Her Fertility

56. What Nobody Tells You About Pregnancy Loss (And How to Actually Heal)

One in four pregnancies ends in loss, and most women are navigating it completely alone. In this episode of the Her Fertility Podcast, fertility support specialist Jess Tims explores what makes pregnancy loss categorically different from other grief, and why traditional therapy often isn't enough to fully heal it. You'll learn: → Why pregnancy loss lives in the body, not just the mind → How the nervous system responds to loss (fight, flight, freeze & fawn) → What your subconscious mind is really doing when you blame yourself → A new, empowering story to give your mind so you can stop looping → The "spirit babies" framework, and why it brings so many women peace Whether you've experienced a miscarriage yourself or you love someone who has, this episode will give you new language, new compassion, and a new way forward. 🌿 Ready to go deeper? The Fertility Frequency Collective is Jess's membership community for women who are ready to open up to the possibility of conception: supporting your mind, body, and heart through every step of the journey. 👉 www.herfertility.support/collective [http://www.herfertility.support/collective]   Resources mentioned: • The Body Keeps the Score — Bessel van der Kolk • Spirit Babies — Walter Makichen   Connect with Jess: 📲 Instagram & TikTok: ⁠@herfertility.support⁠ [www.tiktok.com/@herfertility.support]  🎙️ Free masterclass: The Hidden Systems Keeping You From Getting Pregnant: www.herfertility.support/free [http://www.herfertility.support/free]

55. IVF Explained: How to Optimize Success & Protect Your Mental Health During Treatment

In this episode of the Her Fertility Podcast, host Jess Tims takes a deep dive into IVF (in vitro fertilization) — what it actually is, how the process works step by step, and most importantly, how to protect your nervous system and mindset so your body is as receptive as possible to treatment. Whether you're weighing your options, starting your first IVF cycle, or heading into another round, this episode gives you both the medical knowledge and the emotional tools you need.   🔑 KEY TOPICS COVERED The IVF Process, Step by Step * What IVF (in vitro fertilization) is and how it differs from IUI * The egg retrieval process: medications, monitoring, and what to expect * Freezing eggs vs. creating and freezing embryos — and how to decide * Embryo grading, genetic testing (PGT), and why embryo quality matters * Fresh vs. frozen embryo transfers — why frozen transfers are now the standard * Transfer day: what happens in the clinic and what to expect afterward * Why every clinic's IVF protocol is individualized and how to work with your RE   The Mind-Body Connection in IVF * Why reframing IVF as a tool YOU are choosing restores personal agency * How the subconscious mind perceives IVF as a threat — even when you want it * The four nervous system stress responses: Fight, Flight, Freeze & Fawn * What each stress response looks like for women going through fertility treatment * Why a dysregulated nervous system can reduce IVF success rates * The research behind emotional support and improved IVF outcomes * Why yoga and therapy alone aren't always enough — and what's missing   Tools & Support Mentioned * The Fertility Frequency Collective — a $29 library of neuroscience-backed audio tools for every phase of the IVF journey (egg retrieval, transfer day, two-week wait, and more) * The "Come Back to Yourself" online masterclass — understanding why your fertility journey has felt so hard and how to break the cycle * Research study: emotional support improves IVF success rates (linked below)   📎 RESOURCES & LINKS 🔗 Fertility Frequency Collective ($29): www.herfertility.support/collective [http://%20www.herfertility.support/collective] 🔗 Free Masterclass: www.herfertility.support/free [http://www.herfertility.support/free] 🔗 Research: Emotional Support & IVF Success Study: www.herfertility.support/ 🎙️ Previous Episode: IUI Explained: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7885086/ [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7885086/] 📸 Follow Jess on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@herfertility.support [www.tiktok.com/@herfertility.support]

