The Fertility Fight Club

Fertility Blooms
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  • Alternative Health

Tired of hearing "everything looks normal" and still not seeing those two pink lines? Welcome to The Fertility Fight Club - a safe space for women trying to conceive to get real answers, real support, and real hope. I'm Crystal, Holistic Nutritionist and Fertility Coach, and after nine years of my own fertility journey - miscarriages, an ectopic pregnancy, and finally becoming a mom to twins through surrogacy - I know exactly how lonely and confusing this road can feel. This podcast is what I wish I'd had. Every week, we're covering it all: getting pregnant naturally, IUI, IVF, egg and sperm donation, surrogacy, PCOS, endometriosis, low AMH, unexplained infertility, and everything in between. You'll hear from doctors, embryologists, and fertility experts who'll help you understand what's actually going on in your body - so you can stop Googling at 2am and start moving the needle on your fertility. We'll also bring you Love Your Story, a series featuring real fertility warriors - women who've been in the trenches, who are still fighting, and who are living proof that you can get to the other side with a baby in your arms. We’ll also have The Fertility Pulse, your inside look at what’s happening in the fertility world. Crystal and nurse Lindsay share the latest updates, what they’re seeing in practice, and realistic ways you can take action on your fertility journey. Then we will have Crystal Clear Fertility, where Crystal breaks down fertility education, new research, treatments, trends, and important updates from the fertility world in a way that actually makes sense. She’ll also share what’s happening behind the scenes at Fertility Blooms, inside the Fertility Fight Club, upcoming events, guest experts, new resources, and the real conversations happening within the community. Because this journey is hard enough. You shouldn't have to do it alone. Whether you're just starting to try, deep in the trenches of treatment, or trying again a little later in life, you belong here. Hit subscribe and let's get you those two positive lines.

Episodes

  1. 3d ago

    Ectopic Pregnancy & Solo IVF Journey Post Divorce : Kara’s Story

    If you've ever felt like your fertility journey keeps throwing curveball after curveball, this episode is for you. I'm sitting down with Kara, one of my Fertility Fight Club members, and she is sharing her whole story. Kara's journey started with two ectopic pregnancies (including a rupture that landed her in the hospital), which led her into IVF. From there, she went through failed transfers, a lab mishap that put her embryos in question, and months of testing to find answers her original clinic never looked for - including a stubborn case of ureaplasma, low iron, and low vitamin D. But the biggest twist in her story wasn't medical. In the middle of prepping for a transfer, Kara made the decision to leave her marriage - and chose to move forward on her own, with a sperm donor, rather than put her dream of being a mom on hold. We talk about: Trusting your gut when doctors dismiss your symptomsWhat it actually means to "optimize" your body for a transfer (iron, vitamin D, microbiome, building muscle)The judgment women face when they choose to do this aloneChoosing yourself, even when it means walking away from what you thought your path would look like This one is real, it's raw, and if you're in the thick of your own fertility fight, I hope it reminds you that you're not fighting alone. Connect with Kara: Instagram: @karathevampireslayer More from The Fertility Fight Club: FertilityBlooms.com Join The Fertility Fight Club Fertility Coaching Programs Follow on Instagram: @fertilityblooms Helpful Timestamps: 00:00 Kara’s Fertility Journey02:04 First Ectopic Pregnancy05:21 Rupture and Tube Loss06:15 Second Ectopic and IVF Choice09:42 Embryos and First Transfer11:51 Lab Medium Recall Shock15:57 Meeting Crystal and New Plan16:50 Testing Vitamins Microbiome19:53 Nutrition Weight Muscle Plan21:57 Marriage Ends, Transfer Paused26:00 Donor IVF29:30 Solo IVF Judgment35:01 Microbiome LIT Transfer Prep Mentioned in this episode: Fertility Fight Club

  2. Sep 3

    IVF Meds 101: Mixing, Injecting & Storing Your Fertility Medications (Without Freaking Out)

