People of color face disparities when it comes to infertility and reproductive health outcomes — studies have demonstrated this, and it’s crucial that we acknowledge the facts. Black women in particular have lower pregnancy and birth rates when using donor eggs or undergoing fertility treatments, for example. But it’s also important to acknowledge that challenges that aren’t always reflected by data — for example, the medical biases, the cultural stigmas, and the enduring stereotypes that make the world of infertility care even more difficult for Black patients to navigate. Luckily, efforts are underway to address these...

Zara Hanawalt • Jun 18, 2023

When it comes to nutrition, everyone, and their mother has opinions about what you should and should not be putting in your mouth. Add the prospects of pregnancy into the mix, and all of those opinions get even louder. No matter where you fall on the spectrum of diet preferences — from paleo to vegan, from intermittent fasting to constant grazing — adding plants to your plate is one piece of advice that everyone can get on board with.  What are the health benefits of eating a plant-based diet? A plant-based diet, just as the name conveys, is about...

Anna Bohnengel • Jun 15, 2023

If you dealt with infertility before conceiving and delivering a baby, it’s only natural to hope you may be more fertile postpartum. After all, you did it! You had a child despite the odds. But even if you didn’t have difficulty getting pregnant the first time around, there are articles out there that do feed into the idea that women can undergo a “fertility reset” after giving birth.   The more you Google postpartum fertility, however, the more overwhelmed you may get, as the evidence online can be contradictory and far from straightforward. Don't worry; we’re here...

Sarene Leeds • Jun 12, 2023

Whether you love them or hate them (or love to hate them), there’s one thing that’s undeniable: The Kardashians keep it all the way real. Sometimes that’s a really wonderful thing, especially when they bring awareness to pregnancy complications (see: Kim Kardashian’s terrifying experience with preeclampsia) or open up about fertility preservation, as Khloé Kardashian did.  Most recently, the eldest Kardashian sister provided an update on her IVF journey, which she’s been candid about for months. In doing so, she’s illuminating elements of the experience we don’t often see.  Kourtney Kardashian has been doing this throughout her...

Zara Hanawalt • Jun 11, 2023

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis are both conditions that affect women of reproductive age. While it is possible to get pregnant with either diagnosis, both conditions can impact fertility — in addition to the person’s quality of life.  We spoke with Dr. Shahab Minassian of Main Line Fertility, a renowned expert in the relationship between infertility and PCOS, to help us delve into this topic and unpack what each diagnosis ultimately means for women and their fertility.  What's the difference between PCOS and endometriosis? The simplest explanation: PCOS is a metabolic disorder, and endometriosis is...

Brighid Flynn • Jun 7, 2023

What’s for breakfast? Or lunch? Or dinner? Those are probably just some of the questions you sit with when deciding what to eat when you’re trying to conceive. Like every fertility journey, every mealtime is unique and meant to support your body, lifestyle, and dietary needs.   Rather than depriving yourself of all of the good things that make your meals fun, try thinking of nutrition as a way to learn how to have all of your favorites in the right pairings. In this article, we’re focusing specifically on how protein can fold into your everyday meals....

Kristyn Hodgdon • Jun 6, 2023

You’ve almost certainly heard the term “autoimmune” a lot recently. It may seem like a health buzzword that gets traction on social media — and in some ways, the term is being treated as such. But autoimmune issues represent a range of genuine health issues that affect many people in very serious ways.  If you feel like many people you’ve encountered recently are suffering from some sort of autoimmune condition, it’s not in your head. According to Stella Bard, MD, a board-certified rheumatologist, autoimmune conditions are on the rise among women. Here’s what you need to...

Zara Hanawalt • Jun 5, 2023

We've all been there before: maybe you've felt a little bit off, perhaps even with a fever and some flu-like symptoms. If you've experienced this while on your period, then the possibility of having toxic shock syndrome may have crossed your mind. I mean, how long are you supposed to keep a tampon in for, anyway?   What is toxic shock syndrome? Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rare but serious condition that can happen when certain types of bacteria produce toxins that affect your body's immune response. These toxins can cause everything from a high fever...

Jennifer “Jay” Palumbo • Jun 4, 2023

A diagnosis of polycystic ovarian syndrome (or PCOS) can feel scary and overwhelming, particularly if you’re concerned about how PCOS will affect your reproductive future. There’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding the diagnosis, as there are still a lot of unknowns when it comes to conditions like PCOS. While there’s a consensus that the condition can lead to infertility, there’s no singular course of treatment or plan of action for those affected by PCOS. That’s because even though PCOS is very common — according to the Cleveland Clinic, it affects up to 15 percent of women...

Zara Hanawalt • Jun 4, 2023

We know that our fertility relies on so much more than just the health of our reproductive organs. Our bodies are complex systems in which individual parts rarely work on their own. For instance, gut health can have monumental effects on different body parts and functions.  In fact, the gut’s microbiome has various effects on the intestines, which influence distant organs and pathways. According to the National Library of Medicine, the microbiota even affects the reproductive endocrine system by interacting with a woman’s estrogen levels, androgens, insulin, and other hormones.  An imbalance in the gut’s microbiome...

Brighid Flynn • Jun 3, 2023