It’s been a couple of weeks since our last proper catch-up, and woah! So many fertility news headlines.

Kayti shares highlights from a whirlwind family trip, her move into a new home, and the chaos of unpacking (or... not unpacking). And we dive into what they’ve been seeing in women’s health and fertility news, including IVF policy debates, teen pregnancy prevention funding cuts and why that’s critical for fertility education, testosterone screenings and menopause care, and a promising new swab test that could make diagnosing endometriosis much easier.

We wander from infertility advocacy to climate change, shark sightings, ADHD vs. luteal phase energy, why both of us use home projects as emotional coping mechanisms, and back to fertility advocacy. We also tease at what’s upcoming.

Thanks for joining the chaotic energy!

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Episode Sponsor

This episode is sponsored by Tempdrop, a wearable fertility tracker that collects overnight temperature data to help identify ovulation and cycle patterns, even with irregular cycles.

Use code AFFRIEDEGGS for 10% off your own wearable BBT device and a two-month premium app trial at http://www.tempdrop.com/discount/AFFRIEDEGGSPOD

Fact Check

• Teen pregnancy prevention program cuts: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) canceled 53 out of 67 grants totaling roughly $68 million under the federal Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program (TPPP) in June 2026 in order to promote “conservative-leaning priorities, specifically emphasizing abstinence-only education and marriage.” Source: NPR and NYT

• Britain’s NHS Endometriosis saliva test, “Endotest”: New research into less-invasive testing for endometriosis could help women get diagnoses sooner. The average time to diagnosis is 7-10 years from symptom onset, and with endo impacting as many as 25-50% of women with infertility, we hope faster diagnosis means faster treatment. Source: BBC and World Health Organization: Endometriosis

• United States’ DOD policy introducing mandatory testosterone screening for servicemen and women, and “optional” treatment for “low” testosterone. This news was particularly surprising since at the same time, women continue the uphill climb to get much-needed, evidence-backed HRT support during perimenopause and menopause, and gender affirming care for trans people continues to be under attack. Side note: for those of us worried about infertility — testosterone supplementation is a preventable cause of male factor infertility. Sources: PBS, New York Times, NIH and PubMed

• Correction: More great whites in our SoCal oceans may be a good sign that Southern California’s coastline is healing from years of DDT contaminants. Source: LA Times

• But the oceans are warming and warming faster than historically observed, which is impacting oceanic animal life, and climate warming is the primary driver. Source: AP News

• And super El Niño “winter is coming” (queue GOT) with warmer-than-average conditions across portions of the northern tier of states, and Kayti needs to install gutters ASAP. Source: Newsweek and The Weather Channel

More FriedEggs episodes you’ll love

• Ep 59: How to advocate for your fertility and recognize hormone imbalances with Sam Diamond, Co-Founder. We could all use a little encouragement on advocating for our health and care! And tons of good info on PCOS/PMOS.

• Ep 60: How to track your cycle when trying to get pregnant. With women’s health care under attack and fertility education getting cut in favor of abstinence-only programs, it’s more important than ever to understand our unique cycles.

Coming up on the pod:

• Dr. Natalie Crawford on our fertility health as a biomarker, the uniquely powerful role of our metabolic health, PCOS/PMOS.

• Dr. Sasha Hakman on becoming the IVF patient herself and setting yourself up for success.

• Author of You May Feel a Bit of Pressure, Amy Gallo Ryan, joins us to talk about her memoir.

• Deep-diving into Amy’s surrogacy journey so far, from finding a match to medical clearance and legal to what it takes to finally get to transfer! 👀

Let’s connect!

If this episode resonated with you, leave a rating on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube. It helps more people navigating infertility find the support and community they deserve. 💛

The FriedEggs Podcast is hosted and produced by Kayti Christian and Amy Salke.

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions.

🎶 Show music by the magical Clayre.

We took a short hiatus this last month to rest, travel, and get off our phones — highly recommend. I (Kayti) also moved, so July included way too much packing, cleaning, and Pinterest boards 😆.

It seemed a lot happened in the infertility and IVF world while we were away. The Texas GOP announced its legislative priorities for 2026-2028, including a call to “protect fetal life from destructive practices, such as IVF (in vitro fertilization) and commercial surrogacy” (booooo). This poses a pretty scary threat to IVF access nationwide.

In more positive news, a saliva test for endometriosis was announced, and we are hopeful it will greatly shorten the time to diagnosis (which currently takes on average 7-10 years) and help those of us dealing with silent endo or who’ve been dismissed by our doctors despite glaring symptoms.

Today’s edition of the newsletter is a fun one because infertility-life is often too heavy. To bring some joy back into the equation, we’re sharing our summer joy list and all of the things that have kept us feeling lighthearted — think books, music, comfy pants, cute cookware. Enjoy the browse and then share your own joys with us in the comments!

xx Kayti (and Amy)

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Our 2026 Summer Joy List

These cute (pink!) mini pots and pans | These are perfect when cooking for one or two people and make us so happy. The pan is also perfect for frying an egg ;P

Noah Kahan | Is the new album old news yet? We’ve been listening to it all summer and love hearing how therapists are prescribing the album to patients as a tool for processing grief.

The Girls | Emma Cline is coming out with a new novel this year, which has us rereading some of our favorite books in anticipation, including this one.

