Brave & Curious with Dr Lora Shahine

Are you frustrated by a diagnosis of unexplained infertility? What if a "normal" semen analysis is not telling the whole story about sperm health? Could a new male fertility test help explain why fertilization is not happening, even when sperm count, motility, and morphology look fine?
In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine welcomes Jeff Lysiak, PhD. He is a reproductive biologist, and co-founder and Chief Science Officer of PS Fertility. He is here to to talk about what standard semen analysis may miss. 
Together, Dr. Shahine and Dr. Lysiak explore the science behind sperm fertilization competence, the role of phosphatidylserine (PS) on live sperm, and how Dr. Lysiak's research led to PS Direct, a diagnostic test designed to measure sperm's ability to bind and fertilize an egg beyond traditional semen parameters.
Dr. Shahine and Dr. Lysiak also discuss the future of male reproductive health research, including lifestyle factors, environmental exposures, and the growing need for more precise answers earlier in the fertility journey.
In this episode you'll hear:
[0:39] Meet Jeff Lysiak, PhD
[2:01] From Placenta to Sperm
[3:24] PS Discovery Explained
[5:01] How Sperm Meets Egg
[9:02] From Lab to Clinic
[10:19] Limits of Semen Analysis
[12:46] PS Score and Misdiagnosis
[14:12] At Home PS Test Kit
[18:20] Where PS Fits Clinically
[21:13] Varicocele & Repair Surgery
[24:14] Using PS to Guide Care
[27:26] Lifestyle Factors
[33:006] Future Research Directions
[34:21] Where to Find the Test & Connect with Jeff
 
Resources mentioned: 
PSFertility.com
 
Dr. Shahine's Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations
Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books
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This episode was sponsored by PS Fertility.
This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

What if the hardest part of your fertility journey isn't the medicine, it's affording the best treatment? How do you plan for IVF costs when coverage is unclear or incomplete? And is there a smarter, more supported way to navigate the financial stress of building a family? 
In this episode of Brave & Curious, Angela Rastegar, CEO and founder of Sunfish, joins Dr. Lora Shahine. They are honoring National Fertility Week through their conversation that explores the real cost of fertility care and why financial planning is just as critical as medical care.
Angela shares her deeply personal fertility journey, including multiple rounds of egg freezing without financial support, and how that experience led her to build a platform designed to support patients through every step of their family-building journey, from egg freezing and IVF to surrogacy. Dr. Shahine and Angela talk about the hidden gaps in insurance coverage, the rising reality of fertility-related debt, and how Sunfish's data-driven, AI-powered programs aim to reduce uncertainty with personalized care plans, cost transparency, and even financial protections for IVF and egg freezing outcomes.
In this episode you'll hear:
[0:34] Angela Rastegar's personal journey, without financial support
[3:28] Along comes Sunfish
[5:45] The IVF Success Program
[8:35] The hidden costs of IVF
[13:40] Common misconceptions with insurance coverage
[19:53] Step-by-step breakdown of cost
[23:01] Grants, loans, and creative solutions
[27:08] New AI-powered egg freezing program
[30:55]The "silent tax" of egg freezing
[37:00] Getting connected to Sunfish
Resources mentioned: 
joinsunfish.com
Sunfish provides personalized financial plans using proprietary software to estimate costs for each Program. If actual costs exceed projections, eligible patients may receive a partial refund under program terms. Sunfish is not a medical provider. Terms and conditions apply.
 
Dr. Shahine's Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations
Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books
Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode!
This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

