The Eggsplanation

The Eggsplanation
  • 5.0 (5)
  • MEDICINE

Ethical issues in Fertility and Reproduction

Episodes

  1. JAN 26

    The Eggsplanation: ANOTHER SCANDAL in the Surrogacy World with Escrow

    Once again we are faced with a scandal of huge proportions with another bad player absconding with Intended Parents and Surrogates funds.  Many lost their life savings and have no way to move forward with Family Building and many were in the middle of their journey with no more funds to compensate the woman carrying their long awaited child.  Out guest today, Micheal Snaric, of "Families Out Loud", will discuss this issue and the ethical ways the fertility professionals can be the change we all want to see in the industry.

    34 min

  2. JAN 15

    How Old is too OLD to have a Baby? A chat with an OB!

    For the last of our series on "How old is TOO OLD to have a child via IVF" we will be discussing the medical concerns that face older women during pregnancy and how those medical issues can be detrimental to the baby AND the mother.   My guest, Dr. Traci DeSplinter, has a long career as an OB/GYN and I was fortunate to work with her early in my career in fertility.  She has delivered in her practice not only older women carrying their own baby, but gestational carriers and "older" gestational carriers too and knows the pitfalls and emergencies that can happen in a "blink of an eye" to jeopardize both mother and baby. You can learn more about Dr. Traci and her newest endeavor, at #refinedwomenshealth (on IG) and her approach to women's health and wellness during peri-menopause and beyond!

    29 min

  3. 12/16/2025

    What are the Mental Health aspects of OLDER parenting via IVF, a discussion with Rachel Goldberg"

    In our continuing series on "How OLD is too OLD to become a parent via IVF" I have a discussion with Rachel Goldberg, a Mental Health professional, who has tackled these complex and emotional issues in her practice.  Rachel brings a different perspective to the discussion from the legal and parenting views and you won't want to miss her insightful thoughts on this divisive issues amongst fertility care professionals. Rachel Goldberg, LMFT, PMH-C, is the founder of Rachel Goldberg Therapy in California.  Her practice specializes in Infertility, postpartum issues, couples and third-party parenting and family building.

    36 min

  4. 11/17/2025

    How Old is TOO Old to Parent, Part 2 with Attorney Stephanie Caballero

    Welcome to the 2nd Episode in our series on "How OLD is too OLD to Parent via IVF" with our guest, Stephanie Caballero, JD.   Stephanie helps us take a deep dive into the nuances of older parenthood and what we can and can not provide for these late stage parents.  We dive into a bit of Reproductive Justice (again!) while also discussing what it means to be the child of older parents and the issues that will probably crop up as the child grows into adulthood.

    30 min

  5. 11/03/2025

    "How old is TOO OLD to parent via IVF", 1st in a 4 part series

    The idea of Reproductive Autonomy, which means YOU decide what to do with your body, is at the heart of parenting.  But is there a time when it's just too late, or that "ship has sailed"?  We will start our four part series on these very questions with a chat with Mira Seldner, a new parent of two, with an older partner.  We explore their journey to parenthood and the issues that having an older partner raises and the questions that older parenthood brings up.

    37 min

  6. 09/16/2025

    Making the Case for Designer Surrogacy in Family Building

    By whatever name you call, "Planned Surrogacy", "Social Surrogacy", "Designer Surrogacy" or even "LifeStyle Surrogacy", everyone can agree its a controversial subject with both the morality and the ethics of the practice called into question.  Today we discuss with two experts the choices people make when pursuing surrogacy as well as the pros and cons of choosing Surrogacy By Choice.  Dr. Angela Lawson and Dr. Debra Simmons will join me as we dig a bit deeper into this fascinating intersection of reproduction, autonomy and beneficence.

    36 min

  7. 08/25/2025

    How do I know my GENES are good GENES?

    Following up on our theme from the last episode, GENES and GENETIC screening and the BIOETHICS involved, this episode will by an in-depth look at Genetic Counseling and the good, the bad and the ugly of GENES.  Our guest from GENE-SCREEN, Emily Daugherty, will help us understand what genetic counseling does and doesn't do and does it support the BIOETHIC principles of Justice and Autonomy.

    32 min

  8. 08/01/2025

    Everything you ever wanted to know about PGT with Gary Harton, Phd

    So what's all the hype about PGT?  Can it tell which is the best embryo?  Will it pick out the smartest and tallest embryo?  Is it overused and just an add-on in IVF?  Join us as we explore the world of PGT with Dr. Gary Harton, Chief Scientific Officer of NoVA Genomics and Founder and Principal of GROW Consulting and why PGT is BENEFICENCE in action.

    1 min

  9. 06/25/2025

    The BioEthics of Posthumous Reproduction

    Join our host, Mary Fusillo, for a fascinating look at the ethics and issues behind posthumous reproduction.  With the very sad case of a brain-dead woman being forcibly kept alive via mechanical means for over 15 weeks due to abortion laws in her home state prominent in the news to the use of sperm from non consenting males, our guest, Dr. Lisa Campo-Engelstein, the Chair of the Department of Bioethics and Health Humanities at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, will discuss what she sees as issues with Autonomy and Beneficence with posthumous reproduction. AND....take a look at her newest book, "SEMINAL, on Sperm, Health and Politics at this LINK:  SEMINAL, on Sperm, Health and Politics

    22 min

  10. 06/13/2025

    Donor's Experiences with Disclosure and Genetic Connections

    On this episode of "The Eggsplanation" I welcome two veteran egg donors who will help me dig down into what disclosure in gamete donation means to them and what their thoughts are on the genetic connections they have to the children created with their help.

    18 min

  11. 06/01/2025

    So...What's so wrong with Anonymous Donor Cycles?

    In Episode Two of “The Eggsplanation”, Mary discusses two bioethical principles, Justice and Beneficence in gamete donor cycles with a Third-Party Parenting attorney and the evolution from anonymous donor cycles to known or open cycles with the owners of an Egg Donor and Surrogacy agency that has started down a new path in sperm donation.           Rose Pondel joins us to break down the various legal contracts that donors can enter prior to donating and what each can mean for the donor, the Intended Parents and the child and then Darlene Pinkerton and Kaitlin Pinkerton-Locher pick up the conversation and discuss how they are taking on the traditional field of sperm donation with known sperm donors, a departure from traditional anonymous cycles.

    33 min

  12. 05/06/2025

    Introducing... The Eggsplanation

    Mary Fusillo, RN, BSN, MS, introduces you to bioethics at the intersection of fertility and reproduction.   Stay tuned for our first full episode, coming in late May.

    3 min
  • 12 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Ethical issues in Fertility and Reproduction

Information

  • Creator
    The Eggsplanation
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Family Solutions International. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Eggsplanation