Fertility Nurses Unfiltered

Ashlee Laroue, BSN, RN and Laura Weppler, BSN, RN
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Fertility Nurses Unfiltered is a nurse-led podcast for people navigating infertility and fertility treatment who want clarity, honesty, and support beyond the clinic walls. Hosted by former fertility clinic nurses Ashlee Laroue and Laura Weppler, co-founders of Rooted Fertility Co., we pull back the curtain on IVF, fertility care, transfers, medications, canceled cycles, burnout, and the emotional realities patients aren't always prepared for. Two nurses. One mic. No b******t. https://www.rootedfertilityco.com/

  1. 4 days ago

    Surrogacy From Both Sides: An Intended Mom & Her Surrogate Tell All

    Some stories begin with heartbreak. This one begins with hope. After three and a half years of infertility and four devastating losses, Jessica Butcher was searching for a path to motherhood built on trust and real connection, not paperwork and price tags. Amanda Konko felt called to carry for another family, but the traditional agency process left her feeling like a number in a pen. Then the two women met, first as coworkers, then as friends, and eventually as intended mother and surrogate. Amanda carried Jessica's daughter Olivia, delivered her in a peaceful home water birth, and somewhere along the way they discovered that the relationship itself was the most meaningful part of the entire journey. That experience inspired Little Seed Match, a private platform helping intended parents and surrogates connect through shared values, transparency, and authentic relationships. In this episode, we cover: Jessica's journey through recurrent loss and the moment surrogacy entered the conversationWhy the traditional agency model can feel transactional, and what it costs intended parents before a match is ever madeHow Little Seed Match flips the script with full profile transparency, mutual vetting, and autonomy for both sidesThe shocking things seasoned surrogates have shared about being made "marketable"Amanda's experience as a surrogate, from telling her three little boys to delivering Olivia at homeThe embryo transfer, the home birth, and what true alignment looks like at every stepPostpartum depression in non-birthing mothers, and why nobody warned Jessica it could happenGrief and joy living side by side after loss, and why "you should just be happy" needs to be retired Surrogacy is so often reduced to logistics, legal agreements, and headlines that get it wrong. Jessica and Amanda's story is proof that when the match comes first, everything else falls into place, and that the relationship between an intended parent and a surrogate can be one of the most beautiful partnerships there is. If you're an intended parent weighing your options, a hopeful surrogate wondering what this journey could look like, a fertility nurse supporting patients through third party reproduction, or someone who simply wants to understand surrogacy beyond the myths, this episode is for you. Connect with Little Seed Match:https://www.instagram.com/littleseedmatch/https://www.littleseedmatch.com/

  2. 21 Jul

    Pregnant After Fertility Treatment: Real Talk About the Gaps in Care

    One week you're being seen every few days with bloodwork and ultrasounds. The next, you're told "see you at 12 weeks" and sent out the door. So what happens in between? This week, Laura and Ashlee sit down with Dr. Alecia Fields, a board certified OBGYN, FACOG, and trained doula, to talk about one of the most jarring transitions in the entire fertility journey: the handoff from your fertility clinic to your OB. Dr. Fields is the creator of DoulaDoc, where she blends evidence-based medicine with real emotional support, and she pulls back the curtain on what OBs actually see when a fertility patient lands in their office (spoiler: it's usually one or two pages). Together they dig into why the first trimester feels like such an invisible, isolating waiting place, and what patients and providers can both do to close the gap. In this episode, we cover: Why fertility clinics discharge you around 8 weeks and why your OB may not see you until 12The "invisible trimester" and why so few people talk about the hardest stretch of early pregnancyWhat your OB does and doesn't know about your fertility journey, and why sharing your story mattersSpotting and bleeding in the first trimester: what can be normal and when to callPregnancy after loss and the anxiety of having no symptomsWhy the US maternal mortality crisis makes this more than a comfort issueHow patients can advocate for themselves at every appointment, because you are not a burden The system wasn't built to see the whole you, and it's not going to fix itself. But between providers who care, better handoffs, and patients who feel empowered to speak up, we can start closing these gaps one conversation at a time. If you're navigating that scary stretch between your fertility clinic and your OB, pregnant after loss, or just tired of feeling like you're too much for the system, this episode is for you. Connect with Dr. Alecia Fields:https://www.instagram.com/mydouladoc/https://mydouladoc.com/

