Every year on October 10th, World Mental Health Day is full of acknowledging that our mental health is an important part of our overall health. The world is having more candid conversations around mental health, but it’s also true that we could always use more open takes — especially in the fertility community where the focus is so heavily placed on physical well-being.   Below are a handful of quotes that speak openly about mental and emotional well-being.  20 World Mental Health Day quotes to inspire you On managing a new diagnosis…  “There is no standard normal....

You finally got that BFP (big fat positive) on a pregnancy test, and you’re so excited about the changes ahead — but your body is telling you something’s not right. Based on your symptoms, your OB/GYN wants you to be seen for a possible ectopic pregnancy. Thoughts are swirling in your mind, like “How soon can I be seen for an ectopic pregnancy ultrasound?” In this article, we share what to expect if you’re experiencing this type of pregnancy. Read about how it’s diagnosed, including when you can get seen for an ultrasound, and how to...

So you’ve just had an egg retrieval and the results are in! You got 10 mature eggs, and 6 immature eggs. Good news on the 10 mature eggs, but what about the 6 immature eggs? Can't they be used for anything? Some research is showing that they can be used, after applying a technique known as "rescue in vitro maturation," or "rescue IVM."  Essentially, rescue IVM involves culturing the immature eggs a bit longer until they mature, and then inseminating them. But before we discuss this, let’s back up and talk about what it means to...

“Endless hunger” is an experience most of us ladies can probably relate to, especially when your period is right around the corner.  We’ve all been there — eating everything in sight and hovering over the pantry like it’s a newfound obsession, yet still unable to satisfy your growling stomach.  It turns out, you're not crazy. These are all appropriate signs from your body to make up for what’s going on internally as it prepares for your period.  So, why are you so hungry before your period? Right before your period, you’re in the latter half of...

The world is a very different place than it was in March 2020. We know far more about COVID than ever before, we have effective tools to prevent and treat it (for those of us who can access them), and most of us have developed some level of immunity against the virus. But that doesn’t mean that COVID is “over.”  In the United States, thousands of people test positive for COVID every day. You don’t need to be a mathematician (I’m certainly not!) to recognize that some of those who test positive will also be pregnant....

When embarking on a fertility journey, there’s a lot of new lingo to learn. Acronyms abound (TTC, POAS, HPT, oh my!) and with them come a never-ending stream of terminology that hasn't seemed relevant since ninth-grade health class. It’s enough to make a person feel totally overwhelmed and out of place.  Today, we’re here to tackle just one of those terms — cervical mucus — and break down exactly what it is and why it’s important for understanding your fertility. And rest assured that, unlike health class, there’s no pop quiz at the end.  What is...

Bindi Irwin recently shared new details about her road to being diagnosed with endometriosis — and her story will likely resonate hard with the many women who have experienced medical gaslighting. This isn’t the first time Irwin has opened up about living with endometriosis. In an Instagram post shared a few months ago, she shared that she lived with debilitating symptoms of the condition for 10 years. During that time, Irwin went through countless doctor’s appointments, scans, and tests before she was finally diagnosed. Bindi Irwin's endometriosis experience is a frustratingly common one Many, many women...

Infertility is increasingly common, with an estimated 1 in 5 married women aged 15-49 in the United States being affected by the condition, according to the CDC. That’s a pretty staggering statistic, yet fertility care hasn’t quite evolved to address those numbers. A diagnosis of infertility is typically made after someone tries to conceive for a year with no luck. Because of that, most people are advised to try to conceive for a full year before being offered any type of fertility testing (six months if you're over the age of 35). But here’s the thing:...

Sponsored by Organon. Visit FertilityJourney.com for infertility resources and information. LGBTQ+ couples navigating family planning and fertility options may face unique questions and circumstances like, “How do we start our family planning journey?” “Are there restrictions against LGBTQ+ partners that may impede our access to care and options?” “Will my doctor understand our specific needs or have a personal bias?” Through our conversations with those in the (in)fertility community, every couple’s family planning journey and needs are different. For LGBTQ+ couples, additional considerations may be at play. Taking the first step to explore the options available...

Chances are, you’ve come across several stories about intrauterine devices (IUDs) in the news lately. One of the biggest details from Britney Spears’ conservatorship battle was the pop star’s claim that she wanted to have a baby, but she wasn’t allowed to have her IUD removed. There have also been numerous viral TikToks in the past year highlighting patients’ negative experiences with IUDs.  First of all, let’s clarify what exactly an IUD is: It’s a small, T-shaped type of birth control inserted directly into the uterus by a healthcare provider, used for the purpose of long-term...