What's your women's health 'thing'? We are making gestational surrogacy more affordable and accessible. How has your women's health 'thing' affected you throughout your life? The cost of surrogacy has absolutely skyrocketed making it price prohibitive for most. I've committed myself to improving access to care so more intended parents can be on the path to parenthood. What advice would you give to someone dealing with your same women's health 'thing?' Do not give up because of "sticker shock." Instead, stay committed to starting, growing, or completing your dream family. Tell us how your women's health...

What’s your women’s health ‘thing?’ My women's health "thing" is PERIODS – the pursuit of menstrual equity and the eradication of period poverty. This mission is rooted in the belief that access to menstrual products and comprehensive education about menstruation are fundamental rights, not privileges. How has your women’s health ‘thing’ affected you throughout your life? I got my period when I was 12; and started my career in period advocacy work 10 yeas ago when I was 16. While the vehicle of my work has changed, my mission hasn’t. I started in the nonprofit space,...

What’s your women’s health ‘thing?’ Our women's health thing is that fertility is not just a womens health issue so we created an entire company to change the narrative In early 2020, we experienced pregnancy loss just a week apart. Determined not to accept the notion that "miscarriages are common and just happen," we embarked on a journey of research. To our surprise, we came across numerous studies emphasizing the crucial role of sperm health in the journey to parenthood. It became apparent that we had unknowingly overlooked the well-being of our husbands in this entire...

What’s your women’s health ‘thing?’ My women’s health ‘thing’ is my journey through a rare disease diagnosis, which initially threatened my ability to have children. I began exploring donor eggs as an option and was absolutely shocked by what I saw. Donors were reduced to anonymized numbers on a spreadsheet, and “priced” based on certain attributes they did or did not possess. In the experience, my sister ended up graciously donating her eggs to me. As it turns out, I was able to conceive my daughter without the help of those donated eggs, but I’ve always...

What’s your women’s health ‘thing?’ 3 miscarriages led me to write 2 books. How has your women’s health ‘thing’ affected you throughout your life? During and after pregnancy it created a lot of anxiety and was in general a miserable experience. What advice would you give to someone dealing with your same women’s health ‘thing?’ Be kind to yourself—you're not broken, and you're not alone. Tell us how your women’s health ‘thing’ shaped your business, the business you’ve helped start, or your career trajectory. It inspired my to write two books. How has your women’s health...

What’s your women’s health ‘thing?’ Pelvic pain. How has your women’s health ‘thing’ affected you throughout your life? It took 25 doctors and over a decade to finally find the cause of my pelvic pain. I spent so many years in pain and questioning whether the pain was just in my head. What advice would you give to someone dealing with your same women’s health ‘thing?’ Trust yourself and advocate for yourself. Your symptoms are real and should be taken seriously, if they are disrupting your life. Tell us how your women’s health ‘thing’ shaped your...

What’s your women’s health ‘thing?’ Being totally lost, blindsided and overwhelmed on my fertility journey. How has your women’s health ‘thing’ affected you throughout your life? A lot of the underlying issues for my fertility issues were actually chronic conditions (e.g., PCOS) that had gone undiagnosed, so they were plaguing my overall health. Additionally, the challenges and setbacks I experienced on our fertility journey also complicated my pregnancy and postpartum experience. And now, here I am, wanting to make it better for others. What advice would you give to someone dealing with your same women’s health...

What’s your women’s health ‘thing?’ Fertility. How has your women’s health ‘thing’ affected you throughout your life? Infertility has been a defining part of my life, influencing both my personal and professional experiences profoundly. As a fertility and IVF nurse, I have witnessed the emotional and physical challenges of infertility firsthand, both in my patients and in my personal journey. This dual perspective has taught me resilience and empathy, shaping my approach to women's health and advocacy. The struggles and triumphs of infertility have fueled my passion to support others navigating this journey, ensuring they have...

What’s your women’s health ‘thing?’ Fertility education; proactive screening and preconception care. How has your women’s health ‘thing’ affected you throughout your life? 'I wish I'd known ...' is probably the most common phrase among women who've experienced fertility issues. I wish I'd known and understood how common pregnancy loss was, and I wish I'd known more about preconception support (for eggs and sperm!). I would have felt a lot less alone. I would have also saved an enormous amount of time being proactive with my reproductive health vs reactive. What advice would you give to...

What’s your women’s health ‘thing?’ Helping women have and complete their families. How has your women’s health ‘thing’ affected you throughout your life? My first exposure to research was actually as a junior in high school. I worked in various basic science research labs at the end of high school and throughout college. I transitioned to clinical research projects in medical school and my OB/GYN residency. During my REI fellowship, I continued both clinical and basic science research and decided to pursue and received a Masters in Clinical Investigation. I have had several publications spanning the...