    If you've ever had that giant box of fertility meds show up at your door and thought, "what on earth do I do with all of this?" - this episode is for you. I'm back with Nurse Lindsay for a full walkthrough of everything IVF medications: what each one actually does, how to store them, how to mix them, how to inject without spiraling, and what the trigger shot is all about. We cover the stuff you already knew you had questions about, and a bunch you probably didn't know to ask yet. We get into where to store your meds (and where not to), what to do if your dose changes and you don't catch it in time, how to handle needles, traveling with medications, and the emotional rollercoaster that comes with all of it - because yes, you might want to throw something at your husband, and no, that doesn't mean something's wrong with you. Lindsay also walks us through the real "911 calls" she gets from patients - missed doses, dosing mistakes, forgetting if you already injected - so you know exactly what to do (and not panic) if it happens to you. A huge thank you to Nurse Lindsay for bringing her expertise and calm energy to this one. If you're heading into a cycle soon, save this episode - you're going to want to come back to it. A reminder: your own medication doses, timing, and storage instructions should always come from your fertility clinic and pharmacy. This episode is here for educational purposes only and does not replace your care team. More from The Fertility Fight Club: FertilityBlooms.com Join The Fertility Fight Club Fertility Coaching Programs Follow on Instagram: @fertilityblooms Helpful Timestamps: 00:00 IVF Meds 101 00:45 Storing Your Meds Safely07:07 Traveling With Meds11:44 Gonal F Injection Demo18:32 Sharps and Refills Planning22:39 Menopur Mixing Walkthrough31:38 Rotate Injection Sites35:49 Cetrotide Mixing & Timing42:07 Cetrotide Reactions Explained43:22 Injection Mistakes And Fixes47:59 Trigger Shot Timing56:04 Side Effects And Safety Signs Mentioned in this episode: Fertility Blooms Programs

  3. Aug 27

    Endometriosis & Years of Infertility to Having a Baby, Naturally - Ivona’s Story

    This one is close to my heart. Today's Love Your Story episode is with a past client, Ivona, and I am so excited (and honestly, a little teary) to finally share her journey with you. Ivona and I have been through a lot together - Zoom calls, tears, and "okay, let's pivot" moments. Her story has endometriosis, canceled cycles, four different fertility clinics, a devastating early miscarriage, a doctor telling her she was "basically in menopause," and a moment where she almost went the donor embryo route entirely. And then - against every odd anyone put in front of her - she got pregnant naturally, gave birth to her daughter Ella, and is here today to tell you the whole thing. If you've ever been told your numbers don't look good, that you're running out of time, or that this "probably won't work" - I want you to hear this one. In this episode, we talk about: Getting diagnosed with endometriosis and bouncing between four fertility clinics over several yearsCanceled appointments (thanks, COVID), misdiagnoses, and being dismissed by doctors who didn't treat her endo as a real factorA heartbreaking early pregnancy loss and the frozen embryo transfers that didn't workThe specific advice that finally moved the needle - including fertilisis testing, LIT therapy, and finally getting approved for a laparoscopy after being told no for yearsThe call where a doctor told her, given her AMH and FSH, that pregnancy was unlikely - and how she and her husband refused to accept that as the endSeriously considering embryo donation/adoption before getting pregnant naturallyHer nine-week scan, her pregnancy after loss, and a birth story that took a dramatic turn with an emergency C-sectionWhy she trusts her instincts more than ever now, and the one piece of advice she wants every woman with endo to hear This episode is proof that "unlikely" doesn't mean "impossible," and that persistence, the right team, and trusting your gut can change everything. Ivona's story is for anyone who needs a little more hope today. More from The Fertility Fight Club: FertilityBlooms.com Join The Fertility Fight Club Fertility Coaching Programs Follow on Instagram: @fertilityblooms Helpful Timestamps: 00:00 Ivona’s Fertility Journey03:38 Trying Naturally With Endo09:45 Chemical Pregnancy After IUI16:39 Canceled IVF Cycle19:18 Egg Retrieval And One Embryo25:32 First Transfer Miscarriage31:00 Natural Pregnancy Loss39:48 Prepping Final IVF49:05 Fighting For Laparoscopy52:51 Fertilysis58:32 Embryo Adoption Option01:01:21 Natural Pregnancy Surprise01:04:28 First Heartbeat Scan01:07:38 Emergency C Section Birth

