Baby or Bust with Dr Lora Shahine Dr. Lora Shahine

Infertility changes a person, physically, mentally, and emotionally — it affects our identity, our relationships, our hopes and expectations for the future. How we manage these changes will be different for each person. 
In this unique and personal episode, Dr. Lora Shahine is a guest on the Infertility Feelings podcast with hosts Doug and Jesse. Listeners will hear her share her own fertility journey and all the emotions she experienced being simultaneously doctor and patient. 
Jesse and Doug also explain their process groups — safe spaces where members can talk about the issues and feelings that come with infertility. A great tool for managing the emotional toll that infertility takes, this form of group therapy could help members come out the other side understanding what their bodies and minds have gone through. 
In this episode you’ll hear:
[:46] Meet the hosts of the Infertility Feelings Podcast
[2:35] Dr. Lora Shahine shares her fertility journey through 2 pregnancies
[7:04] Being a Fertility Doctor and Fertility patient at the same time
[10:28] The impact of fertility on other parts of your life
[13:51] Acceptance of a new reality
[16:24] Infertility as a first “real” struggle
[18:47] How infertility changes you
[23:27] The changes your body goes through during infertility
[28:24] Dealing with feelings of failure
[30:19] Doug & Jesse’s Process Groups
[36:06] Balancing patient’s dreams with best course of action
Resources mentioned: 
Uniquely Knitted www.uniquelyknitted.org
Process Groups: www.uniquelyknitted.org/programs/process-groups
Infertility Feelings Podcast: www.uniquelyknitted.org/podcast/infertility-feelings-podcast
Stay Up to Date in Fertility News and Events:  Weekly Newsletter
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The cost of fertility treatments can be a huge stress on anyone navigating assisted reproduction. Unfortunately, those who are already dealing with the physical and emotional challenges of infertility may also be burdened with the financial challenge of fertility treatments. And it’s important that those facing IVF, IUI, egg retrieval, surrogacy or any of the many, often costly procedures have the resources they need.
 Fortunately, there is help: Angela Rastegar is the cofounder and CEO of Sunfish, a financial solutions company for family building of all kinds. and she has helped individuals and couples plan for the cost of fertility, make it affordable and accessible. 
 In this episode, Dr. Lora Shahine and Angela share their own experiences and highlight the need for affordable solutions so those exploring fertility options can build the families they dream of. 
 In this episode you’ll hear:
[:59] Meet Angela Rastegar - founder and CEO of Sunfish
[3:48] Infertility is a disease; why is there such a gap between access and need?
[6:09] How much does IVF, donor egg, surrogacy, adoption really cost?
[10:34] What does Sunfish do?
[18:08] The IVF Success Program (Money Back) offered by Sunfish
[22:30] Financial Planning for building your family
[31:18] Closing
 Resources mentioned: 
www.joinsunfish.com
Follow Sunfish on IG @joinsunfish
Sunfish on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/joinsunfish
Sunfish on Twitter twitter.com/joinsunfish
 Stay Up to Date in Fertility News and Events:  Weekly Newsletter
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Mother’s Day is not a celebration for everyone. When struggling with infertility and miscarriage - this particular holiday can be full of many mixed emotions. In this special episode of the Baby or Bust Fertility Podcast, Dr. Shahine shares many personal reflections on how tough Mother’s Day can be for the fertility community and leaves you with tips on how to cope.
Finish this episode with ideas and inspiration to care for yourself this Mother’s Day weekend. 
In this episode you’ll hear:
[:54 ] Mother’s Day is full of mixed emotions
[3:11] This episode is dedicated to those that are struggling with fertility
[3:51] Tip #1 - Recognize and feel the emotions
[6:51] Tip #2 - Just say no
[9:50] Tip #3 - Ask for help
[12:25] Tip #4 - Indulge
[14:01] Tip #5 - Make plans
[15:51] Recap
Stay Up to Date in Fertility News and Events:  Weekly Newsletter
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Did you know that 1 in 5 Americans have tried marijuana at least once in their life? It is the most commonly used recreational drug in the U.S. but many do not realize how it impacts fertility, success with IVF, miscarriage risk, and pregnancy health. 
It’s easy to assume that something that is legal medically and sometimes recreationally in many states could be harmful to your health, especially your reproductive health.  
If you’ve been curious about marijuana use and fertility - this episode is a valuable resource full of studies on cannabis use on female and male fertility, time to pregnancy, menstrual cycles, IVF outcomes, and pregnancy risks. 
In this episode you’ll hear:
[0:59] Marijuana use in the U.S - both recreational & medical
[2:19] Facts about cannabis - THC and CBD
Risks to general health Risks to reproductive health [4:17] Let’s review the evidence: Male fertility & marijuana
[9:13] Let’s review the evidence: Female fertility & marijuana
[13:03] Recap and suggestions for next steps
Resources mentioned: 
Association Between Use of Marijuana and Male Reproductive Hormones and Semen Quality: A Study Among 1,215 Healthy Young Men pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov26283092
Modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for poor sperm morphology (regular marijuana use associated with poor sperm morphology) pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24899128
Effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the primary psychoactive cannabinoid in marijuana, on human sperm function in vitro. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16500334
Human sperm express cannabinoid receptor Cb1, the activation of which inhibits motility, acrosome reaction, and mitochondrial function hpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15562018
A prospective study of the effects of female and male marijuana use on in vitro fertilization (IVF) and gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) outcomes pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.ucsf.idm.oclc.org/16458631
Male Preconception Marijuana Use and Spontaneous Abortion: A Prospective Cohort Study pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33165011
Impact of Tobacco and Marijuana on Infertility and Early Reproductive Wastage pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.ucsf.idm.oclc.org/35125388
Cannabis use while trying to conceive: a prospective cohort study evaluating associations with fecundability, live birth and pregnancy loss pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33421071
Marijuana smoking and outcomes of infertility treatment with assisted reproductive technologies pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.ucsf.idm.oclc.org/31505640
A prospective study of the effects of female and male marijuana use on in vitro fertilization (IVF) and gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) outcomes pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.ucsf.idm.oclc.org/16458631
Cannabis use during pregnancy and postpartum pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.ucsf.idm.oclc.org/32060189
Stay Up to Date in Fertility News and Events:  Weekly Newsletter
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Candles can be romantic, even sexy. But ironically, some can make it harder for you to get pregnant. Many common candles can have an impact on fertility, so if you’re trying to build your family, you may want to reconsider how you set the mood.
Candles and scents may impact fertility, but never fear: information is power. On this episode of Baby or Bust, you will learn what you need to know about fertility and candles. 
In this episode, Dr. Lora Shahine is chatting with Tristan Weholt, founder of Rox Hill Candle Co. Tristan is here to share her insight on parabens, paraffin wax, and the harmful chemicals that are present in some candles. 
Dr. Shahine and Tristan also discuss the differences between store-bought, mass-produced candles and those that are purchased through smaller companies – like knowing what ingredients are in the products you purchase. 
Protecting reproductive rights is more important now than ever. For National Infertility Awareness Week, here’s how you can help:
This pineapple candle (citrus scent) was created in honor of infertility and reproductive rights.