Cozy bath mat | Moving this summer has reminded me to replace my bath mats and towels 🤢. This one is so fun and soft on my feet. — Kayti

Track pants | We’re here for the track pants trend and love that these are often on sale (currently $25) and stretchy enough for bloat / IVF apps.

Actually good granola bars | It’s the little things, like these new snack bars that are organic/clean/all the good stuff. They have kept us from skipping breakfast and have been the perfect travel snack this summer. Avail at Whole Foods or online!

Lettuce-free salads | It’s been so miserably hot this summer that eating heavy meals feels bleh. Since we can’t trust the lettuce (🙄), we’ve been making lettuce-free salads instead. This one is sooooooo good.

Moisturizing face sunscreen | A new launch for Ilia that we are loving so much. Face sunscreen is so hard to get right (needs to be light, blendable, actually work!), and this one is perfection.

Analog cycle tracking | Listen to the latest episode of the pod and then snag a copy of the best manual for learning how to track ovulation the old-fashioned way. The cover of this book has us SO happy.

We may earn a small affiliate commission if you purchase through the links below. That said, you don’t need to buy anything for your fertility journey. These are simply a few things we’ve genuinely loved and wanted to share.

🎧 new on the pod:

We are so excited to bring you two episodes of the pod!

1. We had the cofounder and CEO of Bird&Be, Samantha Diamond, on to discuss hormone imbalances and the renaming of PCOS to PMOS.

2. We also had the authors of The Cycle Book on to chat about cycle tracking and how the apps get it wrong, sex during infertility, and how a midwife can be helpful during an IVF pregnancy. Lots of topics were covered, but it was so so good!

✨ Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube

🪩 a special discount for listeners

This summer, we’re partnering with Tempdrop, a basal body temperature sensor with an accompanying fertility app to help you identify your fertile window. If you’ve ever used an oral thermometer to track your BBT, this is a game-changer for getting more accurate data without setting your alarm in the morning.

Save 20% with our code AFFRIEDEGGS

weekend mood:

Did you know that cycle tracking apps are only about 20% accurate at predicting your ovulation window? This week, Kayti sits down with sex therapist Laura Federico, LCSW CST and midwife Morgan Miller, CPM LM (authors of The Cycle Book) to talk about cycle tracking during IVF and infertility, data privacy, sex during infertility, how a midwife can help during an IVF pregnancy, and so much more! It’s a packed conversation, and we really need to have them both back on to share more of their expertise. Until then, enjoy this conversation and grab yourself a copy of The Cycle Book here.

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About The Cycle Book

A midwife and sex therapist combine their clinical expertise with mindful self-care to help you move from confusion and fear to confidence and direction. No apps, no subscriptions, just you, your body, and science-backed tools. Whether you’re trying to conceive, managing chronic health symptoms, or simply seeking balance, The Cycle Book empowers you to reconnect with your body and live in sync with your natural cycles. No more wondering if it’s "just in your head."

About Laura Federico

Laura Federico (LCSW CST) is a US-trained Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been working in the mental health field for over 10 years. She holds an MS from Columbia University in Clinical Social Work, a BA from Marquette University in Social Welfare + Justice and Sociology, and a post-graduate sexologist certification in Holistic Sex Therapy from the Institute for Sexuality Education and Enlightenment.

About Morgan Miller

Morgan Miller (CPM, LM, IBCLC) is a midwife, lactation consultant, and unapologetic advocate for reimagining perinatal care. As the founder of Soft Corner Midwifery & Birth Center, Morgan has built more than just a practice—she’s created a space where people can heal and be seen. Her work blends clinical expertise with deep listening, radical compassion, and a fierce commitment to autonomy.

Follow Laura + Morgan

Connect With Us

If this episode resonated with you, leave a rating on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube. It helps more people navigating infertility find the support and community they deserve. 💛

The FriedEggs Podcast is hosted and produced by Kayti Christian and Amy Salke.

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions.

🎶 Show music by the magical Clayre.

This week, we’re joined by Sam Diamond, co-founder of Bird&Be, for a conversation about hormone imbalances and why reproductive health should never be treated as just a women’s issue. Sam shares the personal experiences that led her to build Bird&Be, the science behind the brand’s evidence-based fertility supplements and at-home tests, and how products like inositol can support people navigating ovulation challenges and PCOS (now called PMOS).

We also talk about the importance of advocating for your health, recognizing the signs of hormonal imbalances, what sets Bird&Be apart in the fertility space, and why being proactive about reproductive health matters. Plus, we wrap things up with some fun rapid-fire questions for Sam!

Leave a comment

About Bird&Be

Bird&Be offers science-backed supplements, personalized prenatal vitamins, and convenient at-home fertility tests designed to help you better understand your reproductive health, whether you're just starting to think about growing your family, actively trying to conceive, or navigating IVF and fertility treatment. By making expert-backed care and information more accessible, Bird&Be empowers people to take proactive steps on their fertility journey from the comfort of home.

About Samantha Diamond

Samantha Diamond is the Co-Founder and CEO of Bird&Be, a fertility and reproductive health company dedicated to making evidence-based care more accessible. Inspired by her own experience navigating pregnancy loss and the challenges of trying to conceive, she created Bird&Be to provide science-backed supplements and at-home fertility testing that empower people with better information and support.

