kind of is. Except instead of getting...

  Miscarriage and infertility don’t just bring on another set of medical bills and doctor's appointments. For those of us struggling to conceive,...

  Taking a pregnancy test can trigger some big feelings. Excitement. Anxiety. Fear. There’s a lot on the line when it comes to...

  It took my husband Brad and me two years to get on the same page when it came to our fertility treatment....

  Welcome to Rescripted! We’re changing the narrative around fertility and burning the word ‘normal’ when it comes to what a family is and...

  When I was going through fertility treatments the first time around, I was blissfully unaware that there were so many things that...

  Infertility is not just a women’s issue. In fact, infertility affects men and women equally. In couples experiencing infertility, approximately 35% is...

  In 1978, the idea of creating human life outside of the human body was out of this world. But that was also...

  When I met my husband Tristan in 2019, it was one of those I've-found-the-one moments. I know that sounds so cheesy, but...

  For heterosexual couples, being told by a doctor that you need to use donor eggs to have a baby can be incredibly...

  It was four years ago when I found myself right smack in the middle of my worst nightmare. I was preparing for...

  I met my husband the old-fashioned way—on the internet! We got married in 2012 and traveled the world: Europe, the British Virgin...

  Male factor infertility is not something I ever thought I would experience. I’m young, healthy, and no one else in my family...

  When my husband and I got married in 2015, our wedding party placed a bet that we would have kids within two...

  You never expect it will be you. Even if there is a family history—an aunt who had trouble conceiving—you never really think...

  Sustainable. Inexpensive. Totally effective. These are my goals when I create self-care content. Because, for the last decade, I have tried an...

  The decision to move to IVF likely isn’t one you made quickly or easily. There are a lot of factors to consider:...

  Mother’s Day is a tough holiday. After the launch of our Mother's Day collaboration with Greetabl, the members of our community reached out...

  “I’m grateful this is happening to me.” These are words I never thought I would say while reflecting on my fertility journey...

  Confession: For most of my adult life, I proclaimed that I did not want children. Ironically enough, one of the major things...

  Catherine (Cath) Lee and Lauren (Lar) Lee-Crane, here! We’re identical twin sisters that both suffer from endometriosis. We live in Atlanta, Georgia,...

  “The strongest people are not those who show strength in front of the world, but those who fight and win battles that...

  Some experiences in life stay with you and teach you lessons long after people think you should have moved past them. That’s...

  Here at The Yinova Center, we are dedicated to providing complementary care with meaningful results by using an integrative Eastern Medicine approach....

  Hello, warriors! I’m taking a moment to add another acronym to your TTC library and explain how I prepared for, coped with,...

  Before I delve into the inevitable, let me take you back in time—way, way back. I spent my childhood believing that magic...

  Prior to life with COVID, my husband and I loved to travel. Whether it was a weekend getaway road trip or an...

  There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to cope when it comes to trying--and struggling--to conceive. Many, when faced with an infertility...

  The deep desire to have a baby and being unable to conceive naturally once took over my entire life. The impact of...

  If you’ve met with a fertility specialist or you’re going through treatments, you may feel like you’ve had every test in the...

  It was 2015 when my best friend and I decided to Emigrate to Mallorca at age 19 in hopes of finding ourselves...

  “Trauma will age you more than time ever could.” I recently came across this quote, which couldn’t more accurately describe the emotions...

  Let’s face it: shopping for a prenatal vitamin can be overwhelming. There are a ton of different brands on the market, each...

  When you think of the typical situations that lead people to turn to lawyers, you may think of getting into a car...

  “Infertility, sadly, does not care about timing or schedules,” my therapist said to me as I cried through another session with her....

  I was honestly very naïve about the odds of getting and staying pregnant over 40 when I began my fertility journey. I...

  I have never been one of those women who felt like motherhood would define me. I always wanted to have an established...

  For IVF patients, having a doctor suggest donor eggs as a next step in the process can be an incredibly daunting and...

  I can still vividly remember the day my doctor called and said, “I think you need to consider IVF." At that point,...

  Words can be powerful. Coming from a book publishing background, I truly believe in the power of words to heal and inspire....

