Infertility Sisters

Evie is here this week to share her story of navigating trying to conceive over a seven year period.Her story involves;The joy of getting pregnant quickly The turmoil of that pregnancy ending in a missed miscarriage A long period of TTCSecond pregnancy resulting in miscarriage Self referring to Fertility AssociatesDiagnosis of unexplained infertility Ovulation InductionIUIHer husband getting diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes Spontaneous pregnancy resulting in their first...

Today I am joined by Dr Amelia Ryan who has kindly offered us her time to help spread the word on Adenomyosis. Amelia is an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist currently working at the Fertility Associates Auckland office. This episode covers; What is AdenomyosisWhat are the symptoms What are the ways to get diagnosedManagement options - Is there a cure?How Adeno can impact fertility The connection between miscarriage and adenoAmelia is an amazing doctor and is someone who alig...

Well, as you can see by the title of Today's episode, Maddie has been faced with many challenges on her Fertility Journey. Maddie shares her journey with us, that has spanned over the last 4 years.Her story invovles; Ulcerative Colitis resulting in Colon removal Loss of period Referral to Fertility AssociatesPCOSHyperthelic Amenorrhea Public funded fertility treatment Ovulation Induction (leterezole)3 rounds of IVF One day 3 transfer No embryos making it to ...

**Episode Re-Release**So you want to conceive a baby… now what?! We wanted to put this episode together to talk through the basics of trying to conceive. In this episode we cover:What preparation to do before trying to conceive Menstrual cycle 101How to know when you’re fertile & when to time sexThe two week waitWhen to seek help

Today I am joined by the wonderful Jessica, a Nutritionist and Medical Herbalist. Jess has dedicated her career to helping people to get pregnant. This episode discusses; Endocrine Disruptors Diet and eating habits for optimal egg health Her stance on weight when TTC Supplements for egg health Key nutrients for Sperm health The worst habits for egg and sperm health What you can do during Fertility Treatment to support success How to support Progest...

Today I bring you the episode that I thought would never happen! Over the last 18 months you have often heard from me, talking you through our journey from my perspective. Well now you get to hear from the other half, and his perspective on what these last 3 years have been like for him. Today's episode discusses; The early days of TTC The process of getting a sperm test & the results Meeting with the Fertility clinic The impact of our miscarriage His thought...

Today we welcome back Dr Amelia Ryan to share her wisdom with us. This episode discusses all things PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome).This episode covers;What is PCOSHow to get diagnosed What is PCOThe part that insulin play in the body How PCOS can impact Fertility Medical management of PCOSFertility Treatment options Lifestyle recommendations to manage PCOSAmelia is an amazing doctor and is someone who aligns so well with the Podcast. Her ethos for treating patients is ...

Tune in to today's episode to hear from listener of the show, Jenna. She talks us through the last 7 years of heartbreak as well as taking us right back through her extensive medical history which has played a part in where she is today. Her story discusses;Reproductive health concerns from a young ageSurgeries which found Cysts, Adhesions and EndometriosisLow AMH2 Round of IVF5 Embryo TransfersThe part her faith plays in her journeyMiscarriage Being advised to have a hysterectomy&...

Today I am joined by Dr Amelia Ryan who has kindly offered us her time to help spread the word on Endometriosis. Amelia is an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist currently working at the Fertility Associates Auckland office. This episode covers; What is EndometriosisWhat are the symptoms What are the ways to get diagnosedManagement options How endo can impact fertility How can endo surgery temporarily improve your fertility Endometrioma's, what are they and how do the...

Today I am joined by the wonderful Justine, also known as My Balance Project on Instagram. Justine takes us through her journey that ultimately lead to having her son, 12 years ago. Her story includes;PCOSWeight LossOvulation Inductions (Clomid & Trigger Injections)Impact the medications had on her personality and well being Friends and family getting pregnant Success after 18 months Discussions on having a second childWeight gain and pressure of losing it before tryin...

What does FET even mean? How does it work? And most importantly, how does it feel? Tune in to this episode to hear me talk you through all of the above, plus so much more. During my recent FET cycle I recorded regular, real time updates as I went through the process. I want you all to go into this episode without apprehension so just know that this cycle was not successful. But that also means I must give a warning, as the last 20 minutes are my raw emotions caught when everything went w...

Welcome back to Season 4!Tune in today to hear all about Jasmyn's second round of IVF, which unfortunately has resulted in more heartbreak. Today we take you through the IVF process, focusing on the physical challenges this round presented. We also touch on the emotions of another failed round, continuous bad news as well as a surprise diagnosis that Jasmyn recently received. We also discuss how the podcast will look moving forward, with a big change we need to share with you all. W...