Follow Sam

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

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/samantha-diamond

Connect With Us

If this episode resonated with you, leave a rating on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube. It helps more people navigating infertility find the support and community they deserve. 💛

The FriedEggs Podcast is hosted and produced by Kayti Christian and Amy Salke.

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions.

🎶 Show music by the magical Clayre.

We’re so excited to bring you part two of this episode! Kayti continues sharing her birth story after a long journey to pregnancy via IVF. This is part two of a two-part episode (We recommend catching up on the first half if you haven’t already!). Disclaimer: these episodes include discussions of a traumatic birth experience. Please guard your heart and skip them if you’re not in a place to listen right now. 🩷

Connect With Us

If this episode resonated with you, leave a rating on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube. It helps more people navigating infertility find the support and community they deserve. 💛

The FriedEggs Podcast is hosted and produced by Kayti Christian and Amy Salke.

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions.

🎶 Show music by the magical Clayre.

Summer is officially in full swing, as is the infamous “June Gloom” in Los Angeles. The sky is gray and moody in the mornings, which I secretly love—it reminds me of the years I lived in London for grad school (a different life, when having a cigarette with my peers felt cool, and I never thought about toxins or how things might be affecting my fertility).

One of the things I found most helpful during my 4-year infertility/IVF journey was relying on nostalgia to remind myself that my life is so much bigger and fuller than needles and negative pregnancy tests. As someone who can very easily get tunnel vision, reminiscing on things like travel, pubs, and all the memories that make up my life outside of trying to get pregnant was crucial in my darkest moments.

As we shared on the podcast this past week, my daughter was born last June, so I’ve been reflecting a lot on the journey it took to get to her. While I’m not currently in the thick of infertility or IVF treatments, my life still feels very much marked by that season. Reminiscing on this past year of postpartum, and the 10 months of pregnancy anxiety before that, I’m realizing a lot of the habits I relied on during infertility treatments have also helped me regulate my nervous system and come back to myself when I feel overwhelmed now.

Sharing them here in case any resonate, or so you can borrow them if you need them. They aren’t unique, and I am sure you’ve heard them before, but they are worth sharing because they can actually be life-changing. Feel free to share your own daily habits in the comments below—we’d love to hear them.

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🩷 5 daily habits for surviving infertility

1. A simple skincare routine. When I started diving into Reddit threads to prepare myself for postpartum, one piece of advice was consistent: take a shower, brush your teeth, and wash your face (daily). This landed because these were small daily habits that could literally change my mood instantly while going through infertility. Having a face wash and moisturizer that I loved—and even a sheet mask or eye patches—made me feel like I was caring for myself despite the world crashing down around me. It helped me wake up and feel just 2% more put together. It's actually magical how two minutes in front of the sink with a good cleanser can make you feel like a different person.

   

2. Reading a physical book. I wish I had read more while going through infertility, because my headspace changes so much when I'm reading a book as opposed to scrolling on my phone. Having a good novel on hand for waiting rooms and for comfort and escape at the end of the day is one of the best acts of self-care. I even sleep better when I read instead of scrolling Reddit or social media at night (who would have thought). Here’s what I’m currently reading.

3. Walking outside. As someone who works a desk job and can quite literally survive indoors for multiple days, getting outside and going for a walk around my neighborhood is paramount to clearing my head. This is usually when I remember to breathe and drink water. Also, seeing the trees, the sky, and other people helps with the tunnel vision.

   

4. Dopamine hugs. The science shows: hugs boost our mood. And as someone who rarely slows down and forgets to breathe, pausing to embrace my husband for 15-20 seconds throughout the day calms my nervous system and helps me feel safe. Try it the next time you’re feeling anxious or overwhelmed.

5. Daily treats. Of course, this is on the list! During postpartum, I never limited myself when it came to treats. This included getting a daily iced coffee, ordering takeout at the end of the week, splurging on a fancy bottle of wine, picking up fresh flowers for the house. I realized this habit came from my years of infertility and IVF, because treats were literally how I survived some days—the comfort of my favorite coffee after a hard IVF appointment, ordering sushi to eat on the couch when I got my period (again), etc. The treats help!!!

   

🎧 new on the pod:

It only took us a year, but we’re finally talking about the birth story. This is part one of a two-part episode and includes discussions of pregnancy and a traumatic birth experience. Guard your heart if needed 🩷

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube!

🪩 a special discount for listeners

This summer, we’re partnering with Tempdrop, a basal body temperature sensor with an accompanying fertility app to help you identify your fertile window. If you’ve ever used an oral thermometer to track your BBT, this is a game-changer for getting more accurate data without setting your alarm in the morning.

Today only, you can save 30% by stacking our code (AFFRIEDEGGS) with the 20% off prime deal on their site!!

weekend mood:

We’re so excited to bring you this really intimate and emotional episode. Kayti is finally sharing her birth story after a long journey to pregnancy via IVF. This is part one of a two-part episode and includes discussions of a traumatic birth experience. 🩷

Episode Sponsor

This episode is sponsored by Tempdrop, a wearable fertility tracker that collects overnight temperature data to help identify ovulation and cycle patterns, even with irregular cycles.

