Infertility can feel isolating, messy, and confusing, often leaving those experiencing it in a state of emotional and mental turmoil. While the support group from the Hopeful Mama Foundation has been an invaluable resource, I’ve also discovered that podcasts can be a fantastic source of knowledge, comfort, and solidarity. In this blog post, “Infertility Support: The Power of Podcasts,” I want to share some of the podcasts that have been particularly helpful to me on this journey, providing insights and support when I’ve needed it the most.

Emotional Challenges

From First Period To Last Period (formerly Dear (In)Fertility) by Rescripted.  This podcast gifted me permission to set boundaries and allow myself to accept what I’m feeling: good, bad, and ugly. I especially appreciate how they talk about each topic in an unapologetic and realistic manner. This podcast also has tons of other science-based information on topics such as nutrition, IUI, IVF, male fertility, and much more.

Here are some great episodes:

  • “Telling Friends and Family” discusses the importance of setting boundaries with friends and family. One of the best things I did for us was make a simple Facebook post sharing our story and asking people to refrain from asking us when we were going to have a baby. What they meant was we can’t wait to see you two become great parents, but what they didn’t know was that we were desperately trying for a child and that question was a dagger through the heart every time. 
  • “Relationship Challenges” discusses the burdens that infertility places on both partners and how we experience the same events so differently. My husband didn’t know how to express his thoughts on the matter, so it was nice to hear how it might be affecting him and to then talk about it with him. The physical symptoms, seeing the negative tests, etc has been the hardest part for me. It was profound to know that seeing how miserable I have been is the hardest part of the journey for him. This episode also shines a light on how infertility changes the enjoyment of sex.
  • “Pregnancy Announcements” was the hardest-hitting episode for me. This was the first time I heard that it was normal and okay to grieve for yourself and be happy for someone else. They discuss how messy that feels, how to cope with it, and how to protect yourself through the temporary crisis that is infertility.

Understanding the Medical Aspect

Fertility Docs Uncensored is an entertaining wealth of knowledge from 3 reproductive endocrinologists. This podcast truly covers every topic imaginable in an easy to understand way. They cover PCOS, Endometriosis, POI, IUI, IVF, irregular periods, fibroids, cancer, male infertility, miscarriages, abuse, culture, same-sex, age, nutrition, fresh vs frozen embryo transfers, finances, court rulings, and so much more. I highly recommend looking for any topic you’re curious about.

 Here are some of my favorites:

  • “The Mysteries of PCOS” does a good job of explaining what PCOS is and how two common medications, Clomid and Letrozole, can help. They briefly touch on the fact that nutrition and exercise can help improve PCOS as well.
  • “Ep 217: Hopeless to Hopeful Mama” features the one-and-only Emily Patel! Emily of HMF shares her journey of infertility, information on the foundation, and why it is so important to her and so many others. This one brought tears to my eyes because it’s so close to home and it’s a beautiful story of hope.

Male Infertility

The Male Infertility Podcast does an excellent job of conveying the gut-wrenching diagnosis of male infertility. It’s refreshing to hear men talk about their pain and experiences. No better people to discuss male-factor infertility than men who have experienced it. The MIP covers topics such as how your friends handle your infertility, relationship strains, donor sperm, the mental toll, cost, and more.

Episodes to check out:

  • “Episode 7: “How Your Friends Cope with You Bring Infertile and How to Potentially Deal with it” mentions how painful jokes from friends are. It’s important to set boundaries and have a heart-to-heart.
  • “Episode 12: Interview with Pursuing Fatherhood. Discussing his journey through MFI” is especially touching.

Nutrition

This is a personal topic, as I have improved my PCOS symptoms, hormones, weight, cholesterol, and more with nutrition. For me, the loss of power that accompanies infertility is hard to cope with, which is why I grasped onto nutrition. It was one thing that I knew I could control and oh man, the improvements are astounding. I highly recommend working directly with a registered dietitian, such as Elanie of Renegade Nutrition, who can help you fine tune your nutrition needs.

  • Renegade Nutrition Podcast, “Lily Nichols on Optimizing Fertility and Pregnancy: A Deep Dive into Nutrition.” This has useful information on optimizing your fertility through nutrition.

Other incredible highly-rated podcasts:

  • Sisters In Loss – “spotlights faith-filled black women who share their grief and loss stories and testimonies.”
  • If These Ovaries Could Talk – “Queer parents Jaimie Kelton and E Bradshaw humorously go in-depth with weekly guests about their hopes, fears, and setbacks.”
  • Infertility Feelings Podcast – “Interviews with leading psychologists…Your place to laugh, cry, process, and rage about all things infertility.”
  • The Egg Whisperer – Dr. Aimee Eyvazzadeh aims to give people answers to questions and topics that aren’t easily found elsewhere on the internet.
  • Infertile AF – “unfiltered podcast about infertility, Brooklyn-based journalist and mom-of-two Ali Prato, who went through IVF herself, talks to women-and some men-about the messy, frustrating, painful, heartbreaking, absurd and sometimes hilarious journey to have a baby. Or in some cases, to not have a baby.”

Whether it’s by granting you a new perspective, validating your feelings, or by learning something new, I hope these recommendations help you through your journey, as they’ve helped me.

Written by Anna Clinton for the Hopeful Mama Foundation. We are incredibly grateful to all of our writers, who open up their heart and share their journey with this community. If you would like to connect with one of our writers, please let us know by submitting an email on our website’s contact page.

Anna is an Expanded Functions Dental Assistant at Riley DDS. She is passionate about helping obstructive sleep apnea patients achieve better sleep with oral appliance therapy. Anna has PCOS and has struggled with infertility since 2020. She hopes to encourage others to advocate for themselves and to take control of their health using nutrition. In her spare time, she enjoys photography, cookie making, and spending time with her husband Cyle, their dog Boba Fett, and their nieces and nephews.

The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Hopeful Mama Foundation. Any content provided by our authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, or individual.