Ep 56: Needing donor eggs as the last fertility taboo with Cofounder and CEO of Cofertility, Lauren Makler

Ep 56: Needing donor eggs as the last fertility taboo with Cofounder and CEO of Cofertility, Lauren Makler

This week, we’re joined by Lauren Makler, co-founder and CEO of Cofertility [https://www.cofertility.com/], to talk about the future of egg freezing, egg donation, and fertility access. Lauren shares the personal health journey that inspired her to build Cofertility and explains how the company is making fertility preservation more accessible through its innovative egg-sharing model (and also why she believes egg donation is fertility’s last taboo). We dive into the emotional realities of donor conception, the stigma surrounding donor eggs, and what it means to navigate grief and hope at the same time while building a family. Whether you’re considering egg freezing, exploring donor-egg IVF, or simply curious about modern family-building, we’re so excited to share this conversation about the many ways families are created today. About Cofertility Cofertility [https://www.cofertility.com/] is a human-centered fertility platform helping women freeze their eggs while helping other families build theirs. Through their innovative Split Program [https://www.cofertility.com/freeze], eligible women can freeze their eggs at no cost by donating half of the retrieved eggs to intended parents. CoFertility also takes a modern approach to donor conception by prioritizing transparency, education, optional known donation, and limiting the number of families a donor can donate to. About Lauren Makler Lauren Makler is the co-founder and CEO of Cofertility. After being diagnosed with an extremely rare abdominal disease and facing uncertainty about her own fertility, Lauren experienced firsthand the gaps in fertility preservation and donor egg options. She later became a mother and launched Cofertility to create a more transparent, ethical, and accessible path to egg freezing and egg donation. Lauren has been recognized on the Inc. Female Founders 500 and Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business lists and has become a leading voice in conversations around fertility access, donor conception, and reproductive healthcare. Follow Lauren Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenmakler/ [https://www.instagram.com/laurenmakler/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenmakler/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenmakler/] More valuable nuggets in this episode Fertility Tracking & Cycle Health with Tempdrop: A wearable fertility tracker that collects overnight temperature data to help identify ovulation and cycle patterns, even with irregular cycles. Use code AFFRIEDEGGS for 10% off and a two-month premium app trial at http://www.tempdrop.com/discount/AFFRIEDEGGSPOD [http://www.tempdrop.com/discount/AFFRIEDEGGSPOD] Fertility Financing with Sunfish: Helping make fertility treatment, IVF, egg donation, surrogacy, and family building more financially accessible. joinsunfish.com [https://www.joinsunfish.com/] Fertility Mental Health with Mavida Health: Mental health support designed specifically for fertility patients. Our episode with Dr. Sarah Oreck on fertility & mental health [https://open.spotify.com/episode/6pU7pttAuxxuA5VTV7kPPI?si=suhkB0TCTriq7rYyts1eZg]. Check out mavidahealth.com [https://www.mavidahealth.com/] to learn more. Needle-Free IVF as a less invasive approach to IVF. A newer IVF approach discussed in previous FriedEggs episodes that may reduce the number of injections required during treatment. Talk with your fertility specialist about whether newer protocols may be appropriate for your situation. Learn more at needlefreeivf.com [https://www.needlefreeivf.com/]. Related Fried Eggs Episodes * Ep 32: Surrogacy 101 and how to find a surrogate with Carly Joseph [https://open.spotify.com/episode/1alQBjdjYuN0DrfER8QVvX?si=4494cbc209a1471a] * Ep 49: How to care for your mental health while going through IVF with Dr. Sarah Oreck, founder of Mavida Health [https://open.spotify.com/episode/6pU7pttAuxxuA5VTV7kPPI?si=SrQ5or8sTaizvx-LligDgQ] Connect With Us Have questions about donor eggs, egg freezing, infertility, or family building? Check out Cofertility on Instagram at @cofertility [https://www.instagram.com/cofertility?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==]. If this episode resonated with you, leave a rating on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0f8DPPvSResx8Gy2QtSQwc?si=615fba13d6f744b9], Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friedeggs-podcast/id1762689264] or YouTube [http://www.youtube.com/@friedeggspodcast]. It helps more people navigating infertility find the support and community they deserve. 💛 The FriedEggs Podcast is hosted and produced by Kayti Christian and Amy Salke. Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care. 🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions [https://20twentypro.com/]. 🎶 Show music by the magical Clayre [https://open.spotify.com/artist/0MUz7kTqWwA0XjWIOLIiuv?si=W4lqBaKrSNOHBrFg3chxgA]. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.friedeggspod.com/subscribe [https://www.friedeggspod.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Ep 55: When to tell people about your IVF transfer