Use code AFFRIEDEGGS for 10% off your own wearable BBT device and a two-month premium app trial at http://www.tempdrop.com/discount/AFFRIEDEGGSPOD

Connect With Us

If this episode resonated with you, leave a rating on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube. It helps more people navigating infertility find the support and community they deserve. 💛

The FriedEggs Podcast is hosted and produced by Kayti Christian and Amy Salke.

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions.

🎶 Show music by the magical Clayre.

This week, we’re joined by Lauren Makler, co-founder and CEO of Cofertility, to talk about the future of egg freezing, egg donation, and fertility access. Lauren shares the personal health journey that inspired her to build Cofertility and explains how the company is making fertility preservation more accessible through its innovative egg-sharing model (and also why she believes egg donation is fertility’s last taboo).

We dive into the emotional realities of donor conception, the stigma surrounding donor eggs, and what it means to navigate grief and hope at the same time while building a family.

Whether you’re considering egg freezing, exploring donor-egg IVF, or simply curious about modern family-building, we’re so excited to share this conversation about the many ways families are created today.

About Cofertility

Cofertility is a human-centered fertility platform helping women freeze their eggs while helping other families build theirs.

Through their innovative Split Program, eligible women can freeze their eggs at no cost by donating half of the retrieved eggs to intended parents. CoFertility also takes a modern approach to donor conception by prioritizing transparency, education, optional known donation, and limiting the number of families a donor can donate to.

About Lauren Makler

Lauren Makler is the co-founder and CEO of Cofertility. After being diagnosed with an extremely rare abdominal disease and facing uncertainty about her own fertility, Lauren experienced firsthand the gaps in fertility preservation and donor egg options. She later became a mother and launched Cofertility to create a more transparent, ethical, and accessible path to egg freezing and egg donation.

Lauren has been recognized on the Inc. Female Founders 500 and Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business lists and has become a leading voice in conversations around fertility access, donor conception, and reproductive healthcare.

Follow Lauren

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenmakler/

More valuable nuggets in this episode

Fertility Tracking & Cycle Health with Tempdrop
Wearable fertility tracker that collects overnight temperature data to help identify ovulation and cycle patterns, even with irregular cycles.

Use code AFFRIEDEGGS for 10% off and a two-month premium app trial at http://www.tempdrop.com/discount/AFFRIEDEGGSPOD

Fertility Financing with Sunfish
Helping make fertility treatment, IVF, egg donation, surrogacy, and family building more financially accessible. joinsunfish.com

Fertility Mental Health with Mavida Health
Mental health support designed specifically for fertility patients. Our episode with Dr. Sarah Oreck on fertility & mental health. Check out mavidahealth.com to learn more.

Needle-Free IVF as a less invasive approach to IVF
A newer IVF approach discussed in previous FriedEggs episodes that may reduce the number of injections required during treatment. Talk with your fertility specialist about whether newer protocols may be appropriate for your situation. Learn more at needlefreeivf.com.

Related Fried Eggs Episodes

• Ep 32: Surrogacy 101 and how to find a surrogate with Carly Joseph

• Ep 49: How to care for your mental health while going through IVF with Dr. Sarah Oreck, founder of Mavida Health

Connect With Us

Have questions about donor eggs, egg freezing, infertility, or family building? Check out Cofertility on Instagram at @cofertility.

If this episode resonated with you, leave a rating on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube. It helps more people navigating infertility find the support and community they deserve. 💛

The FriedEggs Podcast is hosted and produced by Kayti Christian and Amy Salke.

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions.

🎶 Show music by the magical Clayre.

After we first started trying, I became obsessed with tracking my cycles and timing intercourse. When doctors gave us canned answers about “normal tests” and told us to just keep trying, I did what I do best (big firstborn energy) and dove headfirst into research. I didn’t have the vocabulary for reproductive endocrinologists yet, and our HMO required referrals for everything, so instead I spent my time arguing with nurses and OBs, begging them to run further tests to figure out why we couldn’t get pregnant.

Mostly when I look back, I feel tired. Absent. The days blur into one long stretch of time.

The same way I’ve blocked out much of my infertility experience, I’ve found myself blocking out the “before” of becoming a mother, starting with my daughter’s birth. There’s a split in my life. Not just because my identity shifted, but because the pain was too much to carry into the next chapter. So my brain decided to leave it all behind in the postpartum ward.

We’re recording the birth episode this week, and I’ve been trying to dig up memories that aren’t just doctors’ notes. The moment I was wheeled into the OR, staring up at the lights, feeling like I might not open my eyes again. Red toilet water after the nurse helped me to the bathroom. The first bite of the Chipotle burrito I’d been craving while everyone passed our baby around, wrapped like a tiny burrito herself. The way I cried for days because my uterus contracted so hard every time I tried to breastfeed and made my insides feel like jello.

Birth was my breaking point. After years of being poked and exposed and bruised, my body finally said enough. My cervix tore, I hemorrhaged, and I became completely helpless. Like so many times before, I was at the mercy of my medical team to stitch me back together. And even then, my body kept protesting through recovery. Those first weeks home came with COVID, UTIs, and loose stitches. There was no real rest. Not until late summer, though I can’t really pinpoint when I started to feel like myself again.

