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Protecting Her Fertility Future in the Face of Breast Cancer

This is Infertility

Release Date: 10/07/2024

Fertility 101: The Basics of Genetics and Genetic Testing show art Fertility 101: The Basics of Genetics and Genetic Testing

This is Infertility

Guest: Jay Shaw, MS, CGC, Senior Product Manager, Fulgent Genetics Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny    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.  Today’s episode is a deep dive into the role of care and planning. We’re joined by Jay Shaw, a certified genetic counselor and Senior Product Manager at , who walks us through the basics and beyond when it comes to genetic testing.  We start with a foundational...

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This is Infertility

Guest: Dustin and Tequila Menken, Progyny Members at TE Connectivity  Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny   “I grew up with an expiration date.”  Dustin Menken was born with cystic fibrosis, a genetic condition that brought him lifelong health challenges and made him part of the 98% of men with CF who are infertile. He never imagined he’d live to see 40, let alone become a father. But with persistence, support from his wife Tequila and a critical fertility benefit from his employer, TE Connectivity, through Progyny, Dustin beat the odds. Again.  In this episode,...

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UFCW Local 152: How Personal Pain Led to Life Changing Benefits show art UFCW Local 152: How Personal Pain Led to Life Changing Benefits

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Guest: Danny Ross, Jr., UFCW Local 152 President   Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny    Danny and Elizabeth Ross got married at 26, excited to start their lives together and hopeful about growing a family. When they started trying, they were met with a series of challenges that changed everything.  Elizabeth was diagnosed with and . Danny had male factor infertility. After a year of trying to conceive, they were told their best option was . At the time, they had no fertility coverage.  They started with . One attempt turned into two, then six, then thirteen....

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Fertility 101: Sperm with Dr. Turek: Everything You Didn’t Learn in Health Class show art Fertility 101: Sperm with Dr. Turek: Everything You Didn’t Learn in Health Class

This is Infertility

Guest: Paul Turek, MD, FACS, FRSM, Founder of The Turek Clinic Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny    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.  When it comes to fertility, men are half of the equation, but too often, they’re the half that gets forgotten or overlooked. This Men’s Health Month, we’re joined by Dr. Paul Turek, a world-renowned urologist and male fertility expert, to talk all things sperm, from how it’s made...

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Reimagining LGBTQ+ Family Building: A Midwife’s Perspective show art Reimagining LGBTQ+ Family Building: A Midwife’s Perspective

This is Infertility

Guest: Marea Goodman, Co-Founder of PregnantTogether Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny   For LGBTQ+ individuals and couples going through their family building journeys, having a medical support system that truly understand their lived experience can make all the difference.  In this episode, we hear from Marea Goodman, a licensed midwife, parent of three, and co-author of about the role and importance of a midwife.   Marea explains how midwives operate across a wide range of settings, from hospitals and fertility clinics to birth centers and home births. While midwives...

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Family Building Without Barriers: Maggie’s Reciprocal IVF Journey show art Family Building Without Barriers: Maggie’s Reciprocal IVF Journey

This is Infertility

Guest: Maggie Garnsey, Progyny Member at Santander Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny   For LGBTQ+ couples, traditional with little to no access to the actual coverage. Many are forced to undergo unnecessary, emotionally taxing procedures to meet outdated definitions of infertility. For Maggie and her wife, Alli, they thought they would need to pursue , like many of their friends.   However, Maggie discovered that her employer, Santander Bank, offered through Progyny and that they had something rare: options.  In this episode, Maggie takes us through their family...

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This is Infertility

Guest: Erin Sarris, Progyny Member Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny   When Erin Sarris and her husband first visited a fertility clinic, they were hit with unexpected news: severe male factor infertility and an immediate recommendation to pursue IVF. What followed was a long, winding, and often painful journey filled with setbacks, from failed cycles to loss and emotional isolation.     Now a mother of three and author of , Erin shares how infertility reshaped her view and inspired a metaphorical children's book that captures the bittersweet reality of struggling to...

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Building Better Benefits—for Bread Financial and Herself show art Building Better Benefits—for Bread Financial and Herself

This is Infertility

In this episode, we hear a deeply personal and professional journey. As a benefit’s leader, Deanna Allison was on a mission to bring better fertility and family building benefits to her company, Bread Financial. Simultaneously, Deanna had also just set out on her own path to parenthood, realizing she would likely need support to build a family.  Deanna shares how her team's search for better benefits led them to adopt Progyny, a decision driven by lived experience, better outcomes, and the desire to truly meet their associates' needs.   Deanna was able to utilize...

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Love & Surrogacy: A Broken Brown Egg AHA Grant Winner's Story show art Love & Surrogacy: A Broken Brown Egg AHA Grant Winner's Story

This is Infertility

When Kristina and Lorenzo set out to build their family, they knew their path wouldn’t be traditional. Kristina’s complex medical history including epilepsy, , and thalassemia made pregnancy unsafe, but that didn’t stop them from pursuing their dream of having a child.   In this episode, they share their deeply personal journey of sacrifice in pursuit of a surrogate—highlighting the emotional highs and lows along the way, from downsizing their apartment to postponing their wedding. They open up about the importance of trust in the surrogacy process and the unwavering love...

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This is Infertility

Infertility is a deeply personal and often isolating experience, but for singer-songwriter Nelly Joy, music became both an outlet and a source of connection. In this episode, Nelly shares her raw and emotional journey with and the struggles she faced while , which pushed her limits physically and emotionally. From touring with country music legends to navigating the complexities of infertility, Nelly’s story is one of physical resilience, partner support, and using art to heal. Listen to her song to discover how Nelly Joy is turning her experiences into then reminder that we are not alone....

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More Episodes

In honor of October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we’re highlighting Joyelle Fleming’s story with breast cancer, which began at the young age of 31. During her journey, Joyelle was faced with a difficult decision – what to do about her future fertility given the impact of cancer treatment. With the support of her doctors and access to fertility benefits through Progyny, Joyelle was able to freeze her eggs and focus on fighting cancer. 

In this episode, Joyelle reflects on her experience, from navigating fertility preservation to finding strength and support from loved ones and breast cancer advocacy groups. Her story highlights the power of proactive choices and the peace of mind they can provide in the face of life’s toughest moments.

To learn more about oncofertiltiy, check out resources here

Breast cancer resources mentioned in this episode:

·      Imerman Angles

·      The Breasties

·      Touch BBCA

·      Hair & Hope

Guest: Joyelle Flemming, Progyny Member at Genentech

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 [email protected]