Ep 109 Your Embryo Transfer: What to Expect and Tips for Success
Baby Or Bust
What should you expect on the day of your embryo transfer? How can you best prepare to maximize your chances of success? What are some common misconceptions about the procedure? How soon will you know if you’re pregnant? In this episode of the Baby or Bust Fertility podcast, Dr. Lora Shahine answers these questions to guide you through this critical step in your fertility journey. Dr. Shahine walks through the embryo transfer process, offering insight and tips to help you feel confident and informed for transfer day. Dr. Shahine also includes why post-transfer care is an important part of...
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Ep 108 The HSG Test: How to Prepare and What to Expect for Your Hysterosalpingogram
Baby Or Bust
If your doctor has recommended an HSG (hysterosalpingogram), you may be feeling uncertain about what to expect. How does an HSG work? Will it be painful? What might the results mean for your fertility journey? How can you best prepare to make the experience as smooth and stress-free as possible? In this episode of the Baby or Bust Fertility Podcast, Dr. Lora Shahine goes into the details of the HSG test, a diagnostic tool commonly used to evaluate the health of the fallopian tubes and uterine cavity. She explains the purpose of the procedure, what happens during the test, and why it’s...
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Ep 107 Are You Ovulating? Key Signs and Symptoms to Know for Sure
Baby Or Bust
How do you know if you’re ovulating? What are the best ways to track ovulation? How can knowing your ovulation status help you optimize your chances of conception? In this episode of the Baby or Bust Fertility Podcast, Dr. Lora Shahine is talking all about ovulation––why it’s crucial for fertility, and how to when it’s happening. You’ll hear how to recognize the physical signs of ovulation, how to use at-home tools like basal body temperature charting and ovulation predictor kits, and the purpose of ultrasounds and blood tests to confirm ovulation. No matter the stage...
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Ep 106 Implantation Bleeding vs Periods: How to Tell the Difference
Baby Or Bust
You’re in the two-week-wait, analyzing every single little cramp, possible symptom, any little difference that could indicate pregnancy. If you’ve been on a fertility journey and trying to get pregnant for any amount of time, this will probably be familiar. Then comes some spotting or light bleeding–is this your period? Or could it be implantation bleeding? It can be hard to tell. So in this episode of Baby or Bust Fertility, Dr. Lora Shahine goes over how to tell the difference and what exactly to look for. After this episode, implantation bleeding will feel less like a mystery and...
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Ep 105 Surviving the Two-Week Wait: Coping Strategies and Insights on Infertility
Baby Or Bust
Are you struggling with the anxiety and uncertainty of the two-week wait? Wondering what you should or shouldn’t do during this emotionally charged time? How can you take care of yourself while waiting for answers? In this episode of Baby or Bust Fertility, Dr. Lora Shahine guides listeners through the two-week-wait, the time between potential conception and pregnancy confirmation. She shares both professional expertise and personal insight and has practical advice on managing this challenging time. You’ll walk away from this episode with practical tips for self-care, ways to...
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Ep 104 A New Year, A New Fertile You: 5 Steps to Take Now
Baby Or Bust
Are you looking for practical strategies to boost your chances of conceiving? Wondering how to fine-tune your lifestyle for reproductive health? Curious about common mistakes to avoid on your fertility journey? In this episode of Baby or Bust, Dr. Lora Shahine shares five essential strategies to enhance fertility. You’ll hear tips on optimizing nutrition, tracking ovulation and menstrual cycles, managing stress, improving lifestyle habits, and knowing when to seek specialized care. Dr. Shahine also highlights common pitfalls to avoid when trying to conceive. Whether you're actively...
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Ep 103 Stop Telling Me It's 'In My Head’': It's NOT Hysteria with Author Karen Tang
Baby Or Bust
Can birth control really cause infertility? Is the obsession with hormonal balance grounded in fact or fiction? Does hovering over a public toilet protect you from disease? Don’t let “medical” myths affect your health decisions! Dr. Karen Tang, board certified OBGYN, founder of Thrive Gynecology and women’s health expert, is back for an eye-opening conversation that will tackle these questions and more, addressing the widespread misinformation about women’s health. In this episode, Dr. Lora Shahine and Dr. Tang explore how social media influences health narratives, for bad and...
