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This podcast presents an in-depth exploration of fertility concerns and inquiries straight from those undergoing fertility treatment. Standing apart from the usual information found online, we dive headfirst into the real science and comprehensive research behind these challenges. Amidst all this, we never forget to honor our cherished tradition - celebrating the simple joys of Taco Tuesday!
228 Episodes
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Send us Fan Mail Have you ever thought your top-tier insurance fully covered IVF, only to be hit with a $20,000 out-of-pocket bill? On this episode of Taco 'Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols pulls back the curtain on the confusing and frustrating world of reproductive medicine insurance. We break down the two biggest financial illusions in fertility care: The ERISA Loophole: Discover the difference between fully insured and self-funded corporate plans, and learn why state IVF mandates mi...
Send us Fan Mail If you’re going through IVF, you’ve probably heard it: “Just relax.” It sounds comforting, but for many patients it feels like blame. In this episode of Taco ’Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols breaks down what stress actually does during fertility treatment, what it does not do, and why the science does not support the simplistic idea that anxiety is what makes IVF fail. He also explains where stress does matter—your mental health, your relationships, your ability to kee...
Send a text What does a messed-up Chipotle order have to do with a disappointing IVF cycle? More than you might think. In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols uses the burrito analogy to explain an important concept in fertility treatment: one bad outcome does not automatically mean the entire plan was wrong. Sometimes the issue is not the whole recipe, but one part of the process — like trigger timing, fertilization method, sperm quality that day, lab variables, or ano...
Send us Fan Mail For thousands of years, humans have tried to influence whether they have a boy or a girl. From ancient myths about moon phases and food choices to modern scientific techniques, the desire to choose a baby’s sex has never gone away. In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols breaks down the real science behind sex selection and separates fact from fiction. You’ll learn: • Why sex positions, foods, and timing methods like the Shettles Method don’t actually w...
Send us Fan Mail If you’re 38, you’ve been trying for 12 months, and every test comes back “normal,” this episode is your step-by-step game plan for what to do next. “Unexplained infertility” isn’t a diagnosis—it’s a sign we haven’t found the real bottleneck yet, and at 38, time is a real variable. We walk through the highest-yield checklist to confirm what’s truly been evaluated (ovulation, uterine cavity, tubes, and the male factor), then cover the common “hidden” causes that don’t show up ...
Send us Fan Mail When you see a fertility doctor, you’re usually offered two paths: IUI or IVF. But what if there’s a middle ground? In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols breaks down IntraVaginal Culture (IVC) — a treatment where your body becomes the incubator. At our clinic, we call the device the “Baby Pod,” and it offers a meaningful step up from IUI without the full cost and complexity of IVF. Dr. Amols explains how IVC works, why it is not the same as IVF, and w...
Send us Fan Mail Every IVF patient has wondered it at least once: Is my embryo really mine? Every so often, a story makes headlines about an IVF mix-up. While these cases are heartbreaking, they are extraordinarily rare — occurring approximately 1–2 times per million IVF births. In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols breaks down: How IVF labs prevent embryo mix-upsThe role of double witnessing and lab verificationElectronic witnessing systems (RFID, barcod...
Send us Fan Mail You were told your embryo was “perfect.” It was euploid. Genetically normal. The best one. So why didn’t it work? In this episode, Dr. Mark Amols breaks down the truth behind PGT testing and explains why even genetically normal embryos can fail to implant or result in miscarriage. You’ll learn: What PGT-A actually tests (and what it doesn’t)The difference between chromosomal abnormalities and single gene disordersWhy microdeletions and tiny DNA changes can go undetected...
Send us Fan Mail For years, fertility medications were one of the biggest and least controllable costs in IVF—sometimes costing more than the procedure itself. Then, almost overnight, prices dropped by nearly 50%. In this episode, Dr. Mark Amols explains what actually caused this dramatic shift, how government policy and pharmaceutical competition reshaped pricing, and why this change is already affecting IVF protocols. He breaks down what lower gonadotropin costs mean for patients, how this ...