I’m summarizing here, getting words on the page as I begin to process ahead of our recording this weekend. I can feel myself needing to take a beat and finally breathe.

A few weeks ago, Amy and I went to a breathwork class on a Saturday, and we both sobbed through the whole thing, for different reasons and the same ones. There is so much stored in all of our bodies, no matter where we’re at on this journey.

My hope is that by talking about it, I can let some of it out, make sense of it and maybe find some closure. Or maybe, like breath itself, I can finally exhale so I can inhale again.

Leave a comment

🎧 new on the pod:

This week’s episode covers a lot of ground, including a conversation about when to tell your family and friends about your IVF transfer.

As a reminder, we now have extended versions of the podcast for paid subscribers if you want more BTS banter (this week’s was about Justin Bieber at Coachella, buying a house in southern CA, and kitchen dance parties/cold plunges to reset our mood)

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube!

💜 a special discount for listeners

This summer, we’re partnering with Tempdrop, a basal body temperature sensor with an accompanying fertility app to help you identify your fertile window. If you’ve ever used an oral thermometer to track your BBT, this is a game-changer for getting more accurate data without setting your alarm in the morning. Use code AFFRIEDEGGS for 10% off your order.

community note

We’re so excited to share this opportunity for women navigating infertility: a therapy-based retreat called Therapeia, taking place this October in Orlando, Florida, designed to offer structured emotional and clinical support during the fertility journey. The retreat was inspired by the founder’s own IVF journey and what she wished had existed during her care, and it includes daily 1:1 sessions with licensed therapists, a physician-created healing program focused on the emotional weight of treatment, and ongoing virtual support and community after participants return home. Learn more here.

weekend mood

If you love the pod, help us grow by hitting follow and leaving a review on Spotify and Apple. And then join us on Instagram, where we post daily memes and reels that help us get through infertility. 🩷

Today’s episode is brought to you by Tempdrop, a basal body temperature sensor with an accompanying fertility app to help you identify your fertile window. Use code AFFRIEDEGGS for 10% off your order.

This is a free, shorter version of the episode for all subscribers. Paying subscribers (aka members of The Broody Club) can also listen to an extended, ad-free version of this episode (learn more here). This podcast exists because of our listeners, and paid subscriptions let us spend more time on episodes, bring in expert guests, and create content that makes a difference for the infertility community.

Share your story with us for our next listener voice notes episode! Send a 5-minute voice note to collabs@friedeggspod.com or submit here.

Subscribe now

The FriedEggs Podcast is hosted and produced by Kayti Christian and Amy Salke.

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

Enjoy the episode here on Substack at www.friedeggspod.com. Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions: https://20twentypro.com/

🎶 Show music by the magical Clayre:

This is an extended, ad-free version of today’s episode for paying subscribers (aka members of The Broody Club). This podcast exists because of our listeners, and paid subscriptions let us spend more time on episodes, bring in expert guests, and create content that makes a difference for the infertility community. Learn more here.

Subscribe now

Read more

This retrieval round was a sort of “last call” on these ovaries, one more try before my AMH fully bottoms out and it becomes even more impossible to squeeze out any more healthy eggs from my dwindling follicles. If you’ve been here awhile, you know my road to parenthood has been long and rocky, with pregnancy loss, over a dozen procedures, a uterus that won’t play nice, and now a gracious turn to gestational surrogacy. To give ourselves the best shot at the family we dream of, I know we need options, and I’m so grateful to have been able to make these embryos while I still can before my fertility fades further. I hope they are enough to get us to baby one day.

Like past retrievals, this one became my whole personality for those few weeks. It was full of ups and downs, moments of confidence followed cliff-edge drop-offs of anxiety and fear. No matter the AFC (antral follicle count) you’re starting from, the attrition drop-off through the cycle — eggs retrieved > eggs mature > fertilized > day 5-7 blast > PGT-A (or other) results — is real. Not even 4 previous rounds can prevent the ensuing anxiety spiral. So yes, I am relieved to be on the other side of injections, surgery, the accompanying bloat. But above all else, I’m relieved to be on the other side of test results.

For those of us still in the never-ending dread of waiting, we see you and we’re holding out hope for you. With all the love, no matter the results, you will be okay. You can get through this. 💛

🎧 new on the pod:

I share all the details from this retrieval and the results in this week’s episode. Kayti also reflects on her past retrieval experiences and puts me in the hot seat with a bunch of listener questions.

One topic that came up again and again was the post-retrieval debrief, or what our IVF community affectionately calls the “what the f* appointment.” Asking your doctor tough questions can feel intimidating, but someone’s gotta do it. And the best person to advocate for you and your care is…you.

After years of navigating infertility and meeting with more doctors than I can count, I’m no longer shy about asking for clarity. The more you understand about your treatment, the better equipped you are to make informed decisions about what comes next.

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube!

💜 small “j” joys:

• (ok this is a BIG “J” joy) Kayti bought a house!!!!!!!! (pending escrow and if she can survive the stress). It has the cutest garden and office for podcasting.

• It’s watermelon season! 🍉

• We got together for a friends dinner and road bikes through the neighborhood like a kid gang, so nostalgic!

• The high school next to Nima’s grandmother’s house has an agricultural program and recently welcomed baby goats! They are the cutest!

