Trying to Conceive with Dr. Sasha Hakman

A Reproductive Endocrinologist's Guide to Protecting Your Hormones

In this solo episode, Dr. Sasha goes deep on one of her most-requested topics: endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). What they are, where they're hiding, how they affect your hormones and fertility, and exactly what you can do about it. As a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist, she brings both clinical expertise and personal practice to this conversation. This episode is grounded in evidence-based research, including a 136-page scientific statement from the Endocrine Society, and is designed to inform, not alarm. In This Episode, You'll Learn: * What the endocrine system is and why hormones are the body's "keys and locks" * The definition of EDCs and why exposure is considered a global public health crisis * Why even tiny exposures can have outsized health impacts (it's not always dose-dependent) * The major classes of EDCs to know: BPA/bisphenols, phthalates, PFAS (forever chemicals), parabens, glyphosate, heavy metals, and triclosan and where each one hides * The 4 mechanisms EDCs use to disrupt your hormones - including epigenetic modification that can be passed down through generations * Why in utero exposure is the most critical window, and what effects have been linked to fetal EDC exposure (including hypospadias, cryptorchidism, diminished egg reserve, and premature ovarian insufficiency) * How EDC exposure impacts puberty, fertility, and the TTC window specifically - including the finding that phthalate metabolites were detected in the follicular fluid of 99% of women undergoing egg retrieval * The link between EDC exposure and sperm count decline (down 50% in 50 years, per Dr. Shanna Swan's research) * Health risks in adulthood: endometriosis, PCOS/PEMOS, diminished ovarian reserve, thyroid dysfunction, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and more * The Tier 1 vs. Tier 2 framework for prioritizing what to eliminate first * Why "BPA-free" is a marketing gimmick and what to look for instead * Why "unscented" ≠ fragrance-free - and what that means for your products * Why fragrance is banned entirely in IVF embryology labs (and what that tells us) * A study showing BPA urinary levels drop significantly after just 3 days of cutting out heated plastic Follow Dr Sasha! TikTok: @sashahakmanmd Instagram: @sashahakmanmd @tryingtoconceivepodYouTube: @tryingtoconceivepod Want to receive my weekly newsletter? Sign up at sashahakmanmd.com/newsletter to receive updates, answers to Q&A and more! If you haven't already, please rate, review, and follow the podcast to be notified of new episodes every 2 weeks. Thank you to our sponsors!  Head to AirDoctorPro.com [AirDoctorPro.com] and use promo code DRSASHA to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers. Head to cozyearth.com [http://cozyearth.com] and use my code DRSASHA for an exclusive 20% discount. New episodes of Trying to Conceive with Dr. Sasha Hakman drop weekly. If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with someone on their fertility journey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Your Doctor Is Wrong About Exercise: What a Doctor of Physical Therapy Wants You to Know