  3. 14 Jul

    Choosing Yourself: The Truth About Single Parenthood by Choice

    She came to the conclusion that she was probably going to get children or a marriage, but not both. So she chose children. Dr. Meggie Smith is a reproductive endocrinologist at Nashville Fertility Center and a single mom by choice, currently pregnant with her second daughter, both conceived from eggs she froze at 31. In this episode, she sits down with Laura and Ashlee to pull back the curtain on what it actually looks like to make that choice, plan for it strategically, build a support system from scratch, and navigate the very fertility system she works in every single day. Topics covered in this episode: Why Dr. Smith chose single parenthood over waiting for the "right" relationshipFreezing eggs at 31 and using them at 37: what that planning process actually looked likeChoosing a sperm donor and the 85% rule she shares with her own patientsGenetic anonymity, donor-conceived children, and why that landscape has changed foreverBuilding a support bench as a single parent working full timeThe broken healthcare system, straight from a physician living itWhy your insurance coverage might actually cost you more than paying cashHow the lack of reimbursement incentive makes it harder to be a thorough doctor Dr. Smith brings something rare to this conversation: she has sat in the REI chair as both clinician and patient. Her perspective is unfiltered, deeply practical, and genuinely validating for anyone navigating fertility on their own terms. This episode is for you if you've ever wondered whether single parenthood by choice is really possible, felt overwhelmed by insurance and financial decisions, or just needed to hear someone say out loud that the system is a racket and they're doing their best anyway. Connect with Dr. Meggie Smith and Nashville Fertility Center: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mbsthinks/Website: https://www.nashvillefertility.com/about-us/fertility-specialists/meghan-smith-md/

  4. 7 Jul

    Acupuncture For Fertility: What Happens When Eastern and Western Medicine Work Together

    Western medicine tells you what's broken. Eastern medicine asks why. And when the two actually work together? That's where fertility patients stop feeling like a number and start feeling supported. Dr. Mary Sabo has spent 20 years building bridges between worlds that too often stay divided. As a doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine and founder of Lillian Horn in New York City, she's done the quiet, deliberate work of earning physician trust one patient letter at a time, and the results speak for themselves. She now practices on-site at CCRM New York on embryo transfer days, collaborates with REIs across Manhattan, and has co-authored published research on complementary medicine. She also navigated her own IVF journey, conceiving her son at 43 using eggs she froze at 38. In this episode, we get into all of it: Why Eastern and Western medicine are better together, not in competitionHow acupuncture works as a signaling mechanism and what it actually does in the bodyThe evidence behind acupuncture for IVF, including live birth rate dataWhy the Eastern/Western divide often comes down to ego and how to spot red flags on both sidesHow Mary built trust with physicians over 20 years by speaking their languageNavigating acupuncture if you're needle-phobic or working with a tight budgetWhy fertility is as much an art form as a scienceMary's video game analogy for getting through the hardest parts of the journey The fertility space is noisy, and patients are vulnerable. The antidote isn't choosing a side. It's building a team that trusts each other enough to share the load. If you've ever wondered whether acupuncture is worth it, felt caught between your doctor and a wellness practitioner, or just needed someone to remind you that you don't have to figure this out alone, this episode is for you. Connect with Dr. Mary Sabo and Lillian Horn:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilyandhorn/Website: https://www.lilyandhorn.com/

