For Trying Out Loud: The Infertility Years

It's been a while.  We thought it was about time that we returned for an update.  We've been quiet on socials and felt we owed it to you guys to let you know where we're at with things.   Check out our Vlogs on Youtube.  They are released once a week on a Friday.  If you enjoy them please subscribe to our channel 'Romana and Ewan'. You can watch all the vlogs here If you'd like to buy us a coffee please visit www.buymeacoffee.com/romanaandewan You can also donate directly through Paypal by clicking here www.fortryingoutloud.com @fortryingoutloud @romanaandewan

We've missed you!  Thanks for tuning back in for our update.  The last few months have been busy so it was great to finally get back to the podcast.  In this episode we chat about how our most recent transfer went in Bulgaria.  This was our 7th transfer and our 8th embryo.  Thanks for sticking with us!  We really appreciate it! Check out our Vlogs on Youtube.  They are released weekly every Friday.  If you enjoy them please subscribe to our channel 'Romana and Ewan'. You can watch all the vlogs here Thank you to everyone who has bought us a coffee and donated to the podcast.  If you'd like to help support our creative endeavours please visit www.buymeacoffee.com/romanaandewan You can also donate directly through Paypal by clicking here www.fortryingoutloud.com @fortryingoutloud @romanaandewan      

It's the final episode of Season 3 and in this weeks bumper episode we answer some listener questions.   Romana also chats to fellow IVF warrior Saira (@ivfmyeggshatesperm).  Saira has been a great support buddy (something everyone going through IVF needs) over the last 18 months so it seemed fitting to chat to her for this final episode.  Plus, Saira's an avid researcher and after being on a mega long journey herself, her IVF knowledge is on point.  We chat about lots of things including chemical pregnancies, embryo grading, miscarriage and travelling abroad for IVF.     Check out our Vlogs on Youtube.  They are released weekly every Friday.  If you enjoy them please subscribe to the channel Romana and Ewan. You can watch all the vlogs here Thank you to everyone who has bought us a coffee and donated to the podcast.  If you'd like to help support our creative endeavours and keep this podcast running please visit www.buymeacoffee.com/romanaandewan You can also donate directly through Paypal by clicking here www.fortryingoutloud.com @fortryingoutloud @romanaandewan  

We're going solo this week as we reflect on the past 5 years.  It's not been an easy few years so we thought it was time to take stock and ponder on some of the highs and lows.  We ask each other some thought provoking questions and as always, we answer with complete honesty and hope in doing so it is helpful to you, the listener.   Check out our Vlogs on Youtube.  They are released weekly every Friday.  If you enjoy them please subscribe to the channel Romana and Ewan. You can watch all the vlogs here Thank you to everyone who has bought us a coffee and donated to the podcast.  If you'd like to help support our creative endeavours and keep this podcast running please visit www.buymeacoffee.com/romanaandewan You can also donate directly through Paypal by clicking here www.fortryingoutloud.com @fortryingoutloud @romanaandewan  

After an epic four and a half months away we're back on home turf. Today we discuss how our follow up went at our clinic in Bulgaria and what the plan is moving forward.   Romana also chats to Anita Beckwith (@anitab_rd and @fertility.hormone.dietitian).  Anita is a UK Clinical Lead Dietitian specialising in diabetes and fertility, practising in both the NHS and her own private practice. Anita qualified as a dietitian over two decades ago, of which 17 of those years she has specialised in diabetes, regularly consulting with people with type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. It was during this time working with women and couples living with diabetes who were planning to have families, that Anita’s interest grew in fertility, and she now sees people with and without diabetes. Whereas, traditionally diabetes preconception care is glucose focused, Anita bridges the gap and provides a more holistic approach supporting diabetes management, overall nutrition and lifestyle. Anita supports many women, men and couples through their fertility journey, with the goal of providing a clear roadmap and the tools and confidence to advocate through their journeys.  She works in all areas of fertility with particular interest in the over 35s, miscarriage, IVF, diabetes and PCOS. Check out our Vlogs on Youtube.  They are released weekly every Friday.  If you enjoy them please subscribe to the channel Romana and Ewan. You can watch all the vlogs here Thank you to everyone who has bought us a coffee and donated to the podcast.  If you'd like to help support our creative endeavours and keep this podcast running please visit www.buymeacoffee.com/romanaandewan You can also donate directly through Paypal by clicking here www.fortryingoutloud.com @fortryingoutloud @romanaandewan