Are you being told to stop exercising while trying to conceive or going through IVF? You're not alone and according to today's guest, you're also likely being given advice that isn't backed by science. In this episode, Dr. Shannon joins us for a conversation that is equal parts empowering and eye-opening. As both a physical therapist and a patient who exercised throughout her own fertility journey, she brings a rare dual perspective to the table. She and host Dr. Sasha take on the pervasive fear around exercise during fertility treatment, break down why the "rest and raise your legs" mentality is outdated (and potentially harmful), and share a practical, research-backed framework for building and maintaining muscle at every stage of the journey. Whether you're in the thick of fertility treatments, newly pregnant, postpartum, or just trying to understand your body better, this episode is packed with actionable guidance and a refreshing dose of truth. In This Episode, You'll Learn: * Why most doctors tell patients to stop exercising during IVF — and why there's no evidence behind it * How months of exercise restriction can harm your long-term recovery and postpartum body * The REPS Framework: the four principles that actually build muscle while TTC or pregnant * What "training to failure" really means — and why it's safe even during fertility treatment * Why you need to train near failure just to maintain the muscle you already have * How to choose exercises that actually target the right muscles (and why combo moves fall short) * Protein targets for TTC and pregnancy, and how to realistically hit them * When HIIT is okay to keep during TTC — and when it may be hurting your chances * How to safely return to exercise postpartum without setting yourself back * One simple trick to improve your form without a personal trainer Follow Dr. Shannon@dr.shannon.dpt @evlofitness  Follow Dr Sasha!TikTok: @sashahakmanmdInstagram: @sashahakmanmd @tryingtoconceivepodYouTube: @tryingtoconceivepod Resources Mentioned: Evlo App (Dr. Shannon's fitness app) — Use code DRSASHA for 6 weeks free (first 2-week trial + 1 month at $0) American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) — exercise contraindications list available on their website Want to receive my weekly newsletter? Sign up at sashahakmanmd.com/newsletter [sashahakmanmd.com/newsletter%20]to receive updates, answers to Q&A and more!If you haven't already, please rate, review, and follow the podcast to be notified of new episodes every 2 weeks. If you're interested in becoming a patient go to sashahakmanmd.com [sashahakmanmd.com] to learn more! New episodes of Trying to Conceive with Dr. Sasha Hakman drop weekly. If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with someone on their fertility journey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

The Protocol That Got Me Pregnant: A Fertility Doctor's Honest Account of Her Own IVF Journey

Dr. Sasha Hakman goes solo to finally answer the question her community has been asking for weeks: what exactly did she do differently for her second embryo transfer, the one that worked? Now 14 weeks pregnant, Dr. Sasha walks through her full protocol in detail, from the switch to a programmed FET to every medication, supplement, and lifestyle change she made. She also opens up about the emotional rollercoaster of a failed transfer, a terrifying bleed at seven weeks, and what it's like to be a fertility doctor going through fertility treatment herself. This episode is one of the most personal and detailed she's ever shared, and it's been a long time coming. In This Episode, You'll Learn: * Why Dr. Sasha switched from a modified natural cycle to a programmed FET, and what that actually means * Her exact medication protocol: estrace, progesterone in oil, Prometrium suppositories, Ganirelix, and prednisone , with doses and timing * What the antihistamine protocol is (prednisone + Pepcid + Claritin) and why she added it despite limited evidence * How acupuncture became a non-negotiable addition to her second cycle * Why she took a full week off work after transfer and what she did instead * Her supplement stack, pescatarian diet, and why she stopped being so strict about sugar this time * The emotional experience of home testing, a lighter line, spiraling, and what snapped her out of it * Her beta number progression and what she was watching for * The scary seven-week bleed, the subchorionic hematoma diagnosis, and how her colleague met her at the clinic at 8pm * How she emotionally survived a failed transfer and built her "plan A through G" for what came next * How she manages non-classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NCAH) and why it influenced every protocol decision Follow Dr Sasha! TikTok: @sashahakmanmd Instagram: @sashahakmanmd @tryingtoconceivepod YouTube: @tryingtoconceivepod Want to receive my weekly newsletter? Sign up at sashahakmanmd.com/newsletter [sashahakmanmd.com/newsletter%20]to receive updates, answers to Q&A and more! If you haven't already, please rate, review, and follow the podcast to be notified of new episodes every 2 weeks.If you're interested in becoming a patient go to sashahakmanmd.com [%20sashahakmanmd.com] to learn more! Thank you to our sponsor Ogee Beauty. Go to ogee.com/DRSASHA and use code DRSASHA for 20% off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Sitting Down with My Husband: What IVF Really Looks Like from the Partner's Side

