In this season seven finale of Fertility Café, host Eloise Drane steps out from behind the interview chair to speak directly about what's been happening in the fertility and surrogacy space: the progress worth celebrating, the structural failures that keep producing real harm, and the political forces reshaping access to care right now.

Eloise draws on nineteen episodes of conversations, years of experience inside this industry, and her own story as a former surrogate to give an honest assessment of where things stand and why so many people are getting hurt along the way.

From agencies collapsing mid-pregnancy to embryo mix-ups with no federal reporting requirement, from the California surrogacy fraud case to billionaires fathering over 100 children through the American surrogacy system, Eloise names what's happening and why it keeps happening.

If you've ever trusted this industry and wondered whether your trust was well placed...
If you're considering surrogacy or egg donation and want to go in with your eyes open...
If you believe that the people building families through these paths deserve better than what the system is currently offering...

This episode is for you.

You'll Learn

• Why the surrogacy industry's lack of licensing requirements is at the root of its most serious failures
• What the 2025 California surrogacy fraud case revealed about how women are being deceived
• What is happening when wealthy men use the American surrogacy system to father dozens or hundreds of children
• Why embryo mix-ups keep occurring and why there is still no federal requirement to report them
• How fertility fraud by doctors using their own sperm without patient consent is still being uncovered today
• Where federal policy is moving on IVF access and why progress on one side is being undercut on the other
• Which states are leading on fertility insurance mandates and what those laws actually cover
• What the push for restorative reproductive medicine in federal policy actually means for patients
• Why Eloise believes a federal insurance mandate is the only thing that will truly move the needle on access
• What the Vatican's call for a global surrogacy ban gets wrong about ethical, supported surrogacy
• How to thoroughly vet an agency, clinic, or donor situation before you commit to anything
• What the stories that never make the news say about what this industry looks like when it works

About Eloise Drane

Eloise Drane is the founder of Family Inceptions, a licensed surrogacy and egg donation agency, and the host of Fertility Café. She has spent over two decades working across every facet of third-party reproduction as a professional, an advocate, and a former 3x surrogate herself. She brings that full picture to every conversation on this show, including this one.

Resources & Links

Website: familyinceptions.com
Instagram: @fertilitycafepodcast
YouTube: Fertility Café

Related Episodes

Ep 136: When the Donor and the Donor-Conceived Meet: One Remarkable StoryA sperm donor from the 1980s, a fertility specialist, and the sitting senator who came looking for him.

Ep 135: I Carried Two Babies for Other Families: The Truth About Becoming a Surrogate TwiceDarnae Pitts on what surrogacy really looks like from the inside, twice.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - The Future of Fertility in a
• (00:00:34) - The Fertility Cafe
• (00:01:33) - A Taste of This Season's
• (00:06:24) - The Need for Federal Action on Infertility Coverage
• (00:13:52) - On the Egg Donor and Fertility Clinics, Issues
• (00:15:46) - The Evident Issues of IVF Embryo Mixups
• (00:17:07) - Fraud in the fertility industry
• (00:18:20) - Beyond access to family building:
• (00:21:56) - On Proposals to Ban Surrogacy
• (00:28:27) - Voter education on surrogacy, egg donation
• (00:30:44) - The Real Story of Intro Fertility

In this episode of Fertility Café, Eloise Drane sits down with board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist Dr. Natalie Crawford for a deeply honest, science-backed conversation about what's really going on inside your body and why so many women are left in the dark until it's too late.

Dr. Crawford opens up about her own fertility journey: recurrent pregnancy loss, an ectopic pregnancy, and the humbling realization that even as an OB-GYN and fertility fellow, she didn't have the answers to her own most basic questions. That experience, combined with years of clinical research, led her to a powerful conclusion: inflammation is the silent driver behind far more fertility struggles than we're told, and most of us have more control than we think.

From egg quality and ovarian reserve to sperm health, insulin resistance, and the role of sleep and stress, this conversation goes places most doctors simply don't have time to take you.

If you've ever felt dismissed, confused, or like you're always one step behind on your own health, this episode is for you.

You'll Learn

• Why fertility is a marker of long-term health, not just a life stage
• The difference between egg quantity (ovarian reserve) and egg quality, and why it matters
• What AMH actually tells you, and what it doesn't
• How chronic inflammation and insulin resistance silently impact your eggs, sperm, and hormones
• Why sperm health is 50% of the fertility equation and gets about 10% of the conversation
• What men should absolutely avoid if they want to preserve their fertility
• How sleep, stress, and exercise form the foundation of hormonal health
• Why IVF is not a guarantee, and how lifestyle factors affect your outcomes even during treatment
• What to ask your doctor that most patients never think to ask
• How Dr. Crawford's new book, The Fertility Formula, gives you an actionable roadmap no matter where you are in your journey

About Our Guest

Dr. Natalie Crawford is a double board-certified OB-GYN and reproductive endocrinologist, host of the As a Woman podcast, and author of the forthcoming book The Fertility Formula. She holds a master's degree in clinical research and has spent her career bridging the gap between cutting-edge fertility science and the real, everyday questions her patients are asking.

After experiencing recurrent pregnancy loss and an ectopic pregnancy during her own medical training, Dr. Crawford channeled her personal struggles into a mission: to make fertility education proactive, personalized, and empowering, long before a patient ever needs to sit in a fertility clinic.

Her work challenges the industry's reactive model and advocates for earlier testing, lifestyle-informed care, and treating fertility as the whole-health marker it truly is.

Resources & Links

• Instagram: @nataliecrawfordmd
• Podcast: As a Woman -- available on all podcast platforms and YouTube
• Book: The Fertility Formula – available at www.nataliecrawfordmd.com/book 
• Connect with Eloise & Family Inceptions: www.familyinceptions.com 
• Fertility360: www.fertility360.com 

Related Episodes

Ep 129 -- Acupuncture for Fertility: Supporting Hormones, Cycles & IVF Success How acupuncture s...

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Fertility Cafe
• (00:01:04) - Fertility Cafe: The Science of It
• (00:01:59) - Dr. Natalie Crawford on her personal journey to motherhood
• (00:09:09) - Ideas for more proactive fertility care
• (00:15:33) - Does the metabolic health of your eggs affect your fertility?
• (00:18:42) - Ovarian reserve test and egg quality: What's the difference
• (00:22:01) - Fertility and Well-Being
• (00:22:45) - How to help others with infertility
• (00:29:50) - Sperm health in order to conceive
• (00:36:32) - Insulin resistance or diabetes risk
• (00:38:47) - Hormonal health 6, Sleep, Exercise
• (00:44:34) - How to talk about infertility with a partner
• (00:50:46) - Is IVF a good plan for getting pregnant?
• (00:51:56) - The Fertility Formula

What does it actually take to become an egg donor, and what happens after the retrieval that no one warns you about?

In this episode of Fertility Café, Eloise Drane sits down with Christina Alicea, a fertility field professional and five-time egg donor, for one of the most honest and wide-ranging conversations about the egg donation experience you'll find anywhere. Christina brings a rare dual perspective: she has worked inside fertility clinics and egg donation agencies for over seven years and has personally gone through the process five times.

From the initial application to the emotional weight of long-term implications, Christina pulls back the curtain on what donors are often underprepared for physically, emotionally, and ethically.

If you've ever considered egg donation...
If you work with donors and want to better understand their experience...
If you're an intended parent curious about what a donor actually goes through...

This episode is for you.

You'll Learn

• What the egg donation screening process actually involves and how to prepare for it
• What donors experience physically and emotionally during a cycle (the parts no one talks about enough)
• What OHSS is, why it matters, and one cautionary story about ignoring aftercare instructions
• Why true anonymity in egg donation no longer exists and what that means for everyone involved
• The spectrum of donation arrangements, from de-identified to fully open, and how they've evolved
• Why the donor-conceived community is changing the conversation around transparency and identity
• What the long-term research gaps mean for donors who want to protect their future fertility
• Why egg donation is a lifetime commitment and not just a medical procedure
• What Christina would tell any woman considering donation before she even fills out the application

About Our Guest

Christina Alicea is a fertility field professional with over seven years of experience working inside fertility clinics and egg donation agencies. She is also a five-time egg donor whose donation arrangements have ranged from de-identified to fully open. Christina brings a deeply personal and professionally informed perspective to conversations about donor education, ethical practices, and the long-term implications of egg donation. Her passion lies in helping donors see beyond the compensation and understand the full scope of the commitment they are making.

Resources & Links

• Connect with Eloise & Family Inceptions: familyinceptions.com
• Become an Egg Donor: familyinceptions.com/egg-donors 

Related Episodes

Ep. 134 -- The Truth About Birth Control, Ovulation, and Your Hormones with Lisa Hendrickson-Jack
A deep dive into the menstrual cycle as a vital sign, how hormonal birth control affects the body, and why understanding your cycle matters before and beyond trying to conceive.

Ep. 129 -- Acupuncture for Fertility: Supporting Hormones, Cycles & IVF Success
How acupuncture supports hormone balance, regulates cycles, and complements fertility treatment.

Ep. 126 -- What Your OBGYN Isn't Telling You
A candid discussion about the gaps in reproductive health education and why so many women leave appointments without real answers.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Fertility Cafe
• (00:00:59) - Fertility Cafe: Donor Spotlight
• (00:01:43) - I Donated My Eggs to Help Others
• (00:06:00) - The Donor Selection Process
• (00:07:53) - Donor Experience: My First Cycle
• (00:14:55) - Donors Remember When They Donated First Time
• (00:15:41) - Was My Egg Donation Open or Closed?
• (00:16:44) - De-Identified Donor arrangements
• (00:18:26) - Donor experiences
• (00:21:00) - Donor conceived people on the issues of anonymity
• (00:28:43) - Donor Conceived Community's Voices
• (00:42:38) - What would you tell a potential donor about the egg bank?

In this episode of Fertility Café, Eloise Drane sits down with surrogacy Family Support Advisor,  Jennifer Silva to walk intended parents through the entire surrogacy journey, from that very first phone call to bringing your baby home. Jennifer draws on both her professional expertise and her own deeply personal fertility journey to give one of the most honest, comprehensive conversations about surrogacy you'll find anywhere.

This episode doesn't sugarcoat the process. It breaks down what the matching phase actually involves, why surrogate screening matters more than most agencies let on, what the real financial picture looks like, and why emotional preparation is just as important as having the right embryos.

If you've ever wondered how long surrogacy actually takes...
If you've been shocked by the costs and aren't sure what you're really paying for...
If you're trying to figure out whether you're truly ready to begin...

This episode is for you.

You'll Learn

• The major phases of a surrogacy journey and what to expect at each stage
• Whether you need embryos ready before reaching out to an agency
• Why realistic timelines are 18 to 24 months and why that's actually a good thing
• What thorough surrogate screening looks like and why it protects everyone
• The real financial picture: why total costs range from $140,000 to $200,000+
• What most intended parents don't realize about surrogate compensation and insurance
• Why double embryo transfers are rarely done and what to consider instead
• How to think through matching criteria, communication styles, and relationship expectations
• Why emotional preparation and processing past trauma matters before you start
• What questions to honestly ask yourself before taking the first step
• Why doors are never truly closed and what to do if you're not ready yet

About Our Guest

Jennifer Silva is a surrogacy Family Support Advisor with deep firsthand knowledge of the fertility journey. After years of navigating her own infertility, severe endometriosis, and multiple IVF clinic changes, Jennifer became a passionate advocate for intended parents, particularly around education, transparency, and emotional readiness. She works closely with Family Inceptions to guide intended parents through every stage of the surrogacy process, from initial consultation through matching, medical clearance, transfer, pregnancy, and birth.

Her approach is rooted in honesty, patience, and making sure every family is truly prepared: not just on paper, but emotionally, financially, and relationally.

Resources & Links

• Family Inceptions Website: familyinceptions.com
• Free Consultation: Available through the Family Inceptions website

Related Episodes

Ep 126: What Your OBGYN Isn't Telling You
A candid discussion about the gaps in reproductive health education and why so many women leave appointments without real answers. Essential listening for anyone advocating for themselves through a fertility journey.

Ep 129: Acupuncture for Fertility: Supporting Hormones, Cycles & IVF Success
How acupuncture supports hormone balance, regulates cycles, and complements IVF treatment. A great resource for intended parents still in the embryo creation phase.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Fertility Cafe
• (00:00:52) - The Surrogacy Process
• (00:01:35) - What Is The Process of Surrogacy?
• (00:04:22) - surrogacy wait times
• (00:05:54) - The Secret to Screening Surrogates
• (00:06:54) - The Due Dilution of Surrogates
• (00:09:40) - What's The Most Important Requirement for surrogacy?
• (00:10:32) - The Secret to Endometriosis
• (00:13:21) - What is a surrogate match?
• (00:14:46) - What do you think about intended parents when they're starting the surrog
• (00:17:32) - The Financial Side of Surrogacy
• (00:25:34) - I Want A Double Embryo Transfer
• (00:31:16) - The Surrogacy Financial Plan
• (00:36:30) - surrogacy: How to Prepare for the First Consultation

In this episode of Fertility Café, Eloise Drane sits down with reproductive medicine physician Dr. Danny Shapiro and Georgia state legislator Josh McLaurin for a conversation that is equal parts fascinating, deeply personal, and profoundly important for the future of donor conception.

Dr. Shapiro donated sperm as a medical student at Emory in the 1980s, never expecting to one day come face to face with the result. Josh McLaurin didn't find out he was donor-conceived until he was 31 years old, a revelation that sent him on a journey of self-discovery that ultimately led him straight to his biological father's 23andMe profile. The twist? Danny was already Josh's elected state representative.

This conversation goes far beyond one family's story. It unpacks the psychology of disclosure, the case for open donation, the evolving landscape of donor-conceived rights, and what it truly means to find yourself through your DNA.

If you have ever wondered what happens after the match is made...
If you are a donor, a donor-conceived person, or a recipient parent navigating disclosure...
If you believe the fertility industry needs to evolve alongside the families it creates...

This episode is for you.

You'll Learn

• What it was actually like to donate sperm in the 1980s, before FDA oversight and genetic screening
• How Josh discovered the truth at 31 and what the emotional journey really looked like
• Why so many donor-conceived people describe feeling "broken" before they know the truth
• How a 23andMe profile and a state legislature seat collided in the most unexpected way
• What changed in Dr. Shapiro's patient consultations after living this experience firsthand
• Why open donation is better for everyone, and where resistance in the field still exists
• What the Colorado donor-conceived rights law gets right, and where it may go too far
• How Josh and Danny navigated building a relationship without pressure or expectation
• Why DNA is disposition, not destiny, and what that means for self-awareness and grace
• What donors, donor-conceived people, and recipient parents can take away from this story

About Our Guests

Dr. Danny Shapiro is a reproductive endocrinologist and one of the founders of My Egg Bank, now the largest network of frozen donor egg banks in the United States. He has spent decades helping individuals and couples build families through assisted reproduction, and since connecting with Josh in 2019, has become an advocate for open donation and greater transparency in the fertility field.

Senator Josh McLaurin was elected to the Georgia State Senate in 2022 and serves Georgia's 14th Senate District, covering portions of north Fulton County including Sandy Springs, Roswell, Johns Creek, Atlanta, and Alpharetta. Previously, he served four years in the Georgia House of Representatives. A Double-Dawg graduate of UGA, he received his law degree from Yale and has built a legal practice focused on business litigation and aviation law. He grew up in Cobb County, discovered he was donor-conceived at age 31, and located Dr. Shapiro through 23andMe, only to realize Danny had been his own elected representative all along. Josh is now an advocate for donor-conceived rights and the policy changes needed to support them.

Resources & Links

Dr. Danny Shapiro

• Reproductive Biology Associates (RBA): rbafertility.com
• My Egg Bank: myeggbank.com

Senator Josh McLaurin

• Georgia Senate Official Page:

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Fertility Cafe
• (00:00:57) - Dr. Daniel Shapiro and Senator Josh McLaurin
• (00:02:42) - Dr. Shapiro on Becoming a Sperm Donor
• (00:04:49) - I Learned That My Father Is Not My Biological Father From 23and
• (00:09:24) - Donor Registry Recruitment Through 23andMe
• (00:16:03) - "I Should've Told My Parents About This"
• (00:21:45) - The Secret Life of Donor Egg Banks
• (00:26:37) - Donor Conceived Person on the Colorado Law
• (00:35:00) - Open Donor Selection
• (00:39:09) - Donor-Confidential: The Friendship
• (00:46:29) - What Would You Want People To Know About The Love Letter
• (00:48:27) - Donor's Story

In this episode of Fertility Café, Eloise Drane sits down with Darnae Pitts, wife, mother of two, and two-time gestational surrogate, to talk about what surrogacy actually looks like behind the scenes.

From being initially denied due to mental health and BMI requirements to navigating a divorce before starting her first journey, Darnae shares the determination it took to qualify. She opens up about losing weight to meet medical guidelines, strengthening her mental health, and learning that “not right now” did not mean “never.”

Darnae walks us through both of her surrogacy journeys, including an unexpected emergency C-section at 38 weeks, a successful VBAC the second time, and the emotional moment of watching intended parents meet their babies for the first time. She speaks candidly about hormone injections, intense medical screenings, strict IVF schedules, and the physical and emotional realities that most people never see.

The conversation also explores boundaries in the delivery room, cultural stigma around surrogacy, breastfeeding and pumping after delivery, balancing marriage and motherhood while carrying for another family, and what recovery truly feels like once the baby goes home with their parents.

If you have ever wondered how surrogates give the baby back…
If you have questioned whether you could emotionally handle carrying for someone else…
If you are considering becoming a surrogate and want to know what it really requires…

This episode offers an honest and grounded look at the strength, structure, and support necessary for a successful journey.

