Send us a text In this heartfelt episode of Fertility in Focus , we sit down with Kate Elliot, who shares her journey of fertility challenges. Her story begins at age 24 when she and her partner initially hoped to start a family. From her first doctor’s appointment till the AART clinic, her journey spanned 8 years. Elliot opens up about the unexpected mental toll, sharing her coping strategies, planning, and self-preservation fantasies. Reflecting on the day of the embryo transfer, she explores ...
Nov 22, 2023•38 min•Season 1Ep. 37
Send us a text On this heartfelt episode of Fertility In Focus, we are joined by Dr. Ambra Brown, a single mom by choice and a dedicated Physical Therapist from Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Brown bravely shares her story about her unconventional path to motherhood and the factors that shaped her choices through the process. Having always dreamt of having a kid, Dr. Brown made the decision to undergo Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) using a sperm donor. She shares her candid experiences, from the ner...
Nov 07, 2023•40 min•Season 1Ep. 36
Send us a text In this empowering episode of Fertility in Focus, we sit down with Deana Sdao, an advocate for fertility and family planning benefits who underwent fertility preservation. In this conversation, we discuss Sdao’s personal experience with egg freezing, the feelings and thoughts she had at the time, and the social discourse surrounding fertility preservation. She candidly discusses the fears that arose, from the invasiveness of the process to relinquishing control over her body. In t...
Oct 24, 2023•35 min•Season 1Ep. 35
Send us a text In this episode, we welcome special guest, Steven Miller, a patient turned fertility advocate, as he courageously shares his personal journey through the labyrinth of fertility challenges. With remarkable vulnerability, Steven shares his fertility journey discussing the emotional highs and lows, treatments, surgeries, and the often unspoken impact these challenges have on men’s mental health. Through his candid story, he explores the ripple effects of this experience on his relati...
Oct 10, 2023•50 min•Season 1Ep. 34
Send us a text In this heartfelt episode of Fertility in Focus, we are joined by Alexie Reilly, a fertility patient, fertility doula, and passionate ambassador for Fertility Matters Canada, as she shares her personal fertility journey story. She fearlessly opens up about her experiences with immunology issues, confronting male factor infertility, and enduring a range of fertility treatments. With incredible candor, she recounts the emotional rollercoaster of facing these health challenges, under...
Sep 26, 2023•39 min•Season 1Ep. 33
Send us a text In this special episode of Fertility in Focus, we delve into the complex topic of recurrent pregnancy loss with the esteemed Dr. Khaled Zohni, an expert in Gynecologic Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility medicine. In this episode, Dr. Zohni answers patients’ questions live, and provides valuble insights about the intricate biological processes involved in conception, pregnancy, and miscarriages. As a patient, you'll gain valuable knowledge on proactive measures to improve y...
Sep 12, 2023•42 min•Season 1Ep. 32
Send us a text In this episode on Fertility in Focus, we are joined by writer and acupuncturist Mary Wong . We delve into the benefits of acupuncture and its profound impact on the journey to conceive. As someone who has personally gone through fertility struggles, Wong’s belief in the transformative power of acupuncture resonates strongly. Drawing upon her Chinese heritage, Wong shares a personal anecdote about her grandmother's miraculous recovery using acupuncture and her inspiration for this...
Aug 29, 2023•33 min•Season 1Ep. 31
Send us a text In this episode of Fertility in Focus, we are joined by Dr. Beth Taylor, co-founder and co-director of Olive Fertility Centre, to shed light on the often-neglected topic of miscarriages and recurrent pregnancy loss. With compassion and expertise, Dr. Taylor guides us through the multifaceted aspects of pregnancy loss. She provides solace and invaluable insights for those who have experienced or are supporting individuals who’ve faced miscarriages. Dr. Taylor discusses the common c...
Aug 15, 2023•32 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Send us a text This week on Fertility in Focus, we are joined by Dr. Bryden Magee to discuss PCOS and how it impacts fertility. Dr. Magee is an associate physician at the Ottawa Fertility Centre who cares for individuals and couples with infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, polycystic ovary syndrome, endocrine disorders, and primary ovarian insufficiency. She offers fertility options for many LGBTQ+ individuals and families. She is committed to regional outreach to help improve access to care ...
Aug 08, 2023•34 min•Season 1Ep. 29
Send us a text In this week's episode on Fertility in Focus, we sat down with Laura Spencer, a Fertility Coach who is sharing valuable tips for your fertility journey. Laura shares her own story and how it led to working with people on their path to parenthood. We cover some of the top areas she supports clients through on their fertility journeys, and some common themes that come up throughout working together. Finally, Laura gives you some top tips for how to navigate your own fertility journe...