It’s the moment we’ve all waited for: the embryo transfer. Do you tell your family and friends? Do you keep it a secret until you know if it worked, or until the end of the first trimester? In today’s episode, we’re talking about support systems, celebrating small joys, and the emotional labor that comes with sharing your infertility and IVF journey publicly. Today’s episode is brought to you by Tempdrop [https://www.tempdrop.com/], a basal body temperature sensor with an accompanying fertility app to help you identify your fertile window. Use code [https://www.tempdrop.com/]AFFRIEDEGGS [https://www.tempdrop.com/] for 10% off your order [https://www.tempdrop.com/]. This is a free, shorter version of the episode for all subscribers. Paying subscribers (aka members of The Broody Club [https://www.friedeggspod.com/p/the-broody-club]) can also listen to an extended, ad-free version of this episode (learn more here [https://www.friedeggspod.com/subscribe]). This podcast exists because of our listeners, and paid subscriptions let us spend more time on episodes, bring in expert guests, and create content that makes a difference for the infertility community. The FriedEggs Podcast is hosted and produced by Kayti Christian and Amy Salke. Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care. Enjoy the episode here on Substack at www.friedeggspod.com [https://www.friedeggspod.com/]. Also available on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0f8DPPvSResx8Gy2QtSQwc?si=615fba13d6f744b9], Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friedeggs-podcast/id1762689264] and YouTube [http://www.youtube.com/@friedeggspodcast]. 🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions [https://20twentypro.com/]: https://20twentypro.com/ 🎶 Show music by the magical Clayre [https://open.spotify.com/artist/0MUz7kTqWwA0XjWIOLIiuv?si=W4lqBaKrSNOHBrFg3chxgA]: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.friedeggspod.com/subscribe [https://www.friedeggspod.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

(extended version) Ep 55: When to tell people about your IVF transfer

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.friedeggspod.com [https://www.friedeggspod.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7] It's the moment we've all waited for: the embryo transfer. Do you tell your family and friends? Do you keep it a secret until you know if it worked, or until the end of the first trimester? In today's episode, we're talking about support systems, celebrating small joys, and the emotional labor that comes with sharing your infertility and IVF journey publicly. This is an extended, ad-free version of The FriedEggs Podcast for paying subscribers (aka members of The Broody Club [https://www.friedeggspod.com/p/the-broody-club]). This podcast exists because of our listeners, and paid subscriptions let us spend more time on episodes, bring in expert guests, and create content that makes a difference for the infertility community. Learn more here [https://www.friedeggspod.com/subscribe]. The FriedEggs Podcast is hosted and produced by Kayti Christian and Amy Salke. Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care. Enjoy the episode here on Substack at www.friedeggspod.com [http://www.friedeggspod.com]. Also available on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0f8DPPvSResx8Gy2QtSQwc?si=615fba13d6f744b9], Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friedeggs-podcast/id1762689264] and YouTube [http://www.youtube.com/@friedeggspodcast]. 🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions [https://20twentypro.com/]: https://20twentypro.com/ [https://20twentypro.com/] 🎶 Show music by the magical Clayre [https://open.spotify.com/artist/0MUz7kTqWwA0XjWIOLIiuv?si=W4lqBaKrSNOHBrFg3chxgA]

(extended version) Ep 54: How to ask your IVF doctor hard questions & Amy's PGT-A results

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.friedeggspod.com [https://www.friedeggspod.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7] In today’s episode, Amy shares her PGT-A results from her 5th egg retrieval! She also answers listener questions and shares notes from her conversation with her doctor after her egg retrieval. This is an extended, ad-free version of the episode for paying subscribers (aka members of The Broody Club [https://www.friedeggspod.com/p/the-broody-club]). This podcast exists because of our listeners, and paid subscriptions let us spend more time on episodes, bring in expert guests, and create content that makes a difference for the infertility community. Learn more here [https://www.friedeggspod.com/subscribe]. The FriedEggs Podcast is hosted and produced by Kayti Christian and Amy Salke. Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care. Enjoy the episode here on Substack at www.friedeggspod.com [http://www.friedeggspod.com]. Also available on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0f8DPPvSResx8Gy2QtSQwc?si=615fba13d6f744b9], Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friedeggs-podcast/id1762689264] and YouTube [http://www.youtube.com/@friedeggspodcast]. 🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions [https://20twentypro.com/]: https://20twentypro.com/ [https://20twentypro.com/] 🎶 Show music by the magical Clayre [https://open.spotify.com/artist/0MUz7kTqWwA0XjWIOLIiuv?si=W4lqBaKrSNOHBrFg3chxgA]

Ep 54: How to ask your IVF doctor hard questions & Amy's PGT-A results

In today’s episode, Amy shares her PGT-A results from her 5th egg retrieval! She also answers listener questions and shares notes from her conversation with her doctor after her egg retrieval. Today’s episode is brought to you by Tempdrop [https://www.tempdrop.com/], a basal body temperature sensor with an accompanying fertility app to help you identify your fertile window. Use code [https://www.tempdrop.com/]AFFRIEDEGGS [https://www.tempdrop.com/] for 10% off your order [https://www.tempdrop.com/]. This is a free, shorter version of the episode for all subscribers. Paying subscribers (aka members of The Broody Club [https://www.friedeggspod.com/p/the-broody-club]) can also listen to an extended, ad-free version of this episode (learn more here [https://www.friedeggspod.com/subscribe]). This podcast exists because of our listeners, and paid subscriptions let us spend more time on episodes, bring in expert guests, and create content that makes a difference for the infertility community. The FriedEggs Podcast is hosted and produced by Kayti Christian and Amy Salke. Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized care. Enjoy the episode here on Substack at www.friedeggspod.com [http://www.friedeggspod.com]. Also available on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0f8DPPvSResx8Gy2QtSQwc?si=615fba13d6f744b9], Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friedeggs-podcast/id1762689264] and YouTube [http://www.youtube.com/@friedeggspodcast]. 🎥 Photography by 20Twenty Productions [https://20twentypro.com/]: https://20twentypro.com/ [https://20twentypro.com/] 🎶 Show music by the magical Clayre [https://open.spotify.com/artist/0MUz7kTqWwA0XjWIOLIiuv?si=W4lqBaKrSNOHBrFg3chxgA] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.friedeggspod.com/subscribe [https://www.friedeggspod.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]