If you’re only just starting to consider in-vitro fertilization (IVF) as an option, the very concept can be intimidating. The term “IVF” is thrown around so often in fertility circles that some people automatically assume it’s a necessary step for getting pregnant with infertility. Sometimes it is, but sometimes it isn’t.  “Don't assume just because you're struggling to get pregnant that you need IVF,” says Deanna Brasile, DO, a fertility specialist at Main Line Fertility. “The majority of patients can get pregnant through means that are less aggressive and less expensive than IVF.”   There are, however,...

As expected, our moms were on point. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  But lately, the message has gotten a bit lost in translation as we’ve been hit with more content online and on social media advising us to do intermittent fasting, eat our first meal of the day at noon, do a fasted workout, or drink coffee on an empty stomach for accelerated fat burn.  For women in particular, it turns out our body isn’t too fond of all that manipulation because of our hormonal complex. Women aren’t small men. We have...

“Period symptoms” is a stand-in phrase for many different things. Depending on who you ask, they can range from mild headaches to bloating to debilitating cramping. For many women, period symptoms are so painful that it’s like a full-time job finding the right combination of wellness items and self-care to help support them during ‘that time of the month.’  Before we dive into how probiotics can help ease period symptoms, it’s helpful to understand just how prevalent and vast period symptoms are. According to the Office on Women’s Health, over 90% of women say they have...

We get it, talking about blood sugar isn’t the sexiest thing on the planet, but it is necessary.  Most people assume blood sugar control only matters for people who are diabetic or pre-diabetic, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Blood sugar control is one of the primary pillars of our metabolic health, aka our metabolism.  Our metabolism is so much more than “a fat-burning mechanism” as we hear about from the diet industry. It’s responsible for ensuring every single cell and organ in our body is equipped with the energy to do its job....

As if our bodies couldn't get any more confusing and stress-inducing, sometimes, seemingly out of nowhere, we're thrown a curve ball in the form of an ovarian cyst. Ovarian cysts are annoying and sneaky little things — some women experience no symptoms at all, while others have warning signs in the form of back or pelvic pain. While the idea of an ovarian cyst may seem scary, especially if you're trying to conceive, figuring out whether you have one in the first place and whether or not it's affecting your fertility can make you feel even more...

People of color face disparities when it comes to infertility and reproductive health outcomes — studies have demonstrated this, and it’s crucial that we acknowledge the facts. Black women in particular have lower pregnancy and birth rates when using donor eggs or undergoing fertility treatments, for example. But it’s also important to acknowledge that challenges that aren’t always reflected by data — for example, the medical biases, the cultural stigmas, and the enduring stereotypes that make the world of infertility care even more difficult for Black patients to navigate. Luckily, efforts are underway to address these...

When it comes to nutrition, everyone, and their mother has opinions about what you should and should not be putting in your mouth. Add the prospects of pregnancy into the mix, and all of those opinions get even louder. No matter where you fall on the spectrum of diet preferences — from paleo to vegan, from intermittent fasting to constant grazing — adding plants to your plate is one piece of advice that everyone can get on board with.  What are the health benefits of eating a plant-based diet? A plant-based diet, just as the name conveys, is about...

If you dealt with infertility before conceiving and delivering a baby, it’s only natural to hope you may be more fertile postpartum. After all, you did it! You had a child despite the odds. But even if you didn’t have difficulty getting pregnant the first time around, there are articles out there that do feed into the idea that women can undergo a “fertility reset” after giving birth.   The more you Google postpartum fertility, however, the more overwhelmed you may get, as the evidence online can be contradictory and far from straightforward. Don't worry; we’re here...

Whether you love them or hate them (or love to hate them), there’s one thing that’s undeniable: The Kardashians keep it all the way real. Sometimes that’s a really wonderful thing, especially when they bring awareness to pregnancy complications (see: Kim Kardashian’s terrifying experience with preeclampsia) or open up about fertility preservation, as Khloé Kardashian did.  Most recently, the eldest Kardashian sister provided an update on her IVF journey, which she’s been candid about for months. In doing so, she’s illuminating elements of the experience we don’t often see.  Kourtney Kardashian has been doing this throughout her...

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis are both conditions that affect women of reproductive age. While it is possible to get pregnant with either diagnosis, both conditions can impact fertility — in addition to the person’s quality of life.  We spoke with Dr. Shahab Minassian of Main Line Fertility, a renowned expert in the relationship between infertility and PCOS, to help us delve into this topic and unpack what each diagnosis ultimately means for women and their fertility.  What's the difference between PCOS and endometriosis? The simplest explanation: PCOS is a metabolic disorder, and endometriosis is...