  Celebrities, they’re just like us. Right?! Well, actually, it’s complicated.  While on the surface it might seem like celebrities bringing attention to...

  I'm occupying space between two worlds. The first is a place that only consistently left me feeling disappointed, heartbroken, and devastated. The...

  Infertility requires the ultimate acceptance that there are some things we simply cannot control. When Dustin and I saw two pink lines in...

  I never thought I would deal with infertility. My earliest memories are of me playing with my dolls and dreaming of the...

  Infertility affects 1 out of 8 couples in the U.S. alone. Roughly 10% of men and women face infertility challenges based on separate factors. Below are...

  As a labor and delivery nurse, the better half of my twenties were spent bringing babies into the world. I watched as...

  I love sharing the story of the creation of my modern-day family because I want to open up the conversation on the...

  My husband and I met in 2011. It’s funny because when I first met him I remember thinking, “He is so cute...

  With both COVID-19 vaccines now approved by the FDA to be delivered and administered across the country, there are still many people...

  When my husband Brian and I decided it was time to start trying for a baby, we never imagined infertility would be...

  So often in the world of infertility, those suffering seek out support, love, and comfort from family and friends, only to find...

  So, you just received some news: you’ve been diagnosed with Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR). The combination of these three words can be...

  To Lena, Your Harper’s article caused quite the stir within the vast infertility community. There were varying perspectives and responses, and we’d like...

  I am an infertility warrior, but not in the traditional sense. I would say I won the battle, but not in the...

  It’s no secret that many couples struggle to conceive. While this used to be a topic barely anyone discussed, thanks to the...

  When my husband and I first started our IVF journey, peoples’ response was often, “That’s so exciting; you’re going to have twins!”...

  One of the first things I will ask a patient in our first session is “What percent of your time would you...

  At Circle Surrogacy & Egg Donation, we work with incredible women every day who are ready to become mothers and have chosen surrogacy as...

  Earlier this week, Harper’s Magazine published an essay written by actress, writer, and producer Lena Dunham, best known for her role in...

  My husband and I were diagnosed with unexplained infertility when we were both 27. We went through five IUIs and three rounds...

  Our fertility journey began in 2015, not long after we were married. Soon after that, in April of 2016, our lives were...

  Secondary infertility is a condition that occurs when an individual is unable to become pregnant or carry a child after previously giving...

  This is the part I never share, but here goes. I believed I caused my infertility. My brain needed a story for...

  So you have already faced months of infertility, maybe even years. You feel exhausted, and the thought of financing another dollar to...

  I was 26 the first time I noticed it. I was watching a movie and relaxing when I happened to run my...

  Earlier this month, model and cookbook author Chrissy Teigen shared the heartbreaking news that due to a pregnancy complication called placental abruption,...

  You probably know that male fertility issues, also known as “male-factor” infertility, contribute to at least 30% of diagnosed infertility cases. But...

  While our struggles with infertility only go back two years, it feels like they are ingrained in our four-year marriage as solidly...

  When my mother brought me to the United States, her goal was to make sure I was treated fairly regardless of my...

  We all go through life with expectations. We expect that if we work hard, educate ourselves, and make the right decisions, that...

When my husband and I decided in 2018 that it was time to grow our family, I was worried it was going to...

  Hedi Rappard is an IVF warrior and the founder of JUNE, a female-founded e-commerce company striving to improve the health of menstruators...

  Being a mother has been my number one goal in life since I was about 3 years old. Growing up, I never...

  I have always considered myself an advocate for my reproductive health. I’ve tracked my cycles on a mobile app since I was...

  I thought the journey to having a baby would be easy, but I was wrong. I knew being a parent would be...

  When we started trying for a baby, I had no idea what infertility really was. I was coming from the mindset of,...

  I’ve never considered myself a runner. I’m that chick who listens in awe when others describe a running high (I still think...

  It is no surprise that I have a Type A personality. I grew up with some pretty awesome role models (thanks, Mom...

  When Eran Amir started building his family, he decided he wanted to pursue surrogacy. But when he started the process of finding...

  It’s funny how a picture can take you right back to a particular moment, reminding you of the exact emotions you were...

  My husband and I started trying to conceive 19 months ago. We were hopeful, excited, and thankful for our health. After 6...