You’ll Learn

• Why mental health stability is essential before becoming a surrogate
• What the medical screening process actually involves
• The BMI and health requirements agencies look for
• How IVF medications and hormone injections impact the body
• What it feels like emotionally to deliver a baby for another family
• How to set clear boundaries during appointments and delivery
• The realities of postpartum recovery after surrogacy
• Why not everyone should become a surrogate
• What makes someone mentally and emotionally prepared for a second journey

About Our Guest

Darnae Pitts is a wife, mother of two, and two-time gestational surrogate who felt called to help other families experience parenthood.

After navigating a divorce, prioritizing her mental health, and meeting strict medical qualifications, Darnae completed two successful surrogacy journeys. Her experiences included both an emergency C-section and a VBAC delivery, pumping breastmilk postpartum, and maintaining close relationships with both intended families.

Darnae is passionate about educating others on what surrogacy truly involves and hopes her story helps intended parents and future surrogates better understand the commitment, boundaries, and strength required to build families through surrogacy.

Resources & Links

Learn more about surrogacy and Family Inceptions: familyinceptions.com
Follow Fertility Café on Instagram: @fertilitycafe
Watch full episodes on YouTube: Fertility Café

Related Episodes

Ep 128 – What Surrogacy Really Feels Like: A Candid Conversation

Ep 112 – Surrogate Logistics – Travel, Timelines, and Support

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Fertility Cafe
• (00:00:55) - What Happens After You're a Surrogate?
• (00:02:07) - Melissa's Surrogacy Journey
• (00:05:42) - Baby's First C-Section
• (00:09:43) - Baby's First Mother's Reception
• (00:10:08) - Baby's C-section delivery
• (00:10:52) - After Delivery, How Did You Feel?
• (00:12:22) - I Was A Surrogate Mother 2
• (00:16:32) - What Does Your Relationship With The Intended Parents Look Like?
• (00:17:32) - Mariah Carey On Being a Surrogate
• (00:19:58) - Married Woman Carves 4 Pregnancies In Her Body
• (00:21:29) - Marriage 2: Experiences from Journey 1
• (00:22:55) - On Boundaries During Pregnancy
• (00:25:02) - What Makes A Good Surrogate?
• (00:26:49) - What's Advice For A Surrogate Who's Thinking of Doing
• (00:28:17) - Surrogacy: How has it Changed Your Life?

In this episode of Fertility Café, Eloise Drane sits down with fertility awareness educator and author Lisa Hendrickson-Jack to unpack one of the most overlooked truths in women’s health: the menstrual cycle is not just about getting pregnant. It is a vital sign.

From heavy periods and birth control prescriptions in her teens to becoming a pioneer in fertility awareness education and podcasting, Lisa shares how charting her cycle transformed her understanding of her body and ultimately her career.

This conversation goes far beyond basic sex education. It breaks down what is actually happening during your cycle, how ovulation impacts overall health, what hormonal birth control really does to the body, and why so many women feel confused or dismissed when something feels “off.”

If you have ever been told your symptoms are normal when they do not feel normal…
If you have ever come off birth control and wondered why your body felt different…
If you want to better understand what your cycle is actually telling you…

This episode is for you.

You’ll Learn

• What it really means when we say “the menstrual cycle is a vital sign”
• What’s happening hormonally from your period to ovulation to the luteal phase
• Why the 28-day cycle myth is misleading — and what’s actually normal
• How cervical fluid works (and why most of us were never taught about it)
• The key role ovulation plays in bone density, mood, and long-term health
• How hormonal birth control suppresses ovulation — and what that means for your body
• Why there can be a temporary period of subfertility after coming off the pill
• What research shows about post-pill cycle normalization
• Why women often feel dismissed by providers — and how to advocate for yourself
• The importance of learning your body before trying to conceive

About Our Guest

Lisa Hendrickson-Jack is a certified fertility awareness educator, host of the Fertility Friday podcast, and author of The Fifth Vital Sign and Real Food for Fertility (co-authored with Lily Nichols, RDN).

Lisa has been charting her cycle since age 18 and was one of the first voices to bring fertility awareness education to the podcast space in 2014. Today, her work focuses not only on educating women directly but also on training health practitioners to use the menstrual cycle as a diagnostic and health tool.

Her mission is simple but powerful: to help women understand their bodies in a way that is informed, practical, and grounded in research.

Resources & Links

Fertility Friday Podcast (look for the pink cover)
Website: fertilityfriday.com
Book: The Fifth Vital Sign
Book: Real Food for Fertility (realfoodforfertility.com — free first chapter available)
Instagram: @fertilityfriday

Connect with Eloise & Family Inceptions: familyinceptions.com

Related Episodes

Ep 129 – Acupuncture for Fertility: Supporting Hormones, Cycles & IVF Success
A conversation on how acupuncture supports hormone balance, regulates cycles, and complements fertility treatment.

Ep 126 – What Your OBGYN Isn’t Telling You
A candid discussion about the gaps in reproductive health education — and why so many women leave appointments without real answers.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - The Fertility Cafe
• (00:00:59) - Fertility Cafe: The Cycle
• (00:01:42) - Unpacking Fertility Awareness
• (00:02:29) - Fertility Awareness For Women
• (00:08:41) - You Talk About Your Period on the Podcast
• (00:11:48) - Maiden's menstrual cycle as a vital sign
• (00:16:07) - How to Tell When You're Expecting Ovulation (Cycle
• (00:20:44) - How much variation is normal in your menstrual cycle?
• (00:26:28) - What is the normal range of period bleeding?
• (00:28:40) - How Does Birth Control Work?
• (00:35:34) - There's a temporary period of subfertility post pill
• (00:41:29) - Coming off the Pill
• (00:47:23) - Trust Your Intuition
• (00:49:25) - Lisa On Real Food For Fertility
• (00:51:24) - How to chart your cycle

In this episode of Fertility Café, host Eloise Drane talks with Richard Westoby and Julio Gaggia  of IVF Daddies about Richard’s 14-year journey to fatherhood, the realities international parents face (legal, financial, and logistical), and why transparency and the right team matter more than glossy promises.

Whether you’re two dads, a heterosexual couple, or a solo parent exploring options, this conversation offers practical steps, candid cost talk, and a framework for picking trustworthy partners.

You’ll Learn

• Why many international families choose the U.S.—and the state-by-state legal factors that matter
• A realistic all-in cost range for U.S. surrogacy today and where surprises tend to appear
• How to structure your “team” (agency, clinic, attorneys, insurance) to reduce conflicts of interest
• The first questions to answer before you start (home-country legal path, embryos, sperm/egg/uterus plan)
• How to sort signal from noise when there’s “too much information”—and build your own decision tree
• An ethical, human-centered approach: what it looks like when things go right—and when they don’t

About Our Guests
Richard Westoby & Julio Gaggia (IVF Daddies) are the creators of the IVF Daddies podcast and community, focused on demystifying fertility and surrogacy with straight talk and heart. Richard is the author of Our Journey: One Couple’s Guide to US Surrogacy (Amazon). Together, they advocate for informed choice, dignity for surrogates, and truly transparent care.

Resources & Links

• Website: ivfdaddies.com (episodes, anonymous confessions, community)
• Instagram/YouTube: @ivfdaddies
• Book: Our Journey: One Couple’s Guide to US Surrogacy by Richard Westoby (Amazon)
• Connect with Eloise & Family Inceptions: familyinceptions.com

Related Episodes

• Ep 93  U.S. Surrogacy for International Parents
• Ep 103  Choosing Your Family Building Team

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Why More People Are Going to the US for Reproductive Treatment and
• (00:00:56) - Fertility Cafe
• (00:01:47) - Fertility Cafe: Surrogacy
• (00:02:42) - ICF Daddies
• (00:03:20) - Tom Selleck on Surrogacy
• (00:06:16) - The Surrogacy Process in the US
• (00:10:21) - Why Do People Consider Doing Surrogacy Outside Their Home Country?
• (00:17:53) - US Surrogacy: The Process
• (00:19:19) - What Does a Typical Surrogacy Journey Look Like?
• (00:23:39) - Surprise Costs of Surrogacy
• (00:30:48) - US surrogacy and the birthright citizenship
• (00:36:11) - The Importance of Surrogacy

In this episode of Fertility Café, host Eloise Drane talks with Elizabeth Carr about her parents’ journey through early, experimental IVF, what has—and hasn’t—changed in 40+ years, and how media attention shaped her advocacy.

With clarity and compassion, Elizabeth unpacks common misconceptions (“test tube baby,” “miracle baby”), why patient autonomy matters, and the very real barriers families still face: geographic access and uneven insurance coverage.

Whether you’re a patient, provider, or policymaker, this conversation offers a grounded look at assisted reproduction—past, present, and what’s next.

You’ll Learn
• How Elizabeth’s parents navigated early IVF and why parts of today’s protocol are still similar
• What it was like growing up under a media spotlight—and how that informed her advocacy
• The biggest barriers to care: fertility deserts, travel burdens, and inconsistent insurance coverage
• How to talk with kids about IVF from toddler to teen—age-appropriate, stigma-free language
• Where innovation (PGT, freezing, AI) meets ethics—and why informed consent should lead
• Why the conversation about IVF stigma feels the “same volume” today, just amplified by social media
• What providers and lawmakers can do to center education, consent, and access

About Our Guest
Elizabeth Carr is the first baby born via IVF in the United States and a long-time advocate for fertility access and patient education. She works in PR/marketing for a PGT company and dedicates personal time to answering patient questions and engaging lawmakers on coverage and access. Find her on Instagram @EJordan12 and at EJordanCar.com.

Resources & Links
Follow Elizabeth on Instagram: @EJordan12
Visit Elizabeth’s website: EJordanCar.com

Related Episodes
Ep 119 – The Grief of Waiting: Invisible Losses in Family Building
Ep 118 – Surrogacy and the Emotional Journey to Motherhood

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Is IVF Expensive?
• (00:00:36) - Fertility Cafe: The Legacy of IVF
• (00:02:38) - In the Elevator With IVF
• (00:04:14) - Born in a Test Tube Baby:
• (00:06:01) - The Secret Life of My Birth
• (00:09:23) - Elizabeth's Birth Through IVF
• (00:11:05) - What IVF Was Like in the 1980s
• (00:15:20) - Multiple barriers to IVF in the US
• (00:20:42) - I Was Conceived Through IVF
• (00:25:36) - Marriage and the Future of Reproductive Tech
• (00:31:46) - What message would you share with fertility professionals and even lawmakers
• (00:33:41) - Elizabeth Jordan on What She Does Now

In this episode of Fertility Café, host Eloise Drane welcomes back filmmaker Chiquita Lockley, creator of the documentary Eggs Over Easy: Black Women & Fertility. This time, Chiquita shares her personal journey and decision to live childfree by choice. It is a thoughtful, often emotional, and deeply grounded conversation about identity, legacy, caregiving, and the path not taken.

With clarity and compassion, Chiquita speaks about what it means to opt out of motherhood on her own terms, while still living a life rich in love, purpose, and community. The conversation invites listeners to reflect honestly on their own desires, pressures, and timelines.

Whether you are questioning your path, navigating reproductive decisions, or seeking affirmation for a choice that goes against the grain, this episode offers space to breathe and consider what a full life looks like for you.

You’ll Learn

• What distinguishes being childfree from being childless, and why the difference matters
• How Chiquita’s thinking shifted over time through research, health challenges, and aging
• The emotional weight of redefining motherhood and letting go of a lifelong checklist
• Why caregiving does not require parenting, and how mentorship and godparenting fill her cup
• What legacy means beyond biological children
• Common misconceptions about childfree women, including the myth of selfishness
• Practical and emotional advice for those in a space of uncertainty or transition

About Our Guest

Chiquita Lockley is a writer, filmmaker, and producer known for her feature documentary Eggs Over Easy: Black Women & Fertility, which aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network. Her work centers on storytelling that uplifts Black women’s experiences and expands the public understanding of reproductive health and autonomy.

She continues to serve as a mentor, advocate, and board chair for multiple nonprofit and creative initiatives. Her voice is a vital part of the cultural shift toward more inclusive and informed conversations about fertility, family, and freedom.

Resources & Links

Visit Chiquita’s Website: www.chiquitalockley.com
Follow Chiquita on Instagram: @chiquitalockley

Watch and learn more about Eggs Over Easy: www.eggsovereasyfilm.com
Follow Eggs Over Easy on Instagram: @eggsovereasyfilm
Like Eggs Over Easy on Facebook: Eggs Over Easy Film

Related Episodes

Ep 119 – The Grief of Waiting: Invisible Losses in Family Building
Ep 118 – Surrogacy and the Emotional Journey to Motherhood

Chapters

• (00:00:02) - 9 Stories of People Who Choose Not to Have Children
• (00:00:54) - Fertility Cafe: The Journey to Parenthood
• (00:02:44) - Eggs Over Easy: Will I Be Happy With My Decision
• (00:09:00) - Mariah Carey on Being Good Without Having Children
• (00:11:22) - I Had A Hysterectomy To Have Kids
• (00:16:45) - How To Get Out Of Your Mid-30s
• (00:22:41) - When You Decided To Not Have Children,
• (00:25:44) - I Said I Don't Want A Parent in My Life
• (00:32:24) - Black Women Who Don't Have Kids
• (00:36:51) - Do you have a lot of People similar to that made the same
• (00:38:32) - Sarah Fawn on Legacy
• (00:40:20) - Kalei Stewart on How To Decide If You Want Kids
• (00:44:56) - Olive Winfrey on Reproductive Health
• (00:45:57) - Black Women Speak Out About Reproductive Health

In this episode of Fertility Café, host Eloise Drane sits down with Griffin Jones, founder of Inside Reproductive Health, to explore what’s really happening behind the scenes of the fertility industry. From private equity takeovers to digital automation and AI-driven care, Griffin breaks down the trends shaping the future of IVF, patient access, and provider autonomy.

He also shares how he went from generalist marketer in Buffalo, NY to creating the leading trade media company in the fertility field—one that now serves clinics, labs, executives, and innovators across the globe.

Whether you’re a fertility patient, donor, surrogate, or someone working in the industry, this conversation offers a rare and honest look at the systems shaping reproductive care—and what needs to change for the better.

You’ll Learn

• Why more fertility clinics are being bought by private equity—and what that means for patient care
• What Griffin is hearing from behind the scenes about AI, automation, and remote fertility care
• The disconnect between how clinics say they’re improving patient experience vs. what’s actually happening
• Why many REIs (reproductive endocrinologists) are seeing their roles change—sometimes drastically
• The risk of fertility care becoming too "factory-like"—and how to preserve patient-first care at scale
• What Griffin hopes patients will start doing to drive real, lasting change
• Why leaving honest, specific reviews (yes, even 3 stars!) might be the most powerful tool for reform
• What the future may hold for access, affordability, and scaling care for everyone—not just the privileged few

About Our Guest

Griffin Jones is the founder of Inside Reproductive Health, a trade media company serving the fertility industry. He began his journey in marketing, helping small clinics with branding, websites, and video before expanding into podcasting and industry journalism. Today, his platform covers the business, clinical, and policy trends shaping reproductive health care across the U.S. and beyond.

Griffin also hosts the Inside Reproductive Health podcast, where he interviews key players—from embryologists and clinic execs to policymakers and startup founders—about the future of fertility medicine.

Resources & Links

• Visit Inside Reproductive Health for podcasts, articles, and industry updates
• Listen to the Inside Reproductive Health podcast
• Follow Griffin on LinkedIn: Griffin Jones

Related Episodes

• Ep 100 – The Gut-Fertility Connection
• Ep 118 – Surrogacy and the Emotional Journey to Motherhood
• Ep 90 – Eastern Medicine and Egg Quality
• Ep 103 – Fertility Supplements: What Works and What Doesn’t

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - The fertility industry's growth, challenges
• (00:00:48) - Fertility Cafe: The Business of Infertility
• (00:01:59) - Fertility Cafe
• (00:02:45) - A Taste of Your Hot Takes
• (00:02:57) - Inside Reproductive Health: From Marketer to Industry Leader
• (00:06:24) - The Future of Fertility Clinics
• (00:13:35) - Obamacare: Do the Networks Tell Doctors How to Practice Medicine?
• (00:18:17) - Patient Care: Quality and Accountability
• (00:23:54) - The Future of Fertility Care
• (00:26:34) - Will Remote Care Increase the Need for IVF?
• (00:29:56) - Venture Capital and Private Equity: The Future of Infertility
• (00:36:13) - What Do We Need to Change in the Fertility Space?

In this episode of Fertility Café, Eloise Drane sits down with Dr. Beck Hoehn, licensed acupuncturist, reproductive health expert, and founder of Mighty River Wellness, to talk about how acupuncture can be a game-changing part of your fertility journey.

Dr. Hoehn shares how her own personal health crisis led her into the world of Eastern medicine, and how she now helps people optimize their hormone health, support IVF cycles, manage painful periods, and navigate menopause with more ease and empowerment.

From egg quality and low ovarian reserve to painful periods and PCOS, this conversation is packed with practical insights and refreshingly honest takes on what it really means to care for your body while trying to conceive.

You’ll Learn

• Why acupuncture is more than just needles and how it supports hormonal balance, stress reduction, and blood flow
• How acupuncture can improve IVF outcomes, egg quality, and follicular development
• The difference between Western and Eastern approaches to painful periods, PCOS, and endometriosis
• What to expect during your first acupuncture visit
• How to find a fertility-focused acupuncturist with the right training
• The role of herbal medicine in regulating cycles, calming hot flashes, and reducing cramps
• What data-driven hormone tracking tools are helping acupuncturists personalize care
• Why symptom relief is just the beginning. This is about whole-body support for every phase of reproductive health

About Our Guest

Dr. Beck Hoehn is a licensed acupuncturist, reproductive health specialist, and the founder of Mighty River Wellness in Los Angeles. After a career in the film industry and a personal injury that left her seeking alternative healing methods, she discovered the profound impact of acupuncture.