  4. Aug 20

    From Egg Retrieval to Embryo Transfer: An Embryologist Explains It All

    We talk about egg retrievals, fertilization, embryo grading, and blastocysts all the time on this podcast - but most of us never actually meet the people doing this work behind the lab doors. Today, that changes. I'm so excited to welcome Jessica Manns to the show. Jessica is a senior embryologist and laboratory supervisor at Radiance Fertility who's been in the field since 2018, and she's made it her mission to help patients actually understand what's happening throughout the IVF process - not just live through it, but feel informed and empowered along the way. You probably already know her from Explaining IVF, her Instagram platform breaking down the science in a way that actually makes sense, or from her two books, The Trying Time and The Busy Little Embryo. She's also a huge advocate in our community and has served as a gestational surrogate herself, which gives her a perspective on this journey that very few people in this field have - both through the microscope and through the human side of it. If you've ever wondered what's really happening to your eggs and embryos once they disappear behind that lab door, this episode is for you. What We Cover:What actually happens after your egg retrieval - how embryologists find and identify the eggs in the follicular fluidICSI vs. conventional fertilization, and how sperm quality plays a bigger role than we often talk aboutEmbryo grading, demystified - what the Gardner scale numbers and letters actually mean (and why grading is more subjective than people think)Do frozen embryos "downgrade"? The truth about freezing, thawing, and embryo damagePGT testing - who Jessica recommends it for, and how age factors into that conversationTransfer day - what happens in the lab while the doctor is doing your transferThe ultra-fast thaw protocol Jessica helped develop, and how it's changing thaw timesBehind Explaining IVF - how Jessica's Instagram page and her books, The Trying Time and The Busy Little Embryo, came to beJessica's own surrogacy journey - why she chose to become a gestational surrogate, and what that experience taught herHer best advice for anyone in the middle of their own IVF journey More from Jessica Manns: Follow @explainingivf on Instagram The Trying Time: A Comprehensive Guide to Infertility, IVF, and Family Building The Busy Little Embryo More from The Fertility Fight Club: FertilityBlooms.com Join The Fertility Fight Club Fertility Coaching Programs Follow on Instagram: @fertilityblooms Helpful Timestamps: 00:00 Meet Embryologist Jessica10:32 Handling Good and Bad News15:51 ICSI vs Conventional IVF19:05 Day 3 vs Day 5-7 Embryos24:17 Embryo Grading Explained32:11 Assisted Hatching35:22 PGT Testing37:33 Embryo Transfer Day42:31 Ultra Fast Thaw51:49 Surrogacy Journey56:27 Best IVF Advice Mentioned in this episode: Fertility Fight Club

  5. Aug 13

    What Your IVF Nurse Wishes She Could Tell You

    I'm sitting down with Nurse Lindsay from Victory Reproductive Care - the woman I text and call daily about our shared clients. Between the two of us, we've watched thousands of fertility journeys unfold from two totally different seats: her inside the clinic, me on the outside helping you optimize your body through nutrition, lifestyle, and honestly just helping you through the emotional rollercoaster of it all. This episode is for every one of you who's texted me "okay this is going to sound crazy but..." - because it's not crazy, and you're not the only one wondering. We're finally answering the questions you're too embarrassed or too rushed to ask your own nurse. What we cover: The biggest IVF misconceptions - why it takes longer than you think, and why rushing leads to mistakesQuick-fire myth busting: bed rest after transfer, "more eggs = better cycle," poor embryo grading, low AMH meaning - true or false?The lifestyle factors that actually tank egg and sperm quality (marijuana, alcohol, phone habits, and more)The questions you're embarrassed to ask: sex after transfer, wine after transfer, missed progesterone doses, & moreWhy being 100% honest with your medical team changes your outcomesWhat actually separates patients who succeed faster from those who don'tTwo stories you won't believe - including one involving a jailhouse phone call This is also the kickoff to a new monthly segment: Lindsay and I are heading out into the field to try treatments like acupuncture, NAD+, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, then reporting back on what's worth it and what's not. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Loved this episode? Subscribe to the show and come find me on social @fertilityblooms and tell me which myth surprised you most. More from The Fertility Fight Club: FertilityBlooms.com Join The Fertility Fight Club Fertility Coaching Programs Follow on Instagram: @fertilityblooms Helpful Timestamps: 00:00 Meet Nurse Lindsay04:43 IVF Myths and Mistakes09:23 Lifestyle Stress and Support14:52 Timing Meds and Trigger Shot19:48 Transfer Tips and Superstitions36:19 Hidden Male Factors40:40 Low AMH Reality Check47:04 Marijuana and Sperm53:36 IVF Stress Triggers58:48 Sex and Timing01:01:12 Medication Timing Mistakes01:03:14 Wild Fertility Stories Mentioned in this episode: Fertility Fight Club