👯‍♀️ weekend mood:

If you love the pod, help us grow by hitting follow and leaving a review on Spotify and Apple. And then join us on Instagram, where we post daily memes and reels that help us get through infertility. 🩷

This is an extended, ad-free version of today’s episode for paying subscribers (aka members of The Broody Club). This podcast exists because of our listeners, and paid subscriptions let us spend more time on episodes, bring in expert guests, and create content that makes a difference for the infertility community. Learn more here.

Subscribe now

Read more

In today’s episode, Amy shares her PGT-A results from her 5th egg retrieval! She also answers listener questions and shares notes from her conversation with her doctor after her egg retrieval.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Tempdrop, a basal body temperature sensor with an accompanying fertility app to help you identify your fertile window. Use code AFFRIEDEGGS for 10% off your order.

This is a free, shorter version of the episode for all subscribers. Paying subscribers (aka members of The Broody Club) can also listen to an extended, ad-free version of this episode (learn more here). This podcast exists because of our listeners, and paid subscriptions let us spend more time on episodes, bring in expert guests, and create content that makes a difference for the infertility community.

Leave a comment

The FriedEggs Podcast is hosted and produced by Kayti Christian and Amy Salke.

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

Enjoy the episode here on Substack at www.friedeggspod.com. Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions: https://20twentypro.com/

🎶 Show music by the magical Clayre:

It’s been two years and eight months since our first egg retrieval failed, one year and eight months since our frozen embryo transfer worked. It’s been eleven months since I gave birth to our daughter.

Time means nothing and everything when you’re going through infertility. It doesn’t slow yet the days feel impossibly long. More than anything, time can erase you. I don’t recognize who I am anymore—not since postpartum and motherhood but neither since infertility and IVF.

In the early days of infertility, I listened to music all of the time which I rarely do anymore because it feels too stimulating or too familiar of a life and person I once knew. I used to drive to Northern California from Los Angeles every two months to see my family, escaping because I could, because my husband was in a fire academy and always gone, because I worked remotely and had no one but our dog to care for.

During these trips, I’d pack the car, stop for a coffee, and drive the long stretch of I-5 while listening to playlists. I’d cry and bargain with God. I’d look for signs, like the one time a rainbow split the sky after a summer storm and I hoped that meant everything would turn out okay.

I haven’t been able to fully articulate this on the podcast yet, but I’ve been sharing with Amy how I haven’t processed or grieved IVF and infertility since becoming a mother. As soon as the transfer worked, I held my breath for ten months and blacked out most of my pregnancy because every day it felt like our daughter could slip through my fingers and be gone. When she was born, the birth left me on an emergency operating table and then in a postpartum ward, learning how to breastfeed while holding an iced coffee. It was whiplash. I didn’t even care about what had happened, about where I’d been, because she was in my arms and so why dwell on the fact that my insides had bled out on the floor?

I’d process that all later, I rationalized. But then she was here and the hormones dipped and I went back to work and all of a sudden I was a mother and there was immense joy and also I skipped the whole part where I took a beat and processed what it took to get there. Later, later, later, I kept telling myself. And now she is turning one, and it’s been five years and twenty-nine days.

When I drive in my car, I listen to silence. My emotions are on autopilot after feeling so much for too long. It’s easier to coast and pretend like the happy ending erased the pain. I tell myself I am doing this for my daughter because she needs me to be strong but I know that I’m lying to myself. I don’t recognize myself anymore, though I desperately want to. I’m just scared to reopen that box.

I don’t have an answer for where to go from here, but I guess it starts with listening to music again. At least, that’s what I told myself last night when I put on a playlist for my daughter. I picked the first one on my Spotify feed, and it happened to be a mix of old songs I used to listen to before she was born and during the depths of infertility. The memories rushed in. My body felt heavy and grounded in a way it hasn’t for so long, the fight-or-flight response fading away. I welcomed the tears. The complicated emotions. The relief and joy and rage and brokenness, all in one.

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❤️‍🩹 A few songs that have helped me process my feelings while going through different seasons of infertility, IVF, and postpartum

• Collapse by Chance Peña

• Overflow by Marianne Beaulieu

• Doppelgänger by Lissom

• Faith’s Hymn by Beautiful Chorus

• breathe again by Joy Oladokun

• Seasons by Benjamin William Hastings

• Joy In The Morning by Tauren Wells

• End Of Youth by Ed Sheeran

• Worthy by India Arie

• Someone To Stay by Vancouver Sleep Clinic

🎧 This week’s episode: Amy recaps her 5th egg retrieval (pt 1)

In this week’s episode, Amy shares the results of her 5th IVF egg retrieval. She reflects on her new STIMs protocol, insurance battles to get medications covered, and how this round compared to previous cycles. This is part one of a two-part episode as she waits for PGT-A results.

You can also listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

If you love the pod, help us grow by hitting follow and leaving a review on Spotify and Apple. And then join us on Instagram, where we post daily memes and reels that help us get through infertility. 🩷

In today’s episode, Amy shares the results of her 5th IVF egg retrieval. She reflects on her new STIMs protocol, insurance battles to get medications covered, and how this round compared to previous cycles.