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Ep 102 Endometriosis Explained: Learn How to Advocate for Your Care with Dr. Karen Tang
Baby Or Bust
Have you been told your debilitating period pain is normal? Have you ever wondered if you have endometriosis? Maybe you’re curious how you can find out for sure? In this conversation Dr. Karen Tang, author of and founder of Thrive Gynecology, joins Dr. Lora Shahine to delve into the complexities of endometriosis, a common, often-misdiagnosed condition that affects many women. In this episode you’ll hear the symptoms, challenges, myths, and various treatment options available. Drs. Tang and Shahine share their experiences caring for women with endometriosis for years - Dr....
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Ep 101 Setting Boundaries & Navigating Others’ Expectations for Your Fertility with Jennifer Edmonds
Baby Or Bust
Do you dread holiday gatherings because of those awkward “When are you going to have a baby?” questions? Why do people feel it’s appropriate to ask if you’re “trying” [wink wink] yet? Nothing sucks the fun out of a party like “you better not wait too long” or “when are you going to make your mom a grandma”? Painful comments and questions come up year round, but holiday parties can be a real minefield. To help, Yoga, Pilates, Meditation, and Breathwork teacher Jennifer Edmonds is joining Baby or Bust to help you navigate inappropriate small talk. In this conversation,...
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Ep 100 From Miracle to Milestone: The World’s First IVF Baby Louise Joy Brown Shares Her Story
Baby Or Bust
On July 25, 1978, family building changed forever when the world's first IVF baby was born. Over 12 million babies have been born through in vitro fertilization worldwide, and Louise Joy Brown was the first. In this very special 100th episode of Baby or Bust, Dr. Lora Shahine sits down with now-adult Louise Brown. They discuss her experience as a living symbol of the powers of fertility medicine. Louise shares her parents' journey of choosing IVF, questions she got from friends growing up, and how she advocates for IVF now. You can catch the Netflix movie, Joy starring Bill Nighy, out...
info_outlineDo an internet search for “fertility supplements”... yeah, maybe don’t. You can easily get overwhelmed by an avalanche of supplement information and advice when you’re trying to conceive. But … what supplements can truly help you get pregnant faster? And whose advice can you trust?
Supplements and “super foods” go in and out of fashion faster than bangs-or-no-bangs, and the latest “hot” supplement is CoQ10. Coenzyme Q10 is an antioxidant our bodies make naturally, or that we can get from dietary sources. However, as with anything you add to your body in a concentrated fashion like a supplement, you need to know the benefits AND the risks.
In this episode, Dr. Shahine is separating fact from fiction when it comes to the supplement CoQ10 and your fertility. There are some benefits to CoQ10, such as improving egg quality and sperm parameters, but it’s important to understand the evidence is still not definitive.
This episode will arm you with information you can take back to your healthcare provider. Then you’ll know what questions to ask to get a supplement regimen that is most beneficial to you.
In this episode you’ll hear:
[2:04] What is CoQ10?
[3:41] How CoQ10 works
[4:45] Possible side effects
[5:47] Evidence of CoQ10 for female fertility
[14:55] Evidence of CoQ10 for male factor
[17:46] What Dr. Shahine tells her own patients about CoQ10
Resources mentioned:
Review article of nutrients for IVF, Hart et al. 2024 RBMO www.rbmojournal.com/action/showPdf?pii=S1472-6483%2823%2900869-6
Review article CoQ10 info, Rodriguez-Valera 2021 J Molecular Science www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/17/9541
CoQ10 levels decrease in levels with age, Ben-Meir et al. 2015 Fert Stert www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S001502821500374X
Animal studies showing improved egg and embryo quality with CoQ10 supplementation journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.4137/CMRH.S14681
Randomized controlled trial CoQ10 aneuploidy rates in women doing IVF/ICSI, Bentov et al. 2014 Sage
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.4137/CMRH.S14681
Review article on antioxidants (including CoQ10) and male fertility, Kaltsas et al. Medicine 2023
www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/59/10/1769
Sperm motility improved in men given CoQ10, Balercia, G.2009 Fert Stert www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(08)00487-1/fulltext
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