  6. Aug 6

    Twins via Surrogacy - Flying into a War Zone to Bring Them Home: My Fertility Story Part 2

    If you listened to Part 1, you know I left you on a cliffhanger. Here's where it picks up - and I promise you, nothing could have prepared me for this chapter. After everything - the miscarriages, the rare ectopic pregnancy, the uterus damage, three rounds of IVF - surrogacy became our path forward. We chose Ukraine. My dad's side of the family is Ukrainian, and international surrogacy there meant our surrogate would actually be compensated well for the incredible gift she was giving us. We found Marina, and the second she told me she'd hold our baby "like a glass ball," I knew she was the one. Marina got pregnant with our twins in 2021. And then, in early 2022, the war started. Our surrogate and babies were in Ukraine, and we made the decision to fly toward the war, not away from it. In this episode, I talk about: Marina, and why we knew instantly she was our personGetting married in five days to make the Ukraine surrogacy process workRacing to get embryos and sperm across borders before COVID shutdowns hitWatching the news and realizing the country carrying our babies was about to be at warFlying into Warsaw, taking a bus across the border, and the moment armed guards pulled us off itAir raid sirens, a hospital bomb shelter, and meeting Marina in person for the first timeBabies born at 36 weeks, days after the invasion beganGetting Maverick and Savannah - and Marina - out of an active war zoneWhat it actually took to get our family home This is the story I've never told publicly, and honestly, some of it still doesn't feel real to me even now. But it's also the reason this podcast exists - because if I can find a way through all of this, I want every one of you to know there's a way through your version of it too. We're just getting started. This show is going to be full of real stories, real experts, and a whole community that gets it - because nobody should go through this feeling alone. Subscribe or follow wherever you're listening so you don't miss what's coming next - new episodes, expert guests, and stories from the Fertility Fight Club community. More from The Fertility Fight Club: FertilityBlooms.com Join The Fertility Fight Club Fertility Coaching Programs Follow on Instagram: @fertilityblooms Helpful Timestamps 00:00 Twins via Surrogacy04:56 Choosing Ukraine07:13 COVID Wedding Rush10:49 Transfer And Twins15:08 War Fears Escalate23:05 Refugees in Warsaw26:11 Crossing the Border to Ukraine by Bus29:48 Meeting Marina at Hospital33:36 Bunker Birth Day Chaos37:27 NICU Bomb Threats and Car Seats39:23 Escape Plan and Passports42:37 Project Dynamo Rescue45:56 Podcast Mission and Series

