This is Infertility A Podcast by Progyny

Today’s guest walks us through her experience with the wrong physician, the wrong clinic, the wrong treatment, the wrong coverage, and the wrong...well, everything. Sherri Sawyerr describes her experience of trial and error in pursuing parenthood, and how taking the wrong path can often pave the way for the right one.  

 

During her journey with multiple physicians and IVF cycles, inadequate coverage, limited representation, and ultimately, the decision to use donor eggs: Sherri realized that it’s important to have a voice through all of this. And she uses that voice on her YouTube, @SherriYvette, where she encourages perseverance and togetherness through an experience that so many women are silently living through. In this episode, hear from Sherri on the other side of trial and error. She dives into how she found Progyny through her new employer, a clinic that suits her needs, and the progress she’s been able to make in her journey. 

Guest: Sherri Sawyerr, Progyny Member 

Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny  

For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at thisisinfertility@progyny.com.  
 
Music:  

Artist: Kai Engel 
Track: Brand New World 

URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/  

Artist: Lee Rosevere 
Track: Maximum Relax 

URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/ 
Track: All the Answers 

URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/ 
Track: Easy Life 

URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/ 
Track: Sad Marimba Planet 

URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/ 
Track: Making a Change 

URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/ 
Track: Betrayal 

URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/ 

This Veteran’s Day, we’re featuring Brian Tucker, a Veteran who is outspoken about his experience with male factor infertility. He is also an HR disruptor who knows that employers, are, in part, responsible for executing the American Dream.  

On the path to building a family, Brian and his wife, Jenny, found themselves at a financial crossroad. Their coverage for fertility treatment was miscommunicated, which left them confused about what they actually need to pay vs what was covered. Left completely in the dark, with one common goal of having a child, they chose the only clear-cut financial benefit that was laid out for them, a Veteran’s discount. Having experienced this, Brian now speaks about his experience – and has presented at DisruptHR, where he discussed the need for more support in the workplace.  

Listen to him here: Brian Tucker: Work LIFE Balance Talk 

We also hear from Dr. Tolulope Bakare, a Reproductive Urologist from Posterity Health, and Dr. Ron Feinberg, Reproductive Endocrinologist from RADfertility of CCRM, about the treatment options when diagnosed with male factor infertility.  

Guest:  

Brian Tucker, Director of Human Resources at Elior North America, Veteran, and Infertility Advocate 
Dr. Ron Feinberg, RADfertility 
Dr. Tolulope Bakare, Posterity Health 

Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny  

 

For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at thisisinfertility@progyny.com.  

In the LGBTQIA+ community, options for family building are often limited – some by the ways employers choose to define infertility, and who can gain access to the benefit. Today’s guest, Stephanie Kalili, always knew she wanted to be a mom, but she didn’t know what this journey might look like for her. After meeting her wife and building a life together, Stephanie knew she was interested in conception through reciprocal IVF. The only problem was access and affordability. 

Luckily for Stephanie, she happens to be employed Amazon, an employer that offers inclusive family building benefits through Progyny.  

In fact, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, honors an organization each year with the Hope Award for Access. This award is given to an organization that is really moving the needle and expanding access to fertility and family building care – and this year this honor goes to Amazon.  

To learn more about Amazon’s benefits, visit here. To learn more about RESOLVE’s annual Night of Hope gala, visit here.  

Guest: Stephanie Kalili, Progyny Member 

Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny  

For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at thisisinfertility@progyny.com.  

The Fertility 101 Series, because there’s no shortage of daunting terms to keep your mind running, is a quick and dirty breakdown on a specific topic with insights from a fertility expert. 

In today’s episode, our host speaks with Dr. Anate Brauer, IVF Director at Shady Grove Fertility New York about all things egg freezing. She answers questions ranging from, “Why do people freeze their eggs?” to “How does it even work?”  

If you’re questioning whether you would like to freeze your eggs, or just wonder about this modern medical practice, let this educational episode serve as a starting place. 

For additional resources and answers to frequently asked questions, check out:  

Egg Freezing: Frequently Asked Questions 
Progyny Webinar: Egg Freezing 101 
Five Egg Freezing Myths and Facts 

 

Guest: Dr. Anate Brauer, IVF Director at Shady Grove Fertility New York  


Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny    

For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at thisisinfertility@progyny.com.   

People are increasingly having children later in life and for some, the decision is to have no children at all. Those who teeter between the options, unsure of their decision, know that one thing is true; time is ticking.  

Today’s guest, Shannon Fender, wasn’t always certain about parenthood, but at one point she realized she should put things in place in case that was something she wanted to pursue in the future. In this episode, Shannon dives into her experience with egg freezing and her gratitude for employers like hers, who have chosen to invest in the lives of their employees. Shannon is joined by Dr. Kathy Hong, an REI from RMA of NJ, where she describes the medical preparation and procedure that’s part of the egg freezing process.  

Guests: Shannon Fender, Progyny member, Dr. Kathy Hong, RMA of New Jersey 

Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny  

For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at thisisinfertility@progyny.com.  

September is Urology Awareness Month, which is quite necessary considering there are less than four hundred practicing Reproductive Urologists in the United States. This episode serves as an opportunity to understand the intense training it takes to become a Reproductive Urologist (RU), what role they play in men’s health and reproductive health, as well as how they work in conjunction with Reproductive Endocrinologists. 

 

In today’s episode, Progyny’s Chief Medical Officer and Reproductive Endocrinologist, Dr. Janet Choi gives insight into the role of RUs and how they differ from Reproductive Endocrinologists (REIs). 

Dr. Choi expands on her own position as an REI; what kind of training she received, who she treats, and how male patients can benefit from seeing an RU if they are already seeing an REI. 

 

Video mentioned in this episode: Reproductive Urologists Can Help Men with Infertility 



  

   

Guest: Dr. Janet Choi, Chief Medical Officer at Progyny  

 

Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny  

 

For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at thisisinfertility@progyny.com.