Category Archive

The decision regarding the status of embryos in the recent Alabama Supreme Court case threatens the future of reproductive medicine, fertility treatments, and IVF. Rebecca O’Connor, JD, the Director of Policy and Leadership for the American Reproductive Society of Medicine, explains how this case evolved and the potential repercussions of these decisions. The docs review the process of IVF and how embryo attrition happens in the real world, and what that means for patients undergoing in vitro fertilization. They also review the statistics of natural conception and how the fate of every potential embryo unfortunately does not result in a live birth. Join Dr. Carrie Bedient from The Fertility Center of Las Vegas, Dr. Abby Eblen from Nashville Fertility Center and Dr. Susan Hudson from Texas Fertility Center to learn how you can advocate for fertility care rights.

The fertility journey heavily focuses on the reproductive system, but every other system counts too! Join Dr. Carrie Bedient from The Fertility Center of Las Vegas, Dr. Abby Eblen from Nashville Fertility Center and Dr. Susan Hudson from Texas Fertility Center as they go head to toe reviewing how non-reproductive medical problems influence fertility. With emphasis placed on the heart, lungs, and GI system, they discuss how and why the rest of your body influences your fertility. They highlight particularly concerning conditions that require attention prior to becoming pregnant. Listen in for helpful information about your general health and how it relates to fertility.

Carrier screening is an important part of your pre-conceptual evaluation that looks for inherited medical conditions that hide in the family tree. Join Dr. Susan Hudson from Texas Fertility Center, Dr. Carrie Bedient from The Fertility Center of Las Vegas, and Dr. Abby Eblen from Nashville Fertility Center as they discuss how carrier screening can impact your fertility journey. They define how carrier screening is different from other genetic testing and share treatment options you can use if you are affected by carrier screening results.

VF cycles offer enough challenges without the added drama of a cycle that fails to create a pregnancy.  Join Dr. Carrie Bedient from The Fertility Center of Las Vegas, Dr. Abby Eblen from Nashville Fertility Center and Dr. Susan Hudson from Texas Fertility Center as they dissect real-world IVF cycles and potential changes to protocols that may help patients. The fabulous listeners submitted a ton of questions that illustrate potential points of change within a given IVF cycle. The doctors touch on the subtleties of protocols using different types and doses of gonadotropins. They review pretreatment techniques and nuances of different medications to alternately suppress or slingshot hormone levels to greatness. And of course, not everything in a failed IVF cycle is due to the IVF itself – questions of uterine abnormalities, aberrant hormone levels like prolactin, potential causes of recurrent implantation failure and the influence of embryo grading all receive in-depth commentary on different approaches to management. Listen in as we evaluate and offer suggestions on how to improve your next cycle!

A critical part of pregnancy is location, location, location, and when a pregnancy presents outside the uterus, it is an ectopic pregnancy that is serious and, in some cases, life-threatening, so experienced care matters. Join Dr. Carrie Bedient from The Fertility Center of Las Vegas, Dr. Abby Eblen from Nashville Fertility Center and Dr. Susan Hudson from Texas Fertility Center as share their expertise about where ectopic pregnancies can appear, associated risk factors that leave women more susceptible to ectopic pregnancy and clues they look for when suspecting an ectopic pregnancy. The docs also share medication options and recent research to treat ectopic pregnancies as well as surgical procedures that safeguard a woman’s health.

This week, we let our informed listeners lead the way as we field varied questions ranging from IVF testing considerations for men and women, to education about endometriosis and some specifics about PCOS in a bit of a fertility-free-for-all. Join Dr. Carrie Bedient from The Fertility Center of Las Vegas, Dr. Abby Eblen from Nashville Fertility Center and Dr. Susan Hudson from Texas Fertility Center for an informative and thoughtful conversation giving listeners the unique opportunity to receive multiple informed opinions on their most pressing personal questions. This includes addressing the misnomer of empty follicle syndrome, what to do if insurance just says no and why the definition of a “successful” fertility treatment means different things to do different people. In addition, you’ll learn about an exciting collaborative project our terrific trio is taking on. Come learn with us!

While potential parents facing fertility challenges are anxious to get pregnant, rushing through a complex process such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) can often result in speed bumps that can actually slow the process. Join Dr. Carrie Bedient from The Fertility Center of Las Vegas, Dr. Abby Eblen from Nashville Fertility Center and Dr. Susan Hudson from Texas Fertility Center as they try to set patient expectations by explaining from start to finish, that individual timelines are truly unique for each step of IVF. They emphasize first laying groundwork which includes navigating financial considerations and insurance is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Treatment timelines involve the careful choreography of priming and preparing your hormone levels which vary, the different lengths of time it can take to stimulate ovaries to develop eggs and the all-important timing of your trigger shot to induce ovulation leading to eventual fertilization, genetic testing and embryo transfer. We’ll unpack the process and give you tips to deal with unexpected life circumstances that often pop up along the way!

Patients who have been diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes often have specialized health considerations that ideally are addressed before a baby is on the way. Join Dr. Carrie Bedient from The Fertility Center of Las Vegas, Dr. Abby Eblen from Nashville Fertility Center and Dr. Susan Hudson from Texas Fertility Center as they break down the basics of diabetes and prediabetes and how they relate to pregnancy as well as the distinctions between type 1 and type 2 diabetes and how they are managed differently. The doctors also detail the importance of A1C levels and the story behind those numbers in support of a healthy pregnancy. The doctors further explain how diabetes links to fertility including how insulin influences egg production, when it is safest for a diabetic patient to get pregnant and why optimizing pre-pregnancy health is vital to minimize diabetic risk factors to ensure the best outcome for mother and baby.

As some fertility patients also face challenges with weight, recent research has allowed for a better understanding of obesity as a health issue and the importance of providing medically based, compassionate care. Join Dr. Carrie Bedient from The Fertility Center of Las Vegas, Dr. Abby Eblen from Nashville Fertility Center and Dr. Susan Hudson from Texas Fertility Center for an enlightening Q-and-A session with Dr. Lauren Lemieux from Form Health who explains the psychological impact of obesity and fertility and how important it is to understand the biological causes of obesity to counter societal stigmas. Dr. Lemieux, an internist and obesity medicine specialist who is board certified in internal medicine, obesity medicine and as a physician nutrition specialist, details important data points, such as a patient’s dietary history and how understanding current food cravings can provide insight to future success. Dr. Lemieux also provides useful tools and innovative strategies to empower patients including the use of food photos to give a clear picture of how to achieve a healthy, sustainable weight for you and your future family.

Recent research has changed the narrative about obesity, debunking the myth that it is a lifestyle choice and recognizing it as a medical condition. With a better understanding of the role of the brain in weight regulation, more effective medications are available, some of which are taken by women facing fertility issues. Join Dr. Carrie Bedient from The Fertility Center of Las Vegas, Dr. Abby Eblen from Nashville Fertility Center and Dr. Susan Hudson from Texas Fertility Center for an informative discussion with Dr. Florencia Halperin, a board certified endocrinologist specializing in weight loss as chief medical officer at Form Health. Dr. Halperin explains the latest advances in anti-obesity medication, cost considerations in new vs. older drugs and the multi-faceted approach to weight loss including diet and exercise. For those taking anti-obesity medication who are considering fertility treatment, Dr. Halperin explains the importance of developing a transition plan to safely support the pathway to pregnancy.