Now, with a doctorate in fertility research and over a decade of clinical experience, Dr. Hoehn helps individuals and couples navigate fertility challenges, menstrual health, and menopause transitions. She is also the creator of the Make a Baby Bundle, an educational resource for those looking to optimize their fertility health from home.

Resources and Links

• Mighty River Wellness: https://www.mightyriverwellness.com
• Dr. Beck on Instagram: @drbeckhoehn
• Make a Baby Bundle Course: https://www.mightyriverwellness.com/bundle
• ABORM Certified Acupuncturists Directory: https://www.aborm.org

Related Episodes

• Ep 118 – Surrogacy and the Emotional Journey to Motherhood
  https://thefertilitycafe.com/podcast/ep-118-surrogacy-and-the-emotional-journey-to-motherhood/
• Ep 103 – Fertility Supplements: What Works and What Doesn’t
  https://thefertilitycafe.com/podcast/ep-103-fertility-supplements-what-works-and-what-doesnt/
• Ep 100 – The Gut-Fertility Connection
  https://thefertilitycafe.com/podcast/ep-100-the-gut-fertility-connection/
• Ep 90 – Eastern Medicine and Egg Quality
  https://thefertilitycafe.com/podcast/ep-90-eastern-medicine-and-egg-quality/

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Fertility Cafe
• (00:00:45) - Amy Poehler on Acupuncture and Reproductive Health
• (00:03:55) - What Kind of Support Can Acupuncture Offer During IVF or i
• (00:07:21) - What Would An Acupuncturist-Endocrinologist Relationship
• (00:12:17) - How Herbs and Acupuncture Work Together
• (00:15:46) - How to help with period cramps with acupuncture
• (00:19:45) - How to improve your fertility with acupuncture?
• (00:21:06) - How to Supplement Your Body
• (00:22:00) - Do acupuncturists help with low ovarian reserve?
• (00:27:39) - How to Manage Menopause
• (00:32:01) - How to Get pregnant
• (00:33:04) - Wonders of the World Chat

In this episode, Eloise Drane sits down with Pamela Marshall, a gestational surrogate whose experience challenged everything she thought she knew about pregnancy, risk, and resilience.

Pam shares her deeply personal story of entering surrogacy with excitement and confidence, only to face a rare and serious medical complication that changed the course of her pregnancy. From being hospitalized for weeks to navigating separation from her own children, her journey reveals the emotional and physical realities that many never see.

Pam explains what carried her through the hardest moments and why, despite everything, she would make the same decision again. This conversation offers an unfiltered look at the realities of surrogacy and the extraordinary people who choose to walk this path.

Guest Bio:

Pamela Marshall is a mom of 3 boys, living in Pennsylvania and she is a licensed social worker. She has been a surrogate and loves helping build families! She is also currently a journey manager at Family Inceptions.

You’ll hear about:

• Why Pam chose to become a surrogate
• What happens when a pregnancy becomes high risk
• Being hospitalized for weeks away from family
• The emotional toll of unexpected complications
• How support systems make all the difference
• Why she would still choose surrogacy again

Related episodes:

Ep 118 – Surrogacy and the Emotional Journey to Motherhood
https://thefertilitycafe.com/podcast/ep-118-surrogacy-and-the-emotional-journey-to-motherhood/

Ep 93 – U.S. Surrogacy for International Parents
https://thefertilitycafe.com/podcast/ep-93-u-s-surrogacy-for-international-parents/

Ep 85 – Surrogacy for Same-Sex Couples: Carnell Roberts Tells His Story
https://thefertilitycafe.com/podcast/ep-85-surrogacy-for-same-sex-couples-carnell-roberts-tells-his-story/

Ep 49 – Social Surrogacy
https://thefertilitycafe.com/podcast/ep-49-social-surrogacy/

Ep 37 – Husband’s Are You Prepared (Partner Involvement in Surrogacy)
https://thefertilitycafe.com/podcast/ep-37-husbands-are-you-prepared/

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Surrogacy: The Journey to Parenthood
• (00:01:26) - The Unfortunate Journey of Surrogacy
• (00:02:43) - Surrogacy in the US
• (00:04:30) - What Were You Hoping For Your Baby's Journey?
• (00:05:07) - The Secret To A Match
• (00:05:38) - The Matching Process For Your Baby
• (00:06:18) - The Process of Choosing an Agency
• (00:07:09) - The Surrogate's First Egg Transfer
• (00:08:28) - Pregnant Woman on Her First Week
• (00:09:04) - The Baby's First Anatomy Scan
• (00:10:39) - What Happened When I Learned I Had a High-Risk
• (00:16:18) - Baby's umbilical cord rupture forced me to be hospitalized from
• (00:21:33) - How Did Your Husband Manage the Surrogacy?
• (00:23:20) - How to Keep Yourself From Going Insane While In the Hospital
• (00:28:45) - Baby's birth disrupts parents' life
• (00:29:13) - C section for my first baby
• (00:34:23) - The Surrogacy Experience
• (00:36:52) - Having been a surrogate myself
• (00:37:44) - Pamela's story of surrogacy

In this conversation, Eloise Drane sits down with reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Shannel R. Adams to demystify every stage of the surrogate medical and IVF process, breaking it down into simple, reassuring, and practical explanations.

Eloise guides listeners through the realities of medical screening, clearance, genetic discussions, mental health evaluations, and partner requirements, bringing clarity to the questions surrogates commonly ask but rarely get answered fully. Together, they unpack why timelines vary, what doctors look for at each step, and how clinics ensure safety for both the surrogate and the baby she carries.

Dr. Adams also walks through the IVF medication protocol, embryo transfer, ultrasound schedule, hormone monitoring, and what actually happens when things don’t go as planned. She explains the “why” behind the rules, from avoiding THC to requiring birth control.

Whether someone is preparing for their first journey or wanting deeper insight into the medical side of surrogacy, this episode offers a clear path forward for anyone who wants to feel confident and supported.

Guest Bio:

Shannel R. Adams, MD, FACOG is a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist. Highly skilled in all areas of reproductive health, Dr. Adams has a particular expertise and interest in third party reproduction, oncofertility, fertility preservation, male fertility, and holistic care of both mind and body.

Dr. Adams graduated from Duke University with an undergraduate degree in Ethics and went on to medical school at Oregon Health and Science University. She completed residency at the University of Hawai’i John A. Burns School of Medicine and her REI fellowship at the University of Cincinnati.

You’ll hear about:

• Why surrogates are surprised by the medical timeline
• What OB clearance involves
• Genetic and psychological screening requirements
• Partner testing and FDA rules
• Key blood work surrogates must complete
• Tubes, fibroids, and conditions needing treatment
• Medication protocols explained simply
• Lining checks and hormone levels
• How embryo transfer actually works
• Pregnancy confirmation
• Ultrasounds and early monitoring
• Bleeding in early pregnancy
• Single embryo transfer guidance

Episode Resources:

Not Broken: An Approachable Guide to Miscarriage and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss -https://www.amazon.com/Not-Broken-Approachable-Miscarriage-Recurrent/dp/0998714607

Planting the Seeds of Pregnancy: An Integrative Approach to Fertility Care -https://www.amazon.com/Planting-Seeds-Pregnancy-Integrative-Fertility/dp/0996348727

Related episodes:

Ep 118 – Surrogacy and the Emotional Journey to Motherhood
https://thefertilitycafe.com/podcast/ep-118-surrogacy-and-the-emotional-journey-to-motherhood/

Ep 93 – U.S. Surrogacy for International Parents
https://thefertilitycafe.com/podcast/ep-93-u-s-surrogacy-for-international-parents/

Ep 85 – Surrogacy for Same-Sex Couples: Carnell Roberts Tells His Story

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - The Process of Surrogacy and IVF
• (00:01:28) - Dr. Chanel Adams
• (00:02:26) - What drew you into reproductive endocrinology in the first place?
• (00:06:49) - What To Know About The Surrogacy Process
• (00:09:02) - The Medical Timeline of Surrogacy
• (00:11:22) - What is the Medical Screening Every Surrogate Completes
• (00:14:54) - OB Clearance for Surrogates
• (00:17:06) - Surrogacy Medical Screening
• (00:19:40) - What about sexual screening during pregnancy?
• (00:22:33) - How To Get pregnant with a Surrogate
• (00:27:22) - Uterine lining and contraception
• (00:31:17) - Transfer of an Embryo 1
• (00:36:39) - Is bed rest required on the day of the transfer?
• (00:37:51) - How to Tell If You Are Expecting a Pregnancy with a
• (00:41:08) - How long should a surrogate wait to get a pregnancy ultrasound? (
• (00:48:09) - Transfer and pregnancy 1, Sex during pregnancy
• (00:48:55) - Is surrogacy high risk for children?
• (00:51:22) - Dr. Chanel Adams on Surrogacy
• (00:53:52) - Do we Transfer More Embryos than One?

In this powerful conversation, Eloise Drane sits down with Board Certified OB GYN Dr. Renita White, MD to unpack the real state of women’s healthcare today and the steps every person can take to advocate for themselves.

Dr. White shares why she entered the field of obstetrics and gynecology, what she witnessed during training, and how racism and systemic gaps leave many women confused about their own bodies. She explains the challenges of limited appointment times, lack of access, and medical misinformation, and offers practical tools for improving trust and communication with healthcare providers.

Together, Eloise and Dr. White break down essential topics including fertility education, AMH testing, preventive care, maternal mortality, racism in medicine, pregnancy fears, and the realities of navigating care in a post-Dobbs world. Dr. White also outlines what a “normal” period should look like and when to seek additional support.

This episode empowers listeners with clarity, compassion, and practical steps for better reproductive health.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Renita White, MD is a board-certified obstetrician & gynecologist and women’s health advocate. With a passion for women’s health and wellness, Dr. White loves to take care of women in all stages of life, educating them about their bodies and encouraging them to address their physical and emotional health to improve their overall wellness and longevity. Originally from Georgia, Dr. White received her undergraduate degree from Duke University and medical degree from The Ohio State University, eventually returning to Atlanta for her residency in OBGYN at Emory University. Alongside running her practice, Georgia OBGYN, Dr. White also cohosts her podcast, Cradle & All, is a medical advisor for The Honey Pot Company, and serves on the medical executive board for Flo Health, VeryWell Health, Parent Magazine, and Elle Magazine. In her spare time, Dr. White enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her two sons.

You’ll hear about:

• Why Dr. White chose OB GYN
• Stigma within women’s healthcare
• How patients approach reproductive care
• Preparing for OB GYN visits
• Fertility basics and AMH testing
• When to see a specialist
• Maternal mortality realities
• Social media misinformation
• Pregnancy fears and loss
• Birth control safety
• Understanding menopause symptoms
• What a normal period is
• When to seek a second opinion

Episode Resources:

Study into the numbers of OBGYNs in the state of Georgia - https://shorturl.at/k1aHl

Related episodes:

Ep 113 – The Fertility Timeline: Dr Susanna Park on When to Get Tested
https://thefertilitycafe.com/podcast/ep-113-the-fertility-timeline-dr-susanna-park-on-when-to-get-tested/  

Ep 111 – The Patient Experience in Fertility Care: Advocating for Better Support
https://thefertilitycafe.com/podcast/ep-111-the-patient-experience-in-fertility-care-advocating-for-better-support/  

Ep 99 – Bringing Equality to Reproduction for LGBTQ+ People
https://thefertilitycafe.com/podcast/ep-99-bringing-equality-to-reproduction/

Connect with Dr. Renita White, MD:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/renitawhitemd/

Her website - https://re...

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Why Your Reproductive Health Is So Important
• (00:00:53) - Fertility Cafe: Dr. Renita White
• (00:02:08) - Ob-GYN on Women's Health
• (00:09:46) - How to talk about reproductive health
• (00:10:40) - Ob-Gyn: Pre-Pregnancy Care
• (00:17:38) - Maternal Fetal Mortality in the US
• (00:26:14) - Miscarriages and stillborns
• (00:26:59) - Have you seen changes like pre Covid, post Covid with
• (00:29:16) - On the Pro-Abortion Case
• (00:32:49) - Birth Control, the right choice for your patient
• (00:34:59) - How to manage menopause health
• (00:37:32) - How to talk about your period
• (00:41:28) - Ob-GYN: What to Know Before Going to the Doctor
• (00:43:49) - Interview

In this conversation, Eloise Drane sits down with Gina Davis, a genetic counselor with more than 20 years of experience in reproductive genetics, IVF, donor conception, and embryo donation. Gina brings rare insight as both a clinician and someone who has personally navigated IVF and become a known embryo donor.

Gina shares what intended parents, donors, and professionals need to understand about carrier screening, family history, genetic risk, and how testing fits into a fertility plan. She breaks down common misconceptions, explains why no genetic picture is ever “perfect,” and highlights the biggest gaps she sees inside fertility clinics today.

They explore the realities of embryo testing, including PGTA, mosaicism, false positives, and how to evaluate results when embryos are limited or labeled “abnormal.” Gina also explains how patients can advocate for themselves and why genetics should be values-driven rather than fear-driven.

By the end, listeners will walk away with clarity, confidence, and a better understanding of the questions to ask, the decisions only they can make, and how to navigate genetics without feeling overwhelmed.

You can’t control everything, but you can be informed.

“We’re all perfectly imperfect when it comes to genetics.” – Gina Davis

Guest Bio:

Gina Davis is a genetic counselor who has worked in the reproductive medicine space for over 20 years. A few years into her career, she also became an IVF patient, and later, a known embryo donor. This experience has shaped her lens of best practices and how professionals can work together to improve the lives of our patients and the families we help create. Gina spent the first 9 years of her career as a genetic counselor at the REI and reproductive genetics program at UCSF. Gina now leads a team of genetic counselors at her private practice, Advocate Genetics, which provides nationwide virtual genetic counseling for fertility patients, gamete donors, and embryo donors. Gina is also a co-founder of Empower with Moxi – https://empowerwithmoxi.com, an educational, support, matching and journey management program with the central aim of empowering choice and understanding in embryo donation.

You’ll hear about:

• Why genetics matters in fertility care
• Gina’s IVF and embryo donation journey
• Carrier screening basics
• Family history vs genetic testing
• Donor genetic evaluations
• Understanding PGTA and mosaicism
• Limits of embryo testing
• Making values-driven decisions
• Red flags in clinic genetic counseling
• Where to start when feeling overwhelmed

Episode Resources:

Advocate Genetics - https://advocategenetics.com

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Welcome to the Fertility Cafe
• (00:01:15) - Fertility Cafe: Gina Davis Discusses Genetics
• (00:02:47) - Teaching in the world of genetics and reproductive health
• (00:06:33) - Inventing the genetic counselor
• (00:08:06) - Do genetic counselors do the right thing for couples?
• (00:16:44) - Carbon Screening and Genetic Mapping
• (00:21:11) - What are some of the biggest gaps
• (00:25:05) - PGT A, Down Syndrome Screening
• (00:31:13) - Does testing embryos help with egg donation?
• (00:35:23) - Choosing the embryo transfer based on genetic findings
• (00:37:51) - Questions parents should ask their fertility clinic before doing IVF or embryo
• (00:43:48) - Do I need genetic screening for my eggs?
• (00:45:41) - Gina on the Genetics of Embryo Donation
• (00:48:22) - Interviewing Elle

When she last spoke with Eloise Drane, she was preparing for one last attempt. Now she shares how that final try became the pregnancy she had prayed for at age 51.

Eloise guides Arvis through the turning points that finally brought answers, including the second opinion that uncovered the simple but long-missed issue preventing her from carrying a pregnancy. Arvis describes the cautious hope she felt as her numbers continued to rise and the joy of finally experiencing pregnancy after so much loss.

The conversation shifts when Arvis recounts the medical emergency that unfolded during delivery. What began as a planned C-section became a life-threatening crisis when an undetected placenta accreta caused massive bleeding, an emergency hysterectomy and a severed ureter that left her facing months of painful recovery.

Through every complication, Arvis explains how faith, community and relentless self-advocacy kept her alive. Her daughter arrived healthy. Arvis survived against all odds.

“My miracle did not come without a fight.” – Arvis Carmichael-Smith

Guest Bio:

Arvis is a middle school science teacher with a passion for nurturing and mentoring kids. This desire sparked an interest in her becoming a teacher eight years ago. She is an advocate for children, animals, and the elderly. She also loves hiking, nature walks, and travel. Arvis lives in Hampton, Georgia with her husband and their one year old daughter.

You’ll hear about:

• Arvis recounts two decades of infertility
• Why multiple miscarriages went unexplained
• The second opinion that changed everything
• Hearing rising pregnancy numbers for the first time
• Joy and fear throughout pregnancy
• Third trimester complications begin
• The hypertension reading that signaled danger
• C section unexpectedly turns into emergency
• Undetected placenta accreta revealed
• Recovery complications and ureter injury
• Months living with a nephrostomy bag
• The emotional toll of recovery
• Maternal health failures and being ignored
• Faith, advocacy and survival

Episode Resources:

Fertility for colored girls - https://www.fertilityforcoloredgirls.org/

Related episodes:

Ep 87 – When Fertility Treatment Doesn’t Work

https://thefertilitycafe.com/podcast/ep-87-when-fertility-treatment-doesnt-work/

Ep 121 – Inside Modern Fertility Care — IVF, Surrogacy, Egg Donation & Family Building
https://thefertilitycafe.com/podcast/beyond-ivf-surrogacy-egg-donation-the-future-of-fertility-care/

Ep 97 – Fertility in the Modern Age: IVF, Environmental Impacts, and Quality Care
https://thefertilitycafe.com/podcast/ep-97-fertility-in-the-modern-age-ivf-environmental-impacts-and-quality-care/

Stay Connected:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fertilitycafe

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fertilitycafe

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fertility-cafe/

More Resources

Learn more about surrogacy & fertility...

