Entering the world of fertility treatments for the first time can be an overwhelming process, to say the least. In my case, dual-factor infertility led my husband and I to pursue IVF to grow our family. However, everyone’s journey is different. With so many varying paths to consider when it comes to taking care of your reproductive health, what’s important to remember is that you’re certainly not walking alone. If you’re considering your own options, here are a few tips I wish I had known before beginning IVF: 1. Realistically, how much time I would need...

When you have been trying to conceive for a while without any luck, it can be difficult to know what your next steps should be. Should you make an appointment with your OBGYN? What about scheduling a consultation with a fertility specialist? If those options sound too daunting or out of reach for you right now, there is another, simpler option.  No laboratory test is a crystal ball into the likelihood of a future pregnancy, but an ovarian reserve test is a simple blood test that can be an effective way of measuring the hormones that...

I am a clinical embryologist, a position that has held the highest place of honor among the many accomplishments I have achieved throughout my career. I also know first-hand the pain, emptiness, and emotional anguish that comes from not being able to build the family you desperately want when you want it. As the person behind-the-scenes in the IVF lab, I can’t describe the profound happiness that comes from being there at the very beginning of your family. From literally choosing the genes that will become your living child and placing those resulting embryos into your...

If you have recently been diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), it’s completely normal to be worried about your future fertility. You might be asking yourself, “Will I need fertility treatments to get pregnant?” Unfortunately, like so many things with fertility, the answer to that question is not so straightforward. However, the good news is that if you have PCOS, there’s no need to panic. There is definitely hope for conception, either naturally or through Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) like IUI or IVF.  In this article, we’ll walk you through some of the different treatment options...

Sponsored by Organon Dr. Alice Domar is a health psychologist with over 34 years of experience as a fertility therapist and has conducted decades of research on the relationship between stress and infertility. She pioneered the application of mind/body medicine to infertility care and currently is the Chief Compassion Officer and Director of Research at Inception. This article is written from the point of view of Dr. Domar based on her more than 3 decades of extensive experience working with patients experiencing infertility. If you get the sense that everyone is talking about infertility these days, that’s...

It might sound daunting to have your and your partner’s genetic makeup and quality tested; it can feel like it’s just another thing to tack onto your long list of worries and concerns while dealing with infertility. But while it may seem overwhelming, genetic testing is truly a groundbreaking science that can provide a helpful road map for your doctor to work with on your fertility journey. So, should you do genetic testing before–or during–IVF? Let's look at the options:  Genetic Carrier Screening Genetic Carrier Screening is a DNA blood test that determines whether a not...

Going through fertility treatments can be filled with many seemingly impossible decisions. Should I alter my diet to improve my chances of getting pregnant? Should I ask my doctor to switch up my protocol after a failed cycle? Should I tell my boss that I’m going through IVF? But the biggest, and arguably the most important decision that you will make throughout this process is choosing the best fertility clinic and doctor for you. (No pressure.) Whether you’re just starting out on your infertility trek or looking to make a change to your care team, here...

We know the word “hope” can be a tough one to hear. While on our fertility journeys, it can feel like hope is one of the few things we have control over, and yet it can be a hard one to balance alongside fear and skepticism. It isn’t always easy being told to have hope or to keep hoping because what we want most in the world is just on the other side of that little four-letter word. With chemical pregnancies, however, there truly is reason to hope for a successful pregnancy afterward, and it’s a bit...

When you’re new to IVF, it can be difficult to wrap your mind around all of the different medications involved and the role each one plays in the egg retrieval or embryo transfer process.  Even as an IVF veteran, you can think you have it all figured out and then–bam!–your protocol changes and you’re back to square one. From late-night injection questions to last-minute medication needs, IVF can be unpredictable, which is why it’s so important to have a reliable fertility pharmacy on your side to support you every step of the way.   Before starting fertility...

When I was going through fertility treatments for the first time, I was 27 years young. I was newly married, recently diagnosed with PCOS, and had barely even started trying to conceive when I was thrust into the complicated world of fertility acronyms before my brain had time to catch up. TTC, IUI, WTF?  I knew I had Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). I was aware that my menstrual cycle had always been irregular. But I had no idea what all of that actually meant when it came to trying to conceive. I’m embarrassed to even admit...