Candles can be romantic, even sexy. But ironically, some can make it harder for you to get pregnant. Many common candles can have an impact on fertility, so if you’re trying to build your family, you may want to reconsider how you set the mood. Candles and scents may impact fertility, but never fear: information is power. On this episode of Baby or Bust, you will learn what you need to know about fertility and candles.  In this episode, Dr. Lora Shahine is chatting with Tristan Weholt, founder of Rox Hill Candle Co. Tristan is here to share her insight on parabens, paraffin wax, and the h ..read more

For many struggling with infertility, building a family may take more than two people. Egg donation, sperm donation, surrogacy or using a gestational carrier can be a beautiful way to build a family, but the process can be full of many questions and misconceptions along the way.  Why do egg and sperm donors donate? Can third-party donors really be anonymous in this age of in-home genetic testing? Should parents be open with their children about their biological origins? If so, when is the right time to share or disclose this? Finally, is it possible a parent won’t bond with their baby if ..read more

Trying is supposed to be the fun part, right? Ask anyone struggling with infertility and they may share that intimacy can start to feel like a job after a while. Many fertility patients have found that at-home inseminations can be an option for trying to conceive at home. At-home inseminations are not the same as intrauterine inseminations in a fertility clinic and cannot substitute for consults, testing, and guidance from a reproductive endocrinologist. However, they can be an option to consider as a first-line treatment, for those who have difficulty with intimacy, and for some people using ..read more

There are many fertility misconceptions, but when you’re trying to conceive, it is tough to tell the truth from the myths. What really will help you get pregnant? Stay pregnant?  And have a healthy baby?  Your friends can be convinced that certain positions helped them. Instagram can make you feel you are to blame for your miscarriage. In this episode, first shared on Lisa Schuman’s podcast, Building Your Family, Dr. Lora Shahine and host Lisa debunk some common fertility myths.  You’ll finish this valuable episode knowing not only more about 5 common fertility assumptions ..read more

Endometriosis is a common yet often misdiagnosed chronic inflammatory disease associated with pain and infertility.. Never heard of endometriosis? You’re not alone. Despite it being a painful condition, it can take, on average 7 - 8 years to get a correct diagnosis.  March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, and given the often debilitating pain this condition can cause — and how hard it can be for people in pain to be HEARD by medical professionals — we think it’s really important for everyone to be aware of it. If you know someone who experiences excessive pain during their period, please ..read more

In the wake of the Dobbs decision that effectively ended federal abortion rights protection under Roe v Wade, the fate of IVF and fertility treatments has been hanging in the balance. In Alabama in February/March of 2024, a decision on the rights of a fetus brought IVF to a halt. Was this was the “pro-life” movement had in mind? To prohibit people from building the families they envision? Fortunately, that outcome was “patched,” thanks to activism by reproductive rights’ advocates, among others. One of the most important voices in this ongoing conversation (and spoiler: this conversation didn ..read more

Learn about a different kind of support resource for miscarriage and pregnancy loss on this week’s episode of the Baby or Bust Fertility podcast. Dr. Shahine interviews Emily Carrington, founder of the Early Pregnancy Loss Association. Emily has turned her own story of confusion and payment plans for her miscarriages into a support system to educate women on the realities of miscarriage and navigate the medical bills that can pile up.   Learn about the unique miscarriage care kits that Emily’s team ships anywhere in the US for FREE. These kits include self care items, education infor ..read more

Secondary infertility — difficulty conceiving or carrying a subsequent pregnancy — comes with a unique set of challenges. Being a parent with infertility can create tension between feeling grateful for the family you have yet grieving the family you desire.  In this episode, Dr. Lora Shahine talks with Allie Karagozian, occupational therapist, business owner, and podcaster. Allie shares her own fertility journey and why she created a special way to support those suffering with secondary infertility. Through her podcast, Secondary Infertility, and her support groups, Holding Both, Allie pr ..read more

“I am so sorry, but the baby has stopped developing.” A  “missed” or “silent” miscarriage is when the fetus has stopped developing, but the body hasn’t gotten the message to end the pregnancy yet. It can be devastating, and unfortunately, there are often decisions that the pregnant person will need to make. In this episode, Dr. Lora Shahine talks about what a missed miscarriage is, what actions you may need to take if diagnosed with a missed miscarriage, and what the pros, cons, and risks are of the different options. In this episode you’ll hear: [0:00] What is a missed miscarriage? What ..read more

How much does what we eat impact our fertility? Certainly food influences pregnancy and fertility much more than most of us know, possibly more than our doctors know! Fortunately, a book is coming that can change all that, and in this episode, Dr. Lora Shahine is talking with the authors about fertility, food, nutrition, the science of food and fertility, the myths surrounding nutrition and reproduction (hint: it’s NOT all about BMI), and so much more. Dr. Angela Thyer is a reproductive endocrinologist and Judy Simon is a registered dietitian and reproductive health nutritionist in Seattle, an ..read more