  After a year of trying to conceive with no success, an infertility diagnosis of male factor plus low AMH, the promise that...

  I remember growing up thinking I would be a young mom, married with a white picket fence, three children, two dogs, and...

  What if I told you that it was possible to be present, be positive, and be calm even during some of the...

  I began dating my husband in middle school. He has been my one and only boyfriend since we were 12 years old....

  Dear Kristyn,  When you’re 16 years old, your gynecologist will prescribe you a birth control pill due to irregular periods. You won’t...

  Did you know that what you put in your body when trying to conceive is the single most important thing you can...

  When I was diagnosed with Secondary Infertility, I was overwhelmed. Between being educated on how my reproductive system actually works (or how...

  When we first started trying to conceive, I went from 0 to batty real quick. I will admit, I am incredibly type-A,...

  I met my husband in the 6th grade. We had been best friends for years and got married in 2018. Coming from...

  No one wants to talk about death. No one wants to think about death. Especially when you are starting to create life....

  People assume that once a fertility struggle is ‘over’, all is perfect. But, do infertility scars ever fully heal? "But I just...

  I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 16. At the time, I had no idea what that would mean for my...

  Many of us know all too well that infertility can be a long, difficult road with lots of ups and downs. The...

  Like many of you, my journey to motherhood was not at all what I expected it to be. Navigating the world of...

  If you’ve been trying to get pregnant, and haven’t been able to yet, going in to see a specialist for your first...

  I can vividly remember the exact day and moment when that beast, infertility, started chipping away at my self-love. I was sitting...

  Bilateral Tubal Blockage with Hydrosalpinx: the words that would bring my journey to motherhood to a screeching halt. After a year of...

  Our story began in 2016. We stepped off the plane from our honeymoon, and we were informed of bad news about my...

  The idea that the modern woman can have it all — a career and a family, a fulfilling professional and personal life...

  “The biggest problem in life is the image in our heads of how it should be.” -Unknown If you’re reading this, chances...

  I always told my husband it would take a while for us to get pregnant, but I never thought recurrent pregnancy loss...

Figuring out how to pay for costly fertility treatments like IUI and IVF can be incredibly stressful. In fact, for the vast majority...

  Unique fertility journeys more often than not begin when an individual or couple decides to start a family. But what about when...

  Are you starting the planning process to begin the family of your dreams? Choosing home insemination for your path to parenthood can...

  We had two of the biggest grins on our faces, walking through the two glass doors of our fertility clinic on a...

  Prenatal vitamins can help improve fertility outcomes for future fathers, too. Thanks to decades of deep research and public health information campaigns,...

  The holiday season is a time of joy, laughter, and the gathering of family and friends. It's a time to be thankful...

  What happens when you're eager to conceive, a black woman, and you're diagnosed with infertility? Not only are you facing a journey...

  Going through infertility is something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. You watch your partner being poked, prodded, pumped with hormones,...

  I have always been a POAS addict (pee-on-a-stick addict). From the moment we decided we were trying, I bought pregnancy tests and...

  Have you ever wanted something, dreamed and hoped for years that it would happen, and then one day found out that it...

  My husband and I knew we were ready for children a good year before we started actively trying to get pregnant. We...

  After almost three years of trying to conceive and over 30 two-week waits under my belt, I am an expert on how...

  Even though I'm not on the other side of infertility, I still like to regularly check in with myself about what I've...

  Seven years ago, life dealt me the biggest blow when my mother passed away. After rising up out of that despair, I...

  ‘Did you know that when we’re born, we’re born with all our eggs? Already. Every last one is there from the very...

  Like the majority of people in the infertility community, my journey to parenthood didn't exactly go how I had imagined it would. That's...

  No one told me infertility would impact my career. Or how much fertility treatment would feel like another full-time job. Or how it...

  “Control what you can control.”  “You can’t control the wind, but you can control your sails.” These mantras are burned in my...

  Being a mom is hard. But becoming one, that was even harder. Cankles, hemorrhoids, fear-factor-type cravings at weird hours of the night,...

  1 in 8 couples either have trouble getting pregnant or sustaining a pregnancy. That means that out of a group of you...