Proceeds for candles purchased this week (April 21-27, 2024) will be donated to three non-profit organizations working hard to educate, advocate, and protect reproductive rights:
ASRM (The American Society of Reproductive Medicine) Resolve  Doctors for Fertility
In this episode you’ll hear:
[1:40] Meet Tristan Weholt, founder of Rox Hill Candle Co.
[5:11] What you need to know about the wax that goes into candles
[8:57] The importance of the wick for candles
[10:47] Considering the scent of your candle choices
[14:02] How to know if a candle is safe
[17:30] A candle for fertility 
21:31] Closing 
Resources mentioned: 
www.roxhillcandleco.com
The Pineapple Candle: roxhillcandleco.com/products/roxhill-candle-co-x-dr-lora-shahine
Rox Hill Candle Co on IG: @roxhillcandleco
Fragrance & Oils from  makesy.com
National Library of Medicine - Phthalates and Their Impacts on Human Health
Stay Up to Date in Fertility News and Events:  Weekly Newsletter
Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books
 

For many struggling with infertility, building a family may take more than two people. Egg donation, sperm donation, surrogacy or using a gestational carrier can be a beautiful way to build a family, but the process can be full of many questions and misconceptions along the way. 
Why do egg and sperm donors donate? Can third-party donors really be anonymous in this age of in-home genetic testing? Should parents be open with their children about their biological origins? If so, when is the right time to share or disclose this? Finally, is it possible a parent won’t bond with their baby if there’s no biological connection between them?
In Part Two of their discussion on the myths and misconceptions around fertility, Dr Shahine and licensed therapist Lisa Schuman tackle questions about third-party family building.
Lisa Schuman is an award-winning researcher, therapist, author, and expert in donor conception, surrogacy and fertility treatment. Her organization, The Center for Family Building, is dedicated to helping people have an easier journey to becoming parents.
In this episode you’ll hear:
[0:00] What is “third-party reproduction”?
Why do egg and sperm donors donate? The healing power of donation, a patient story Lisa discusses the growing trend of knowing gamete donors [6:24] Do you disclose to your children that they are the result of donation?
Is anonymity even possible any more? Should you disclose to your child? Why and when? Practice the conversation to make it easier for parent and child Why it’s a good and powerful thing to “own your story”  [13:50] Bonding with your child
Dealing with the continuing stigma of infertility Understanding parents’ concerns over bonding with donor-conceived children Where does that bond truly come from? Developing trust between parents and children [20:29] Myths around third party family building
The role of genetics How family bonds happen Resources mentioned: 
Center for Family Building
familybuilding.net/author/lisa-schuman-lcsw
Subscribe to Lisa’s podcast, “Building Your Family”: spotify.com/show/1iPTI62w2fANnkOLaSjsCe
Pacific Northwest Fertility Center Egg Donation Program: 
httpnwfertility.com/donor-egg-program/
Stay Up to Date in Fertility News and Events:  Weekly Newsletter
Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books