We're back in Sofia and back at the clinic.  This time for a Hysteroscopy. Find out why Romana really enjoyed it!! Ewan also chats to Tony aka @thehopefulfather.  Tony is a big advocate for raising awareness around male infertility and in this chat he opens up about his own personal journey.  It's an extremely moving but also funny discussion.  The Wank Room being one such topic covered!!  You can find Tony's vlog at www.infertilitysucks.net To support Tony's Everest Base Camp trek for Fertility Network UK click here Check out our Vlogs on Youtube.  They are released weekly every Friday.  If you enjoy them please subscribe to the channel Romana and Ewan. You can watch all the vlogs here Thank you to everyone who has bought us a coffee and donated to the podcast.  If you'd like to help support our creative endeavours and keep this podcast running please visit www.buymeacoffee.com/romanaandewan You can also donate directly through Paypal by clicking here www.fortryingoutloud.com @fortryingoutloud @romanaandewan

3 back to back rounds of IVF is bound to have an impact and in this episode we discuss how it has affected us both individually.   Romana also chats to Tracy Weiss, Executive Director of The Chick Mission @chickmission. Tracy is a cancer survivor who was diagnosed with cervical cancer at age 30. She definitely knew what the cervix did, no matter what anyone tells you. Tracy was pretty annoyed when her insurance company denied her claim to preserve her fertility under it being ‘elective’ -- as if having a tumor was something anyone would choose. She remained angry until The Chick Mission was founded to help women standing in her shoes -- now she gets her revenge every time another woman receives assistance from the organization.  To find out more about The Chick Mission visit www.thechickmission.org Check out our Vlogs on Youtube.  They are released weekly every Friday.  If you enjoy them please subscribe to the channel Romana and Ewan. You can watch all the vlogs here Thank you to everyone who has bought us a coffee and donated to the podcast.  If you'd like to help support our creative endeavours and keep this podcast running please visit www.buymeacoffee.com/romanaandewan You can also donate directly through Paypal by clicking here Don't forget that we have teamed up with Screen and Shield to offer you 10% discount on all of their products including masks and hand sanitiser.  Visit www.screenandshield.co.uk/trying and enter code TRYING10 at checkout. To claim £25 off a Mira Starter Kit visit www.miracare.com and enter code TRYING25 at checkout.   www.fortryingoutloud.com @fortryingoutloud @romanaandewan  

This is it!  The results of our 7th and final IVF round are in!  Do we have any normal embryos?  Tune in to find out.   Romana also chats to Hayley @hayleybanxy  Hayley has been trying to conceive for a few years and has had multiple rounds of IVF.  She shares everything she has learnt so far.  Like us, she is a big believer in advocating for yourself.  We discuss PCOS, Adenomyosis, travelling abroad for IVF, coping with failed IVF cycles and loads more.   Here's a link to the podcast Ewan mentioned https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/why-have-sperm-counts-more-than-halved-in-the-past-40-years/id1440133626?i=1000519794942 Check out our Vlogs on Youtube.  They are released weekly every Friday.  If you enjoy them please subscribe to the channel Romana and Ewan. You can watch all the vlogs here Thank you to everyone who has bought us a coffee and donated to the podcast.  If you'd like to help support our creative endeavours and keep this podcast running please visit www.buymeacoffee.com/romanaandewan You can also donate directly through Paypal by clicking here Don't forget that we have teamed up with Screen and Shield to offer you 10% discount on all of their products including masks and hand sanitiser.  Visit www.screenandshield.co.uk/trying and enter code TRYING10 at checkout. To claim £25 off a Mira Starter Kit visit www.miracare.com and enter code TRYING25 at checkout.   www.fortryingoutloud.com @fortryingoutloud @romanaandewan  