  5. 30 Jun

    Egg Freezing Unfiltered: Freeze Your Eggs, Own Your Fertility

    You've been told fertility is a birthright. It isn't. And the sooner you understand that, the more power you have to actually do something about it. This week, we sat down with Dr. Jaime Knopman, double board certified OBGYN and reproductive endocrinologist at CCRM New York, national director of fertility preservation for the entire CCRM network, and author of the new book Own Your Fertility. Dr. Knopman is also the medical director of Chick Mission, a nonprofit providing grants to young adult cancer patients so they can preserve their fertility before treatment. Ashlee worked alongside her at CCRM, and this conversation feels exactly like that history, honest, funny, and unguarded. We covered a lot of ground, including: Why Dr. Knopman shifted from calling herself an "infertility doctor" to a "fertility doctor," and why that distinction mattersThe truth about egg freezing attrition, and why comparing it to a Hail Mary versus a modern day high percentage play changes how you should think about your numbersEgg freezing versus embryo freezing, and the one scenario she says is worse than not knowing if your eggs are healthyMajor misconceptions she debunks constantly, including birth control and infertility, IUDs, atresia, and whether egg freezing depletes your future fertilityWhy she calls ovarian rejuvenation and "trimester zero" narratives a setup for disappointmentThe reality of physician burnout, why she only personally calls patients with bad news, and what it means to grieve a cycle that didn't workChick Mission's mission to close the access gap for cancer patients who need fertility preservation but don't have coverage This episode is for anyone who has ever felt like a number in this process, anyone considering egg freezing and wondering if they're doing it at the right time, and anyone who just wants to hear a physician talk about this work with real honesty. Resources mentioned in this episode:Dr. Jaime Knopman at CCRM New York: https://www.ccrmivf.com/ccrm-fertility-doctors/jaime-knopman/Chick Mission: https://www.thechickmission.org/Dr. Knopman on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjaimeknopman/Dr. Knopman's website: https://drjaimeknopman.com/

  6. 23 Jun

    Love Builds a Family: LGBTQIA+ Fertility, Inclusive Care, & Pride Month with an REI Who Gets It

    Dr. Keri Bergin didn't start her career in medicine. She started at the front desk of a fertility clinic. From a Craigslist job listing that landed her at the front desk of RMA New York at age 21, to completing her fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at that same institution, Keri's path to becoming an REI is unlike almost any other in the field. She's also a member of the LGBTQIA+ community who has personally navigated fertility treatment with her wife. That combination of lived experience, clinical expertise, and deep patient perspective is exactly why we had to have her on the show. This week, in honor of Pride Month, Laura and Ashlee sit down with Dr. Keri Bergin of IVI RMA Southern California for a conversation that goes well beyond the basics of LGBTQIA+ family building. We get into: Why LGBTQIA+ patients are often assumed to have an easier path, and why that assumption misses the full pictureThe real emotional and logistical layers involved in using donor sperm, donor eggs, and gestational carriersWhat reciprocal IVF looks like legally, and the state-by-state gaps that can leave one parent off their own child's birth certificateHow Keri and her wife navigated choosing a known sperm donor, and what that relationship looks like nowInsurance coverage for LGBTQIA+ fertility treatment, and why only a handful of states actually have inclusive mandatesFertility preservation for trans patients, and what the research says about undergoing egg freezing while on testosteroneWhat the future of reproductive technology could mean for same-sex couples, including in vitro gametogenesisWhy providers who have been through it themselves show up differently for their patients This field is moving fast. The barriers are real. And the people working inside this system care more than patients sometimes get to see. This one is for all of you who are building your family on your own terms. This episode is for you if you're an LGBTQIA+ individual or couple navigating fertility treatment, a healthcare provider working toward more inclusive care, or anyone who has ever felt like the system wasn't quite built with them in mind. 📍 Find Dr. Keri Bergin: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keriberginmd/ Website: https://rmanetwork.com/staff/keri-bergin-md/

