Ep 138 Fertility Over 40: What You REALLY Need to Know About Conception, Testing & IVF
Brave & Curious with Dr. Lora Shahine
Release Date: 08/26/2025
Brave & Curious with Dr. Lora Shahine
Are you starting to think about fertility testing? Have you been trying to conceive and wondering which tests actually matter? Or are you overwhelmed by conflicting advice and unsure where to begin? In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine breaks down fertility testing with clarity, compassion, and evidence. Now you can move forward feeling informed instead of intimidated. Dr. Shahine covers the basics of fertility testing including the essentials of a thorough health history. She also explains how menstrual cycles, ovulation patterns, pain, PCOS, endometriosis,...
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Are you confused about prenatal vitamins? Wondering whether folic acid or folate is best? And what about those MTHFR conversations on the internet? Should you be worried? In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine is asking the questions so many people have but rarely get clear answers to. Her guest is fertility expert Dr. Prati Sharma who is here to address the fear, the science, and the nuance behind one of the most debated supplements in pregnancy health. Folate and folic acid may sound interchangeable, but as Dr. Shahine and Dr. Sharma explain, the topic gets...
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What happens when chronic endometriosis meets fierce advocacy and a wicked sense of humor? What if your most painful experiences become the catalyst for empowering others? And how does a uterus-shaped wine decanter become a national conversation piece for women’s reproductive health? In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine chats with Erica Loring, the self-declared “brains and uterus behind Shecanter,” to talk about turning pain into purpose and stigma into laughter. Erica shares her deeply personal health journey, from fainting spells through high-school to...
info_outlineTrying to get pregnant in your 40s and feeling bombarded with terms like “geriatric pregnancy” or “diminished ovarian reserve”? Wondering if age is the final word in fertility? Curious about what you can do instead of what you can't?
In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine is getting real about trying to conceive after 40—with clarity, compassion, and science-backed strategies. She covers the impact of age on fertility, the power of early testing, and why aligning your family-building goals with real timelines is more important than ever.
You’ll learn practical steps to optimize your fertility, when to consider IVF, and how to feel empowered—not discouraged—by the numbers. Whether you’re just starting or still holding onto hope, this episode is your go-to guide for navigating conception in your 40s with confidence.
In this episode you’ll hear:
- [1:47] Age & fertility
- [9:40] An important first step: family building goals
- [12:25] Next step: don’t wait for testing
- [15:38] Tips for trying to conceive
- [18:44] Is IVF right for me?
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