Trying To Be Positive With Anne Matthews

Anne Matthews, RTF Productions
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Trying to Be Positive is the hand that you've been wanting to hold on your fertility journey. Anne Matthews is a passionate advocate for reproductive health and normalizing the conversation around fertility, labour, loss and menstruation. A busy clinician (with two waitlisted clinics and not enough time to see everyone wanting to be seen), Trying to Be Positive is Anne’s offering to everyone who is trying. Listen for the tools to get closer to your own positive.

  1. FEB 10

    Fertility Questions I Answer Every Day in Clinic: DNA Fragmentation, Exercise, Coffee & Age

    Anne is back answering the fertility questions she hears most often from patients—not the ones from Instagram AMAs, but the real concerns that come up after people have already made lifestyle changes. She covers why DNA fragmentation testing matters despite what some clinics say, how much exercise actually helps (or hurts) fertility, whether coffee is sabotaging your chances, why your friend's protocol won't work for you, what recent research reveals about age and egg quality, and how acupuncture actually influences reproductive hormones. This episode is for anyone who's already doing the basics and wants to know if they're focusing on the right things, or for anyone realizing that consistency matters more than fertility hacks. 00:00 - Intro05:24 - Question 1: Is there anything else I should be doing?09:15 - Question 2: Why does DNA fragmentation matter?16:16 - Question 3: Should I exercise more or less for fertility?22:20 - Question 4: Is coffee bad for my fertility?25:06 - Question 5: Why did my friend's protocol work but not for me?29:25 - Question 6: The real science on age-related decline36:28 - Question 7: How does acupuncture actually work?43:33 - Closing thoughts and rate & review request

    41 min

  2. 12/09/2025

    Unexplained Infertility, High NK Cells & Saying No to IVF: Fran’s Story

    When Anne first met Fran, she thought to herself, "She’s a youth... this is going to be a slam dunk." Fran was 26, incredibly healthy, and fit. But after a year of negative tests and chemical pregnancies, she was slapped with the frustrating diagnosis of "Unexplained Infertility" and told that IVF was her only real option. In this episode, we share Fran’s Story, a powerful journey of refusing to settle for a non-diagnosis. Fran opens up about why she said no to IVF and instead dug deeper to find the true root cause: her immune system. 00:00 Intro06:17 The First Chemical Pregnancy & False Optimism09:49 The Clinic Reality: "Unexplained Infertility" & The IVF Hard Sell15:45 Leaving the System: Seeking "Root Cause" Answers22:06 The Breakthrough: Finding Fertilysis & Reproductive Immunology28:29 The Diagnosis: High Natural Killer Cells (33%) & Low LAD Levels31:40 When Treatment Fails: Failed LIT & Pivoting to Donor Blood37:42 Hitting Rock Bottom: Grief, Burnout & Starting at "Ground Zero"45:40 The Natural BFP & Managing Pregnancy After Infertility Trauma

    54 min

  3. 11/25/2025

    AMA: Iron Deficiency & Unexplained Infertility, Luteal Phase Defects vs. Low Progesterone, How Stress Affects Your Cycle & Essential Advice for Patients Over 35

    In this Ask Me Anything episode, Anne tackles listener questions about some of the most misunderstood aspects of fertility. From why your doctor might not be testing your ferritin levels (even though they should) to the real story behind luteal phase defects and what stress actually does to your fertility journey. We dive into practical topics like optimal iron ranges for conception, why adding progesterone isn't always the answer, and what truly matters most for patients over 35. Anne breaks down complex concepts into actionable insights, challenging some common fertility myths along the way. 00:00 - Welcome & Episode Overview01:11 - Iron & Ferritin: The Hidden Fertility Factor06:20 - Luteal Phase Defects: Myths vs Reality18:14 - Stress, Cortisol & Egg Quality25:00 - Mature Patients: Focus on Sperm Quality

    29 min

  4. 10/21/2025

    Your Most-Asked Fertility Questions, Answered with Honesty, Science, and a Little Humor

    Anne is back with an open and honest fertility Q&A, tackling the questions she gets most often from patients and listeners. From embryo grading and PGT-A testing to sperm DNA fragmentation, egg versus embryo freezing, and how often to have sex when trying to conceive, Anne breaks down the science!