Aug 01, 2023•32 min•Season 1Ep. 28
Send us a text In this week’s episode on Fertility in Focus, Carolynn sits down with Sacha Welsh to discuss the science behind stress and fertility. Sacha is a Certified Health Coach, Founder of Welsh Wellness and mom of three girls. After experiencing a traumatic recovery following the delivery of her second child, Sacha became passionate about helping women prepare their bodies for success. Welsh Wellness focuses on fertility, pregnancy and postpartum health. Its mission is to help women becom...
Jul 25, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Send us a text In this episode of Fertility in Focus, we are joined by Lindsay Dent, entrepreneur and founder of Pink Crown Creative, to discuss her fertility journey and challenges. Dent opens up about her own experiences, revealing the struggles she endured during her path to pregnancy. She speaks on the emotions experienced by herself and countless other people who face similar challenges. The misconceptions and miseducation about infertility inspires her to share her story and empower others...
Jul 18, 2023•37 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Send us a text In this episode, Carolynn sits down with Naturopathic Doctor, Dr. Kelsey Duncan, who shares their insights on naturopathic care and how one can use it as a treatment option when they are on their path to parenthood. Dr. Kelsey shares how it differs from other treatment options and how it can be beneficial for fertility patients. Dr. Kelsey is also the creator of Fertility Confidence Method and Owner of Cared For Wellness, a virtual wellness clinic in Ontario, Canada. She is dedica...
Jul 11, 2023•46 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Send us a text In this week's episode, we are joined by Erin and Tiffany, the Co-Founders of Oasis Fertility Support Network, to discuss the importance of community on your fertility journey. They share their own fertility journeys and how they found support in each other after years of struggling with infertility. They also talk about how finding a community helped them cope with their fertility struggles. They also share why it's important to find a support network, how to find one if you don'...
Jun 27, 2023•32 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Send us a text In this week’s episode, we sit down with Dr. Lorne Brown, the Clinical Director of Acubalance Wellness Centre, and the Founder of Healthy Seminars and the Integrative Fertility Symposium, to discuss his approach to supporting one’s fertility journey, that being Chinese medicine and naturopathy. Acubalance Wellness Centre takes an integrated approach incorporating both research-based and time-tested treatments combining Chinese medicine, acupuncture, naturopathy, cold laser (LLLT)/...
Jun 20, 2023•47 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Send us a text In this special episode on Fertility in Focus, we are joined by writer and director Hiag Avsharian to discuss his short film, “Pulling the Goalie”, and shed some light on the often overlooked perspective of male infertility struggles. Drawing from his personal experience, Hiag gives us insight into his journey through fertility challenges. With a desire to increase awareness surrounding the experiences of men, he spent over a decade working on his short film, “Pulling the Goalie”....
Jun 15, 2023•24 min•Season 1Ep. 22
Send us a text Today we're talking with Dr. Ariel Dalfen, a psychiatrist who specializes in women’s mental health. Dr. Dalfen has 20 years of experience and is the Co-Founder of BRIA, a virtual care service for women struggling with mental health issues across reproductive life stages. In this episode she'll be sharing some of her favorite tips for taking care of your mental health while trying to conceive. This episode is for anyone who's dealing with the struggle of building a family—whether i...
Jun 13, 2023•48 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Send us a text In this episode, we sit down with Bianca Bolissan to talk about her journey through trying to conceive. We cover the unknowns that come with the process and what she did to help find support systems during a time when she didn't even know what she didn't know. Connect with Bianca on Instagram @myfertilityjourney.ca and visit her https://www.myfertilityjourney.ca/ . Also, be sure to check out the My Fertility Journey podcast. Stay up to date with all things Fertility in Focus by fo...
Jun 06, 2023•43 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Send us a text In this episode of Fertility in Focus, we're talking about IUI - which stands for Intrauterine Insemination - with Dr. Gord McTavish the Medical Director of Heartland Fertility . If you want to learn more about this infertility treatment option, or if you're just curious about what it is and how it works, tune in! We'll talk about the basics of IUI, why it's used as a treatment option for infertility and what its purpose is. We'll also discuss IUI vs IVF and dispel some of the com...
May 30, 2023•44 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Send us a text Hey, listeners! We're back with another episode of Fertility in Focus. This time, we're talking with Dr. Robyn Murphy, a naturopathic doctor at Conceive Health in Toronto. She is an expert in the microbiome, and she shares with us what it is, how it affects our health and fertility, ways to improve your microbiome, and more! Here are some great opportunities to connect with Dr. Murphy Follow me at @DrRobynMurphy Book with her at Conceive Health North York Book 15-min introductory ...