This is part one of a two-part episode as she waits for PGT-A results. She’ll be answering listener questions about this retrieval in the next episode, so drop any qs you have in the comments!

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The FriedEggs Podcast is hosted and produced by Kayti Christian and Amy Salke.

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

Enjoy the episode here on Substack at www.friedeggspod.com. Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions: https://20twentypro.com/

🎶 Show music by the magical Clayre:

No one knows a waiting game like someone going through fertility treatments. The waiting to get started. The waiting for lab results. The waiting rooms. The waiting for a transvaginal ultrasound while sitting on a cold clinic bed, no pants on with only a paper sheet to cover you. The waiting for retrieval day. The waiting to hear how many eggs were retrieved, how many are mature. The fertilization report, the blast report, the genetic testing results. So much waiting to hopefully, one day, get to the waiting for beta-HCG results. Don’t even get me started on the waiting that happens after that.

As I write this, I’m in the thick of waiting for genetic testing results from my fifth IVF cycle, in our fifth year of trying to make our dream of a family a reality. I thought I’d be more prepared for the anxiety that comes with waiting to hear if the two blasts we made this round are viable. But even in my fifth round, I’m still as anxious as ever, maybe even more so.

As I shared that I was undergoing another egg retrieval with family and friends, and the internet, I received the sweetest notes of encouragement, gracious reminders that I’m strong and resilient, and many cheerful “Congratulations!” And I’m so grateful for all of them. But as I’ve worked through the weeks in waiting since, I realize that unless I’m sharing each step of this arduous process loudly, most no one knows that retrieval day isn’t a destination. It’s really only the beginning.

IVF can feel like living inside suspended time. You move from one milestone to the next, but the waiting never actually resolves; it just shape-shifts. A fertilization report doesn’t guarantee blasts. Blasts don’t guarantee PGT-A results. PGT-A results don’t guarantee a transfer. And we all know transfers don’t guarantee a healthy baby. Every step forward feels like momentum but still carries the risk of starting over.

Don’t get me wrong. Retrieval day is a day to be proud of! The countless injections (at least 48 this round), the hormone rollercoaster, to be honest, the bloating and discomfort alone takes real physical and mental endurance. We should be proud.

But if you’re anything like me, you’re hedging. You’re afraid to celebrate this milestone because you know in just a week or so’s time you may have nothing to show for it. That you might very well have to start all over again, from square one but this time even less hopeful. It feels a bit like being afraid of jinxing it, but worse because you know the stats for your age, you know the brutality of the IVF attrition rate at every stage (i.e. this round: 8 eggs retrieved > 4 mature > 4 fertilized > 2 blasts > TBD PGT-A).

While I love the positivity on retrieval day, I find myself craving more realistic caution that makes me feel a little less insane for still holding my breath. For not yet feeling relieved. For waiting to celebrate.

So in case you’re in it too, I see you — It is just the beginning, and there’s still a long road to come. But you did a huge thing, we did a huge thing, and we should be proud of ourselves for getting to this point.

I don’t know what the next few weeks will bring, but I know I will get through it. And so will you.

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❤️‍🩹 A few things that helped make the last three weeks a bit more bearable

• A girls trip before the meds started. Truly nothing better to make you believe you can take on the world, and the IVF shots, like time with your best friends.

  

• Walks, and I mean lots of walks. Every day, multiple times a day. Don’t have the energy? Walk. Bloated? Walk. Sad? Walk. 10 minutes or an hour, doesn’t matter. Walk.

• Outside time. Pruning the garden, picking flowers, making arrangements. I found myself bringing so much beauty into my house during these past few weeks.

  

  

• Obvious self-care: Red-light therapy, face masks, early bedtimes, raspberry leaf herbal tea, feel-good shows (ahem: Ted Lasso), naps on naps on naps.

• Less obvious self-care: Asking for help — like asking my husband to micromanage our nutrition because when I’m stressed, I can forget to eat. Saying, “sorry I can’t make it”, because I am actually too tired and shouldn’t go, but I am also really sorry about it. Sharing the gory details with my close-nit people so they could show up for me when I really needed it.

• And treats, duh. After appointments, blood work, meds pick-up, frustrating phone calls with insurance, good news, bad news… Any way to Pavlov myself into “keeping on keeping on.”

🎧 Last week’s episode: A better way to pay for IVF with Sunfish founder & CEO

Listen to last week’s episode with Sunfish founder and CEO, Angela Rastegar. Sunfish is a fertility fintech company focused on making family building more financially accessible and a lot less overwhelming.

You can also listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

If you love the pod, help us grow by hitting follow and leaving a review on Spotify and Apple. And then join us on Instagram, where we post daily memes and reels that help us get through infertility. 🩷

We talk about the surprising and hidden costs of IVF, and how the financial side of fertility care can feel just as overwhelming as the treatments themselves. Angela shares how Sunfish is helping patients navigate their options more clearly, including those using donor eggs or sperm, surrogacy, reciprocal IVF, and increasingly, people looking to freeze their eggs.

We also get into what shifts when you don’t have to carry all of that financial stress alone, and how better tools and guidance can make the entire experience feel more manageable.