The gang is back together!! This week Lydia is back to have a catch up on how the last 3 months have been. Firstly, we have a quick update from both girls before discussing all of the emotions that come with years of Infertility.The episode discusses;Lydia's Update (birth announcement)Jasmyn's IVF Round 2 Public Funding Losing faith in your BodyAnxiety Around Pregnancy Announcements Loneliness Feelings of AngerThe Impact on Friendships Infertility Taking over you...

April has had to face an unimageable amount of heartbreak in her journey to grow her family. Her story involves; Reduced movements at 37 weeks gestationConfirmation of no heartbeat Labour experiencePositive Sands experience Autopsy results Second pregnancy Abnormalities at 18 week scanFurther investigations including an Amniocentesis Confirmation pregnancy is not viableBirth of her second angel baby Autopsy results L1CAM gene carrier confirmation&...

Today we are joined by the three authors of the newest Infertility book "When Sex is not Enough". This book tells the stories of all three girls, breaking down their personal experiences, their husbands perspectives and some great pointers for those helping someone through infertility. This episode discusses;Male Factor InfertilityIVF (ICSI)Full HysterectomyAdoptionSurrogacy Cervical Cancer Unexplained Infertility Multiple Round of IVFInfertility in the Workplace Plus...

Today we are joined by Laura who talks us through her first trimester miscarriage. Laura is very passionate about sharing and that will be obvious in this episode. She articulates herself so well, she really didn't need me there :).Her story involves;The want for a large family Coming off contraception Bittersweet moments of telling their families Missed miscarriage at 12 weeks Spontaneous cramping and bleeding D&CHonouring their baby (specifically in Tongan cultu...

Today we are joined by Emma who takes us through her story of recurrent miscarriage which has lead to a diagnosis of Asherman's Syndrome. Emma has had an intense past 12 months involving a lot of heartache and medical intervention. Her story involves; Recurrent miscarriage (3)Spontaneous miscarriageHCG blood test indicating miscarriage Multiple scans to diagnose miscarriage MVAC (Manual Vacuum Aspiration Curettage)Miscarriage with no bleeding Missing period (for 5 mon...

Today we are joined by Anne who talks us through her miscarriage. Tune in to hear what is it like to feel that your family is complete, only to then find out you are pregnant, getting to a place of acceptance and excitement for it all to be shattered by miscarriage.This episode discusses;Surprise pregnancySpontaneous bleedingMultiple trips to hospital D & C surgery Emotions of miscarriage Miscarriage aftercareThanks Anne for sharing your story with us!

This week we are lucky to be joined by Lucy Lines from @twolinesfertility. Lucy is an embryologist now working independently to support people through pre-conception and fertility treatment. This episode discusses;Lucy's background Embryo grading Success ratesHow to choose a fertility clinic Genetic testing How to determine if there is an egg quality issue when doing IVFAMH3 day transfer compared to a 5 day transferIVF WTF programmeHow to work with Lucy We end th...

Today we are joined by Hayley who talks us through her Molar pregnancy. I am so grateful to Hayley for speaking with us today, her episode is very educational on a topic not often discussed. Molar pregnancies are very rare, one in one thousand pregnancies are affected so like me, you may not be aware of exactly what it entails. Today we discuss;An inconclusive first scan Second scan confirmed Molar pregnancy D&CDiagnosis of complete Molar pregnancyHCG monitoringUnable ...

We had the pleasure of chatting to Aimee from @aimeekellyphotography to talk about her miscarriages. Aimee has unfortunately experienced two miscarriages, which were both very different experiences. Her story covers:Natural Miscarriage Missed Miscarriage of a twin pregnancy Choice to take medication route Prolonged bleeding ending in a D&CFeelings around pregnancy after miscarriage Aimee also talks about how she felt during her work as a Newborn photographer...

Today we are joined by the wonderful Amy & Kaz who are volunteers for Sands Taranaki. They are both bereaved parents who now support others through miscarriage, baby and infant loss. Sands is a registered charity operated solely by volunteers. They provide meaningful support to bereaved families. Tune in to hear about the support Sands offer plus so much more;Meet with families before and/or after lossHospital VisitsFree Photography Castings - Hands & FeetImprints - Ha...

Welcome back to Season 3! In today's episode host of the podcast Jasmyn talks us through her first round of IVF, which as the title suggests, wasn't successful. We go into all the details, stepping you through the IVF process from start to finish. We also spend time talking through the emotions of a failed round, the impacts it has physically and emotionally, the toll it takes on relationships and the "unfairness" of it all. It get's emotional, just a warning! Thanks for all of...