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - The Fertility Cafe
• (00:01:03) - Fertility Cafe: Arvis Carmichael Smith Returns
• (00:02:12) - How I Learned To Love My Doctor
• (00:10:01) - The Secret to Getting Pregnant On Your First Try
• (00:14:45) - The Moment I Learned I Was Expecting A Daughter
• (00:16:19) - Pregnancy Was All You Thought It Would Be
• (00:22:18) - After my mid-pregnancy magnesium bolus scare,
• (00:26:17) - Baby's C-Section
• (00:33:17) - The mistake of cutting my ureter during pregnancy
• (00:41:38) - Symptoms of Crohn's after surgery
• (00:45:04) - One woman's story of a uterine prolapse
• (00:52:12) - Prayer for those still on their journey
• (00:55:27) - Arvis On Her Journey To Having A Child

In this episode, host Eloise Drane sits down with clinical embryologist Alease Daniel Barnes to pull back the curtain on what actually happens in the IVF lab. Alease breaks down the technical processes patients are often expected to navigate with limited explanation: embryo grading, ICSI, PGT testing, and cryopreservation.

The conversation covers what those numbers and letters on embryo reports really mean, when genetic testing is actually necessary versus overused, and why ICSI has become routine in the U.S. despite similar success rates with conventional insemination. They also discuss the logistics that don't always get addressed, how embryos are stored, shipped, and preserved long-term.

If you're navigating your own fertility journey this episode gives you the knowledge to ask better questions and make more informed decisions about your care.

"IVF doesn't guarantee you a baby, neither does freezing eggs." - Alease Daniel Barnes

You'll Hear About:

• How embryo grading works and what the numbers mean
• Why grading is subjective and not a pregnancy guarantee
• PGT-A, PGT-M, and PGT-SR: understanding the different types
• Why PGT testing is often overused without proper counseling
• Speaking with genetic counselors before deciding on PGT testing
• Vitrification versus traditional freezing and improved survival rates
• When ICSI is medically necessary versus routinely overused
• Why the U.S. uses ICSI more than other countries
• Embryo shipping safety measures
• Long-term storage basics and why embryos last indefinitely
• Alease's choice to freeze eggs instead of embryos
• Egg quality supplement myths and predatory marketing practices
• Sperm quality has more improvement potential than eggs
• Abandoned embryos in clinics and how policies address this
• Cord blood preservation basics and why it matters
• AI introduction in embryology labs for embryo selection
• Evaluating the lab matters as much as the physician

Connect with Alease: 

Instagram:  @alease_the_embryologist

TikTok: @aleasetheembryologist

Website: https://aleasetheembryologist.com/

Resources mentioned:

• Alease’s free guide to choosing a fertility clinic - https://aleasetheembryologist.com/free-guides/

Related episodes:

Ep 97 - Fertility in the Modern Age: IVF, Environmental Impacts, and Quality Care

https://thefertilitycafe.com/podcast/ep-97-fertility-in-the-modern-age-ivf-environmental-impacts-and-quality-care/

Ep 102 - Beyond the Clinic: Why the Fertility Lab is Key to Your Success

https://thefertilitycafe.com/podcast/ep-102-beyond-the-clinic-why-the-fertility-lab-is-key-to-your-success/

Ep 121 – Inside Modern Fertility Care — IVF, Surrogacy, Egg Donation & Family Building

https://thefertilitycafe.com/podcast/beyond-ivf-surrogacy-egg-donation-the-future-of-fertility-care/

Stay Connected:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fertilitycafe

Facebook:

Chapters

• (00:00:01) - Fertility Cafe
• (00:02:02) - Elise Daniel Barnes on The Fertility Podcast
• (00:02:46) - Experienced embryologists talk about their path to the field
• (00:06:00) - The Changes in Embryology
• (00:09:39) - IVF and Egg Freezing: Decisions made too soon
• (00:12:24) - Discussing Embryo Grade
• (00:13:29) - How to Grade Embryos
• (00:16:57) - Are Embryo Grades Important in Making a Transfer?
• (00:18:48) - What is the freezing process in embryo cryopreservation?
• (00:20:51) - Genetic testing during pregnancy
• (00:25:06) - Do you recommend PGT testing?
• (00:31:13) - I Didn't Make Embryos With My Husband
• (00:34:10) - How to improve your egg quality
• (00:37:41) - Sperm health and how to improve it
• (00:39:36) - Is ICSI necessary for male infertility?
• (00:45:52) - "It's about personalized care"
• (00:46:15) - Send Your Embryos Overseas
• (00:51:12) - How do clinics manage long term storage?
• (00:57:48) - Cord Blood and Core Tissue preservation
• (01:01:01) - Choosing a fertility clinic

When it comes to third-party reproduction (surrogacy, egg donation, or embryo donation) insurance can be one of the most confusing and overlooked parts of the journey. But as Virginia Hart from ART Risk Solutions explains, it’s also one of the most critical.

In this episode, host Eloise Drane sits down with Virginia to demystify the complex world of fertility insurance, what’s covered, what’s not, and how to make sure everyone involved in a surrogacy or donor arrangement is fully protected. From complications and medical coverage to life insurance and newborn care, Virginia breaks down what you must know before signing any contract or starting treatment.

Whether you’re an intended parent, surrogate, donor, or professional in the fertility field, this episode offers the clarity and confidence you need to safeguard your journey.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Meet Virginia Hart, founder of ART Risk Solutions.
• 02:14 – Why fertility and surrogacy insurance are so confusing.
• 03:47 – How ART Risk protects parents, surrogates, and donors.
• 06:23 – Core coverages every surrogate needs.
• 08:36 – Why complication insurance is essential.
• 10:18 – The real cost of going uninsured.
• 12:04 – ACA and Lloyd’s of London options explained.
• 15:12 – Commonly forgotten policies that matter most.
• 17:43 – What intended parents should budget for.
• 20:29 – How ART Risk manages claims and bills.
• 23:11 – Planning newborn coverage and NICU care.
• 26:48 – Insurance for international intended parents.
• 30:37 – The toughest states for surrogacy coverage.
• 36:09 – IVF coverage and new fertility benefits.
• 40:46 – Final advice: ask, “Am I protected and how?”
  
  

Connect with Virginia: 

Instagram:  @art.risk.solutions

Website: https://www.facebook.com/artriskfinancial/  

Resources mentioned:

• ASRM (American Society for Reproductive Medicine): https://www.asrm.org
• RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association: https://resolve.org/
• Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys: https://adoptionart.org
• SEEDS (Society for Ethics in Egg Donatio...

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Insurance for surrogacy and egg donation
• (00:00:41) - What is Affirmative Reproduction Insurance?
• (00:02:13) - Getting Out of the Insurance Industry
• (00:03:24) - What Types of Insurance Were People Confused About?
• (00:04:06) - What Kind of Insurance Do You Provide For Donor/Surrog
• (00:06:19) - Importance of surrogacy insurance
• (00:12:41) - What happens if a surrogate doesn't have a health insurance plan?
• (00:19:26) - Obstructions during IVF
• (00:21:59) - What Should the Baby's Medical Coverage Be?
• (00:25:36) - Art Risk Provides Support for Surrogates' Medical Bills
• (00:27:18) - Obtained surrogacy insurance in the United States
• (00:32:57) - Surrogacy and Workplace Benefits
• (00:36:47) - Choosing a surrogate for the first time
• (00:38:59) - If You Could Give One Advice to Surrogates and Donors
• (00:40:15) - How to Find Out More About Art Risk
• (00:40:51) - Fertility Cafe: Today's Conversation

• What happens behind the scenes in IVF and embryo development
• How holistic care and emotional support impact fertility outcomes
• The evolving roles of surrogates, donors, and intended parents
• Why fertility is about more than conception. It’s about choice, health, and identity.

Eloise takes you through the entire landscape, from the medical process and emotional considerations to the financial realities and cultural shifts. She unpacks how egg freezing evolved from a last-resort treatment to a proactive choice, what it actually looks like to go through a cycle, and why access remains unequal despite growing interest.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever wondered:

• “Is egg freezing right for me?”

• “What’s the real cost, and not just financially?”

• “How does this intersect with identity, access, and equity?”

Whether you're exploring your options or simply trying to understand the conversation more deeply, this episode offers real talk, grounded insights, and the kind of honesty that Fertility Café is known for.

Mentioned Resources:

• American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM.org)

• FertilityIQ.com

Tune in for a thoughtful guide through the myths, facts, and nuances of egg freezing, because your timeline, your body, and your decisions deserve clarity and care.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Fertility Cafe
• (00:01:34) - What Egg Freezing Is Really Like
• (00:02:25) - E egg freezing: How it works, costs, and
• (00:11:09) - Egg Freezing: Access and Financial Reality
• (00:15:50) - Egg Freezing: A Personal Decision
• (00:18:47) - Deciding to freeze your eggs

You’ll hear:

-What it’s really like to receive an endometriosis diagnosis after two decades

-Why Erica believes egg donation is a form of organ donation—and not “less than”

-Honest insights on grieving genetic loss, finding the right donor, and parenting after donor IVF

-How her new book, Moving Mountains for Motherhood, became the U.S.'s first professionally published infertility survival guide

Whether you’re navigating your own fertility journey or supporting someone who is, this episode is a raw, real, and hopeful reminder that love—not biology—defines family.

Moving Mountains for Motherhood is available now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and more.
Connect with Erica on Instagram @eri.ferraro

Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share this episode to support more honest conversations about modern family building.

#FertilityCafe #EggDonation #EndometriosisAwareness #DonorIVF #InfertilitySupport #ModernParenthood

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Fertility Cafe
• (00:00:58) - Egg Donor: Moving Mountains for Motherhood
• (00:02:04) - I Got A Mother's Endometriosis Diagnosis
• (00:07:27) - The Secret to Managing Endometriosis in Your 20s
• (00:11:26) - Egg Donation After IVF
• (00:16:05) - Donor Eggs For Couple's Baby
• (00:21:47) - The Donor Selection in My Egg IVF
• (00:23:55) - The Decision Between Anonymity & Open ID
• (00:28:32) - Janet on Frozen Eggs vs. Fresh IVF
• (00:35:15) - Why I Don't Share My Egg Donor Story
• (00:41:06) - The Journey to Parenthood: Third-Party Reproduction
• (00:42:20) - The Book Moving Mountains For Motherhood
• (00:46:58) - E egg donation in the United States
• (00:50:16) - Where Can People Get A Copy of Moving Mountains For Motherhood?

This conversation sheds light on the importance of trust, preparation, and communication in the surrogacy journey. Ashley candidly discusses the emotional impact of the birth, her experience with postpartum depression, and how intended parents can stay connected throughout the process. She also shares the value of community and support groups for those navigating the often isolating road of infertility.

Whether you’re considering surrogacy or supporting someone who is, this episode offers raw insight and real encouragement.

Have questions about your surrogacy journey?

Speak with our expert team today: https://familyinceptions.com/intended-parents/

Stay Connected

Instagram: @fertilitycafe

Facebook: @fertilitycafe

Website: https://thefertilitycafe.com

More Resources

Learn more about surrogacy & fertility: https://familyinceptions.com/

All information shared is for educational purposes and subject to change. Always consult with a medical or legal professional for personalized advice.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Fertility Cafe
• (00:01:09) - Ashley Hingston on Becoming a Parent Through Surrog
• (00:02:10) - Ashley Hingstown on Her Infertility
• (00:02:59) - The Process of Introspective surrogacy
• (00:05:53) - The Parents Who Used Surrogacy
• (00:08:12) - The Joy of Surrogacy
• (00:10:54) - When Did You Choose To Use an Agency or Go Independent?
• (00:11:59) - A Couple's Matching Experience
• (00:14:28) - The Family Blueprint
• (00:15:41) - The Surrogate's First Meet the Parents
• (00:18:25) - The Secret to Getting A Mother's Love
• (00:21:19) - The Secret to Surrogacy
• (00:22:37) - After Having a Surrogate Baby,
• (00:25:03) - The Surrogate's Relationship With Her Partner
• (00:32:54) - The Day My Surrogate Was Born
• (00:35:51) - The Surrogate's Postpartum Depression
• (00:43:28) - "I'm Not In Love With My Parenting"
• (00:44:32) - In the Elevator With Infertility Support Group
• (00:45:40) - Pregnant Woman on Her Journey
• (00:46:56) - Ashley on Rage Against Infertility
• (00:48:11) - Surrogacy 101

In this solo episode, host Eloise Drane explores the supportive, grounded world of fertility coaching. Whether you're navigating IVF, considering egg freezing, or feeling stuck in the quiet in-between spaces of family building, this episode is a gentle guide to the kind of support many people don’t know is available—and deeply need.

Eloise breaks down what fertility coaches actually do, how they differ from therapists and doctors, and why this kind of care can be invaluable when you're facing overwhelming decisions, emotional burnout, or pressure to figure everything out alone.

This isn’t about doing more—it’s about finding support that helps you feel more like yourself in the middle of it all.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) A moment of post-appointment overwhelm many listeners will recognize

• (01:45) The invisible mental load of fertility—and why support often comes too late

• (04:55) What a fertility coach actually does (and doesn’t do)

• (10:17) How coaches differ from therapists, doctors, and even your inner circle

• (15:22) The different types of fertility coaches: emotional, logistical, holistic

• (20:05) Who fertility coaching is for—and why it’s not just for IVF

• (26:32) Who may not need coaching right now (and why that’s okay)

• (29:40) Why support doesn’t have to wait until you’re at your limit

• (32:08) Letting care be part of the plan—not just a response to crisis

Resources & Links

Website: thefertilitycafe.com
Instagram: @fertilitycafe

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Fertility Cafe
• (00:01:23) - Fertility Coaching: What is it?
• (00:02:52) - Why Fertility Coaching Matters
• (00:04:26) - What Does a Fertility Coach Actually Do?
• (00:06:37) - What Kind of Support Would I Need From a Fertility Coach?
• (00:13:47) - Fertility Coaching: Who Does It Help?

This episode explores the complex reality of fertility treatment for ambitious women in leadership roles, covering egg-freezing decisions, the challenges of coordinating IVF cycles with demanding schedules and navigating fertility clinic experiences. Discussion includes the importance of early fertility preservation, advocating for yourself in medical settings, weight-related barriers in fertility treatment, and the emotional journey of third-party reproduction. Dr. Chatterjee-Morris shares practical advice about choosing fertility clinics, understanding BMI requirements, and making informed decisions about donor eggs and gestational carriers while managing autoimmune conditions.

In This Episode: 

• (00:00) Dr. Chatterjee-Morris shares her complete fertility journey from residency decision to current surrogacy plans
• (08:40) The difficult transition from own eggs to donor eggs to gestational carrier due to multiple sclerosis
• (14:32) Balancing seven IVF cycles with demanding medical practice and patient care
• (20:33) Experiencing dismissive treatment and unprofessional care at fertility clinics
• (27:12) The critical importance of egg freezing in your twenties for career-focused women
• (32:34) Recognizing endometriosis symptoms early and advocating for reproductive health education
• (39:44) Navigating weight stigma and BMI requirements in fertility treatment with compassion
• (46:25) Final advice on self-advocacy and making the best decisions for your fertility journey

Share with someone who may be interested, like and subscribe to hear all of our future episodes!

Resources:

Instagram/TikTok: @healthyobgyn

Website: rivervalleyobgyn.com

Book a Free Consultation

Have questions about becoming a surrogate? Learn more: https://familyinceptions.com/surrogates/

Curious about how much you could make with surrogacy? Use our Compensation Calculator: https://familyinceptions.com/s...

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - The Fertility Cafe
• (00:01:30) - Fertility Cafe
• (00:02:30) - The Secret to Donor Egg Embryo
• (00:08:27) - The Obstetrician-Gynecologist Who Became a Gestational
• (00:13:54) - How to manage a fertility journey while working as a physician
• (00:20:32) - One doctor's experience with a nurse
• (00:21:29) - On Confessions and the Fertility Portal
• (00:26:51) - One woman's experience with endometriosis and IVF
• (00:32:34) - What are the things you're telling young girls about their periods?
• (00:36:27) - One woman's experience with weight during fertility treatment
• (00:44:10) - On advocating for yourself during your infertility treatment
• (00:46:24) - Patient advocate on advocating for herself
• (00:49:10) - How to Lose Weight Through Fertility

The conversation explores Stephanie's journey from secondary infertility through building the Michigan Fertility Alliance from scratch during the pandemic, culminating in the passage of the Michigan Family Protection Act in 2024. Listeners will gain insights into Michigan's surprising surrogacy history, the complexities of having a surrogate birth in another state during COVID, and how the nine-bill package revolutionized fertility and parentage laws for all Michigan families.

In This Episode: 

• (00:00) Introduction to Michigan's restrictive surrogacy laws and transformation
• (03:01) Stephanie Jones's background and secondary infertility journey
• (08:46) The Google search that started it all from hospital recovery bed
• (12:39) Michigan's surprising surrogacy history from first to banned
• (18:37) Building advocacy during the pandemic while having daughter via surrogate
• (20:50) The complicated experience of surrogacy birth in Kentucky during COVID
• (26:17) Overcoming challenges to get people to care about fertility issues
• (31:53) Balancing business executive role with intensive advocacy work
• (34:29) Breaking down the nine-bill Michigan Family Protection Act
• (38:21) Introduction to State Strong national coalition for advocacy
• (41:29) The urgent need for fertility advocates to act now
  
  Share with someone who may be interested, like and subscribe to hear all of our future episodes!