This week we update you on our 7th and FINAL round of IVF. Romana also chats to Ravid Israel (@embie2baby) founder of Embie, the first app exclusively designed for women going through fertility treatments. Ravid’s fertility journey began in 2012 with a Cervical Cancer diagnosis, followed by severe endometriosis, multiple fibroids, and an MTHFR mutation. This prompted a move abroad for more affordable reproductive care which was followed by six full IVF cycles, 4 transfers and a lot of experimentation.  After five IVF cycle attempts with a partner, Ravid succeeded on her SMBC/first donor cycle, which resulted in the birth of her son in Nov 2020. Embie (@embieapp) launched in Oct 2020, is the world’s ​only tracking app exclusively made for women going through IVF, IUI and Fertility Preservation Cycles. It enables women to stay organized and feel empowered through their journeys. The app provides one place where women can log their medications, keep track of symptoms and appointments, track results, get insight and support from the community ​http://embieapp.com/ Check out our Vlogs on Youtube.  They are released weekly every Friday.  If you enjoy them please subscribe to the channel Romana and Ewan. You can watch all the vlogs here Thank you to everyone who has bought us a coffee and donated to the podcast.  If you'd like to help support our creative endeavours and keep this podcast running please visit www.buymeacoffee.com/romanaandewan You can also donate directly through Paypal by clicking here Don't forget that we have teamed up with Screen and Shield to offer you 10% discount on all of their products including masks and hand sanitiser.  Visit www.screenandshield.co.uk/trying and enter code TRYING10 at checkout. To claim £25 off a Mira Starter Kit visit www.miracare.com and enter code TRYING25 at checkout.  Also don't forget we will be running a competition on instagram soon (@fortryingoutloud) to be in with a chance of winning a Mira Starter Kit. www.fortryingoutloud.com @fortryingoutloud @romanaandewan    

The results are in from IVF cycle #6  We discuss the implications of our Pre-Implantation Genetic Screening and the Natural Killer Cell Test.   Romana also chats to Sylvia Kang.  Sylvia is the co-founder and CEO of Mira www.miracare.com Mira (@mirafertility) is the first FDA and CE registered comprehensive women’s health monitoring platform with 99% of accuracy in clinical trials. Mira allows users to see the numeric fertility hormone concentrations and uses AI learning to provide personalised insights based on this quantitative data. Mira tracks cycles, predicts ovulation at home, with expandability into monitoring fetal health, measuring ovarian reserve, and detecting menopause chronic disease using the hospital-levelled technology within a palm-sized device. The data automatically syncs with the Mira app and the AI learns personal health patterns. To claim £25 off a Mira Starter Kit visit www.miracare.com and enter code TRYING25 at checkout.  Also don't forget we will be running a competition on instagram soon (@fortryingoutloud) to be in with a chance of winning a Mira Starter Kit. Check out our Vlogs on Youtube.  They are released weekly every Friday.  If you enjoy them please subscribe to the channel Romana and Ewan. You can watch all the vlogs here Thank you to everyone who has bought us a coffee and donated to the podcast.  If you'd like to help support our creative endeavours and keep this podcast running please visit www.buymeacoffee.com/romanaandewan You can also donate directly through Paypal by clicking here Don't forget that we have teamed up with Screen and Shield to offer you 10% discount on all of their products including masks and hand sanitiser.  Visit www.screenandshield.co.uk/trying and enter code TRYING10 at checkout. www.fortryingoutloud.com @fortryingoutloud @romanaandewan      

Lots has been happening in Bulgaria since the last episode.  As always we share the highs and the lows! Romana also chats to author of new graphic novel Catalogue Baby: A Memoir of (in)fertility, Myriam Steinberg.  In her past life, Myriam was a visual artist, and event organizer. For 11 years, she was the brains and brawn of the In the House Festival, which brought live performances of all kinds into people’s living rooms and backyards throughout her hometown of Vancouver, Canada. Myriam was nominated for the YWCA Women of Distinction Award for her work on the festival.  Myriam has been on an EPIC journey and speaks candidly about trying to conceive as a single woman in her 40's.  She also discusses miscarriage, termination for medical reasons, PGS testing and the path to donor conception. (There is also a tiny section of pregnancy chat near the end). Connect with Myriam on Instagram @catalogue_baby For links to buy the book visit https://www.cataloguebabynovel.com/buy-the-book-1 Also please check out our Vlogs on Youtube.  They are released weekly every Friday.  If you enjoy them please subscribe to the channel Romana and Ewan. You can watch all the vlogs here If you'd like to buy us a coffee to help support our creative endeavours and keep this podcast running please visit www.buymeacoffee.com/romanaandewan You can also donate directly through Paypal by clicking here Don't forget that we have teamed up with Screen and Shield to offer you 10% discount on all of their products including masks and hand sanitiser.  Visit www.screenandshield.co.uk/trying and enter code TRYING10 at checkout. www.fortryingoutloud.com @fortryingoutloud @romanaandewan  