Host of the podcast, Jasmyn, gives an update on how the last few months of trying to conceive have been.She covers:An update on the abnormal scan An update on surgery Preparing for IVFThe idea of pregnancy after loss Waiting, waiting, waiting A personal health hurdle This episode takes you through the highs and lows of this infertility journey and shows how life can throw anything our way. If you are new here, make sure to check out previous episodes in Season 1,...

Kristyna got some news that no 29 year old would want to hear, she took it in her stride and looked into egg donation in order to start her family. This is her story. It involves:Ovarian failure at age 29Told using an egg donor or adoption are her only options to start her family Friend donated her eggs Egg recipient IVF experience First round - 10 embryos Successful transferPositive experience We hope you enjoy!

Kaitlyn’s Story is one you don’t want to miss! Her journey involved:Unexplained infertility Early twenties Polycystic ovaries (PCOS)MetforminLetrozole Monitored and unmonitored cyclesIrregular cyclesChlomidIUI x2IVF - no embryos from first roundIVF round 2OHSS - hospitalised Successful transferPregnancyOpenly sharing journey We think you’ll enjoy this episode. Thanks Kaitlyn for sharing with us!

Kiel is here this week to share her story navigating trying to conceive over a three year period. Her story involves:Early twenties Chemical pregnancy at 18Endometriosis Surgery Not ovulating Support through family planningMultiple rounds of LetrozoleDidnt qualify for IVF due to higher BMIPregnancy Scares in first trimester Anxiety in first trimesterWe hope you enjoy!

This episode is a special one as you will hear that Clare has not been one to open up about her feelings throughout her trying to conceive journey. She really delves into how she actually has been doing beneath the surface level whilst chatting to us. It’s a vulnerable episode that we know is going to resonate far and wide. Her story covers:Unexplained infertility Late thirties EndometriosisAndomyosisIVF x2 rounds 8x transfers3 miscarriages Surgeries Severe perio...

Kendall has had quite the journey and we are so pleased she was willing to share with us.Her story involves:EndometriosisMultiple surgeries Post operative infectionFallopian tubes removed ACC funded IVFIVF rounds x2Delayed transfer until ready to conceive Partner deployed to Iraq7x transfersCounselling Miscarriage Colorado protocolIntralipids infusionHSG ERAGenetic testingHospital stay after egg collectionPregnancyAbnormality found at 12 week scan Premature ...

This week we chat to Paula and hear all about her experience dealing with secondary infertility.Her story involves:Secondary infertilityMale factorIVFMultiple transfersTwin pregnancy and miscarriageChemical pregnancyPregnancy and missed miscarriageWaiting for public roundShe opens up and discusses her miscarriages in detail, please listen at your discretion. Thanks to Paula for being so vulnerable and sharing her story.

Wow, it was so great to chat to Rochelle and hear a story from another point of view - an egg donor! She shares her experience which has been so positive. We chat about:Her whyDecision to not have kids What the process looks like as an egg donor3 donations, 3 rounds of IVFOpen contact with recipientsMisconceptionsOpinions of others Advice for those thinking about egg donation Disclaimer: Just like all of our story episodes, this is just one person’s experience that they ar...

Host of the podcast, Jasmyn, gives an update a few months on from their miscarriage. She covers:How she is doingThe conflict in trying to decide where to from hereAbnormal scanSurgeryImpact of getting covidDelaysThe waiting game Jasmyn gives you a glimpse into the day to day of dealing with infertility and life post miscarriage. We wanted to put this episode out there so that people can hear details around what dealing with infertility can look like, bringing it to you in real...

It was a privilege to chat to Kristen and hear all about the journey she has been on through navigating infertility.Her story involved:Retrograde ejaculate, male factor infertility6 year journeyTrying medication and at home IUIIVF - 4 roundsLow number of embryosRaising funds for IVFChanging lifestyleSurgical extraction of sperm Miscarriage, D&C - pregnancy in unknown locationSuccessful pregnancyThanks so much to Kristen for talking so openly about her story. You can find her on Insta...

This weeks episode is all about Rachael and her story navigating infertility.Her story involves:Hashimotos ThyroiditisAnovulationReferred to FA after 6 months TTCLetrozole / clomipheneIVFFresh transferMedicated frozen transfer Losing weight to qualify for public fundingChemical pregnanciesNatural pregnancy Miscarriage We hope you enjoy!

