The costs of in vitro fertilization (IVF) can make it hard for many women or couples trying to treat infertility; three-quarters of patients simply can’t afford conventional IVF treatment. Moreover, in states with insurance coverage, the use of IVF is four times higher than in states without coverage.  In this episode, Kevin Doody, M.D., a board-certified OB/GYN and past president of the Society of Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART), joins host Mark P. Trolice, M.D., to discuss the latest advancements in IVF and how recent research could significantly decrease the cost of IVF treatme ..read more

In this special edition of the Fertility Health Podcast, you’ll be able to listen in on an expert physician panel recorded during a live webinar discussing how reproductive endocrinologists and OB/GYN’s are adjusting to “the new normal” in a COVID-19 environment.  Moderated by Fertility Health Podcast host Mark P. Trolice M.D., he is joined by Rachel G. Humphrey, M.D., Director of Perinatology, High-Risk Pregnancy Consultants, AdventHealth Medical Group; Asim A. Jani, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.P., Hospital Epidemiologist, Orlando Health; and Jessica Auffant, M.D., OB/GYN, AdventHealth Medical G ..read more

Many fertility care patients who already experience a wide range of emotions from infertility challenges are now encountering added stress during the COVID-19 pandemic.  In this episode, Dr. Janie Lacy, LMHC, NCC, CSAT, relationship trauma expert and psychotherapist, joins host Mark P. Trolice, M.D., to discuss a noticeable increase in mental health symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Dr. Lacy offers advice on how fertility care patients can address underlying emotional issues that might be surfacing during this unusually stressful time, and how they can create new routines to pr ..read more

Pre-cancerous changes to the lining of the uterus do not get a lot of attention, but are a critical aspect of a woman’s fertility and overall gynecological health. Women, especially those who want to preserve their fertility, need to understand what the risks are for developing pre-cancerous cells and how they can mitigate those risks. In this episode, Shelly Seward, M.D., FACOG, gynecologic oncologist at Women’s Care Florida, joins host Mark P. Trolice, M.D., to break down how pre-cancerous changes to the lining of the uterus come about and what patients can do to detect and treat it. Tune in ..read more

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a solution that can assist couples having difficulty to conceive take the first steps on the path towards parenthood. However, how patients choose to undergo IVF should not be a “one size fits all” approach. Embryos from different women will react differently under specific conditions, and reproductive endocrinologists, as well as patients, need to keep an open mind regarding all potential treatment avenues. In this episode, Bradley S. Hurst, M.D., a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist and president of the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Inferti ..read more

The state of New York recently passed legislation mandating fertility treatment. Since then, hope has sprung up that nationwide mandating of reproductive medicine may not be too far off. However, resistance to universal coverage, for both heterosexual and same-sex couples, continues to be present both at insurance companies and in state legislatures.  In this episode, Sean Tipton, chief advocacy, policy, and development officer at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, joins host Mark P. Trolice, M.D., to break down what gains have been made in mandating fertility coverage across ..read more

Reproductive medicine has advanced dramatically and often presents couples with complex choices that can only be made on an individual basis. Preimplantation genetic screening or testing (PGS) is a powerful technology employed before implantation to help identify genetic defects within embryos. However, the process is extremely sophisticated and complex, therefore requiring a tremendous amount of experience and skill on the part of the reproductive endocrinologist. The procedure also comes with potential ethical concerns regarding the existing limits of the test. In this episode, Serena Chen ..read more

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most ancient disorders (around 50-60,000 years old) and affects up to one in five women regardless of race, nationality or ethnicity.  For many women, diagnosis involves a long, enigmatic process including numerous physician visits. Its symptoms are not always clear, the condition has many nuances, and the healthcare system as a whole has a long way to go to be able to provide optimal care for PCOS patients. In this episode, Ricardo Azziz, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., renowned physician, researcher, scientist, and Chief Officer of Academic Health an ..read more

Receiving a cancer diagnosis can disrupt and even destroy a hopeful parent’s dream of starting or growing a family. Cancer treatments, especially chemotherapy, can have harmful impacts on a woman’s eggs and a man’s sperm. However, recent advances in fertility treatment have allowed cancer patients to preserve their fertility and have provided new hope where little existed before. In this episode, Eve C. Feinberg, M.D., a reproductive endocrinologist and medical director of Northwestern Fertility and Reproductive Medicine, joins host Mark P. Trolice, M.D., to discuss the latest advances in pres ..read more

Mosaic is the term assigned to embryos found to possess both normal and abnormal cells during preimplantation genetic screening (PGS). PGS is typically completed on day five of embryo development for in vitro fertilization (IVF). Through PGS, embryologists can detect, and often diagnose, potential chromosomal abnormalities including the presence of Down syndrome. Until very recently, any cell with noted defects was discarded and not considered for IVF transfer. However, recent developments have led doctors to suspect that these abnormal cells may be viable for transfer after all. In this episo ..read more