Fertility issues are complicated. I want to create an educational, supportive service to listeners who are struggling with fertility, curious about fertility, or just in the fertility field and want to know more. I'm Calisse, a fertility nurse, and I'll be hosting alongside expert and experienced guests with knowledge and stories to share about all things fertility.
We're so excited to share with you our latest episode featuring Karen Jeffries of Hilariously Infertile. Karen is a dual language teacher outside of New York City and author of Hilariously Infertile: One Woman's Inappropriate Quest to Help Women Laugh Through Infertility. Listen along as Calisse and Karen discuss Karen's infertility journey and thoughts, including how the process can open up barriers with your partner, the irony of a fertility clinic feeling like a funeral home, and the impor...
19 Mar 2021
"Freezing an embryo is like a frozen pizza, ready to go"
We’re back with our first remote interview since lockdown! Calisse joined Dr. Vuk Jovanovic for a coast-to-coast interview to discuss his practice and how they’ve adapted during COVID, why fertility practices and insurance coverage vary between countries, and how frozen embryos are like frozen pizzas—ready to go! Dr. Vuk Jovanovic ranks among the top fertility doctors in Los Angeles. He completed his fellowship training in Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility at Columbia Univers...
20 May 2020
"That's somebody's dream"
Kimberly LaRocque, PhD, is the IVF laboratory director of a large fertility clinic in Colorado. Kimberly got her start in the surprising field of equine reproduction at Colorado State University before shifting to human embryology. Calisse asks Kimberly about the stresses of creating embryos with sometimes sub-optimal eggs or sperm, and Kimberly discusses the importance of putting her best efforts into each process every time. Kimberly details her work in horse embryology (including how to co...
13 May 2020
"A real (genetics) pioneer!"
Paul Wexler, M.D., is hesitant to say when he went to medical school, but he will tell you that he began before the correct number of chromosomes had been discovered in humans. Through his illustrious career, Dr. Wexler has performed tens of thousands of abdominal diagnostic procedures and expanded the application of ultrasound technology in obstetrics. In 1980, he opened the Rose Medical Center Prenatal Diagnosis Program in Denver, CO. In this episode, Calisse and Dr. Wexler discuss DNA stor...
6 May 2020
"It's still a life, in my eyes"
In this episode, Kimberly Walker, MSN, WHNP-BC speaks to Calisse about her PCOS journey through 7 failed IUIs, miscarriage, adoption and her faith-based decisions regarding her fertility. Kimberly discusses how people of faith often struggle through moral dilemmas regarding IVF, including discarding abnormal embryos, as well as compassionate transfers, embryo donation, and indefinite freezing. Calisse asks Kimberly about her journey adopting her son, and Kimberly shares details of the process...
29 Apr 2020
"We're human and we feel their pain"
Amanda Bird, MPAS, PA-C, is a Physician Assistant who is passionate about women's health and giving her patients the best care and reassurance in their journeys. Calisse invited Amanda (pre-social distancing) to discuss newly adopted telemedicine practices, reducing pain during hysteroscopies, azoospermia, crying with patients, the varied circumstances requiring sperm donations, and more. In this episode we find out more about the evolving role a PA plays during patients' cycles and procedure...
22 Apr 2020
"The 'Cheers' Bar of Infertility"
Dr. Ryan M. Riggs, MD, FACOG, has spent more than 10 years helping patients succeed in their fight against infertility. Prior to returning to the Kansas City area and opening Blue Sky Fertility, Dr. Riggs was the Physician IVF laboratory director at a large practice in Colorado (with Calisse!), where his team achieved some of the highest pregnancy rates in the world. Dr. Riggs was also named one of Kansas City's "Top Doctors" by 435 Magazine. In this episode, Calisse visits her friend Dr. Rig...
15 Apr 2020
"Go get some counseling together ASAP"
Today Calisse sits down with Kim Kluger-Bell, to whom Calisse has referred dozens of patients for their fertility counseling. Kim and Calisse discuss psychological issues regarding donor procedures, examining spousal and partnership disagreements around fertility choices, talking to children about their donor stories, and why speaking with a counselor prior to your procedure is often required and beneficial. Kimberly Kluger-Bell is a licensed marriage and family therapist with decades of exp...
8 Apr 2020
"There's something for everybody"
In this episode, Calisse invites Jeffrey S. Faudem, L.Ac. Dipl. MSTOM. FABORM, to discuss his experience as a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine and how to improve fertility using holistic methods - often overlooked by Western medicine - that have been around for centuries. Calisse and Jeff discuss healthy lifestyles, complementing Western fertility treatments with acupuncture and other methods, balancing stress loads of work and family, needle fears, and everyone's favorite term: "...
1 Apr 2020
Stephanie pt. 2: "You've got my blood all over you"
*If you haven't listened to pt. 1 of Stephanie's story, please go back to last week to catch up!* In part two, we rejoin Stephanie as she continues her remarkable story, recounting her traumatic surgery and its lasting effects on her life and her loved ones. Calisse and Stephanie further discuss Stephanie's near-death experience, and her journey through triumph, loss, genetics, perseverance after tragedy, and the true meaning of "family." Expect to fall even more in love with Stephanie as you...
25 Mar 2020
Stephanie pt. 1: "Why not me?"
Stephanie Keith, RN, BSN, is a fertility nurse who truly understands her patients' struggles. Stephanie underwent so many failed rounds of fertility treatments herself, including IUI, IVF, and FET, that she's nearly lost count. In part one, Calisse invites Stephanie to discuss Stephanie's five years' worth of fertility treatments, including the frustrations, jealousy, euphoria and grief that comes along with, all culminating in an epic account that you'll need to hear to believe. This episode...
18 Mar 2020
"The truth is an evolving process"
Dr. Robert Greene, MD, FACOG, is one of the most highly regarded fertility specialists in the world. His studies were featured on NBC’s Dateline and ABC News as well as Oprah & Friends with Dr. Mehmet Oz and various print publications including Cosmopolitan, Self, Glamour, Fit Pregnancy, OK! Magazine, and Shape. Dr. Greene has authored four direct-to-consumer books explaining the latest research and practical applications for women experiencing various health challenges. Recorded on-site ...
9 Mar 2020
"I didn't know someone was gonna ram a probe up my vagina!"
Sonja Bell, RDMS, is a sonographer (no, she doesn't work with marine life), and Calisse's friend! Today we talk to Sonja about her career, new heartbeat flutters, crazy fibroids, and the heartbreaking necessity of a healthy work/life balance during personal tragedy. Calisse and Sonja are here to remind everyone that fertility specialists are people too. Welcome to our first episode of Fertility: Let's Be Honest!
9 Mar 2020
"Why Should You Trust Me?"
Welcome to my new podcast, Fertility: Let's Be Honest. I'm Calisse, your host and fertility expert, and I will be interviewing my colleagues, specialists in the industry, and guests who share their struggles with infertility. In this trailer you will get to hear a sampling of what's to come this season, from physicians' fascinating discoveries during ultrasounds to an embryologist with a surprising background. Fertility can be really messy and confusing, so I'm here to break it down for you i...
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