Thanks for listening!  If you're new to the podcast we highly recommend listening from the very beginning.  We share our story from episode 1 right up until present day and there is ALOT!  We also chat to lots of really brilliant guests who also share their stories and offer information and support to anyone going through Infertility.   In this episode, the start of series 3, we share what's been happening for us in Bulgaria.  There's been highs and there's been lows and lots in between.  What is IVF really like abroad?  What's it like travelling during a pandemic?  What does the next chapter hold for us?  All of these questions are answered and more!  Also please check out our Vlogs on Youtube.  They are released weekly every Friday.  If you enjoy them please subscribe to the channel Romana and Ewan. You can watch all the vlogs here If you'd like to buy us a coffee to help support our creative endeavours and keep this podcast running please visit www.buymeacoffee.com/romanaandewan You can also donate directly through Paypal by clicking here Don't forget that we have teamed up with Screen and Shield to offer you 10% discount on all of their products including masks and hand sanitiser.  Visit www.screenandshield.co.uk/trying and enter code TRYING10 at checkout. www.fortryingoutloud.com @fortryingoutloud @romanaandewan      

It's Christmas and it's also the last episode of this Series.   Christmas and the holiday season can be a tough time for many of us going through infertility so we hope this episode helps (even just a little bit).  We bring you messages of hope and love from past guests, share some Christmas presents with each other and as always keep you up to date on what is happening in our lives. We're delighted to have Molly Nichols www.mollynichols.com on the podcast this week.  Molly is a mama of four, business mentor for soulful entrepreneurs, renowned fertility coach, healer, and the queen of guided visualizations.  Her unique approach to using guided visualizations, positive psychology, energy healing and spiritual practices paired with proven sacred fertility and soulful business strategies support her clients worldwide in calling in and receiving all that they desire in life, family and business.   Molly shares her Christmas coping strategies as well as treating us to a beautiful visualisation.  It's just over 8 minutes long so grab some quiet time to yourself and enjoy!  The visualisation timestamp is 01:33:28-01:41:44 Thank you so much for listening to the podcast.  If you have enjoyed it and found it helpful please spare a minute to leave us a review if you can.  It would be greatly appreciated! Our Harry Potter Walking Tour YouTube vlog is now on our Youtube channel.  Check it out at www.rebrand.ly/youtuberomanaandewan Don't forget that we have teamed up with Screen and Shield to offer you 10% discount on all of their products including masks and hand sanitiser.  Visit www.screenandshield.co.uk/trying and enter code TRYING10 at checkout. Also check out Dr Fiona Tassoni's (@dr.fionatassoni) free webinar www.pregnancyaccelerator.com

Ever feel sluggish and generally yucky at the end of an IVF/ICSI cycle?  That's because our bodies are having to deal with lots of extra hormones.  In this episode Coral Dabarera Edelson, MS, RD shares some tips for detoxing our bodies after fertility treatment.   Coral is a registered dietitian nutritionist and nutrition coach. Specializing in women’s health and fertility, and practicing from a holistic and functional perspective, Coral aims to meet the unique needs of Black women in her virtual private practice. Coral received her Masters of Nutrition, Healthspan, and Longevity at the University of Southern California, and her Bachelors in Sociology at the University of Chicago. You can connect with her on instagram @browngirl.nutrition, or at www.coralrd.com Our next Youtube video has now been released.  Please give it a watch and subscribe to our channel https://rebrand.ly/youtuberomanaandewan You'll also find us on Instagram @romanaandewan and @fortryingoutloud