May 23, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Send us a text In this episode on Fertility in Focus, we learn about Keith Buis’ six year fertility journey. Keith is from St. John’s, Newfoundland and a fierce advocate for equal access to fertility services. At the start of his journey with his wife, Amanda, they never could have imagined the lengths they would travel to start their family. Their journey started with in-province treatment, progress to out-of-province treatment, and eventually led them to out-of-country treatment. From the pers...
May 09, 2023•37 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Send us a text In this episode of Fertility in Focus, we sit down with Dr. Al Yuzpe to discuss how to find the right clinic for you. Dr. Yuzpe is a co-founder and co-director of Olive Fertility Centre . As Canada's most senior Reproductive Endocrinologist, he has been involved in IVF for the past 30 years and in the field of infertility for the past 43 years. If you've ever been confused about what exactly a fertility clinic does or how to find one that's right for you and your situation, this e...
Apr 29, 2023•43 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Send us a text In this episode, we are joined by not one but two, incredible individuals, Baden and Zane Colt, who are intended parents by surrogacy, expecting their first child in July 2023. Baden and Zane get raw and real with their journey, which begins with Baden's childhood epilepsy diagnosis and their lead-up to today where they are working with their surrogate, Ashley, who is 24.5 weeks pregnant, and all the milestones and challenges in between. Baden and Zane are active members of the su...
Apr 28, 2023•49 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Send us a text In this episode, we hear from Dr. Ari Baratz who shares the ins and outs of embryo transfers. The process of an embryo transfer can be complicated and confusing, so Fertility Matters Canada wanted to bring you a guide to help you navigate it all. Dr. Baratz will walk you through what's involved in the process from start to finish, so you'll know exactly what's going on with your embryos during the transfer. Tune in now! About Dr. Ari Baratz Dr. Ari Baratz has been dedicated to wom...
Apr 27, 2023•42 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Send us a text In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Ingrid Lai, MD, MSc, FRCSC, GREI, to discuss the pre-conception phase and what one should consider to optimally prepare for conception and a pregnancy. Dr. Lai also shares the things one can do to make changes to improve chances of conception if they have comorbidities. Tune in now! More About Dr. Lai Dr. Lai earned her medical degree (MD) in 2012 from the University of Toronto. She completed residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Unive...
Apr 26, 2023•38 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Send us a text In this raw and emotional episode, Carolynn sits down with Layla Michaels, a fertility patient with a powerful story and mission to support those trying to conceive. Layla has been living and learning about fertility through her own journey since 2018. She is a mother to a little boy who never came home from the hospital, a step-mom, partner, and infertility bad ass/warrior. She is passionate about the importance of sharing our stories and helping educate people about the paths of...
Apr 25, 2023•29 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Send us a text In this episode on Fertility in Focus, Shania Bhopa is taking the mic to talk about what it means for young people who want to take control of their fertility. At 25-years-old, Shania is sharing her journey egg freezing on social media to stimulate awareness about fertility and the importance of opening up the conversation about non-traditional family planning. Shania's story is inspiring because she has taken control of her life by choosing to freeze her eggs at an age when most ...
Apr 24, 2023•35 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Send us a text In this episode on Fertility in Focus, we are having Emily Getz on the show! Emily is a fertility mindset coach and the founder of Day 1 , a first of its kind fertility support network and host of The Day 1 Podcast . In October 2019, Emily was pregnant with her second child whom she lost unexpectedly at six months pregnant, due to an external infection. This experience changed her life and was the precipice of how Day 1 came to be. Over the past three plus years, Emily has experie...
Apr 23, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Send us a text In this episode on Fertility in Focus, Carolynn is joined by Naturopathic Doctor and IVF mama herself, Dr. Laura von Hagen, MSc, ND, to talk about polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Dr. Laura fundamentally believes in empowering her patients to achieve their ultimate goal: having a healthy pregnancy and baby. While it is common to feel isolated and uncertain while trying to conceive. Dr. Laura provides the support that patients deserve when navigating their fertility journey. She h...
Apr 18, 2023•29 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Send us a text In this week's episode on Fertility in Focus, we are joined by Fertility Warrior and Coach, all the way from Australia, Jennifer Robertson. She shares her seven-year fertility journey and the emotional rollercoaster she endured, as well as the key lessons she learned along the way. It's a great episode for anyone who is struggling with infertility or has a loved one who is navigating their journey. In more detail, you will learn: The biggest lesson Jennifer learned from her fertil...
Apr 11, 2023•39 min•Season 1Ep. 8