    43 min

  5. 10/07/2025

    Laura’s Journey Through MS, Endometriosis, and IVF

    Laura’s story is one of quiet strength and persistence. She opens up about navigating MS, endometriosis, and the realities of using donor sperm while trying to grow her family. After failed IUIs, unexpected surgery, and just one remaining embryo, she learned to trust her body and advocate for herself in a system that didn’t always listen.What followed was a mix of setbacks, small shifts, and self-belief that changed everything, a reminder that sometimes the biggest transformations come from the smallest, most consistent changes.

    1h 3m

  6. 09/23/2025

    Answering Your Fertility Questions: IVF Costs, Implantation Failure, Male Factor, and Staying Hopeful

    In this episode of Trying to Be Positive, Anne answers your questions: what Ontario’s new IVF funding actually covers, why sperm DNA fragmentation can tank “normal” semen analyses, how frequent release + antioxidants may help, why high cholesterol affects sperm, what to know about supplements (CoQ10, omega-3, folate) without overdoing it - plus practical ways to stay hopeful when you feel like you’re doing everything right. 00:00 Intro01:38 Ontario IVF funding 2025 — what’s covered, what isn’t12:55 Does DNA fragmentation matter? (and why)17:00 How to lower DNA frag — release cadence, antioxidants20:45 High cholesterol & sperm — why it hurts fertility25:09 Supplements — safe starts (folate, CoQ10, omega-3) & cautions31:57 Endometriosis diagnosis — SUGO expert ultrasound (not just surgery)34:55 Staying hopeful — mindset, cycles, boundaries, stories that help

    44 min

  7. 09/09/2025

    Whit’s Journey Through Miscarriage, Fertility Treatments, and Finding Her Miracle

    In this episode of Trying to Be Positive, Anne sits down with Whit to share a raw, hopeful fertility story: three losses, multiple failed transfers, and the heartbreak of “it’s not going to happen."From the shock of recurrent pregnancy loss to navigating IVF, IUI, and surrogacy setbacks, Whit opens up about NK cells, low LAD, sperm DNA fragmentation, ERA/EMMA/ALICE results, and why “try another retrieval” wasn’t the full picture. Anne breaks down what immune factors can mean for implantation and how small shifts in care, advocacy, and timing can change everything.If you’ve been told donor eggs or surrogacy are your only options or you’re stuck after “normal” test results—this conversation is for you. You’re not alone, there is hope, and your questions matter.

    1 hr

  8. 04/29/2025

    Fertility After Miscarriage, Endometriosis Pregnancy Success, Sperm Health Tips, Core Workouts While TTC, and Lifestyle Changes to Boost Fertility | Anne Answers Your Questions

    In this AMA episode, Anne answers your biggest questions about miscarriage recovery, boosting fertility naturally, improving sperm motility, preparing for IVF, getting pregnant with endometriosis, and what to actually do during the two-week wait. You'll also hear: The 5 non-negotiable lifestyle changes Anne swears by How men can reduce DNA fragmentation and improve sperm health The truth about working out during TTC What nobody tells you about inflammation and fertility Supplements, sleep, movement, and sex timing — explained YouTube Instagram 00:00 Intro 07:56 Listener Q&A: Miscarriage Recovery 12:29 Core Workouts and Fertility 16:36 Improving Sperm Health 20:22 Top 5 Tips for Men to Improve Sperm Health 23:09 Age and Fertility: Real-Life Examples 27:11 Preparing for Conception 32:29 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

    37 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Trying to Be Positive is the hand that you've been wanting to hold on your fertility journey. Anne Matthews is a passionate advocate for reproductive health and normalizing the conversation around fertility, labour, loss and menstruation. A busy clinician (with two waitlisted clinics and not enough time to see everyone wanting to be seen), Trying to Be Positive is Anne’s offering to everyone who is trying. Listen for the tools to get closer to your own positive.

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