Ep 137 CoQ10 and Fertility: What You Need for Egg and Sperm Health
Brave & Curious with Dr. Lora Shahine
Release Date: 08/19/2025
Ep 150 A Gay Dad’s Real Talk on IVF & Surrogacy with Richard Westoby
Brave & Curious with Dr. Lora Shahine
What does it really take for men to build a family through IVF and surrogacy? How do you navigate the maze of sperm testing, egg donors, legal contracts, and international laws? And where do transparency, trust, and heart fit into this complex process? In this honest and empowering episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine is talking to Richard Westoby, author, advocate, and host of IVF Daddies. Their conversation pulls back the curtain on the real journey of gay men pursuing parenthood. Richard shares his deeply personal experience of becoming a father to twins through surrogacy...
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Ep 149 Decoding Trump’s IVF Promises with ASRM Director of Government Affairs, Jessie Losch
Brave & Curious with Dr. Lora Shahine
What does Trump’s “Father of Fertility” claim really mean? How might his new IVF announcements impact real patients? And could policies disguised as “restorative” actually restrict reproductive freedom? In this timely episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine sits down with Jessie Losch, Director of Government Affairs at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), to talk about the politics, promises, and pitfalls surrounding the latest White House statements on fertility care. Jessie helps clarify what the October 16th announcement actually said — and what...
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Ep 148 PMS Explained and Made Better: The Period Brain with Sarah Hill, PhD.
Brave & Curious with Dr. Lora Shahine
Why do our moods shift so dramatically across the month? What’s really happening in our brains during the luteal phase of our cycle? And could understanding our hormones actually make us feel better? In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine sits down with evolutionary psychologist and author Sarah E. Hill, PhD to talk about the fascinating link between hormones, brain function, and overall health. They explore how deeply our cycles shape our energy, emotions, and resilience—and why this understanding is long overdue. Dr. Hill brings her groundbreaking insights...
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Ep 147 Men's Perspective on Infertility with Jared Walker
Brave & Curious with Dr. Lora Shahine
What does infertility feel like from a man’s point of view? How do couples navigate years of uncertainty, loss, and hope when answers never come? And can creative expression, like writing a book, help rebuild connection in the midst of pain? In this powerful and vulnerable conversation of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine sits down with The Empty Nest author Jared Walker to talk about infertility, grief, and how storytelling can bridge emotional distance between partners. Jared shares the deeply personal journey that inspired his illustrated book The Empty Nest, written for his wife...
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Ep 146 Embryos from Skin Cells: Science and the Future with Dr. Paula Amato
Brave & Curious with Dr. Lora Shahine
What if your skin cells could help you have a baby? Could the future of fertility mean having genetically related children even if a woman is in menopause or lost fertility due to cancer treatments? In this fascinating episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine sits down with Dr. Paula Amato, reproductive endocrinologist and researcher at Oregon Health & Science University, to unpack the groundbreaking study that made headlines around the world — creating human embryos from skin cells. Dr. Amato explains the science behind this breakthrough, known as in vitro gametogenesis (IVG),...
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Ep 145 Dr. Shahine's Fertility Journey: Interview by Jennifer Edmonds
Brave & Curious with Dr. Lora Shahine
What happens when a fertility doctor becomes the patient? How does infertility change the way you practice medicine? And what can we all learn from a journey that blends science, compassion, and lived experience? In this special episode of Brave and Curious, the tables are turned as Dr. Lora Shahine takes the guest seat to share her personal fertility story. Interviewed by fertility advocate Jennifer Edmonds, this heartfelt conversation dives into the vulnerable, complex, and sometimes humorous realities of being both doctor and patient on the path to parenthood. Dr. Shahine opens up...
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Ep 144 Hair Loss in Women: Why and What You Can Do with Dr. Joyce Park
Brave & Curious with Dr. Lora Shahine
Why does hair loss happen to so many women? And how do you know when it’s more than just shedding? Could stress, hormones, or nutrition be the culprit? And most importantly, when should you see a dermatologist instead of just buying another supplement from social media? In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine sits down with dermatologist and hair loss expert, Dr. Joyce Park, to answer your most pressing questions about female hair loss. Their conversation uncovers the science behind shedding and the practical steps to support healthy regrowth. Dr. Park explains the...
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Ep 143 DNA Surprises, Family Secrets, and Finding Belonging in One Big Happy Family with Actress and Writer Lisa Brenner
Brave & Curious with Dr. Lora Shahine
What happens when a DNA test reveals more than you bargained for? How do you process finding out that your family story isn’t what you thought it was? And can identity, belonging, and love transcend genetics? In this moving episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine sits down with actress and writer Lisa Brenner to explore how an unexpected DNA result changed her life and inspired her new film, One Big Happy Family. Lisa shares the deeply personal journey of discovering she was an NPE (non-parent expected), what it meant for her relationship with her mother, and how decades of...
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Ep 142 Fact Vs. Fiction on Fertility, Egg Freezing, and IVF Today with Dr. Lucky Sehkon
Brave & Curious with Dr. Lora Shahine
What’s the truth about egg freezing success rates? Is IVF really a guarantee for building a family? And how do you separate fertility facts from fiction when the internet is full of clickbait headlines? In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine sits down with her friend and fellow reproductive endocrinologist, Dr. Lucky Sekhon, to explore the myths and realities of modern fertility care. Dr. Sekhon shares both science and lived experience through her personal journey with IVF and personal expertise in guiding patients through tough choices. This episode focuses on how...
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Ep 141 Balance and an Eastern Approach to Fertility Care with Lorne Brown, Dr.TCM
Brave & Curious with Dr. Lora Shahine
What does balance really mean in fertility care? Can Eastern medicine like acupuncture and herbs truly support reproductive health? And how can Western and Eastern approaches come together for better outcomes? In this episode of Brave and Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine leans into these big questions in a conversation that bridges two worlds of medicine. Joining Dr. Shahine is Dr. Lorne Brown, acupuncturist and host of the Conscious Fertility podcast, who brings a holistic perspective rooted in traditional Chinese medicine. Together, they explore how Eastern practices—like acupuncture,...
info_outlineThinking about adding supplements to your fertility journey? A quick search online can leave you swimming in advice—or drowning. How do you know what really works and what’s just hype?
In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine takes a deep dive into one of the most talked-about fertility supplements: CoQ10. This naturally occurring antioxidant has been linked to improvements in egg quality and sperm health—but is it right for you?
Dr. Shahine breaks down what the research actually says, the potential benefits, and what risks to keep in mind.
In this episode, you’re getting clear, evidence-based insights that can help you have a more informed conversation with your healthcare provider—and decide if CoQ10 deserves a spot in your supplement lineup.
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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