Today we talk Clomid and TSH Levels.   Ewan chats to Jasmine Katatikarn (@jazzkatat).  Jasmine is a fertility warrior who struggled to have a child for 6 years. After multiple IUIs and her 2nd IVF, she was told that she had a less than 1% chance of having a baby and to stop trying. However, Jasmine didn’t give up.  Using her background as an artist, she applied a strategy, through her FREEdom method to overcome her roadblocks and design a life that gave control of her fertility journey and life moving forward.  As a result, she became pregnant within months of being told she had less than a 1% chance. Today, Jasmine now has two kids, both through IVF.  Using her designer point of view and tools, Jasmine shows you how to strategize your journey to create your unique blueprint to see how to get you to your goal.  Book a Free 30-minute Strategy Call (limited availability): https://jazzkatat.com/call/ FREE Fertility Training: https://bit.ly/FertilityTraining Our next Youtube video has now been released.  Please give it a watch and subscribe to our channel https://rebrand.ly/youtuberomanaandewan You'll also find us on Instagram @romanaandewan and @fortryingoutloud

It's all about upleveling your fertility tracking this week as we chat all things BBT (Basal Body Temperature), CM (Cervical Mucus) and Hormones.  Chantelle Meikle is a registered Naturopath and Fertility Educator who loves to help women and couples conceive healthy and happy babies. Chantelle lives with her husband and 2 very spoilt cats in West Auckland, New Zealand.  Connect with Chantelle on Instagram @myfertilitynz or visit her website https://www.fertilitykeys.com/ (for some reason at the start of my chat with Chantelle I reference the Simple-Thermal Method!  Not sure where my brain was as I knew it was the Sympto-Thermal Method.  Although it is rather simple once you know how :)) Our first travel blog is now up and running on Youtube.  Please check it out and subscribe to our Youtube Page https://rebrand.ly/youtuberomanaandewan

The nights are drawing in.  It's getting dark.  So grab a cuppa, get cosy and listen to this weeks chat with Zoe Jones (@zoe_joneshft). Zoe is a holistic therapist and specialises in helping women with fertility challenges.  After enduring 8 years of fertility treatment, which finally resulted in her son Lloyd, Zoe has the experience to empathise, support and inspire other women to succeed in their own fertility journey.  Zoe has recently left the Army (after 25 years) and has trained in Hypnotherapy, NLP, EFT and other techniques.  She is currently setting up a holistic fertility therapy business aiming to change the lives of women and couples who are struggling to fulfil their dreams of parenthood.  To watch Zoe's Facebook Live videos click here To find out more about the work Zoe does please visit www.zoejoneshft.com

Ewan is back and this week we reflect on how we're feeling after being sucker punched by our last round of IVF! The winners of the soap competition are announced and Ewan chats to Eli Weinstein, LMSW (@elivation_therapist) Eli is a Social Work therapist who has worked in a psych hospital, intense outpatient clinic and currently works in a community clinic in Queens, NY.  Previously he worked in NY and West Coast NCSY (Youth Organization) for over 7 years.  Eli has created ELIvation (www.elivation.org) to help those who are struggling and to add extra inspiration and motivation into everyday life.  Eli has gone through his own struggles with anxiety, ADHD, infertility and men’s issues (being a new dad, body image issues, relationships, and general self-esteem/confidence).  His main goal is to help people on their journey to add support, care, empathy, expertise, and insight.  Eli run events, seminars and individual coaching on topics from mental health awareness, public speaking coaching, relationship coaching and confidence boosting.  Eli also hosts his own podcast The Dude Therapist.  

We got some really awful news today and although it was a tough episode to record we felt it was important to share. On a lighter note Romana chats to the wonderful Helen @at_the_fold.  Helen is a ray of sunshine and discusses yoga for fertility alongside her passion for essential oils.  She also shares some beautiful self care tips to help ease the disappointment of cycle day one!

This episode Romana chats to the brilliant Dr Trolice www.myfertilitycare.com   Dr Mark Trolice is the director of Fertility Care: The IVF Centre in Orlando, Florida and is Board Certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.  As well as being a leader in his field he has also experienced the trauma of infertility on a personal level and shares his story on this episode.  We also discuss the developments in fertility treatments over the years and how things may progress in future years which was SUPER interesting!  Dr Trolice also gives his opinion on PGS and AMH testing.   Dr Trolice's  brilliant book 'The Fertility Doctors Guide to Overcoming Infertility' is now available to buy on Amazon Dr Trolice also hosts Fertility Health Podcast.  Check it out!