We know you’ll appreciate this conversation with Angela as much as we did. If you’re comfortable sharing, we’d love to hear how the financial side of IVF or fertility care has impacted your own journey — drop your thoughts in the comments below. x

About Angela Rastegar:

Angela Rastegar is the Co-Founder and CEO of Sunfish, a fertility fintech company focused on making family building financially accessible and predictable. Angela brings a rare combination of venture capital fluency, healthcare operating experience, and deeply personal “lived experience” to the fertility space. She previously founded and exited two companies and served as a venture capital investor at Village Capital, focusing on early stage health tech and fintech businesses.

Angela holds a BA in Human Biology and an MBA from Stanford University. Her commitment is deeply personal: she has navigated her own fertility journey, which solidified her belief that everyone deserves a “Family Planning Advisor”. She is now a leading voice on how data autonomy and financial innovation can democratize reproductive rights. She resides in Los Angeles with her family, continuing her own journey while helping thousands of others start theirs.

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About Sunfish:

Sunfish is a trusted guide for anyone navigating IVF, surrogacy, egg/sperm donation, or fertility preservation. They help self-pay IVF patients with transparent pricing, bundled discounts, and a partial money-back guarantee.

Sunfish provides personalized financial plans using proprietary software to estimate costs for each Program. If actual costs exceed projections, eligible patients may receive a partial refund under program terms. Sunfish is not a medical provider. Terms and conditions apply.

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Resources:

💰 Sunfish financial planning calculator: https://www.joinsunfish.com/ivf-financial-planning

💰 Database of grants and discounts for fertility care: https://www.joinsunfish.com/grants

🥚 **Newly launched egg freezing packages: https://www.joinsunfish.com/success-program/egg-freezing

Instagram (@joinsunfish)
https://www.instagram.com/joinsunfish/

The FriedEggs Podcast is hosted and produced by Kayti Christian and Amy Salke.

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

Enjoy the episode here on Substack at www.friedeggspod.com. Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions: https://20twentypro.com/

🎶 Show music by the magical Clayre:

On our end, Amy is waiting on results from her most recent egg retrieval and continuing forward with surrogacy (stay tuned for a big episode on these updates very soon). I’ve just returned from a much-needed vacation with my family and our first trip with our IVF daughter. As summer approaches, we’re also thinking about the future of our family and if we should do more retrievals this year before I turn 36 (we have one remaining embryo).

If this month feels like a lot, you’re not imagining it. Hang tight and keep going in whatever way makes sense for you right now. Resilience doesn’t always look like pushing through. Sometimes it looks like opting out or doing the bare minimum to get through the day.

And if you need it, here is your permission to uninvite yourself from every Mother’s Day plan on your calendar and spend the day in bed with takeout and a show. I was so proud of a friend who recently told me she did this. She and her husband were invited to a big potluck with a bunch of family, and, after having two miscarriages and struggling to conceive, she decided to set a boundary for herself and opt out of going to the potluck. Do this if you need to.

Sending love xx

Kayti & Amy

🎧 new on the pod:

We’re excited to share our latest episode with one of the most prominent voices in fertility care right now. Dr. Lucky Sekhon is a double-board-certified OB-GYN and reproductive endocrinologist, fertility expert, educator, and author of The Lucky Egg. She is also the cohost of the Call Your Doctor podcast and is doing incredible work to combat online misinformation about fertility care and women’s health.

We talked about her new book, how she manages to do it all, and even had a brief discussion about New York vs. LA fashion (a reminder to swap our sweatpants for a pantsuit every now and then).

💜 small “j” joys:

• Egg freezing parties? We’re all ears.

• This weighted sleep mask is on sale for less than $20.

• A recipe we’re going to try out this weekend b/c we forgot to eat the bananas and now they’re brown.

• A beautiful illustration about the healing process.

• My husband gifted me this candle recently and it’s soooo good (and on sale) - Kayti

• This book for tracking our cycles (the writers will be coming on the pod this summer!)

new week, new mood:

We’re so thrilled to welcome Dr. Lucky Sekhon — double-board certified OBGYN and reproductive endocrinologist, fertility expert, educator, and author of The Lucky Egg — on the podcast this week for a conversation that feels like a reset button on everything you’ve heard about fertility.

Because let’s be honest: the internet is loud. And not all of it is helping.

🥚 What this episode will help you do:

• Spot misinformation fast: why anecdotes aren’t evidence and how to tell what’s actually legit

• Focus on what matters: what AMH, IVF, and egg freezing really mean (no fluff, no fear)

• Navigate your care better: what your doctor should be explaining and how to advocate for yourself

• Stay grounded in the process: how to make smart next moves without chasing every “solution”

The takeaway? Fertility isn’t just about biology — it’s about information. And most people are navigating this without the full picture.

Resources:

📘 The Lucky Egg: your fertility roadmap https://static.macmillan.com/static/smp/lucky-egg-9781250408716/

🌐 theluckyegg.com: expert guides + calculators
https://theluckyegg.com/

Instagram (@lucky.sekhon)
https://www.instagram.com/lucky.sekhon

🎧 Call Your Doctor: podcast on women’s health, hormones & fertility, no fluff

The FriedEggs Podcast is hosted and produced by Kayti Christian and Amy Salke.

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care.

Enjoy the episode here on Substack at friedeggspod.com. Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

🎶 Show music by the magical Clayre:

🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions https://20twentypro.com/