Resources:

Michigan Fertility Alliance: www.michiganfertilityalliance.org
State Strong Coalition: www.statestrong.org
Michigan Family Protection Act Information: www.michigan.gov/familyprotectionact
Stephanie Jones Email: stephanie@michiganfertilityalliance.org
RESOLVE National Infertility Association: www.resolve.org

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Michigan's restrictive surrogacy laws
• (00:01:25) - Michigan's fertility and surrogacy laws
• (00:02:14) - Stephanie Jones on Michigan Fertility Alliance
• (00:03:10) - Michigan Fertility Alliance's Advocates
• (00:05:07) - The Michigan Fertility Alliance's story
• (00:12:15) - Michigan's role in surrogacy rights
• (00:13:32) - Michigan lifts a criminal and civil ban on surrogacy
• (00:18:56) - Marissa on surrogacy during the pandemic
• (00:25:22) - The Future of Surrogacy
• (00:25:53) - The Michigan Alliance for Family Equality
• (00:30:55) - How did you manage all the responsibilities that you had?
• (00:33:44) - Michigan Family Protection Act: Explained
• (00:37:35) - State Strong: What is it and how can I get involved?
• (00:43:00) - Stephanie's story of fertility rights in Michigan

The episode delves into letting go of the infertility mindset, releasing control, identity shifts after fertility journeys, and the realities of early parenthood after treatments. Eloise offers compassionate guidance for navigating feelings of uncertainty, addressing anxieties, building bonds with your baby, and embracing the messy, beautiful process of becoming a parent—however you arrived there.

In This Episode: 

• (00:00) Introduction to the mental shift from fertility treatments to parenthood
• (04:32) Letting go of the infertility mindset and processing mixed emotions
• (09:45) Releasing control and learning to trust your parenting instincts
• (15:20) Reclaiming identity after the fertility journey ends
• (20:48) Sponsor: The Family Blueprint event in Atlanta
• (22:17) What no one tells you about early parenthood after infertility
• (28:03) When bonding doesn't feel instant: normalizing gradual connections
• (31:45) How relationships and friendships transform after becoming a parent
• (36:30) Embracing the growth process of parenthood after fertility struggles
  
  Share with someone who may be interested, like and subscribe to hear all of our future episodes!

Resources:

Book a Free Consultation

Have questions about becoming a surrogate? Learn more: https://familyinceptions.com/surrogates/

Curious about how much you could make with surrogacy? Use our Compensation Calculator: https://familyinceptions.com/surrogacy-compensation-calculator/

Stay Connected

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fertilitycafe

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fertilitycafe

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fertility-cafe/

Website: https://thefertilitycafe.com

More Resources

Learn more about surrogacy & fertility:

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - The Moment Your Fertility Journey Shift From Trying to Parenting
• (00:02:32) - The Transition to Parenting (Real Talk!)
• (00:04:33) - The Fight for Control in Your Fertility Journey
• (00:06:38) - What to Do When Your Identity Is in Transition
• (00:08:32) - What Really Happens To Your Emotions During Parenting After Inf
• (00:12:06) - A Parent's First Mother's Ball

Dr. Susanna Park, a fertility specialist from San Diego Fertility Center, joins host Eloise Drane to share her expertise on fertility testing. Board-certified in both obstetrics/gynecology and reproductive endocrinology, Dr. Park brings a global perspective shaped by her journey from South Korea to Argentina to the United States. With five-time recognition as a top fertility doctor by San Diego Magazine, she offers invaluable insights on proactive fertility assessment.

This episode explores the critical timing of fertility testing, examining why women shouldn't wait for obvious signs before understanding their reproductive health. Dr. Park breaks down key fertility tests for both women and men, optimal ages to start testing, how to interpret results, and the various treatment options available when challenges arise. Listeners will gain practical knowledge on taking control of their fertility journey before problems develop.

Dr. Susanna Park is a renowned fertility specialist from the San Diego Fertility Center. Dr. Park is double board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. She brings a unique global perspective to fertility care, with an impressive background that spans from Seoul to Buenos Aires to New York City, and now San Diego. She's been recognized as a "Top Fertility Doctor" by San Diego Magazine five times, most recently in 2023.

In This Episode: 

• (00:00) Eloise introduces the importance of proactive fertility testing
• (01:35) Dr. Park shares her journey to specializing in fertility medicine
• (02:53) Dr. Park's international background and global perspective on fertility care
• (06:51) At what age should people start considering fertility testing
• (09:54) Understanding key fertility tests and normal ranges for women
• (15:11) How age impacts fertility for both men and women
• (21:13) What constitutes a normal menstrual cycle and warning signs
• (26:11) Four essential components needed for natural conception
• (29:38) Best approaches for timing intercourse when trying to conceive
• (33:26) Understanding natural cycle treatments versus medicated approaches
• (38:34) The IVF process explained for women and egg donors
• (45:55) Testing approaches for same-sex couples planning families
• (51:28) How technology advancements have transformed fertility treatments
• Share with someone who may be interested, like and subscribe to hear all of our future episodes!

Resources:

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - When to Test Your Fertility
• (00:00:45) - Susannah Park on her Journey into Fertility Medicine
• (00:02:42) - The importance of international fertility care
• (00:05:49) - When to Test Your Fertility?
• (00:15:11) - Do You Need to Test Your Sperm?
• (00:19:08) - Should Women Get Testified Early for Ovarian Cancer?
• (00:21:13) - What is typically a normal menstrual cycle?
• (00:23:28) - How to Have a Family
• (00:31:11) - Option 2: Intrauterine Insemination (iUI
• (00:35:05) - What is IVF? (
• (00:39:24) - What is IVF? (Unmedicated vs Medicated)
• (00:46:11) - What is IVF for Same-Sex Couples?
• (00:47:51) - How to Get the Right Sperm for IVF
• (00:51:28) - Immunity and technology in IVF
• (00:54:21) - Choosing a fertility specialist is tough
• (00:57:02) - Best Advice for Testing Your Eggs
• (00:58:36) - Dr. Park

Today on The Fertility Cafe, host Eloise Drane is joined by April Whitford, Journey Manager at Family Inceptions with a decade of experience at the company and 25 years in family building. April, who holds an LMSW from Florida State University, shares her extensive knowledge of guiding hundreds of surrogates through their journeys, emphasizing the importance of patience in what she describes as an 18-month marathon rather than a sprint.

The episode breaks down the practical aspects of surrogacy, from initial screening and matching to medical protocols and travel expectations. They discuss the comprehensive support surrogates receive, the importance of having family and employer backing, insurance considerations, and the legal process of establishing parentage. April and Eloise provide valuable insights into the logistical realities of surrogacy, including medication schedules, appointment frequency, and hospital birth plans.

April Whitford, Journey Manager for Family Inceptions. April has been in the family-building space since 2000, and her passion for helping others shows in every interaction. She's committed to providing the highest level of support to surrogates and intended parents, ensuring that every journey is handled with care and compassion. With over two decades of experience, April has guided hundreds of surrogates through every step of their journeys and has invaluable insights to share about the logistical realities of surrogacy.

In This Episode: 

• (00:00) Importance of understanding surrogate logistics
• (04:18) April explains why surrogacy is a marathon requiring patience, not a sprint
• (05:37) The detailed screening and matching process for surrogates
• (11:06) Timeline expectations from match to embryo transfer
• (12:59) Travel logistics and arrangements during the surrogate journey
• (16:04) Understanding medication protocols and appointment schedules
• (19:33) Building a strong support system throughout your surrogate journey
• (24:06) Preparing family, children, and employers for your surrogacy process
• (31:26) Insurance coverage and protective policies for surrogates
• (34:08) Birth plans and hospital preparation for surrogate deliveries
• Share with someone who may be interested, like and subscribe to hear all of our future episodes!

Resources:

April Whitford LinkedIn

Family Inceptions
<...

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Becoming a Surrogate
• (00:01:27) - The Real Story of Surrogacy
• (00:02:39) - What Kind of Family Can You Build?
• (00:03:36) - The Process of Becoming a surrogate
• (00:06:25) - Is Matching the Right Way for a Baby?
• (00:09:26) - Why is the surrogacy process so lengthy?
• (00:10:56) - How Long Does It Take to Get Your Surrogate Matched
• (00:12:44) - Transfer an Embryo Once, Travel Once
• (00:15:10) - A Couple Tips for Your Health
• (00:15:58) - Surrogate Medications During the Transfer
• (00:18:28) - The Length of Appointments For Surrogacy
• (00:19:16) - What Kind of Support Do Surwives Need?
• (00:24:00) - How to Prepare a Surrogate Mother for the Journey
• (00:24:55) - On Surrogates' Employment
• (00:30:25) - What Kind of Surrogacy Insurance Does It Have?
• (00:33:58) - What to Do Before the Birth of a Surrogacy Baby?
• (00:35:11) - What About Or How the Birth Goes?
• (00:36:03) - Surrogacy Is Worth It
• (00:37:16) - April Jones on the Oscars
• (00:37:29) - Surrogacy Explained

They explore the overwhelming nature of fertility issues, the importance of accurate information, and the myths surrounding infertility. Dr. Hammond emphasizes the need for patients to advocate for themselves, seek community support, and communicate effectively with their healthcare providers.

The conversation highlights the emotional challenges faced by intended parents and the significance of balancing hope with realistic expectations throughout the fertility process.

It emphasizes the significance of education in reproductive health, addressing the gaps in fertility education, and exploring financial resources available for fertility treatment. The discussion also highlights the emotional challenges faced by individuals dealing with fertility issues, including shame and fear, and encourages open dialogue and support.

Learn more about Camille Hammond & The Cade Foundation : https://cadefoundation.org/about

Chapters

00:00 Navigating the Fertility Journey

01:41 Understanding Fertility Myths

12:26 Balancing Hope and Realistic Expectations

17:46 Communication Barriers in Fertility Care

26:13 Understanding Family Health History

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - The Fertility Cafe
• (00:01:16) - Fertility Cafe: The Patient Experience and Fertility Care
• (00:03:05) - Top fertility myths and how to avoid them
• (00:08:19) - How to Manage Your Infertility
• (00:16:25) - Where to Start Talking About Infertility
• (00:17:40) - What are the most common communication barriers doctors and patients face?
• (00:23:37) - What are some questions patients often forget to ask their fertility care team
• (00:25:36) - Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Is it a female issue or
• (00:33:40) - Cade Foundation Speaker on Reproductive Health
• (00:39:13) - Additional Resources for Fertility Treatment and Adoption
• (00:43:41) - What do we do about shame and fear in fertility care?
• (00:45:53) - Camille Cade Foundation Visits The Fertility Cafe

The conversation explores the evolving landscape of adoption, including domestic, international, and foster care options, while also addressing the realities of fertility treatments like IVF and surrogacy. With insights from over two decades in the fertility industry, the episode emphasizes the importance of understanding the emotional, legal, and financial aspects of each path. Listeners are encouraged to consider their personal values and circumstances when making decisions about family building.

Book a Free Consultation

Have questions about your surrogacy journey? Speak with our expert team today!

https://familyinceptions.com/schedule-a-consultation/?utm_campaign=7853368-Fertility%20Cafe%20Podcast&utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social

Curious about the cost of surrogacy? Use our Surrogacy Cost Calculator:

https://familyinceptions.com/cost-of-surrogacy-calculator/?utm_campaign=7853368-Fertility%20Cafe%20Podcast&utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social

Stay Connected

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fertilitycafe

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fertilitycafe

Website: https://thefertilitycafe.com

More Resources

Learn more about surrogacy & fertility: https://familyinceptions.com/intended-parents

Listen to past episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@FertilityCafePodcast/playlists

Get expert insights & updates: https://thefertilitycafe.com/resources

All information shared is for educational purposes and subject to change. Always consult with a medical or legal professional for personalized advice.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Why Not Just Adopt?: The Fertility Cafe
• (00:02:27) - Three Different Paths to Adoption in 2025
• (00:07:20) - What Is An Adoption Agency vs. An Attorney?
• (00:08:18) - Adoption Costs and Timelines
• (00:09:19) - Adoption and Fertility Treatments
• (00:10:18) - Five Things You Need to Know Before Adoption
• (00:12:11) - Choosing the Right IVF, Gestational surrogacy
• (00:14:54) - Choosing the Right Path for Your Baby
• (00:16:10) - Choosing the Right Path for Your Life
• (00:19:04) - What Does Family Building Mean for Single Parents?
• (00:20:50) - How Expensive Is IVF and Surrogacy?
• (00:21:35) - The Costs of Adoption
• (00:24:34) - Medical History and Genetic Considerations for IVF, surrogacy
• (00:25:32) - Surrogacy and Adoption
• (00:26:58) - Choosing the Right Path for Your Family

Edward Simm is a father of seven in a blended family and is currently a part time fire-fighter along with owning a handyman business for the past two years. Previously he spent over 20 years in the financial world working for Wells Fargo.

Book a Free Consultation

Have questions about your surrogacy journey? Speak with our expert team today!

https://familyinceptions.com/schedule-a-consultation/?utm_campaign=7853368-Fertility%20Cafe%20Podcast&utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social

Curious about the cost of surrogacy? Use our Surrogacy Cost Calculator:

https://familyinceptions.com/cost-of-surrogacy-calculator/?utm_campaign=7853368-Fertility%20Cafe%20Podcast&utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social

Stay Connected

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fertilitycafe

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fertilitycafe

Website: https://thefertilitycafe.com

More Resources

Learn more about surrogacy & fertility: https://familyinceptions.com/intended-parents

Listen to past episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@FertilityCafePodcast/playlists

Get expert insights & updates: https://thefertilitycafe.com/resources

All information shared is for educational purposes and subject to change. Always consult with a medical or legal professional for personalized advice.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - The Secret to Successful Surrogacy
• (00:01:40) - The Surrogacy Journey
• (00:02:26) - Janelle's Surrogacy
• (00:04:55) - The Surrogate's Process
• (00:10:34) - Janelle on The Medical Side of surrogacy
• (00:16:39) - Married Couple's Experience With Surrogacy
• (00:18:46) - What types of emotional and practical support do you think is important to
• (00:20:38) - Janelle's C-Section Delivery
• (00:25:53) - What's the Best Part About Being a Surrogate Partner?
• (00:30:12) - The reactions to surrogacy
• (00:32:34) - One Surrogacy Partner's Advice
• (00:36:11) - Discussing surrogacy

Chapters

00:00 The Decline of Birth Rates: A Global Wake-Up Call

05:40 Economic Pressures and Their Impact on Family Planning

08:36 Medical Challenges and Infertility Trends

10:06 The Role of Birth Control in Fertility

10:43 Environmental Factors Affecting Reproductive Health

11:11 LGBTQ+ Perspectives on Family Building

12:38 Shifting Priorities: Education, Career, and Family

14:36 Changes in Marriage and Family Dynamics

16:48 Cultural Shifts and Family Planning Decisions

18:00 Geographic Barriers to Fertility Care

19:57 Technology and Innovation in Fertility Treatments

20:55 Lifestyle Factors Impacting Fertility

21:22 Emotional and Psychological Toll of Infertility

22:11 The Global Perspective on Reproductive Health

29:01 Healthcare Access and Disparities

32:11 International Comparisons in Fertility Care

34:42 Why This Matters: Societal Implications of Declining Birth Rates

40:10 Actionable Steps: Addressing the Decline in Birth Rates

Book a Free Consultation

Have questions about your surrogacy journey? Speak with our expert team today!

https://familyinceptions.com/schedule-a-consultation/?utm_campaign=7853368-Fertility%20Cafe%20Podcast&utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social

Curious about the cost of surrogacy? Use our Surrogacy Cost Calculator:

https://familyinceptions.com/cost-of-surrogacy-calculator/?utm_campaign=7853368-Fertility%20Cafe%20Podcast&utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social

Stay Connected

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fertilitycafe

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fertilitycafe

Website: https://thefertilitycafe.com

More Resources

Learn more about surrogacy & fertility: https://familyinceptions.com/intended-parents

Listen to past episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@FertilityCafePodcast/playlists

Get expert insights & updates: https://thefertilitycafe.com/resources

All information shared is for educational purposes and subject to change. Always consult with a medical or legal professional for personalized advice.

Chapters

• (00:00:25) - Fertility Cafe: Foreign Issues
• (00:00:44) - Birth rates are declining around the world
• (00:01:35) - Why Are Birth Rates Falling?
• (00:08:58) - The Role of Birth Control in Reproductive Health
• (00:12:38) - Why More People Are Having Kids Later
• (00:13:44) - Shifting Priorities for Having Kids in Your 30s
• (00:15:06) - Changes in Marriage and Family Life
• (00:16:48) - Decisions about family building today
• (00:19:57) - The challenges of fertility health
• (00:23:39) - No Head Adjustment For Janelle's Episode
• (00:25:28) - Setting up the computer
• (00:27:26) - Why are birthrates falling?
• (00:29:01) - Understanding the barriers to fertility care in the US
• (00:33:43) - Why Birth Rates Are Dropping
• (00:35:48) - A Smaller Population: Its Social Impact
• (00:38:38) - Policy Solutions for Family Building
• (00:43:37) - LGBTQ Family Building Advocacy

At Family Inceptions, we’ve guided countless families through their surrogacy journeys, helping them navigate this life-changing process with confidence and clarity. Whether you're facing infertility, exploring family planning options, or considering surrogacy as a same-sex couple, we’re here to provide the answers you need.

Learn the truths about surrogacy, what to expect, and how to determine if it’s the right choice for your family.

Book a Free Consultation

Have questions about your surrogacy journey? Speak with our expert team today!

https://familyinceptions.com/schedule...

Curious about the cost of surrogacy? Use our Surrogacy Cost Calculator:

https://familyinceptions.com/cost-of-...