  There is so much I wish I knew before entering the world of infertility. How nice it would have been to have...

  I am a planner. I always have been. I have backup plans for my backup plans. No one would ever describe me...

  At the start of 2020, anything and everything seemed possible. Maybe not a worldwide pandemic...but we’ll get to that later. At the...

  I never thought I would be writing out my infertility story or that I would even be in this place. Our journey...

  When my husband and I started IVF, we thought for sure that we would be successful right away. We were both 32...

  You would be hard-pressed to find anyone whose “normal” life hasn’t been affected by the Coronavirus outbreak. People are losing their jobs....

  “As someone rejoices over a new chapter in their life, I mourn over a loss in mine. It's twisted and confuses my...

  I stood in the middle of our kitchen, hands clenched at my side, tears running down my face. “I just can’t do...

  I watched my best friend struggle with infertility for years before experiencing it myself. I thought I knew what she was going...

  I’ve been sitting here trying to think of a different word for infertile. I even googled its synonyms: barren, unfruitful, impotent, sterile,...

  A little over two years ago, the only “lady” tests I was familiar with were the annual pap smear & HPV panel...

  In a very personal interview with the popular podcast Infertile AF, Samantha Busch, wife of NASCAR star Kyle Busch, Infertility Advocate, and...

  If you’re TTC, you know how psychologically challenging it can be. Emerging research is teaching us about the negative impact stress can...

  I always dreamed of being a mom. I imagined being done having babies by the time I was 25. I got married...

  I have two beautiful, healthy babies after infertility. They are boy/girl twins, and when I tell people that, they usually say, “you...

  When people ask me about my IVF experience, I always give the same answers: it wasn’t easy, but it was successful. What...

  Infertility doesn't happen to me - it happens to other people. I conceived my first child naturally within five months. Infertility isn't...

  I don’t remember the first time I held my babies. I don’t know who I held first. I don’t know if I...

  “What if it takes five years?” It’s ironic now because the five years in question were so arbitrary and also seemed impossible...

  My life was completely halted. I was stuck and grieving the loss of my own fertility on a daily basis. I knew...

  My husband and I felt excited to “pull out the goalie,” as he affectionately called taking out my IUD. None of our...

    Let’s face it. Timed sex is annoying and often anything but sexy. It can also quickly turn depressing when a two-week wait...

  September 2016—day one of our honeymoon. My wife and I decide to drive the Maui coast, along the Road to Hana.  A...

  Infertility and loss have single-handedly been the most isolating and lonely experiences of my life. The truth of the matter is, that...

  Unexpected memories can take you back to the happiest and saddest times in your life. Not too long ago, I was scrolling...

  “Hello from the other side. I must have tried a thousand times…. …to try and have a baby.” Okay, tell me you...

  As a little girl, I loved playing with dolls. In fact, I kept several of my childhood dolls dreaming I would have...

  What you think your life will look like and what it actually is like are not necessarily the same, and how you...

  Like depression, infertility was a label I had been convinced of identifying myself with. With both labels depression and infertility, I felt...

  We all know good nutrition is important to our overall health, but many women are unaware of the connection between diet, lifestyle,...

  Anyone who knows me knows that secrets are not my thing. In fact, I’m hard-pressed to think of anything in my life...

Over the past few years, I have had the very best moments of my life and the very worst, all of which are...

  Telling people what not to say can be a little bit problematic. I know this because I run a campaign called ‘Think!...

  It’s impossible to know what lies ahead on your journey to motherhood and, for me, I was blindsided. It was Spring of...

  In December of 2018, my husband and I were told we needed IVF to get pregnant. If you're reading this, you might...

  I have always been an anxious person. When you throw in a dash of infertility and a sprinkle of recurrent miscarriages, they...

  My daughter’s name would have been Mina. I see glimpses of her in my seven nieces and nephews—tiny flashes from the day...

What do severe period pain, infertility, chronic pelvic pain, painful sex, nerve pain, and GI symptoms all have in common? They are all...

I never thought I would be someone who had to go through IVF. Real talk, and I’m not proud of this: for years,...

  When I first started fertility treatments, IVF was the furthest thing from my mind. I was only 28 years old, and my...