Send us Fan Mail IVF terms like back-to-back cycles, DuoStim, double stimulation, and accelerated IVF are often used interchangeably—but they don’t mean the same thing. And confusing them can lead to unrealistic expectations. In this episode of Taco ’Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols breaks down what these terms actually mean, how they differ, and—most importantly—when one approach may make sense over another. We talk about why doing IVF twice doesn’t magically improve egg quality, how o...
Send us Fan Mail Fertility tests can look perfect on paper—and pregnancy still doesn’t happen. In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols breaks down why many fertility treatments, especially IUI, are built on assumptions rather than certainty. Tests like the HSG can confirm that fallopian tubes are open, but they cannot prove that the tubes are functional. Semen analysis can look normal, but it cannot confirm that sperm can reach the egg or successfully fertilize it. This...
Send us Fan Mail In 2023, we asked a simple question: Should embryo glue be used routinely in IVF? Since then, more studies have been published, larger analyses have been completed, and the evidence has matured. In this episode, we revisit embryo glue with fresh eyes — separating what hasn’t changed from what actually has. We discuss why embryo glue is now clearly shown to be non-inferior to standard transfer media, what newer data suggests about small but possible benefits, and why those ben...
Send us Fan Mail This is a replay of our 2023 episode on embryo glue. The discussion reflects the evidence available at that time. A lot has changed since this episode was first released. Listen again — because next week we’ll be back with a brand-new episode covering newer data and updated evidence you won’t want to miss. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Embryo Glue: Is it a glue? Does it help? Should you use it? In this episode we discuss the w...
Send us Fan Mail What happens when an embryo never even makes it to the report? In this week’s episode of Taco About Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols tackles the complicated world of high-level mosaic embryos—the lesser-known, often misunderstood siblings of low-level mosaics. Learn why some labs label these embryos as “aneuploid,” why others report them as “mosaic,” and how that single label could decide whether an embryo is transferred or discarded. We break down the true live birth odds, ...
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols breaks down one of the most overlooked problems in modern fertility care: the hidden harm of overcalling mosaic embryos. We begin with a surprising math puzzle from a 2023 study by Dr. Jonah Bardos in Fertility & Sterility, where the lab reporting the highest euploid rate also had the highest live birth rate—a result that shouldn’t happen if “more abnormal embryos were slipping through.” Instead, the math poin...
Send us Fan Mail In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Amols tackles a question most patients are too embarrassed to ask out loud: Does getting a second opinion mean you’re cheating on your fertility doctor? Inspired by a real patient interaction, he breaks down why fertility care feels so personal, why patients often feel guilty seeking outside input, and why no confident doctor should ever take it personally. You’ll hear how second opinions can validate your plan, reveal new options, and ultimat...
Send us Fan Mail Why do eggs that look perfect on retrieval day sometimes lead to poor embryos, failed implantation, or no pregnancy at all? If your clinic once told you your eggs “look great,” only to later say the cycle failed due to an egg issue… you’re not alone. And no, your doctor didn’t lie to you. In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols unpacks one of the biggest misunderstandings in IVF: the difference between how an egg looks and how an egg functions. Drawin...
Send us Fan Mail IUI is simple—but the expectations, emotions, and math behind it definitely aren’t. In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols walks you through exactly what to expect during an IUI cycle, from the first ultrasound to the trigger shot to the quick, 30-second insemination appointment. You’ll learn who IUI works best for, why success rates aren’t as straightforward as they seem, and how your odds really build with each cycle. Whether you’re preparing for you...
Send us Fan Mail What happens when IVF success leaves you with more embryos than you ever planned for? In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols tackles the emotional and practical side of “extra embryos.” He explains why the U.S. system often pushes patients to create as many embryos as possible — and how cost, culture, and regulation shape that pressure. You’ll learn the pros and cons of mini-IVF, selective fertilization, and egg-only freezing, and why “more” isn’...
Send us Fan Mail In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols opens up about something doctors rarely say out loud — that we have feelings too. Step behind the white coat to hear the human side of fertility care: the burnout that comes with modern medicine, the emotional weight of every failed cycle, and the reality of being judged not by effort, but by outcomes. Dr. Amols shares raw stories about patient misunderstandings, communication breakdow...
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