We had the pleasure of chatting to Erin about her infertility journey. Her story covers:TTC in early twentiesEndometriosis Possible PCOSSevere male factor/sperm bankingHSG procedureLaparoscopyBlocked tubeIVFPregnancyBleeding in first trimesterHyperemesis

We are so grateful April was willing to be so open about her TTC journey. It’s such an empowering story and we were transfixed!Her story involves:Solo journey (single parent by choice)Sperm donorEndometriosis Multiple rounds of IUIMultiple rounds of IVFLow numbers of embryosMiscarriage and chemical pregnancyFinancial impact Qualifying for public funding after a long roadWaiting for endo surgery

Phew, it’s a long one! Welcome back to Season 2. In this first episode back we catch you up on what has been going on these last few months for the two of us.We cover an IVF transfer process, pregnancy and miscarriage. Please tune in only if you are in the right place to listen to these topics. Warning, the last 10 minutes of this episode is emotional! Thanks so much for your support on Season 1 and we look forward to sharing more of your stories over this coming season.

Our weekly update goes to 25.15. Lydia talks about her positive egg collection experience and Jasmyn chats about her 28 day cycle and gives a surgery update. In this episode we finally get to chat to our acupuncturist - Nicola Douglas! We cover:How does acupuncture work?Chinese herbsWhen should someone go to acupuncture?Charting your cycle and what a good cycle looks likeSex when TTCSperm healthAcupuncture for IVFSupplementsUse of needles in acupuncture Top 5 tips for conceiving&nbs...

Settle in to listen to Cat’s journey to conceiving! We cover:Balanced Translocation3x IVF roundsTraumatic egg collection storiesGeneral aesthetic for egg collectionsPGS - Genetic testing of embryosEmotional tollImpact of Covid/lockdown on treatmentTrying naturallyMiscarriageChange in fertility doctors and planCancelled manufactured FET after ovulatingNatural FETSuccessful pregnancyImportance of reducing other stress in your life

This weeks update goes to 26.51 - Jasmyn is emotional as things keep changing and Lydia is in the thick of IVF! In this episode we chat to Emma Perks from Full Circle Physio and we cover:Her personal TTC journey, PCOS diagnosis, ovulation medicationUsing your period as the Fifth Vital SignTTC Warrant of Fitness - Endometriosis, PCOS, Painful Sex, Vaginismus, Period PainMain takeaway is: get curious with your body!You can find Emma, Nicola and Erica virtually on Instagram @fullcirclephysi...

This weeks update goes to 28.15 mins. Jasmyn might be heading down a new path and Lydia is starting IVF! This episode is a bit of a different one for us. We wanted to capture the NZ experience of IVF and create an episode that you can listen to if you think IVF might be in your future or if you are going through IVF and are tired of explaining how it works to the people in your life - send them the link to this! If you’re a keen listener of Infertility Sisters it will also set you u...

This weeks update is a heavy one! Skip to 25 mins if you don’t want to tune in, it covers: Jasmyn - follow up phone consult with FA about test results, potential surgery, struggling. Lydia - scheduling in IVF, cancelling trips, shift in the feeling of the two week wait. We had the pleasure of catching up with Nadia about her trying to conceive journey so far. Her story covers:Coming off the pill and having serious side effects from itUnexplained sporadic extreme pain for years&...

The one where two girls who can’t get pregnant, tell you how to get pregnant 😂So you want to conceive a baby… now what?! We wanted to put this episode together to talk through the basics of trying to conceive. In this episode we cover:What preparation to do before trying to conceive Menstrual cycle 101How to know when you’re fertile & when to time sexThe two week waitWhen to seek helpSkip to 15 mins if you don’t want to hear our weekly update, which covers:Lydia - follow up phon...

In this episode we chat all about the Fertility Awareness Method (FAM). Do you know when you are fertile in your cycle? Why the heck do these girls keep going on about cervical mucus and tracking their temperature?!Join us this week as we attempt to impart our knowledge on what we’ve learnt over the past year. This is all the stuff we wish we had learnt 10 years ago. Even if you’re not at the stage of trying to conceive yet, this is the episode for you! Skip to 15.48 if you don’t want to...

This episode is all about Lydia’s story so far. We cover: Experience with the pill and acne Preparing body and cycle for pregnancy Normal cycle Expectations when trying to conceive Fertility Awareness Method Trying to get to the bottom of why we aren’t getting pregnant What the first year of trying for a baby is like Possible male factor infertility Mentioned in this episode:Natalie Brady @nataliebradynutritionNicola Douglas @nicdacupunc

This episode is all about Jasmyn's story so far.We cover:Cervical PolypExperience coming off the pillIrregular cyclesHeavy periods and PMS symptoms AcupunctureMale factor infertility First consult with Fertility AssociatesPotential IVF Being open about fertility journey Mentioned in this episode - Nicola Douglas @nicdacupunc

Welcome to Infertility Sisters! In this episode your hosts, Jasmyn and Lydia share with you why they are so passionate about doing this podcast, a little bit about the start of their journeys and what you can expect from future episodes.Head over to our Instagram infertility_sisters to follow along. We are right here with you!