Stay Connected

Instagram:  

 / fertilitycafe  

Facebook:  

 / fertilitycafe  

Website:

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Fertility Cafe
• (00:00:48) - Should I Become a Surrogate?
• (00:01:37) - Surrogates on Becoming Parents
• (00:03:37) - What Makes Someone Choose to Carry a Baby For Another Family?
• (00:09:57) - Best Friends on The Baby's Journey
• (00:11:39) - The Surrogate's Gift
• (00:15:00) - What was it like balancing everyday life while being a surrogate mom?
• (00:16:52) - The Surrogacy Process
• (00:19:32) - What Would Make a Surrogate Ready to Be a Parent?
• (00:23:17) - What Would You Tell a Surrogate Who Doesn't Want a
• (00:26:08) - Surrogacy and Being a Christian
• (00:33:46) - How Surrogacy Has Changed Your Life
• (00:38:33) - Surrogate Mother's Guide to Pregnancy
• (00:39:15) - What's One Thing People Always Get Wrong About Surrogacy
• (00:40:29) - If you Could Go Back In Time With Your Surrogacy
• (00:41:41) - Janelle on Exploring Surrogacy

Learn how to:

- Understand surrogacy costs and hidden fees

- Create a realistic budget that works for you

- Explore financial resources to make surrogacy more affordable

- Plan ahead so unexpected costs don’t derail your journey

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Fertility Financing

01:26 Understanding the Costs of Family Building

04:46 Exploring Fertility Treatment Options

07:35 Planning Your Family Building Journey

09:57 Breaking Down the Costs of IVF

15:41 Insurance Options for Fertility Treatments

20:30 Medication Costs and Savings Strategies

21:57 Building a Realistic Budget

24:50 Planning for Contingencies

26:16 Financing Options Beyond Savings

29:07 Emotional Aspects of Family Planning

31:01 Closing Thoughts and Resources

Surrogacy is an investment, but with the right financial strategy, it is possible. Watch now to get expert insights on how to plan, budget, and fund your family-building journey the smart way.

Book a Free Consultation

Have questions about your surrogacy journey? Speak with our expert team today!

https://familyinceptions.com/schedule-a-consultation/?utm_campaign=7853368-Fertility%20Cafe%20Podcast&utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social

Curious about the cost of surrogacy? Use our Surrogacy Cost Calculator:

https://familyinceptions.com/cost-of-surrogacy-calculator/?utm_campaign=7853368-Fertility%20Cafe%20Podcast&utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social

Stay Connected

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fertilitycafe

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fertilitycafe

Website: https://thefertilitycafe.com

More Resources

Learn more about surrogacy & fertility: https://familyinceptions.com/intended-parents

Listen to past episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@FertilityCafePodcast/playlists

Get expert insights & updates: https://thefertilitycafe.com/resources

All information shared is for educational purposes and subject to change. Always consult with a medical or legal professional for personalized advice.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Fertility Cafe: How to Fund Your Family Building
• (00:01:49) - The Costs of Family Building
• (00:07:33) - A Year in the Process of TTC
• (00:09:27) - A Surrogacy Costs $60,000
• (00:15:27) - Understanding Your Insurance Coverage for Infertility
• (00:16:41) - What Are State Mandates on Fertility Treatments?
• (00:18:02) - What are Specialized Fertility Insurance Plans?
• (00:20:11) - How to Save on IVF Medications!
• (00:21:39) - How to Plan Your Family Building Budget
• (00:22:43) - When Choosing a Reproductive Clinic, Fee and Selection
• (00:24:44) - 3 Tips for Planning for IVF
• (00:26:13) - Financing Options for Fertility Treatment
• (00:27:28) - How to Financing Your Family
• (00:29:44) - How to Navigate the Emotional Weight of Financial Planning
• (00:30:41) - How to Plan Your IVF

Whether you're exploring surrogacy as a way to help create a family, considering becoming a surrogate, or looking for clarity on the legal landscape, this conversation is packed with actionable advice and real-world experiences to guide your journey. From the impact of international regulations to the nuances of parentage orders in different states, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how to navigate this life-changing process with confidence.  

Parenthood knows no limits, and neither should your dreams of family building. Subscribe, share, and join us for more empowering discussions on surrogacy, egg donation, and third-party reproduction. Together, we’re here to support and inspire you every step of the way. Ready to take the next step? Let’s build your future, one family at a time.

#surrogacylegislation #surrogacyconsultation #surrogacyagency #surrogacylawyers #surrogacysupport

CHAPTERS:

00:00 - Intro

02:16 - Inspiration for Fertility Law

03:42 - Evolution of Surrogacy Law

10:15 - Election Impact on Surrogacy Laws

14:44 - Understanding Surrogacy Agreements

18:36 - Pre vs Post Birth Orders Explained

20:40 - Impact of Orders on Surrogates

23:15 - US Surrogacy and International Regulations

25:24 - Challenges for International Parents

27:28 - Advocacy in Surrogacy

33:10 - Recent Changes in Surrogacy Legislation

35:10 - Advice for Intended Parents and Surrogates

36:10 - Misconceptions About Surrogacy Laws

38:00 - Connect with Rich

// Family Inceptions - A Surrogacy and Egg Donation Agency - Visit here for more details: https://familyinceptions.com

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - The Legal Side of Surrogacy
• (00:00:37) - Fertility Cafe: Surrogacy Law
• (00:02:22) - Lawyer and surrogate advocate on fertility and third-party reproduction
• (00:03:41) - The Legal Side of Surrogacy
• (00:06:08) - What's So Difficult to Find a Surrogate?
• (00:10:13) - Will the 2020 election affect surrogacy laws?
• (00:11:54) - What is the surrogacy law in the United States?
• (00:14:43) - What Should Be Included in the Surrogacy Agreement?
• (00:18:37) - Post-Birth Orders: Should Parents Get Them?
• (00:23:16) - US surrogacy laws and international parents
• (00:25:24) - What's some of the common challenges international parents face when doing surrog
• (00:27:29) - Advocacy for More Accessible Surrogacy Laws
• (00:28:59) - Alabama law on IVF
• (00:32:36) - What Changes Would You Like to See in the Surrogacy Legislation
• (00:35:10) - What's your top advice for intended parents just starting their surrogacy
• (00:36:09) - What's the biggest misconception about surrogacy laws?
• (00:38:03) - Legal Talk: Surrogacy

Discover how support, self-care, and open communication play a vital role in creating a family, and hear insights that will help you process emotions like grief, anxiety, or uncertainty. From understanding the challenges of waiting to learning how to advocate for yourself, this conversation is packed with expert advice and real stories that empower and inspire.

If you're ready to take the next step or simply want to feel seen and understood, this episode is for you. Parenthood knows no limits, and neither should love. Join us to learn how to embrace the beauty and complexity of your family-building journey. Subscribe now, share with someone who needs to hear this, and start exploring the resources available to help create the family you’ve always dreamed of.

#fertilityempowerment #infertility #ttcinspiration #buildingapositivefamilystory #parentingthroughdonorconception

CHAPTERS:

00:00 - Intro

01:43 - Dr. Linda Candelis, Reproductive Health Psychologist

04:52 - Common Emotional Challenges in Fertility

06:31 - Identifying and Processing Emotions in Treatment

11:15 - Emotional Impact on Intended Fathers in Fertility

13:29 - Advice for Partners in Fertility Journey

16:11 - Coping Strategies for Waiting Period in Fertility

21:40 - Addressing Shame and Self-Doubt in Fertility

25:24 - Learning to Advocate for Yourself in Treatment

28:15 - What to Expect from Your First Therapy Session

36:08 - Short-term vs Long-term Support in Fertility

37:50 - Misconceptions about Therapy during Fertility Treatment

42:18 - Essential Mental Health Support for Fertility Patients

43:20 - Advice for Starting Family Building Journey

44:19 - Where to Find Linda Online

45:30 - Outro

// Family Inceptions - A Surrogacy and Egg Donation Agency - Visit here for more details: https://familyinceptions.com

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Fertility Cafe
• (00:01:26) - How to Build a Family
• (00:02:32) - How Women's Studies Influenced My Approach to Family Planning
• (00:04:51) - The Emotional Challenges of IVF & Surrogacy
• (00:11:15) - Are Intended Mothers Important in Fertility Care?
• (00:13:29) - The Fear of Moving Forward With a Couple's IVF
• (00:16:11) - A Family's Waiting Period
• (00:19:14) - On Shame and Family Building
• (00:25:23) - Emotional Overwhelm: How to Advocate for Yourself
• (00:34:14) - What Can They Expect From Their First Session With a Mental Health Provider
• (00:37:51) - What's the biggest misconception about therapy during fertility treatment?
• (00:42:18) - Mental health support in the fertility world
• (00:43:19) - Mental Health During Your Fertility Treatment

Too often, patient care takes a backseat to efficiency and profits, leaving intended parents, surrogates, and donors feeling overlooked. Eloise unpacks how to advocate for yourself, ask the right questions, and find a team that values your unique needs.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The critical roles of medical teams, mental health professionals, legal counsel, agencies, insurance specialists, and escrow managers.
• Key questions to ask when choosing a fertility clinic, agency, or legal team.
• How to ensure inclusivity, especially for non-traditional families, LGBTQ+ individuals, and single parents.
• Tips for surrogates and donors to feel supported and respected throughout the process.
• Advocacy strategies to make your voice heard and ensure your journey aligns with your values.

Resources Mentioned:

• Visit thefertilitycafe.com for helpful guides and additional resources.
• Check out Episode 102 with Kenny Smalls for an in-depth look at fertility labs.

Tune in now to gain confidence in choosing the right team for your journey to parenthood.

Have questions or thoughts about this episode? Share them in the comments below!

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Choosing the Right Family Builder
• (00:01:12) - What is a Fertility Cafe?
• (00:02:45) - The Secret to Choosing the Right Fertility Clinic
• (00:04:35) - Choosing the Right Fertility Clinic for You and Your Partner
• (00:12:31) - Legal Counsel
• (00:16:32) - Choosing a Legal Counsel for Third-Party Reproduction
• (00:18:11) - Agencies Your Partner in the Family
• (00:21:08) - The Role of Insurance Specialists and Escrow Managers
• (00:23:32) - Advocating for Yourself

Joining Eloise is Kenny Smalls, Director of Laboratory Services at Global Fertility and Genetics, to uncover how labs combine cutting-edge technology with precise science to create life. From embryo grading and air quality to the latest in AI and vitrification techniques, Kenny explains the processes that make or break success rates.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What really happens behind the scenes in a fertility lab.
• How lab conditions, like air quality and equipment, impact embryo development.
• What to look for when choosing a fertility clinic with the right lab setup.
• The revolutionary role of AI and advanced technologies in fertility science.

Whether you’re just starting your fertility journey or in the middle of treatment, this episode will arm you with the knowledge to make confident, informed decisions.

Tune in now to discover how fertility labs are shaping the future of family building.

Have questions about lab processes or choosing the right clinic? Drop them below!

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - The fertility lab
• (00:00:42) - Fertility Cafe
• (00:02:10) - How to get into embryology at HBCUs
• (00:08:59) - How to do IVF without semen analysis
• (00:12:07) - No IVF clinic should treat infertility unless they do a semen analysis
• (00:15:39) - Air quality in the IVF Laboratory
• (00:21:52) - Is embryo grading important for IVF success?
• (00:24:24) - PGT testing
• (00:28:29) - Vitrification: The science of freezing embryos
• (00:29:51) - Do cryo tanks malfunction during IVF?
• (00:33:48) - Discussing the ethical issues of embryo models
• (00:38:33) - What quality control measures should patients look for in a fertility lab?
• (00:43:25) - Global fertility expert on EWTN interview
• (00:44:20) - The Fertility Cafe

Navigating these options can feel overwhelming, but this episode serves as your refreshed guide to understanding the unique considerations, timelines, and emotional aspects of each path. Whether you're an intended parent, surrogate, or donor, you'll gain clarity, confidence, and insight into how to choose the path that aligns with your family-building goals.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• The differences between egg, sperm, and embryo donation.
• The surrogacy process and what to expect.
• Key factors to consider: budget, timeline, emotional readiness, and support systems.
• Common myths about third-party reproduction debunked.

Every family’s journey is unique, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Tune in to gain expert advice, heartfelt insights, and a roadmap for your family-building journey.

Listen now and subscribe for more honest conversations about modern family building.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Episode 101
• (00:03:11) - Three Paths to Building a Family
• (00:04:46) - Three Myths About Third-Party Family Building
• (00:07:07) - Taking That First Step in Third-Party Family Building
• (00:08:21) - Choosing the Right Path in Third Party Family Building
• (00:10:53) - What is the Medical Process of Third Party Reproduction?
• (00:12:40) - 3 Things to Know Before Starting IVF or surrogacy
• (00:15:01) - What Happens Next? Third-Party Reproduction
• (00:17:52) - Choosing the Right Family Member
• (00:24:32) - Legal Aspects of Surrogacy
• (00:28:15) - Choosing the Right Way to Build a Family

Guest Bio

David Sable is the distinguished guest on today’s show, and he's highly respected in the field of reproductive medicine. He holds impressive degrees from the Wharton School and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. David has built a remarkable career as an obstetrician and gynecologist, with a special focus on reproductive endocrinology. He’s also a co-founder of the Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Science and Reprogenetics, which are quite noteworthy. In addition, he’s an esteemed educator at Columbia University and shares his expertise through lectures on healthcare investing and biotechnology business development. You might have even seen him on TV sharing insights on reproductive medicine. With a plethora of board positions, advisory roles, and publications, David Sable is a true authority and a guiding light in the field.

Resources

●      Guest: David Sable

●      Learn more about our podcast: Fertility Cafe

●      Learn more about our surrogacy and egg donation agency: Family Inceptions

●      On the podcast: Ep 1 |  Building a Modern-Day Family

●       On the podcast: Ep 96 | The Baby Business

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautifu...

From outlining the legal and policy barriers to exploring the emotional ramifications, Dr. Leondires provides an in-depth view of the complexities involved in accessing fertility treatments. We also dive into the current state of insurance coverage for such treatments and the significant advances in reproductive technology that can benefit the LGBTQ+ community. 

As we venture into the future of LGBTQ+ fertility care, Dr. Leondires spotlights the important role that allies play in this landscape, advocating for more inclusivity and equality in reproductive healthcare. The episode wraps up with Dr. Leondires offering uplifting advice and encouragement for LGBTQ+ individuals and couples beginning their own path to parenthood. 

This episode provides essential takeaways for everyone invested in understanding and advancing equality in fertility care, offering a blend of expert insights, real-world scenarios, and heartening messages of support. Tune in to gain a broader perspective on LGBTQ+ family-building in the evolving world of reproductive healthcare. 

Guest Bio

Dr. Mark Leondires is the Founder and Medical Director at Illume Fertility and the Founder of Gay Parents To Be, a family-building resource for the LGBTQ+ community. He is board certified in both obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive endocrinology and infertility.

Resources

●      Gay Parents to Be

●      Illume Fertility

●      Learn more about our podcast: Fertility Cafe

●      Learn more about our surrogacy and egg donation agency: Family Inceptions

●      On the blog: Helping You Have A Baby: LGBTQ Surrogacy And Egg Donation

●      On the blog: LGBT Surrogacy – Learning Your Options In Achieving Parenthood

●      On the podcast: Ep 85 |

Resources

●      Learn more about our podcast: Fertility Cafe

●      Learn more about our surrogacy and egg donation agency: Family Inceptions

●      On the podcast: Ep 35 | Infertility Epidemic

●      On the podcast: Ep 79 | Infertility Increase and Media Negative Reputation

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Guest Bio

Dr. Aimee, also known as the “Egg Whisperer,” is one of America’s most famous fertility doctors. Her success rate at baby-making is what gives future parents hope when all hope is lost. Dr. Aimee is a Harvard-educated board-certified OBGYN, specializing in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. She has been featured in magazines like People and Marie Claire and has been featured on the Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS Morning, along with a number of local and international newscasts. In her off-time, Dr. Aimee is a Mom to four rambunctious young kids aged 8 and under.

Resources

●      Dr. Aimee’s Website

●      Learn more about our podcast: Fertility Cafe

●      Learn more about our surrogacy and egg donation agency: Family Inceptions

●      On the blog: How To Support Yourself As An Intended Parent

●      On the blog: Tips on Family Building through Surrogacy

●      On the podcast: Ep 79| Infertility Increase and Media Negative Reputation

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Resources

●      Learn more about our podcast: Fertility Cafe

●      Learn more about our surrogacy and egg donation agency: Family Inceptions

●      On the blog: What Disqualifies You from Being a Surrogate? Your Questions Answered

●      On the blog: Surrogate vs Gestational Carrier

●      On the podcast: Ep 73 | Baby Bonding During & After Surrogacy

●      On the podcast: Ep 80 | First Hand Stories from an Intended Mother

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Guest Bio

Kimberly Surratt is the past president of the State Bar of Nevada Family Law Section and the Nevada Justice Association. She sits on the Board of Trustees for the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys and is the chair of the domestic lobbying committee. She has lobbied with the Nevada Justice Association since 2004 and is responsible for all assisted reproduction parentage laws in the state of Nevada, including a trailblazing insurance bill.

Resources

●        Kimberly’s Website

●        Kimberly’s LinkedIn

●        Learn more about our podcast: Fertility Cafe

●        Learn more about our surrogacy and egg donation agency: Family Inceptions

●        On the blog: How Much Does Surrogacy Cost – We Break the Fees Down for You

●        On the blog: 9 Important Questions To Ask A Surrogacy Agency

●        On the podcast: Ep 54 | Fertility Care for Minority Populations with Dr. Tia

●        On the podcast: Ep 60 | Employee Benefits: Brooke Bartholomay Quinn

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your f...