  7. 16 Jun

    It's Not Just a Women's Issue: A Fertility Doctor Gets Real About Male-Factor Infertility

    Dr. Callum Potts knows what it feels like to want a family and wonder if it's ever going to happen. As the founder and medical director of CCRM Miami, he's one of the leading voices in reproductive medicine. He's also someone who has navigated infertility firsthand alongside his partner, gone through IVF, and is now a proud dad of twin boys. That combination of clinical expertise and lived experience is exactly what makes this conversation so worth having. Male factor infertility affects 40 to 50% of couples dealing with fertility challenges, and yet it remains one of the most underrepresented conversations in the space. This episode changes that. We cover: What an unexplained infertility diagnosis actually means and why it's more common than you thinkThe male experience of fertility treatment and why even a fertility doctor felt like "just a passenger in the process"Why male partners often go missing from the clinic and what we can do about itSemen analysis 101 and what those numbers do and don't tell usDNA fragmentation, who it matters for, and what can actually be done about itThe truth about supplements, lifestyle changes, heat exposure, and what the evidence actually supportsWhy testosterone therapy could be silently tanking fertility and what to do insteadPaternal age and the risks that don't get talked about enoughAt-home semen analysis kits, are they worth it?The guilt, grief, and identity hit that comes with a male factor diagnosisFather's Day when you're still waiting and how to support the men in your life on that day Infertility is never one person's journey. It belongs to both partners, and it's time the conversation reflected that. Whether you're in the thick of treatment, supporting someone who is, or just trying to understand what male fertility actually looks like, this episode is for you. Find Dr. Potts on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cal.potts.md/ Learn more about CCRM Miami: https://www.ccrmivf.com/location/us/florida/miami/

  8. 9 Jun

    Fertility & Nutrition: What to Actually Eat, What Supplements Are Worth It, and What's Pure Marketing Hype

    If you've ever Googled "what should I eat to get pregnant," this episode is for you. We're sitting down with Jillian Beck Rogers, a fertility nutrition and wellness coach who brings both lived experience and science-backed strategy to her work with women navigating the fertility journey. Jillian has her own story with unexplained infertility, and it's exactly what led her to niche into preconception nutrition and build her signature program, Fueling Your Fertility. Here's what we get into: Why the nutrition guidance most women receive at their fertility clinic falls embarrassingly shortThe real reason so many women are under-eating and why that's working against their fertilityWhat the Mediterranean and anti-inflammatory diets actually mean and how to apply them realisticallyWhy fat is not the enemy (and why full fat dairy might actually be your friend)The truth about pineapple core, seed cycling, and other trends you've probably seen all over your feedHow to balance blood sugar without giving up dessertWhat to actually look for in a prenatal vitamin and why price doesn't equal qualityThe connection between gut health, inflammation, and your emotional wellbeing during treatment The internet is full of people trying to sell you something. Jillian cuts through the noise and gives you the kind of honest, practical guidance most women never get from a pamphlet in a waiting room. If you're in the thick of your fertility journey and wondering what else you can do, this one's for you. Follow Jillian on Instagram at @jillianbeckrogers_health and visit her at www.JillianHealthAndWellness.com to learn more about working with her.

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About

Fertility Nurses Unfiltered is a nurse-led podcast for people navigating infertility and fertility treatment who want clarity, honesty, and support beyond the clinic walls. Hosted by former fertility clinic nurses Ashlee Laroue and Laura Weppler, co-founders of Rooted Fertility Co., we pull back the curtain on IVF, fertility care, transfers, medications, canceled cycles, burnout, and the emotional realities patients aren't always prepared for. Two nurses. One mic. No b******t. https://www.rootedfertilityco.com/

Information

  • Creator
    Ashlee Laroue, BSN, RN and Laura Weppler, BSN, RN
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Ashlee Laroue, BSN, RN and Laura Weppler, BSN, RN
  • Show Website
    Fertility Nurses Unfiltered

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