Dr. Sasha Hakman is finally joined by her husband, Dr. Eryk Hakman. In this honest, funny, and surprisingly emotional episode, Sasha and Eryk sit down together for the first time to share the full story: how they met on labor and delivery, why Eryk almost didn't commit, and what it has really been like to navigate three rounds of IVF as a couple, including a failed embryo transfer that hit them both harder than either expected. Eryk opens up about feeling powerless in a process driven by his wife's expertise, what grief looked like from the partner's side, and what finally convinced him to say yes to baby number three. They wrap it all up with a fertility quiz that is equal parts educational and hilarious. In This Episode, You'll Learn: * How Sasha and Eryk met during residency, why Eryk ghosted her, and the ultimatum that changed everything * Why Sasha froze embryos early in their relationship and how it led to their first son, Remy * What IVF felt like from Eryk's perspective as the non-REI doctor in the relationship * The male side of fertility treatment: the semen collection experience, lifestyle changes, and feeling like a passenger * How they conceived Rocky naturally after Sasha ovulated on her own for the first time post-IVF * Why Eryk initially said they were done after two kids and what changed his mind * Their decision to pursue gender selection for family balancing and what that process looked like * The emotional weight of their failed embryo transfer: the biochemical pregnancy, the grief, and the delayed reaction * Why Sasha chose a programmed cycle with progesterone in oil for the second transfer despite the pain and the disagreement it caused * How two doctors with completely different approaches to data and uncertainty navigate fertility decisions together * Eryk's fertility quiz results and the one lie Sasha told him about his own sperm Follow Dr Sasha! TikTok: @sashahakmanmd Instagram: @sashahakmanmd @tryingtoconceivepod YouTube: @tryingtoconceivepod Want to receive my weekly newsletter? Sign up at sashahakmanmd.com/newsletter [https://sashahakmanmd.com/newsletter] to receive updates, answers to Q&A and more! If you haven't already, please rate, review, and follow the podcast to be notified of new episodes every 2 weeks. If you're interested in becoming a patient go to sashahakmanmd.com [https://sashahakmanmd.com] to learn more! Thank you to our sponsors: Go to aquatrue.com [aquatrue.com%20]and use code DRSASHA for 20% off Go to bioptimizers.com [bioptimizers.com] and use code DRSASHA for 15% off Go to oneskin.co [oneskin.co] and use code DRSASHA for 15% off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Acupuncture, Fertility & Chinese Medicine: What Every TTC Woman Needs to Know with Dr. Felice Chan

Dr. Sasha Hakman sits down with Dr. Felice Chan, a Chinese medicine practitioner and licensed acupuncturist based in Los Angeles, to explore how traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can support women's health and fertility. What starts as a curiosity from a fertility doctor who regularly refers patients for acupuncture quickly turns into one of the most eye-opening conversations yet covering everything from reading the tongue to treating endometriosis, PCOS, and preparing for IVF. Dr. Felice shares her unexpected journey from a pre-med neuroscience track to becoming a Chinese medicine practitioner, and breaks down the four pillars of TCM: acupuncture, herbal medicine, food as medicine, and nervous system-focused lifestyle practices. Together, they bridge the gap between Eastern and Western approaches (they're more compatible than you might think). Follow Felice Chan Instagram: @drfelicechan [https://www.instagram.com/drfelicechan/] @feliceacupuncture [https://www.instagram.com/feliceacupuncture/] Follow Dr Sasha! TikTok: @sashahakmanmd Instagram: @sashahakmanmd [https://www.instagram.com/sashahakmanmd/] @tryingtoconceivepod [https://www.instagram.com/tryingtoconceivepod/] YouTube: @tryingtoconceivepod [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRbjQqNT1PK_2k4MIDRjopu50afJGVpXq] Resources Mentioned: * Pericardium 6 acupressure point (for nausea relief) * Ear seeds for at-home acupressure * Erewhon Pinnacle Trail Mix (goji berries + walnuts — blood nourishing!) * Chrysanthemum tea for stress and liver support Want to receive my weekly newsletter? Sign up at sashahakmanmd.com/newsletter [sashahakmanmd.com/newsletter] to receive updates, answers to Q&A and more! If you haven't already, please rate, review, and follow the podcast to be notified of new episodes every week. If you're interested in becoming a patient go to sashahakmanmd.com [%20sashahakmanmd.com] to learn more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]