Resources

●      Learn more about our podcast: Fertility Cafe

●      Learn more about our surrogacy and egg donation agency: Family Inceptions

●      On the blog: What is an “Ethical” Surrogacy Agency?

●      On the blog: How To Tell Your Children They Are A Product Of Donor Eggs?

●      On the podcast: Ep 36 | Embryo Donation

●      On the podcast: Ep 76 | Embryo Donation: What Are We Doing with All the Leftover Frozen Embryos?

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Guest Bio

Charlie and Tom are a couple from the UK living with their 6-month-old son, Bertie, born in South Carolina via surrogate. Tom works as a pilot and Charlie is a Registered Dietitian and blogger at therunnerbeans.com.

Resources

●        Learn more about our podcast: Fertility Cafe

●        Learn more about our surrogacy and egg donation agency: Family Inceptions

●        On the blog: How Family Inceptions Can Help You Find the Right Surrogate

●        On the blog: International Surrogacy UK: Become A Parent Through US Surrogacy

●        On the podcast: Ep 01 | You Have the Right to Create Your Dream Family

●        On the podcast: Ep 11 | Surrogacy Laws You Should Know Before Starting

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Resources

●      Learn more about our podcast: Fertility Cafe

●      Learn more about our surrogacy and egg donation agency: Family Inceptions

●      On the blog: How Long Is The Egg Donation Process

●      On the blog: How To Tell Your Children They Are A Product Of Donor Eggs?

●      On the podcast: Ep 4 | Egg Donation 101: When It Takes a Village to Start a Family

●      On the podcast: Ep 10 | How to Find Your Best Egg Donor

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Guest Bio

Andrea is the founder of Pregnantish, the first media platform dedicated to helping people navigate fertility treatments and infertility. A regular on-air personality and the host of the Pregnantish podcast, Andrea’s hosted TV shows for Oprah’s OWN, Discovery, and Fox, and is the author of He's Just Not Your Type (And That's a Good Thing) and Cheat On Your Husband (With Your Husband). 

Resources

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Resources

●      Learn more about our podcast: Fertility Cafe

●      Learn more about our surrogacy and egg donation agency: Family Inceptions

●      On the blog: The Pros And Cons Of Surrogacy For Everyone Involved

●      On the blog: 9 Surrogacy Myths and Questions – Debunked and Answered

●      On the podcast: Ep 37 | Husbands Are You Prepared

●      On the podcast: Ep 31 | What I Wish I Knew As A Surrogate

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Guest Bio

Jessica is a mom of two little ones who have her completely wrapped around their fingers. She loves all things family building and is very proud of her role as a surrogate.

Resources

●        Learn more about our podcast: Fertility Cafe

●        Learn more about our surrogacy and egg donation agency: Family Inceptions

●        On the blog:  What Is Surrogacy? Learn All The Facts

●        On the blog: Your Pregnant Belly As A Surrogate: What To Expect

●        On the podcast: Ep 78 | First-Hand Stories from a Gestational Surrogate

●        On the podcast: Ep 37 | Husbands Are You Prepared

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

In addition, you’ll want to find out all you can about the staff, the processes the agency they have in place, the kind of reviews they get, as well as their track record for successful results. When it comes to building your family, thoroughly researching an agency's communication style, matching approach, coordination of fertility clinics and professionals, and ethical treatment of surrogates and egg donors is essential in making an informed choice.

Resources

●      Learn more about our podcast: Fertility Cafe

●      Learn more about our surrogacy and egg donation agency: Family Inceptions

●      On the blog: 9 Important Questions to Ask a Surrogacy Agency

●      On the blog: How Family Inceptions Can Help You Find the Right Surrogate

●      On the podcast: Ep 39 | Agency Owners Roundtable

●      On the podcast: Ep 45 | When Third-Party Goes Wrong

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Guest Bio

Arvis is a former veterinary hospital director whose passion for teaching and nurturing kids sparked a career pivot to teaching middle school. She is an advocate for children, animals, and the elderly. She also loves hiking, nature walks, and travel. Arvis lives in Hampton, Georgia with her husband of 23 years, Martin Smith. 

Resources

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Resources

●        Learn more about our podcast: Fertility Cafe

●        Learn more about our surrogacy and egg donation agency: Family Inceptions

●        On the blog: How Long Is The Egg Donation Process

●        On the blog: Ten Things That Will Make You an Ideal Surrogate

●        On the podcast: Ep 31 | What I Wish I Knew As A Surrogate

●        On the podcast: Ep 51 | When It Takes A Village To Start A Family

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Guest Bio

Carnell is a medical speech-language pathologist and the host of the podcast Going Through Something with Carnell Roberts. He lives in Atlanta with his husband and their bernedoodle, Swift (Carnell is a huge Taylor Swift fan). He is a new dad to a beautiful baby girl who shares the same birthday with Eloise. 

Resources

●      Learn more about our podcast: Fertility Cafe

●      Learn more about our surrogacy and egg donation agency: Family Inceptions

●      On the blog: LGBT Surrogacy – Learning Your Options In Achieving Parenthood

●      On the blog: 9 Important Questions To Ask A Surrogacy Agency

●      On the podcast: Ep 57 | IP: Single, LGBTQIA+, over 50, HIV+ Parents

●      On the podcast: Ep 51 | When It Takes A Village To Start A Family

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Resources

●      Learn more about our podcast: Fertility Cafe

●      Learn more about our surrogacy and egg donation agency: Family Inceptions

●      On the blog: How To Support Yourself As An Intended Parent

●      On the blog: Own Your Journey as an Intended Parent

●      On the podcast: Ep 43 | Body Autonomy For Surrogates and Egg Donors

●      On the podcast: Ep 59 | Advocacy Groups: Highlighting Important Organizations

●      On the podcast: Ep 72 | Egg Donor Advocacy Groups

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Guest Bio

Zach French  is an entrepreneur, lawyer, podcast host and technologist in Atlanta. Throughout his entire career, he has focused on building better connections for thriving ecosystems with three pillars — education, sales, and strategy. He has been involved in numerous nonprofits. Leveraging this experience, Zach and his wife Alexandra founded Gift of Surrogacy. Zach is on a mission to help build more families and proliferate the entire surrogacy ecosystem.

Resources

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Host Bio 

I’m Eloise Drane, Founder of Family Inceptions, the first surrogacy and egg donation agency in the state of Georgia and the first Black-owned surrogacy and egg donation agency in the United States.

I created the Fertility Cafe podcast as a free resource to answer the biggest questions intended parents, egg donors, and surrogates are facing as they consider third-party reproduction.

Resources

●      Learn more about our podcast: Fertility Cafe

●      Learn more about our surrogacy and egg donation agency: Family Inceptions

●      Learn more about independent surrogacy: Surrogacy Roadmap

●      On the podcast: Ep 57 | IP: Single, LGBTQIA+, over 50, HIV+ Parents

●      On the podcast: Ep 59 | Advocacy Groups: Highlighting Important Organizations

●      On the podcast:  Ep 60 | Employee Benefits: Brooke Bartholomay Quinn

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Host Bio 

I’m Eloise Drane, Founder of Family Inceptions, the first surrogacy and egg donation agency in the state of Georgia and the first Black-owned surrogacy and egg donation agency in the United States.

I created the Fertility Cafe podcast as a free resource to answer the biggest questions intended parents, egg donors, and surrogates are facing as they consider third-party reproduction.

Resources

●      Eloise Drane on LinkedIn

●      Learn more about our podcast: Fertility Cafe

●      Learn more about our surrogacy and egg donation agency: Family Inceptions

●      Learn more about independent surrogacy: Surrogacy Roadmap

●      On the blog: LGBT Surrogacy – Learning Your Options In Achieving Parenthood

●      On the podcast: Ep 48 | Kellee Stewart on Fertility Awareness & Egg Advocacy

●      On the podcast: Ep 50 | Fertility Insurance with Jason Smith

●      On the podcast: Ep 54 | Fertility Care for Minority Populations with Dr. Tia

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Guest/Host Bio Amy Oguntala

Amy Oguntala and her husband are intended parents via surrogacy. They are currently on their third pregnancy.

Resources

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Host Bio

I’m Eloise Drane, Founder of Family Inceptions, the first surrogacy and egg donation agency in the state of Georgia and the first Black-owned surrogacy and egg donation agency in the United States.

While I started Family Inceptions back in 2008, my love for giving people the gift of life goes back even further. In 1998, I donated a kidney. The experience was life-changing for me, and I felt called to help more people in such a meaningful, profound way.

Two years later, I had my first experience with egg donation. Little did I know that the egg donation journey would completely change the trajectory of my life.

To date, I’ve been a gestational carrier (also known as a surrogate) three times and an egg donor six times. Along the way, I became an expert in the process.

I founded Family Inceptions to help more intended parents start their families, to support other surrogates and egg donors, and to make an impact in the world.

Although I love working with families through Family Inceptions, I also understand that many people are priced out of working with agencies. So, I took everything I learned from donating eggs six times, serving as a surrogate three times, earning an MBA, and running the first Black-owned surrogacy and egg donation agency of its kind in the US... and put it all into an easy-to-use, comprehensive course to help intended parents successfully navigate their independent surrogacy journey. I call that course Surrogacy Roadmap.

There are so many wonderful people out there who are longing to become parents, but they can’t physically create or carry a child for one reason or another. Likewise, there are many women out there who are either considering helping intended parents achieve their family goals or who are already involved in the fertility industry as egg donors or surrogates. 

I created the Fertility Cafe podcast as a free resource to answer the biggest questions intended parents, egg donors, and surrogates are facing as they consider third-party reproduction.

Resources

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Guest Bio

Heathyr suhr

Heathyr is a single mom to her 7 year old best friend. She is a 2x surrogate who loves pregnancy, helping create families, and helping educate other women on the ups and downs of surrogacy.

Resources

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Host Bio Eloise Drane

I’m Eloise Drane, Founder of Family Inceptions, the first surrogacy and egg donation agency in the state of Georgia and the first Black-owned surrogacy and egg donation agency in the United States.

While I started Family Inceptions back in 2008, my love for giving people the gift of life goes back even further. In 1998, I donated a kidney. The experience was life-changing for me and I felt called to help more people in such a meaningful, profound way.

Two years later, I had my first experience with egg donation. Little did I know that the egg donation journey would completely change the trajectory of my life.

To date, I’ve been a gestational carrier (also known as a surrogate) three times and an egg donor six times. Along the way, I became an expert in the process.

I founded Family Inceptions to help more intended parents start their families, to support other surrogates and egg donors, and to make an impact in the world.

Although I love working with families through Family Inceptions, I also understand that many people are priced out of working with agencies. So, I took everything I learned from donating eggs six times, serving as a surrogate three times, earning an MBA, and running the first Black-owned surrogacy and egg donation agency of its kind in the US... and put it all into an easy-to-use, comprehensive course to help intended parents successfully navigate their independent surrogacy journey. I call that course Surrogacy Roadmap.

There are so many wonderful people out there who are longing to become parents, but they can’t physically create or carry a child for one reason or another. Likewise, there are many women out there who are either considering helping intended parents achieve their family goals or who are already involved in the fertility industry as egg donors or surrogates.

I created the Fertility Cafe podcast as a free resource to answer the biggest questions intended parents, egg donors, and surrogates are facing as they consider third-party reproduction.

Resources

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Guest Bio Maya Grobel and Gina Davis

Maya Grobel is a California Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and psychotherapist in private practice, where she specializes in supporting individuals and couples struggling to conceive or building their family in alternative ways. Maya and her TV producer husband Noah made a feature length film called One More Shot, documenting their tumultuous journey to parenthood, which ended with the birth of their daughter via embryo donation (available on Vimeo on Demand). Maya a co-founder of EM•POWER with Moxi, an educational company focused on empowering choice in embryo donation.

Gina Davis is the founder of Advocate Genetics, and a multi-state licensed, board-certified genetic counselor, who specializes in the field of reproductive medicine. Gina is also a co-founder of EM•POWER with Moxi, an education company dedicated to empowering choice and community in embryo donation. She is a mother of two via IVF and an embryo donor.

Resources

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Host Bio

I’m Eloise Drane, Founder of Family Inceptions, the first surrogacy and egg donation agency in the state of Georgia and the first Black-owned surrogacy and egg donation agency in the United States.

While I started Family Inceptions back in 2008, my love for giving people the gift of life goes back even further. In 1998, I donated a kidney. The experience was life-changing for me, and I felt called to help more people in such a meaningful, profound way.

Two years later, I had my first experience with egg donation. Little did I know that the egg donation journey would completely change the trajectory of my life.

To date, I’ve been a gestational carrier (also known as a surrogate) three times and an egg donor six times. Along the way, I became an expert in the process.

I founded Family Inceptions to help more intended parents start their families, to support other surrogates and egg donors, and to make an impact in the world.

Although I love working with families through Family Inceptions, I also understand that many people are priced out of working with agencies. So, I took everything I learned from donating eggs six times, serving as a surrogate three times, earning an MBA, and running the first Black-owned surrogacy and egg donation agency of its kind in the US... and put it all into an easy-to-use, comprehensive course to help intended parents successfully navigate their independent surrogacy journey. I call that course Surrogacy Roadmap.

There are so many wonderful people out there who are longing to become parents, but they can’t physically create or carry a child for one reason or another. Likewise, there are many women out there who are either considering helping intended parents achieve their family goals or who are already involved in the fertility industry as egg donors or surrogates.

I created the Fertility Cafe podcast as a free resource to answer the biggest questions intended parents, egg donors, and surrogates are facing as they consider third-party reproduction.

Resources

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Guest Bio Nancy Block

Nancy Block RN and Mark Silverberg MD founded National Surrogate Record Review in order to provide a service for potential parents, fertility clinics, and agencies to find the most stable, suitable candidates for surrogacy. Nancy is an OB RN with over 26 years in assisted reproductive technology. Her nursing career spanned over 17 years in all aspects of Women's Health. Mark has been an MD in the Anesthesia sector for over 30 years and has worked with patients with varied needs and has reviewed 1000's of charts for procedures he has been involved in. Dr. Silverberg has worked with OB/Gyne Patients for many years in inpatient and outpatient settings.

Resources

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Host Bio

I’m Eloise Drane, Founder of Family Inceptions, the first surrogacy and egg donation agency in the state of Georgia and the first Black-owned surrogacy and egg donation agency in the United States.

While I started Family Inceptions back in 2008, my love for giving people the gift of life goes back even further. In 1998, I donated a kidney. The experience was life-changing for me and I felt called to help more people in such a meaningful, profound way.

Two years later, I had my first experience with egg donation. Little did I know that the egg donation journey would completely change the trajectory of my life.

To date, I’ve been a gestational carrier (also known as a surrogate) three times and an egg donor six times. Along the way, I became an expert in the process.

I founded Family Inceptions to help more intended parents start their families, to support other surrogates and egg donors, and to make an impact in the world.

Although I love working with families through Family Incpesions, I also understand that many people are priced out of working with agencies. So I took everything I learned from donating eggs six times, serving as a surrogate three times, earning an MBA, and running the first Black-owned surrogacy and egg donation agency of its kind in the US... and put it all into an easy-to-use, comprehensive course to help intended parents successfully navigate their independent surrogacy journey. I call that course Surrogacy Roadmap.

There are so many wonderful people out there who are longing to become parents, but they can’t physically create or carry a child for one reason or another. Likewise, there are many women out there who are either considering helping intended parents achieve their family goals or who are already involved in the fertility industry as egg donors or surrogates. 

I created the Fertility Cafe podcast as a free resource to answer the biggest questions intended parents, egg donors, and surrogates are facing as they consider third-party reproduction.

Resources

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Guest Bio Liz Scheier

Liz Scheier is a 3x egg donor and sits on the leadership team of We Are Egg Donors, a global support network for current and past donors. Her 2022 memoir NEVER SIMPLE, which was chosen as an editor's pick by the New York Times, People Magazine, Apple, and Amazon, deals in part with the experience of donating eggs.

Resources

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

In this episode, we talked about all the reasons why international surrogacy can get IPs into trouble and the few benefits that don't make the hassle worth it.                 

Host Bio

I’m Eloise Drane, Founder of Family Inceptions, the first surrogacy and egg donation agency in the state of Georgia and the first Black-owned surrogacy and egg donation agency in the United States.

While I started Family Inceptions back in 2008, my love for giving people the gift of life goes back even further. In 1998, I donated a kidney. The experience was life-changing for me and I felt called to help more people in such a meaningful, profound way.

Two years later, I had my first experience with egg donation. Little did I know that the egg donation journey would completely change the trajectory of my life.

To date, I’ve been a gestational carrier (also known as a surrogate) three times and an egg donor six times. Along the way, I became an expert in the process.

I founded Family Inceptions to help more intended parents start their families, to support other surrogates and egg donors, and to make an impact in the world.

Although I love working with families through Family Incpesions, I also understand that many people are priced out of working with agencies. So I took everything I learned from donating eggs six times, serving as a surrogate three times, earning an MBA, and running the first Black-owned surrogacy and egg donation agency of its kind in the US... and put it all into an easy-to-use, comprehensive course to help intended parents successfully navigate their independent surrogacy journey. I call that course Surrogacy Roadmap.

There are so many wonderful people out there who are longing to become parents, but they can’t physically create or carry a child for one reason or another. Likewise, there are many women out there who are either considering helping intended parents achieve their family goals or who are already involved in the fertility industry as egg donors or surrogates. 

I created the Fertility Cafe podcast as a free resource to answer the biggest questions intended parents, egg donors, and surrogates are facing as they consider third-party reproduction.

