Fertility Nurses Unfiltered

“Fertility is a lonely process.” That is how Ashlee describes why Fertility Nurses Unfiltered exists, and it is the thread running through this week’s season finale.After 36 weekly episodes, Laura and Ashlee are sitting down on their own for the first time in months. They look back on what started as an experiment between two nurses who had only known each other for a year, and on the conversations that shaped the season. They also share what they learned at the ASRM Congress in Baltimore and finally open up about Rooted Fertility Co., the company that grew out of this podcast.In this episode, we cover:A look back at season one, from the very first guest to the topics that surprised us mostWhy we are taking a break, and the guest lineup already waiting for season two in 2027Our biggest takeaways from ASRM, including a shift toward improving the patient experience, early blood tests for endometriosis, needle-free IVF, and new ideas around sperm healthThe tension between running a fertility clinic as a business and caring for patients with compassionHow to spot red flags when choosing outside support, including anyone who promises an outcome, and why the term “coach” is so complicatedWhy we left the clinic setting and what Rooted Fertility Co. offers: 1:1 support, on-demand texting, virtual and in-home injection teaching, and a nurse-led community grouped by where you are in your journeyHow you can shape what comes next with your feedback and topic ideasMore than anything, this episode is a thank you. Fertility is not a linear journey, and nobody should have to navigate the noise alone. Being supported, educated, and confident in the decisions you make is what we are here for.If you are in the middle of treatment, supporting someone who is, or work in this space, this episode is for you. The holiday season can be tough when you are navigating a journey, so be kind and patient with yourselves. We are rooting for you, even if we have never met you in person.We will see you in 2027.Connect with Rooted Fertility Co.:Website: https://www.rootedfertilityco.com

"I was told that I wasn’t gonna have kids when I was 16.” That is where Dr. Alison Peck’s path into reproductive medicine began, and it shaped how she thinks about being proactive with your fertility.This week we sit down with Dr. Alison Peck, a double board certified reproductive endocrinologist with more than 20 years of experience at HRC Fertility in Encino and Westlake Village, California. We get into why so many of us were taught how to prevent pregnancy but never learned what it actually takes to get pregnant, and what it looks like to take charge of your reproductive health before you feel any pressure. Dr. Peck brings both clinical expertise and her own story to a conversation about education, advocacy, and intention.In this episode, we cover:Why so many people come into fertility care with a knowledge gap, and how education, environment, and access play a roleEarly signs worth paying attention to, from cycle patterns to health history, and why telling someone mattersWhat fertility testing like AMH and antral follicle count can and cannot tell youThe pros and cons of at-home fertility testingEgg freezing: when people consider it, what to expect, and the biggest misconceptionEveryday habits that support your body, including sleep, movement, nourishment, and stressWhy being intentional matters more than doing everything, and why guidance is worth seeking before adding supplementsMore than anything, this episode is a reminder that being proactive does not mean being perfect. It means learning about your body, asking questions, and making a plan that fits your life.If you are curious about your fertility, planning for the future, or feeling unheard in your own care, this episode is for you.Connect with Dr. Alison Peck:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alisonpeckmd/Website: https://havingbabies.com/physicians/alison-c-peck-md-facog/

"You are going through this together, but it is a completely different experience for everyone involved.” That is how Kristina D’Antonio describes it to her patients, and it is the heart of this week’s conversation.So much of the fertility conversation centers on the person going through treatment. This week, Laura and Ashlee turn to the people standing beside them: partners, parents, siblings, friends, and even coworkers. Joined by Jessica Erickson, LCSW, and Kristina D’Antonio, LCSW, co-founders of Sana Psychotherapy, a practice focused on reproductive and perinatal mental health, we talk about how to support someone through IVF or fertility treatment without losing yourself along the way.In this episode, we cover:Why support people often feel they don’t have the right to struggle, and why “I don’t get it” can be exactly what someone needs to hearComfort or solutions? One simple question that can change how your support landsHow to ask for space and name your own needs without feeling selfishWhy “I’m noticing” works better than “you are” when a loved one is spiraling on social media or RedditHow to repair after saying the wrong thing, and the difference between intention and impactWhat to do when someone you love is struggling and you have a pregnancy announcement to shareNavigating disagreements with a partner about next steps, like trying another round or taking a breakFertility treatment and the workplace: how coworkers can help, and how to think about what you shareWhat to do when a partner isn’t showing up for appointments, bloodwork, or consents, and how the care team can helpWhy support needs to last the whole journey, not just the moment someone first opens upThe biggest takeaway? Perfection is not the goal. Support people will say the wrong thing, and that is okay. What matters is acknowledging the gap between intention and impact, staying open to repair, and tending to your own needs too, because no one can pour from an empty cup.If you are supporting someone through fertility treatment, navigating it yourself, or want to understand what the people around you may be carrying, this episode is for you.Connect with Sana Psychotherapy:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sana.psychotherapy/Website: https://www.sanapsychotherapypllc.com/