54. Should I Use IUI to Get Pregnant?

Are you trying to get pregnant and it's just not happening? Your missing piece might be between the mind + the body. Learn more about this deep connection in my free masterclass: ⁠www.herfertility.support/free⁠ [www.herfertility.support/free]  If you've been wondering whether IUI (intrauterine insemination) is the right next step on your fertility journey — this episode was made for you. Host Jess Tims, certified fertility support practitioner and Reiki Master, walks through exactly how IUI works, who it's best suited for, what a typical monitored cycle looks like, and — crucially — the mindset reframe that can change everything about how you move through it. "When you reframe IUI from something you failed into to a technology you are choosing to support your fertility — everything changes. That's not just a mindset shift. That's biology." — Jess Tims What You'll Learn in This Episode * What IUI (intrauterine insemination) actually is — in plain language * How sperm washing works and why it matters for conception * The difference between a monitored IUI cycle and a natural IUI cycle * Which fertility medications are used in IUI protocols (Letrozole, Clomid, trigger shots) and what they do * When IUI is the right tool — and when it may not be * What an assisted cycle is, and why it might be the right step before IUI * Jess's personal experience: 6 rounds of Clomid, a mental reset, and the cycle that finally worked * The subconscious stories that come up when you start using fertility technology — and how to work with them * A real client success story: Casey's first-round IUI success after working with Jess * Why supporting your nervous system during IUI can improve how your body responds to treatment IUI Step by Step: What the Process Actually Looks Like A typical monitored IUI cycle 1. Start of your period: begin ovulation-stimulating medication (Letrozole or Clomid) 2. Follicular phase: ultrasound monitoring to track follicle development 3. Trigger shot: medication that triggers egg release at the optimal time 4. IUI procedure: washed sperm is inserted directly into the uterus, as close to the egg as possible 5. Two-week wait: the implantation window where you find out if it worked Who IUI works best for * Male factor infertility: low sperm count, low motility, or morphology challenges * Women with ovulation irregularities who benefit from medicated support * Those using donor sperm * Women who want a less invasive and lower-cost step before IVF Jess's Personal Story After more than two years of trying to conceive, Jess noticed irregularities in her basal body temperature charts — a pattern that suggested something was off with ovulation. Her OB-GYN prescribed Clomid for up to six cycles before any referral to a specialist. Jess shares what those cycles felt like — the physical side (manageable), the mental side (heavier), the break she had to take, and the sixth cycle where everything changed. "It was on our sixth cycle of Clomid that we got pregnant — and it was also the cycle we gave up trying. There's a lot of energy behind all of that, and I go deep on the science of it in the free masterclass."  The Mindset Piece Nobody Talks About When women begin using fertility technology, the subconscious mind often interprets it as failure: 'Something is wrong with me.' 'Everyone else gets pregnant naturally.' 'I needed help.' Jess addresses this directly — and offers a reframe that isn't just feel-good language. It's grounded in how the nervous system responds to perceived threat vs. perceived choice. When your brain registers IUI as something happening to you, it responds with stress. When it registers IUI as something you are choosing for yourself, the physiological response is different — and that difference matters for how receptive your body is to treatment. Resources Mentioned 🎓 Free Masterclass — The Hidden Systems Keeping You From Getting Pregnant: www.herfertility.support/free [http://www.herfertility.support/free] 💜 Fertility Frequency Collective: www.herfertility.support/collective [http://www.herfertility.support/collective] 🎙️ Next Episode: IVF Explained: www.herfertility.support/podcast [http://www.herfertility.support/podcast] 📸 Follow Jess on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@herfertility.support [www.tiktok.com/@herfertility.support]   Disclaimer: The Her Fertility podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your healthcare professional regarding any symptoms or medical problems you are experiencing.

Come Back to Yourself: Navigating Infertility Without Losing Who You Are

Click here to join the Fertility Frequency Collective [https://www.herfertility.support/offers/jxoczPzs] Infertility can make you feel completely disconnected from yourself. And this isn't just in your mind - this is tied to biology as well. This masterclass dives deep into the exhaustion of infertility despite 'doing everything right'. Here you'll learn about the biological shift that happens during infertility: chronic stress keeps the nervous system in survival mode, deprioritizing reproduction, and “giving up” created a signal of safety that let the reproductive system come back online. Listen to see how the subconscious mind (95% of brain activity) reinforces threat loops that can’t be solved by information, affirmations, or talk therapy alone, and that regulation practices can interrupt the cycle quickly. This is the part that modern medicine doesn't have time to explain, but the part that matters the most.