Resources

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Guest Bio Rai Hyde

Rai is a 6-time egg donor. Despite struggling with long-term health complications due to her donations, she is proud to be an egg donor and looks back on the process and the families she contributed to fondly. She is eager to help other donors or potential donors make the right decisions for themselves knowing the health risks.

Resources

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Host Bio

I’m Eloise Drane, Founder of Family Inceptions, the first surrogacy and egg donation agency in the state of Georgia and the first Black-owned surrogacy and egg donation agency in the United States.

While I started Family Inceptions back in 2008, my love for giving people the gift of life goes back even further. In 1998, I donated a kidney. The experience was life-changing for me and I felt called to help more people in such a meaningful, profound way.

Two years later, I had my first experience with egg donation. Little did I know that the egg donation journey would completely change the trajectory of my life.

To date, I’ve been a gestational carrier (also known as a surrogate) three times and an egg donor six times. Along the way, I became an expert in the process.

I founded Family Inceptions to help more intended parents start their families, to support other surrogates and egg donors, and to make an impact in the world.

Although I love working with families through Family Inceptions, I also understand that many people are priced out of working with agencies. So, I took everything I learned from donating eggs six times, serving as a surrogate three times, earning an MBA, and running the first Black-owned surrogacy and egg donation agency of its kind in the US... and put it all into an easy-to-use, comprehensive course to help intended parents successfully navigate their independent surrogacy journey. I call that course Surrogacy Roadmap.

There are so many wonderful people out there who are longing to become parents, but they can’t physically create or carry a child for one reason or another. Likewise, there are many women out there who are either considering helping intended parents achieve their family goals or who are already involved in the fertility industry as egg donors or surrogates. 

I created the Fertility Cafe podcast as a free resource to answer the biggest questions intended parents, egg donors, and surrogates are facing as they consider third-party reproduction.

Resources

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Guest Bio Dr. Diane Tober

Dr. Diane Tober is a medical anthropologist and associate professor at the University of Alabama. She is author of the book, Romancing the Sperm: Shifting Biopolitics and the Making of Modern Families. For the past several years, with funding from the National Science Foundation, she has been conducting research on egg donation in the United States and Spain.

Resources

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Host Bio

I’m Eloise Drane, Founder of Family Inceptions, the first surrogacy and egg donation agency in the state of Georgia and the first Black-owned surrogacy and egg donation agency in the United States.

While I started Family Inceptions back in 2008, my love for giving people the gift of life goes back even further. In 1998, I donated a kidney. The experience was life-changing for me and I felt called to help more people in such a meaningful, profound way.

Two years later, I had my first experience with egg donation. Little did I know that the egg donation journey would completely change the trajectory of my life.

To date, I’ve been a gestational carrier (also known as a surrogate) three times and an egg donor six times. Along the way, I became an expert in the process.

I founded Family Inceptions to help more intended parents start their families, to support other surrogates and egg donors, and to make an impact in the world.

Although I love working with families through Family Incpesions, I also understand that many people are priced out of working with agencies. So I took everything I learned from donating eggs six times, serving as a surrogate three times, earning an MBA, and running the first Black-owned surrogacy and egg donation agency of its kind in the US... and put it all into an easy-to-use, comprehensive course to help intended parents successfully navigate their independent surrogacy journey. I call that course Surrogacy Roadmap.

There are so many wonderful people out there who are longing to become parents, but they can’t physically create or carry a child for one reason or another. Likewise, there are many women out there who are either considering helping intended parents achieve their family goals or who are already involved in the fertility industry as egg donors or surrogates. 

I created the Fertility Cafe podcast as a free resource to answer the biggest questions intended parents, egg donors, and surrogates are facing as they consider third-party reproduction.

Resources

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Guest Bio Wendy Kramer

Wendy is the Co-Founder and Director of the Donor Sibling Registry (DSR). The DSR was founded in 2000 with her donor-conceived son Ryan to assist individuals conceived as a result of sperm, egg, or embryo donation who are seeking to make mutually desired contact with others with whom they share genetic ties. With more than 80,000 members in 105 countries, the DSR has helped to connect more than 25,000 of them with their half-siblings and/or their biological parents. Wendy has listened to, advised/consulted, and researched thousands of these parents, donors, donor-conceived people, and other donor family members.

Resources

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Host Bio

I’m Eloise Drane, Founder of Family Inceptions, the first surrogacy and egg donation agency in the state of Georgia and the first Black-owned surrogacy and egg donation agency in the United States.

While I started Family Inceptions back in 2008, my love for giving people the gift of life goes back even further. In 1998, I donated a kidney. The experience was life-changing for me and I felt called to help more people in such a meaningful, profound way.

Two years later, I had my first experience with egg donation. Little did I know that the egg donation journey would completely change the trajectory of my life.

To date, I’ve been a gestational carrier (also known as a surrogate) three times and an egg donor six times. Along the way, I became an expert in the process.

I founded Family Inceptions to help more intended parents start their families, to support other surrogates and egg donors, and to make an impact in the world.

Although I love working with families through Family Inceptions, I also understand that many people are priced out of working with agencies. So I took everything I learned from donating eggs six times, serving as a surrogate three times, earning an MBA, and running the first Black-owned surrogacy and egg donation agency of its kind in the US... and put it all into an easy-to-use, comprehensive course to help intended parents successfully navigate their independent surrogacy journey. I call that course Surrogacy Roadmap.

There are so many wonderful people out there who are longing to become parents, but they can’t physically create or carry a child for one reason or another. Likewise, there are many women out there who are either considering helping intended parents achieve their family goals or who are already involved in the fertility industry as egg donors or surrogates. 

I created the Fertility Cafe podcast as a free resource to answer the biggest questions intended parents, egg donors, and surrogates are facing as they consider third-party reproduction.

Resources

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Guest Bio Julie Bindeman

Dr. Julie Bindeman graduated from the George Washington University and is the co-owner of Integrative Therapy of Greater Washington in Rockville, Maryland. Her specialty is in the field of Reproductive Psychology, where she actively writes, lectures, and presents. She has served on several committees within the Mental Health Professional Group of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and was recently elected to its Executive Committee.

Dr. Bindeman is a member of multiple organizations focused on Maternal and Reproductive Mental Health and was appointed by the Governor of Maryland to serve on its Maternal Mental Health Task Force. She was recently awarded the Karl Heiser Award for her legislative efforts on behalf of psychology. Dr. Bindeman has published several chapters and articles pertaining to Reproductive Psychology.

Resources

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Host Bio

I’m Eloise Drane, Founder of Family Inceptions, the first surrogacy and egg donation agency in the state of Georgia and the first Black-owned surrogacy and egg donation agency in the United States.

While I started Family Inceptions back in 2008, my love for giving people the gift of life goes back even further. In 1998, I donated a kidney. The experience was life-changing for me and I felt called to help more people in such a meaningful, profound way.

Two years later, I had my first experience with egg donation. Little did I know that the egg donation journey would completely change the trajectory of my life.

To date, I’ve been a gestational carrier (also known as a surrogate) three times and an egg donor six times. Along the way, I became an expert in the process.

I founded Family Inceptions to help more intended parents start their families, to support other surrogates and egg donors, and to make an impact in the world.

Although I love working with families through Family Incpesions, I also understand that many people are priced out of working with agencies. So I took everything I learned from donating eggs six times, serving as a surrogate three times, earning an MBA, and running the first Black-owned surrogacy and egg donation agency of its kind in the US... and put it all into an easy-to-use, comprehensive course to help intended parents successfully navigate their independent surrogacy journey. I call that course Surrogacy Roadmap.

There are so many wonderful people out there who are longing to become parents, but they can’t physically create or carry a child for one reason or another. Likewise, there are many women out there who are either considering helping intended parents achieve their family goals or who are already involved in the fertility industry as egg donors or surrogates. 

I created the Fertility Cafe podcast as a free resource to answer the biggest questions intended parents, egg donors, and surrogates are facing as they consider third-party reproduction.

Resources

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Guest/Host Bio Chelsea Caldwell

Chelsea Caldwell, Esq. is a founding partner of Midwest Fertility Law Group, PLC and exclusively focuses her practice on Assisted Reproduction, helping clients worldwide seeking to build their families through methods such as surrogacy, gamete donation, and embryo donation.  Chelsea also serves as the Director of Legal Services for Family Inceptions, and is a proud mother of twins by IVF.

Resources

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

In the episode, host Eloise Drane discusses the emotional burden, physical ramifications, and an overview of the commonly overlooked issues donors and surrogates need to be aware of.

Host Bio

I’m Eloise Drane, Founder of Family Inceptions, the first surrogacy and egg donation agency in the state of Georgia and the first Black-owned surrogacy and egg donation agency in the United States.

While I started Family Inceptions back in 2008, my love for giving people the gift of life goes back even further. In 1998, I donated a kidney. The experience was life-changing for me and I felt called to help more people in such a meaningful, profound way.

Two years later, I had my first experience with egg donation. Little did I know that the egg donation journey would completely change the trajectory of my life.

To date, I’ve been a gestational carrier (also known as a surrogate) three times and an egg donor six times. Along the way, I became an expert in the process.

I founded Family Inceptions to help more intended parents start their families, to support other surrogates and egg donors, and to make an impact in the world.

Although I love working with families through Family Inceptions, I also understand that many people are priced out of working with agencies. So I took everything I learned from donating eggs six times, serving as a surrogate three times, earning an MBA, and running the first Black-owned surrogacy and egg donation agency of its kind in the US... and put it all into an easy-to-use, comprehensive course to help intended parents successfully navigate their independent surrogacy journey. I call that course Surrogacy Roadmap.

There are so many wonderful people out there who are longing to become parents, but they can’t physically create or carry a child for one reason or another. Likewise, there are many women out there who are either considering helping intended parents achieve their family goals or who are already involved in the fertility industry as egg donors or surrogates. 

I created the Fertility Cafe podcast as a free resource to answer the biggest questions intended parents, egg donors, and surrogates are facing as they consider third-party reproduction.

Resources

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be so grateful if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Episode Summary 

In this episode of Fertility Café, Eloise gets to talk with Brooke Quinn of Carrot Fertility about the inclusion of employee benefits that offer fertility care and family building support such as adoption and surrogacy. It's important for both employers and employees to understand the advantages and costs of including fertility care and benefits packages. We want to encourage employees to ask about their fertility care eligibility and want to encourage employers to include this needed service into their benefits packages. As fertility care is ever-evolving, this is an important topic that we are going to talk about in depth today.

BIO

Brooke Quinn is Chief Customer Officer at Carrot Fertility, the leading global fertility benefits provider for employers and health plans.

 Carrot is built to support employees through their lifelong fertility healthcare journey. Companies use Carrot to customize a fertility benefit that provides employees financial, medical, and emotional support as they pursue parenthood, reducing healthcare costs and resulting in better clinical outcomes. Carrot's clinically-managed program includes fertility preservation like egg and sperm freezing, IVF, donor and gestational carrier services, adoption, and pregnancy support. Family Inceptions is newly partnered with Carrot.

In this episode, Eloise and Brooke talk about: 

Resources

Brooke on LinkedIn

Brooke on Twitter

Carrot Fertility on Instagram

Carrot Fertility’s Podcast: BabySteps

A History of Employer-Sponsored Healthcare: https://www.griffinbenefits.com/blog/history-of-employer-sponsored-healthcare

Learn more about our podcast: Fertility Cafe

Learn more about our surrogacy and egg donation agency: Family Inceptions

Learn more about independent surrogacy: Surrogacy Roadmap

On the blog: Us Surrogacy Map

On the blog: A Beginner’s Guide to Fertility Acronyms

On the podcast: Ep 35 | Infertility Epidemic

Rate, Review, and Subscribe! 

We would be honored if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: 

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

There are so many charitable organizations out there, it can be hard to know which ones to turn to in times of need, or in times of abundance when you are looking to share your generosity. On today’s episode, Eloise highlights 12 non-profit organizations that are changing lives in the infertility, reproductive health, and trying-to-conceive community.

From large-scale national organizations to more localized support groups and specialized advocacy groups, Eloise has firsthand knowledge and experience working with founders, members, beneficiaries, and other participants of each highlighted organization.

Learn about the important work being done by:

Resources

Links to the organizations highlighted on todays episode:

Fertility Within Reach: https://www.fertilitywithinreach.org/

Tinina Q. Cade Foundation: https://cadefoundation.org/

EM*Power Donation: https://empowerdonation.com

The Broken Brown Egg: https://thebrokenbrownegg.org/

The White Dress Project: https://www.thewhitedressproject.org/

PCOS Challenge: https://www.pcoschallenge.org/

Endo Black: https://www.endoblack.org/

Black Women’s Health Initiative: https://bwhi.org/

Fertility for Colored Girls: https://www.fertilityforcoloredgirls.org/

Black Mamas Matter Alliance: https://blackmamasmatter.org/

Family Equality: https://www.familyequality.org

Sisters in Loss Foundation: https://sistersinloss.com/

Our Miracle Child: https://ourmiraclechild.com/

Daughters of Hannah: https://www.facebook.com/daughtersofhannah/

Learn more about our podcast: Fertility Cafe

Learn more about our surrogacy and egg donation agency: Family Inceptions

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!

We would be honored if you took the time to rate and review our podcast! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

On this episode of Fertility Café, Eloise gets to talk to Anna Flores Locke about her experience with embryo donation and her journey of infertility as a Latina woman. Anna struggled for years with infertility in isolation and heartbreak, not knowing where to turn.

Since her experience, thankfully, many changes have been made to provide women with counseling and support to assist them in the process of fertility treatment and embryo donation in particular. 

We hope this conversation provides education, emotional support, and a sense of community for the women who are walking in her shoes and are feeling alone on their fertility journey.

In this episode, Eloise and Anna talk about: 

Resources

Anna on Facebook

Anna on Instagram

Anna’s book Body Betrayal: Understanding and Living with Infertility is available on her website and on Amazon. https://www.charlandra.com/shop

Learn more about our podcast: Fertility Cafe

Learn more about our surrogacy and egg donation agency: Family Inceptions

Learn more about independent surrogacy: Surrogacy Roadmap

On the blog: Us Surrogacy Map

On the blog: A Beginner’s Guide to Fertility Acronyms

Rate, Review, and Subscribe! 

We would be honored if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: 

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Families come in all shapes and sizes these days. The notion of a “traditional” family makeup with a mom, dad, and 2.2 children is becoming the exception rather than the rule. In today’s episode, host Eloise Drane takes a look at what it takes to navigate fertility when you don’t quite fit the mold of what society thinks a traditional family should look like.

How can third-party reproduction help single intended parents? LGBTQ+ intended parents? Intended parents who are of an advanced age, 50 or older? HIV+ people who wish to become parents? Viable pathways exist for each of these unique populations, and today we’ll talk about the ins and outs of each. 

Eloise covers topics such as: 

Resources

Learn more about our podcast: Fertility Cafe

Learn more about our surrogacy and egg donation agency: Family Inceptions

On the blog: Reciprocal IVF: Creating Families For LGBTQ Couples 

On the blog: Egg Donors & Surrogates For LGBTQ Couples | Family Inceptions 

Financial Resources: Fertility and Family Building Grants and Financial Assistance Programs 

Advocacy Resources: 

  Rate, Review, and Subscribe! 

We would be honored if you took the time to rate and review our podcast! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”

Episode Summary 

In this episode of Fertility Café, Eloise gets to talk with Dr. Tia Jackson-Bey to discuss disparities in fertility care in minority populations. 

There are particular barriers to caring for and noticeably poor treatment outcomes for black and brown women. We're highlighting health disparities that prevent family building through fertility, diagnostics, gynecological surgery, fertility preservation, egg, sperm, and embryo freezing, and infertility treatments like Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) for minorities. They'll be discussing the importance of reproductive justice and increasing access to fertility care for all.

Guest Bio

Dr. Tia Jackson-Bey is a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist and board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist who cares for patients at RMA of New York's Brooklyn office. Her professional interests include physician-patient education, IVF outcome improvement, global public health, and mentoring unrepresented college and medical students on careers in medicine. 

Dr. Jackson-Bey is passionate about reproductive justice and increasing access to fertility care for all. She was recently appointed a member of the newly formed ASRM Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force which will enhance opportunities and reproductive medicine for underrepresented minority populations and reduce health disparities in access to care. She is a talented surgeon and dedicated fertility expert who was focused on fertility preservation, IVF success, and great outcomes for her patients.

In this episode, Eloise and Tia talk about: 

Resources

Follow Tia on Instagram

Learn more about our podcast: Fertility Cafe

Learn more about our surrogacy and egg donation agency: Family Inceptions

Learn more about independent surrogacy: Surrogacy Roadmap

On the blog: Us Surrogacy Map

On the blog: A Beginner’s Guide to Fertility Acronyms

On the podcast: Ep 35 | Infertility Epidemic

Episode Summary 

In this episode of Fertility Café, Eloise focuses on infertility, pregnancy loss, and mental health issues like PTSD, anxiety, and postpartum depression. If you feel that any of these topics would contribute to negative feelings or upset, go ahead and skip this one. I know it’s a heavy topic right around the holidays, but I also feel strongly that through education and open discussion about these difficult topics, we can help provide comfort and support to those who need it.

In this episode, Eloise talks about: 

Resources

Learn more about our podcast: Fertility Cafe

Learn more about our surrogacy and egg donation agency: Family Inceptions

Learn more about independent surrogacy: Surrogacy Roadmap

On the blog: Us Surrogacy Map

On the blog: A Beginner’s Guide to Fertility Acronyms

On the podcast: Ep 35 | Infertility Epidemic

 Rate, Review, and Subscribe! 

We would be honored if you took the time to rate and review our podcast on iTunes! And of course, don’t forget to hit that Subscribe button to have new episodes delivered straight to your feed!

Podcast Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: 

“Beautiful and heartfelt conversations around family building. Can’t wait to hear more!”