Fertility Docs Uncensored

Fertility Docs Uncensored Today’s episode of Fertility Docs Uncensored is hosted by Dr. Carrie Bedient from the Fertility Center of Las Vegas, Dr. Susan Hudson from Texas Fertility Center, and Dr. Abby Eblen from Nashville Fertility Center. In this episode, titled Age and Lifestyle: How They Interact, the doctors tackle one of the most common and emotionally loaded questions in fertility care: does age matter more than lifestyle when it comes to getting pregnant?
The discussion starts with a clear answer—female age is the single most important predictor of fertility outcomes. While lifestyle choices absolutely matter, age plays the dominant role, especially as women move into their late 30s and early 40s. The doctors explain why maintaining a healthy body weight, avoiding alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana, eating a Mediterranean-style diet, and exercising regularly are all recommended when trying to conceive. But how much can lifestyle really offset age related fertility decline?
The episode also explores whether lifestyle changes have a bigger impact once pregnancy occurs. Why do heavier patients face higher risks of complications such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and stillbirth? And can weight loss before pregnancy reduce those risks?
The doctors then address what happens in the early to mid-40s, when age often overwhelms lifestyle efforts due to declining egg number and increasing genetic abnormalities. Why do women at 42 or 43 struggle to conceive even when they are otherwise healthy? What role do egg genetics play at that point?
Finally, the episode answers whether chromosomal abnormalities are driven more by age or lifestyle, and why age particularly over 35 has the greatest impact, while lifestyle has minimal influence on egg genetics. This podcast was sponsored by Fertility Centers of Illinois at Milwaukee.

Fertility Docs Uncensored is hosted by Dr. Carrie Bedient from the Fertility Center of Las Vegas, Dr. Susan Hudson from Texas Fertility Center, and Dr. Abby Eblen from Nashville Fertility Center. In today’s episodes the docs talk about a subject many infertility patients ask about. We talk about the financial aspect of infertility in this episode entitled Things You Should Know About Your Fertility Coverage. The doctors explain the complexities of fertility insurance and what patients should know before starting treatment. They cover the differences between plans that offer no infertility coverage, those that cover only diagnostic testing, and those that cover certain treatments like IUI but not IVF. The discussion includes how many IUI cycles may be required before IVF is covered, the limits on coverage for IVF or third-party payers like Progyny, Maven, and Carrot, and restrictions on egg freezing or embryo creation. The doctors also highlight how high deductibles can affect out-of-pocket costs and point out that some small grants are available, usually based on need or a patient’s fertility journey. They emphasize the importance of understanding your coverage and using your fertility clinic as a resource to navigate insurance options. This podcast was sponsored by The Fertility Centers of Illinois at Milwaukee.

Fertility Docs Uncensored is hosted by Dr. Carrie Bedient from the Fertility Center of Las Vegas, Dr. Susan Hudson from Texas Fertility Center, and Dr. Abby Eblen from Nashville Fertility Center. Today, the Docs answer a wide range of general IVF questions that commonly come up during treatment. The discussion includes scenarios where fertilization rates are good but embryo development is poor, resulting in few or no usable embryos. The doctors explore possible contributing factors in both the egg and the sperm, test options that may provide more insight, and consider treatment strategies for future cycles. They also address procedural challenges during egg retrievals, medication considerations, and lifestyle factors that may impact outcomes. Other topics include treatment your doctor may consider if embryos do not develop well after fertilization. The hosts explain when DNA fragmentation testing for the male partner may be helpful and how advanced genetic testing, such as PGT-A+, can help determine whether the issue is related to egg or sperm quality. They discuss when growth hormone may be considered during stimulation and what evidence supports its use. The episode also covers what happens if an ovary cannot be safely accessed during an egg retrieval, why safety always comes first, and whether bowel prep or weight loss may improve access in future cycles. Additional questions addressed include whether this problem can recur, how GLP-1 medications should be managed around retrievals, whether breastfeeding impacts frozen embryo transfer success, and why sedation practices during egg retrieval vary between clinics and countries.

Fertility Docs Uncensored is hosted by Dr. Carrie Bedient from the Fertility Center of Las Vegas, Dr. Susan Hudson from Texas Fertility Center, and Dr. Abby Eblen from Nashville Fertility Center. In this episode, the Fertility Docs walk listeners through what typically happens after a positive pregnancy test following IVF. The doctors explain how early pregnancy is monitored, beginning with the first pregnancy blood test about two weeks after embryo transfer and continuing with repeat hormone testing every few days to ensure appropriate rises. They discuss what doctors look for on early ultrasounds, why some patients need closer monitoring, and how different outcomes such as viable pregnancies, biochemical pregnancies, ectopic pregnancies, or abnormal intrauterine pregnancies are identified and managed. The episode also covers when patients go back to their OB/GYN once a pregnancy is progressing normally. The doctors answered many common questions patients search for after seeing that first positive test. Questions such as what happens after a positive IVF pregnancy test and how often pregnancy hormone levels are checked come up frequently. They explain how much hCG should rise in early pregnancy and what it means if it does not increase appropriately. The episode addresses when the first ultrasound is done after IVF and what doctors are hoping to see at five to six weeks of pregnancy. They discuss what an ectopic pregnancy is, how it is diagnosed, and why it can be difficult to distinguish early on from an abnormal intrauterine pregnancy. Other common concerns include what a biochemical pregnancy means, how abnormal pregnancies are treated, and when expectant management may be appropriate. Finally, the hosts review how long fertility clinics typically follow patients during early pregnancy and when care is transferred to an obstetrician.

Fertility Docs Uncensored is hosted by Dr. Carrie Bedient from the Fertility Center of Las Vegas, Dr. Susan Hudson from Texas Fertility Center, and Dr. Abby Eblen from Nashville Fertility Center. In this episode, we explore the various genetic tests available for infertility patients, including carrier screening, prenatal testing, and testing done during IVF. We discuss why these tests are important, what they detect, and how they can influence family planning decisions. We give you answers to many questions you may have. What is expanded carrier screening, and what types of traits does it look for in prospective parents? How does being a carrier for recessive traits affect a child, and what is the probability of a child being impacted if both parents carry the same trait? Which traits are typically tested, and why are only severe conditions included? How can results from carrier screening influence decisions about pursuing IVF and embryo selection? What is NIPT testing, and how is it performed during pregnancy? What types of chromosomal abnormalities can NIPT detect, and when is this testing appropriate? How is genetic testing performed at the time of IVF, and what are the different tests available for embryos? What is PGT-A, and how does it assess chromosomal abnormalities? How do PGT-M, PGT-SR, and PGT-P tests evaluate for recessive traits, structural abnormalities, and conditions caused by multiple genes? How do these tests help couples make informed decisions about their reproductive options? What are the advantages of testing embryos before implantation compared to testing during pregnancy? How can understanding these genetic testing options reduce risks and improve outcomes for patients undergoing fertility treatments? Knowing the answers to these questions will help you decide which of these tests are right for you.