Sandra's Story: Heart defect, 24 IVF rounds, 2 surrogates

Finding Hope After Fertility Clinics Turned Her Away | Heart to Heart Fertility Podcast

#Fertility #Infertility #IVF #EggFreezing #TTC #FertilityPodcast #LowAMH #DiminishedOvarianReserve #MiniIVF #OvarianPRP #CHLOE #HeartToHeart 0:00 Welcome & Introductions0:46 Kyla's fertility journey at 44: career, love, and fertility testing4:15 Being rejected for low AMH6:31 Diminished ovarian reserve and changing clinic bias6:13 Why some clinics turn away low AMH & DOR patients10:03 Searching for fertility care in Florida11:43 The CHLOE AI embryoscope and embryo development14:58 Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) treatment for ovarian response15:54 Kyla’s experience with Ovarian PRP & Luteal Phase Stimulation (LPS)18:12 Timing an IVF trigger shot during a blizzard20:49 Managing stress21:48 Cancelled cycles & success reporting23:34 Fertility advice for women in their late 30s and 40s25:39 Egg freezing advice, challenges, and cost26:57 DOR, low-dose IVF, and working with the body27:48 Kyla’s first impression of Dr. Luk’s approach29:02 Thank youIn this honest and deeply personal episode of the Heart to Heart Fertility Podcast, Dr. Janelle Luk sits down with Kyla (@KylaDonell) to discuss her ongoing fertility journey, from career focus and waiting to meet the right partner to navigating low AMH, diminished ovarian reserve, and the difficult experience of being turned away by multiple clinics.Kyla shares what it felt like to be told egg donor was her only option, why she kept searching for doctors willing to look at her case differently, and how she eventually found Generation Next Fertility. Together, Kyla and Dr. Luk reflect on the emotional reality of IVF after 40, the different philosophies clinics may bring to diminished ovarian reserve (DOR), and why “low odds” can still mean everything to the person hoping for a child.This episode also covers mild/mini IVF, lower-dose stimulation approaches, day-three embryos, PRP, CHLOE AI embryo monitoring, traveling from Florida to New York for care, and the resilience it takes to keep going through unexpected challenges: from canceled cycles to snowstorms and hurricanes.This episode is for anyone who has ever felt dismissed, discouraged, or told there was only one path forward. Kyla’s story is a reminder that fertility care is not one-size-fits-all, and that having options, education, and a team willing to pivot can make all the difference.

From a Beef Farm to AI-driven embryoscopes: Dr. Broussard's Story | Heart to Heart Fertility Podcast

In this episode of the Heart to Heart Fertility Podcast, Dr. Janelle Luk is joined by Dr. Alicia Broussard, Laboratory Director at Generation Next Fertility. Dr. Broussard shares her incredible origin story, growing up on a beef farm in Indiana and working with embryos long before entering the world of human IVF. Together, they discuss how the lab and clinical teams collaborate daily to guide patient care — and why outcomes don’t depend on retrieval alone. If you’ve ever wondered what happens behind the lab doors and how new technology is shaping modern IVF, this episode is for you!

Holding Onto Hope After Failed IVF | Heart to Heart Fertility Podcast with Dr. Luk

In this emotional and inspiring episode of the Heart to Heart Fertility Podcast, Dr. Janelle Luk sits down with her former patient, Nikki, to explore her long and deeply personal journey navigating unexplained infertility and IVF.Nikki candidly shares how her path unfolded over many years, during a time when fertility treatments and testing were rapidly evolving. This conversation shines a light on the emotional toll of repeated disappointment, the role of therapy and support, and what it takes to keep going when outcomes feel uncertain. From early IVF cycles and failed transfers to later advances like embryo testing and personalized timing, both Nikki and Dr. Luk reflect on how both medicine — and they themselves — have changed along the way.This episode is for anyone navigating infertility, looking to feel seen and inspired through resilience, trust, and hope that grows over time.

Stress, Support, & Finding Emotional Balance | Heart to Heart with Fertility Therapist Lisa Schuman

In this episode of the Heart to Heart Fertility Podcast, Dr. Janelle Luk is joined by Lisa Schuman, LCSW, founder of The Center for Family Building, for a thoughtful and compassionate conversation about the emotional realities of fertility treatment.Together, they explore how stress, anxiety, loss of control, and uncertainty can show up at different stages of the fertility journey: whether it’s a first cycle, a repeat cycle, or a point where difficult decisions come into focus. Lisa shares practical, patient-friendly tools to help manage stress, build emotional resilience, and feel more grounded during treatment, along with metaphors and mindset shifts that make complex and overwhelming information easier to absorb.This episode also touches on topics many patients struggle with quietly: guilt, self-blame, donor decisions, genetic connection, and the pressure to “stay hopeful” while protecting emotional well-being. With warmth and honesty, Dr. Luk and Lisa emphasize that emotional care is a vital part of fertility care and that no one should feel alone in the process.

Sandra's Story: Heart defect, 24 IVF rounds, 2 surrogates

Pregnancy can be life-changing — but for Sandra, it could have been life-threatening. Born with a congenital heart defect, she was told carrying a baby could put both her life and her child’s at risk. In this powerful episode of the Heart to Heart Fertility Podcast, Dr. Janelle Luk sits down with Sandra to share her extraordinary eight-year journey through IVF, surrogacy, and the courage it took to become a mother against all odds.Sandra opens up about the emotional and physical challenges of doing 24 egg retrievals — many without anesthesia due to her cardiac condition — and the difficult medical trauma she carried from childhood. Together with Dr. Luk, she reflects on the bond between doctor and patient, the compassion that carried her through, and the strength it takes to keep going when the odds seem impossible.