  7. Aug 6

    My Fertility Journey - The Story I’ve Never Shared Before: Part 1

    I've told pieces of my story to clients for years. "I've been there." "I get it." But I've never told the whole thing, start to finish - until now. This episode is Part 1 of my fertility story, and it's a big one. I'm talking chemical pregnancies I didn't even understand at the time, an ectopic pregnancy so rare (1 in 65,000!) that it grew on my ovary instead of my tube, a procedure that ended up damaging my uterus without me knowing for years, and three rounds of IVF where I kept getting blamed - for my age, my eggs, my "stress" - while nobody tested the one thing that turned out to actually matter. I share this not because I want sympathy, but because I know so many of you are living some version of this right now. The rabbit holes. The clinics that don't call you back. The doctors who look at you like a number instead of a person. The moment you ask "when can we try again" five minutes after finding out you lost a pregnancy - and feeling guilty for asking it (by the way - it's the most common question there is). In this episode: How my "healthy" lifestyle didn't protect me from infertility - and why that surprised meWhat a chemical pregnancy actually is (nobody explained it to me either)The ectopic pregnancy that almost cost me my life, and the surgery that followedThe procedure I agreed to without fully understanding what it would mean for my uterusThree rounds of IVF, and the thing nobody tested until a doctor in the US finally didWhy I started questioning "the way it's always done" - and started digging for real answers This one ends on a cliffhanger, because life did too. By the end of this episode, I'm out of options I thought I had - and about to step into something I never expected. Part 2 picks up right where this leaves off. If any part of this is your story too - you're not alone in this. That's the whole reason this podcast exists. Don't miss Part 2 - hit subscribe/follow wherever you're listening so it lands right in your feed the second it's live. Trust me, you won't want to wait to find out what happens next. More from The Fertility Fight Club: FertilityBlooms.com Join The Fertility Fight Club Fertility Coaching Programs Follow on Instagram: @fertilityblooms Helpful Timestamps: 00:00 My Fertility Journey06:53 Miscarriage11:55 Ectopic Pregnancy Scare15:20 Ovarian Ectopic and Surgery20:47 Essure and IVF Begins25:09 Seeking Help in US36:02 Adoption Considered38:54 Choosing Surrogacy Path

  8. Jul 28

    Welcome to The Fertility Fight Club

    Tired of hearing "everything looks normal" and still not seeing those two pink lines? Welcome to The Fertility Fight Club - a safe space for women trying to conceive to get real answers, real support, and real hope. I'm Crystal, Holistic Nutritionist and Fertility Coach, and in this trailer, I'm sharing what this show is all about and why I created it: to help you find out what's really going on with your fertility, get real answers, and finally get those two positive lines. Each week we're covering it all - natural conception, IUI, IVF, egg and sperm donation, and surrogacy - with help from doctors, embryologists, and fertility experts who'll help you move the needle on your journey. This journey is tough, but you don't have to do it alone. Hit subscribe and let's get started. More from The Fertility Fight Club: FertilityBlooms.com Join The Fertility Fight Club Follow on Instagram: @fertilityblooms

Trailer

About

Tired of hearing "everything looks normal" and still not seeing those two pink lines? Welcome to The Fertility Fight Club - a safe space for women trying to conceive to get real answers, real support, and real hope. I'm Crystal, Holistic Nutritionist and Fertility Coach, and after nine years of my own fertility journey - miscarriages, an ectopic pregnancy, and finally becoming a mom to twins through surrogacy - I know exactly how lonely and confusing this road can feel. This podcast is what I wish I'd had. Every week, we're covering it all: getting pregnant naturally, IUI, IVF, egg and sperm donation, surrogacy, PCOS, endometriosis, low AMH, unexplained infertility, and everything in between. You'll hear from doctors, embryologists, and fertility experts who'll help you understand what's actually going on in your body - so you can stop Googling at 2am and start moving the needle on your fertility. We'll also bring you Love Your Story, a series featuring real fertility warriors - women who've been in the trenches, who are still fighting, and who are living proof that you can get to the other side with a baby in your arms. We’ll also have The Fertility Pulse, your inside look at what’s happening in the fertility world. Crystal and nurse Lindsay share the latest updates, what they’re seeing in practice, and realistic ways you can take action on your fertility journey. Then we will have Crystal Clear Fertility, where Crystal breaks down fertility education, new research, treatments, trends, and important updates from the fertility world in a way that actually makes sense. She’ll also share what’s happening behind the scenes at Fertility Blooms, inside the Fertility Fight Club, upcoming events, guest experts, new resources, and the real conversations happening within the community. Because this journey is hard enough. You shouldn't have to do it alone. Whether you're just starting to try, deep in the trenches of treatment, or trying again a little later in life, you belong here. Hit subscribe and let's get you those two positive lines.

Information

  • Creator
    Fertility Blooms
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Fertility Blooms
  • Show Website
    The Fertility Fight Club