Podcasts to Get You Through the Infertility Struggle
Infertility can be all-consuming for the person experiencing it. The ups and downs can be isolating. Friends and family, if you’ve even shared with them, just don’t understand. This is when an online community or source of information can be helpful; however, getting, real, factual information online can be hit or miss. Podcasts are a great way to get factual, helpful, and sometimes, funny information related to infertility. The great thing about a podcast is that you can listen anywhere and no one has to know what you’re listening to. These podcasts are either about, or that touch on, infertility in different ways. Podcasts usually have something for everyone. When dealing with a sometimes isolating condition, having someone talk in your ear about the things running through your head is so very, very helpful.
Here are just a few podcasts to get you started. As with anything infertility related, do a bit of research first to ensure you’re ready to listen. These podcasts may include discussions of pregnancy, pregnancy loss, stillbirth, loss of fertility and other topics that may be triggering for some.
For Facts and Information
Beat Infertility: This podcast started in 2015 and had nearly weekly episodes through 2022. The host shares her infertility journey and frequent guests include a Reproductive Endocrinologist, a Psychotherapist and “regular” people going through infertility. There are “regular” episodes related to almost every diagnosis you can imagine and there are stories of success, failure and everything in between. The “bonus” episodes typically feature a subject matter expert. She often has listener questions and updates on the stories from previous episodes. You can and will learn a lot from this podcast. Episodes range from 30 minutes to an hour.
ASRM (American Society for Reproductive Medicine) Today: ASRM describes this podcast as one that “takes a deeper dive into current topics” related to reproductive medicine. Recent episodes included a discussion of artificial intelligence/machine learning in infertility, the power and benefit of a social worker for support during infertility and legalities in infertility. These episodes range in length and take a very scientific approach. Monthly “update” episodes are 5-10mins, the content episodes range from 20-45 mins.
For (some) Laughs
IVFML: This podcast is from a couple who happen to be a journalist and comedian. They share their take on infertility, miscarriage and IVF. There is discussion of male-factor infertility, cost of IVF and grief. They also have weekly expert guests to discuss the topic. The initial run/season 1 was released in 2017 and is only 5 episodes that run around 30 minutes each.
For Local Voices
The Fertility Answers Podcast: This podcast is from Fertility Answers, one of the two fertility clinics in Baton Rouge. (they also have offices in Lafayette and the North Shore). The Reproductive Endocrinologists provide factual information on everything from the initial visit with a fertility doc to the treatments, environmental factors, and how the lab works among other things. Episodes average a 20 minute listen time with some shorter and a few longer.
Sarah’s Laughter Infertility Podcast: Sarah’s Laughter is a Christian, faith-based organization, they’ve been putting out a podcast since 2016. There are almost 200 episodes of this podcast and topics range across the fertility/infertility spectrum. They discuss it all. There are several women and men who share their stories; some across the years. Episodes are on the longer side with listen times of an hour or more.
UNprivate Parts (Woman’s Hospital): There are a few episodes of this podcast produced by Woman’s Hospital that discuss infertility or related topics. Be aware, this is a podcast from a hospital, so be selective in which episodes you listen to if you don’t want to hear about preparing for birth or finding a pediatrician (for example). Episodes about loss, fertility, IVF and PCOS are available. Episodes are 30 to 40 minutes long.