  The National Center for Health Statistics reported that the average age of first birth in the United States rose from 24.9 years...

  Acupuncture can help women through every stage of their lives, from PMS to menopause. Acupuncture not only helps with fertility, but it can...

  The path to parenthood is different for everyone. Donor egg IVF is specifically for those who are unable to use their own...

  I don’t think there is anything in this world that can prepare you for infertility. Infertility is the opposite of what our...

  When people find out that I have carried five children as a three-time surrogate (yes you counted right, two sets of twins...

  Before I dive into my own experiences with stage 4 endometriosis, I think it’s important to start off by saying that everyone’s...

  As someone who has spent the better half of the last decade advocating for others as a survivor of domestic violence who...

  I’ve always been bossy, or as I like to call it, helpful. From as early on as I can remember, I have...

  Travel back with me if you will, all the way to the beginning of you. Well, almost. Picture this: little five-year-old you,...

  It seems like everybody knows somebody with an IVF baby, so when my husband Seth and I learned in June 2018 that...

  I never thought that I’d be forced into menopause twice before the age of 34.  I always thought that by the time...

  For my husband and me, our journey to parenthood has been nothing like what I imagined it would be. I always thought...

  I suffered from Hypothalamic Amenorrhea for 10 years without even knowing it. Like many women my age, I was on the birth...

  Recently, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Claire Virga, Registered Dietitian at Rooted Wellness in NYC, for a Q&A about...

  Love, marriage, a house, kids. That was the dream (mine, anyway). I was lucky enough to find true love and get married...

  Polycystic ovary syndrome, or more commonly, PCOS, is an incredibly common disorder that affects about 10% of women in the world, which...

  For most of my adult life, I have struggled on-and-off with anxiety. In my 20s, I learned how to deal with it...

  I always knew I wanted my own biological children, but I had no idea it would happen through gestational surrogacy, not in...

Did you know that Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine problem for women worldwide and the leading cause of infertility...

  How can acupuncture have a positive impact on my fertility? At WTHN, our mission is to empower our clients to achieve their best...

  My husband wasn’t home when I took my first pregnancy test, but we were able to FaceTime. We both held our breath...

  Mom guilt. Every mom has it. And yet, sometimes I feel like mine is amplified a bit since I fought so hard...

  I’m a rainbow mama.  This is a title I never asked to have, no one does, but it’s one that I have...

  "I'm so sorry, but you're not pregnant." The same words I have heard many times before. The same feeling of the air...

  I remember the first time I felt jealous after hearing a friend was pregnant. I remember it because it was such a...

  I always say that the scars of infertility don’t fade the minute you find out you’re pregnant. Even though my first reaction...

  It’s been almost a whole year that my sweet twin boys have been in our lives, and in some ways it feels...

  At the ripe old age of 28, I decided that becoming a mom was going to be my next big thing, which...

  “Here comes Baby A!” And then I heard the vibrant cries, our son Logan, being born into the world, his sister Kirsten,...

  There was a time when my gut reaction to a pregnancy announcement wasn’t to hurl myself into a sobbing heap on the...

  Negative. My pregnancy test was negative. My first IVF cycle didn’t work. I have a beautiful three-year-old daughter. We got pregnant naturally...

  It was 2012. Girl meets girl through an online dating website. The first time we met was at a park by my...

  I am, by nature, a planner. I am extremely type-A, organized, a scheduler, and I leave little room for error in both...

  One year ago this week, I was in the two-week wait after my second frozen embryo transfer. My first one had failed,...

  I should preface this by saying, patience is not one of my virtues. I have become increasingly more patient after going through...

  After undergoing a year of infertility treatments, including IVF, I thought a positive pregnancy test was going to be the answer to...

  Pregnancy after infertility can be scary. It is incredibly joyful, of course, but knowing that you now have what you worked so...

  As a self-proclaimed workout fanatic, one of the biggest struggles for me during my TTC journey was whether or not to continue...

  You would think, after a year of infertility treatments, that finding out I was pregnant was the happiest day of my life....

  I have been feeling all of the feels lately, so I thought it would be a good idea to get my thoughts...

I’m writing this in real-time as I sit in my hospital bed after being admitted for signs of pre-term labor. In an insane...