53. Diminished Ovarian Reserve + Low AMH

Diminished Ovarian Reserve Explained: What a DOR Diagnosis Really Means — and What You Can Still Control Her Fertility Podcast  |  Fertility Journey Series A diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) diagnosis can feel like the ground disappearing beneath you — sudden, shocking, and like you've lost control of your own fertility story. In this episode of the Her Fertility Podcast, Jess Tims walks you through exactly what DOR means, what it doesn't mean, and what you can actually do next. You'll leave this episode with clarity on your five real options, the tools to regulate your nervous system while making high-stakes decisions, and honest answers to the most common questions women ask after receiving this diagnosis. "A low AMH is not a countdown clock that just hit zero. It is data. And data gives you something to work with." — Jess Tims What You'll Learn in This Episode * What AMH (anti-Müllerian hormone) is and how it's used to estimate egg count * The critical difference between egg quantity and egg quality — and why your AMH result doesn't tell you everything * What diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) actually means, and what it does not mean for your chances of getting pregnant * Why there are no symptoms for low ovarian reserve — and why the diagnosis so often comes as a shock * Your five options after a DOR diagnosis: trying naturally, IUI, IVF, egg freezing, and donor eggs * Why decision-making under a dysregulated nervous system leads to choices that feel misaligned * Practical tools to regulate your nervous system so you can make grounded, trust-based decisions * How to advocate for yourself when your doctor is pushing you toward a decision you're not ready for * Q&A from TikTok: Jess answers the most common DOR questions from real women  Understanding Your Diagnosis What AMH measures — and what it doesn't AMH (anti-Müllerian hormone) is secreted by the follicles in your ovaries. A higher AMH generally indicates more eggs remaining; a lower AMH indicates fewer. But AMH is a snapshot, not a sentence. It cannot measure egg quality, and it cannot give an exact egg count — that technology doesn't exist yet. Diminished ovarian reserve means your egg count is lower than expected for your age. It does not automatically mean you cannot get pregnant. Age is one factor — not the only factor. "AMH does not measure your egg quality. It only measures egg quantity. And there is currently no test that can tell you the quality of your eggs."  Your 5 Options After a DOR Diagnosis 1. Continue trying naturally — always a valid choice, best supported by a deep understanding of your own cycle. See Jess's free YouTube course: Aligned Cycles. [https://youtu.be/vxbj77DFJpM] 2. IUI (intrauterine insemination) — sperm is washed and inserted close to the cervix to optimize the chance of reaching the egg. Full IUI deep-dive coming in the next episode. 3. IVF (in vitro fertilization) — eggs are retrieved, fertilized in a lab, and viable embryos are transferred. Full IVF episode coming soon. 4. Egg freezing — if you're not ready to pursue pregnancy now, retrieving and freezing your eggs is a viable preservation option. Freezing technology has significantly improved in recent years. 5. Donor eggs — a flexible, increasingly accessible path with many clinic and agency options available. Full donor episode coming soon in this series.  What You Can Control How you make decisions You do not have to decide in the appointment room. If you feel pressured, advocate for yourself: 'Thank you for the information. I'm not ready to decide today — when do I need to get back to you by?' That question alone can change the dynamic entirely. How you experience the journey The shift from 'this is happening to me' to 'I have data and I am making informed choices' is not a bypass of grief. It's a different place to live from — and it's accessible. But it requires support. Your nervous system is the starting point. Your nervous system A dysregulated nervous system — one locked in fight, flight, freeze, or fawn — affects your hormones, your sleep, your inflammation levels, and your decision-making clarity. You cannot think your way out of a dysregulated body. You need to come back into it. Daily practices that help: walking in nature without headphones, warm baths, breathwork, somatic meditation. The goal isn't to feel nothing — it's to feel grounded enough to hear yourself. TikTok Q&A: Your Real Questions Answered Q: Did I wait too long? You will never know the answer to that — and focusing on it keeps you living in the past, where fear has the most room to operate. What matters now is what you do next. Pull yourself into the present moment: what do I know today, and how can I best support myself moving forward? Q: What if I'm not ready to do IVF yet? Listen to that. If your body is saying 'not yet,' your nervous system will fight the process the entire time. Egg freezing, an assisted cycle, or simply taking time to feel ready are all legitimate paths. Your readiness is part of the equation. Q: How do I choose the right clinic or protocol? Consult at least three clinics. You won't know what's most important to you — the data, the staff, the environment, the success rates — until you can compare. Many areas face fertility care deserts, so traveling for treatment may be a real consideration. Meet with clinics before committing. Q: How do I talk to my partner about this? Just start the conversation. You might frame it: 'I'm not looking to solve this right now — I just want to share what I know.' Set the expectation before you begin. Then let the conversation lead where it needs to go. Q: How do I make decisions without fear running the show? Fear lives in the past and in an imagined future. When you are grounded in the present — when you can feel the fear, acknowledge it, and return to your body — it loses its grip on your decisions. This is exactly the kind of work the Fertility Frequency Collective was built to support.   Resources Mentioned 🎓 Free Masterclass — Hidden Systems Keeping You from Getting Pregnant: www.herfertility.support/free [http://www.herfertility.support/free] 💜 Fertility Frequency Collective: www.herfertility.support/collective [http://%20www.herfertility.support/collective] 📺 Free YouTube Course — Aligned Cycles (understand your ovulation): https://youtu.be/vxbj77DFJpM [https://youtu.be/vxbj77DFJpM] 🎙️ Next Episode: IUI Explained: www.herfertility.support/podcast [http://www.herfertility.support/podcast] 📸 Follow Jess on TikTok & Instagram: @herfertilitysupport [www.tiktok.com/@herfertility.support] Disclaimer: The Her Fertility podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your healthcare professional regarding any symptoms or medical problems you are experiencing.