"It was just such an identity shock for me. I'm the kind of person, I'm good at things. This isn't who I am." That is how Jessica Sirias Vasquez describes stepping into infertility and pregnancy loss after a lifetime of working hard and getting results. It is a feeling so many people trying to conceive know all too well.This week we sit down with Jessica Sirias Vasquez, LMFT, a licensed marriage and family therapist and the founder of Nurture and Bloom, a therapy practice supporting women through trying to conceive, pregnancy, postpartum, and motherhood. We talk about what happens to your sense of self when fertility treatment starts to take over your life, and how to stay connected to who you are while living in the limbo between your old identity and a future you can't see yet. Jessica brings a decade of clinical experience and her own story of infertility and loss to a conversation about boundaries, people pleasing, grief, and learning to let yourself be supported.In this episode, we cover:Why infertility can feel like such an identity shock, especially for people used to achieving whatever they work hard forHow to live in the "state of limbo" between who you were and who you are becomingPractical ways to filter social media, starting with asking whether an account is bringing any value to your life right nowSetting boundaries with friends and family, and why almost every choice comes with some kind of costNavigating cultural and family pressure to have kids, and deciding how much, if anything, you want to shareHow fertility treatment can bring out people pleasing, masking, and the fear of being a burden, even with your own care teamGrieving the relationships, plans, and pregnancy story you thought you would haveStarting with what makes you feel "just okay," and why receiving support matters just as much as asking for itRediscovering and learning to love yourself on the other side, whatever the outcomeMore than anything, this episode is a reminder that losing yourself a little during fertility treatment does not mean something is wrong with you. What you are feeling right now is not permanent, and you do not have to carry all of it alone.If you are in the thick of trying to conceive, feel like you no longer recognize yourself, or love someone who is walking this road, this episode is for you.Connect with Jessica Sirias Vasquez:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nurtureandbloom.co/Website: https://www.nurtureandbloom.co/

"You don't qualify. You're not infertile yet." That is what Amanda Rice heard from her insurance company when she called, diagnosed with cancer for the third time before age 40, asking for help freezing her eggs before chemotherapy. Instead of accepting that answer, she built a movement.This week, just in time for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we sit down with Amanda Rice, three-time cancer survivor and founder and CEO of The Chick Mission, a nonprofit helping cancer patients protect their fertility before treatment begins. Amanda shares her story from the very first symptom she had to push to get checked, to the fertility decisions she had to make while facing her own mortality, to the rejection that sparked The Chick Mission. We talk about why so many patients are never told that cancer treatment can affect fertility, how fast these decisions really have to happen, and why every patient deserves the chance to make an informed choice about their future family.In this episode, we cover:Amanda's journey through three cancer diagnoses and how she navigated fertility preservation along the wayHow quickly fertility preservation can happen after a cancer diagnosis, and why oncology and fertility teams need to be talking to each otherHow The Chick Mission's Hope Grants work, with no essays, no upfront copay, and clinics submitting on your behalfThe legislative progress that has brought fertility preservation coverage to nearly half of U.S. states, and how one phone call can helpWhy egg freezing vs. embryo freezing is a bigger decision than many people realizeWhy choosing not to pursue fertility preservation, or not to have children at all, is just as validHow The Chick Mission is teaching fertility education to high school and college studentsAmanda's call to be the CEO of your own body, from self breast exams to showing up prepared for every appointmentMore than anything, this conversation is a reminder that cancer takes a lot of control away, but it does not get to make every decision for you. You deserve to know your options, and you deserve support in choosing what is right for you.If you or someone you love is facing a cancer diagnosis, if you work in oncology or fertility care, or if you just need a reminder this October to schedule that mammogram, this episode is for you.Connect with The Chick Mission:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chickmission/Website: https://www.thechickmission.org/