IVF is under fire. So, what happens when access to IVF is suddenly at risk? How much power should policy have over your ability to build a family? And what can one voice, or one story, really do to protect fertility care for millions? 
In this timely episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine is joined by Danielle Melfi, the new CEO of RESOLVE, who brings a powerful blend of policy expertise, personal fertility experience, and a deep commitment to family-building equity. 
Airing at the start of National Infertility Awareness Week, Dr. Lora Shahine and Danielle are talking about the real-world impact of recent legislative threats to IVF, including the Alabama ruling that temporarily halted treatment. They explore how advocacy organizations mobilize quickly to protect patients. 
Danielle shares her own egg freezing journey, her background in government and healthcare advocacy, and how RESOLVE is working to expand access, improve patient education, and fight misinformation in an increasingly complex fertility landscape.
In this episode you'll hear:
[1:41] Meet Danielle Melfi, CEO of RESOLVE
[5:45] Why IVF Stopped in Alabama
[10:55] What RESOLVE Does
[14:15] Fertility Care Coverage in California and Recent Advocacy Wins
[19:29] The Power of Fertility Stories
[21:48] Restorative Reproductive Medicine Movement: A Threat in Disguise?
[23:12] Personhood Bills Explained
[36:55] RESOLVE's Strategic Plan
[38:31] Get Involved
 
Resources mentioned: 
resolve.org
@resolveorg on Instagram
 
Dr. Shahine's Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations
Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books
Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode!
This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

What if your PCOS diagnosis is about more than fertility? What if the symptoms you've been told to "just manage" are actually your body asking for deeper support? And what if you could take back control in a way that feels empowering rather than restrictive?
In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine sits down with registered dietitian and author of PCOS is My Power Cory Ruth, RDN  to explain all about Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and why it's often misunderstood. Cory shares her personal journey to diagnosis and how it shaped her mission to help women better understand the metabolic, hormonal, and reproductive components of PCOS. 
Dr. Shahine and Cory cover the diagnostic criteria, common misconceptions (like "just lose weight"), and the evolving science around lifestyle interventions, blood sugar regulation, and long-term health outcomes.
This episode will give listeners a clearer understanding of how to manage PCOS through sustainable nutrition, movement, and mindset shifts, without falling into restrictive or shame-based approaches. Cory's refreshing expertise helps us reframe PCOS as a potential catalyst for lifelong health—giving you the tools to feel informed, supported, and back in the driver's seat.
In this episode you'll hear:
[1:56] PCOS "triple threat": reproductive, metabolic, & hormonal
[5:40] Cory Ruth's personal journey
[8:01] Early signs of PCOS
[11:43] The Rotterdam criteria
[17:33] PCOS is a weight issue: MYTH
[19:09] Nutrition is the foundation of PCOS management
[22:24] Simple, realistic meal ideas to support PCOS
[31:25] Intermittent fasting & PCOS
[34:27] Mental health & PCOS
[37:35] Long-term risks of PCOS
[40:10] Sustainable lifestyle changes that actually work
[43:05] Reframing PCOS as an opportunity for lifelong health
 
Resources mentioned: 
www.thewomensdietitian.com
@thewomensdietition on Instagram

Dr. Shahine's Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations
Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books
Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode!
This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

Are you struggling with unexplained infertility and wondering if endometriosis could be the missing piece? Have you been told that surgery is the only way to get a diagnosis? What if a simple test could offer answers without going into the operating room? 
In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine welcomes guest Dr. Bruce Lessey, a double board certified OBGYN and Reproductive Endocrinologist with decades of research experience and over 150 peer-reviewed publications. Together they explore a groundbreaking question in reproductive medicine: can we diagnose endometriosis without invasive surgery?
Dr. Lessey and Dr. Shahine explain the science behind BCL6 testing, a biomarker found in the uterine lining that may signal inflammation linked to endometriosis. Dr. Lessey also shares how this research evolved from studying implantation markers to developing a potential non-invasive diagnostic tool, and why timing in the menstrual cycle is critical for accurate results. 
They also discuss the realities of delayed diagnosis, the connection between endometriosis and unexplained infertility, and how this test is already being used in clinical settings.
In this episode you'll hear:
[1:21] Meet Dr. Bruce Lessey
[4:27] Why does diagnosing endometriosis take years?
[7:16] Introducing BCL6 testing
[16:20] Timing the biopsy window
[22:51] IVF outcomes study
[25:42] Fresh vs. frozen transfers
[27:22] Treating expected endometriosis
[28:44] Lupron and surgery explained
[30:42] BCL6 in recurrent pregnancy loss and recurrent implantation failure
[33:04] Progesterone resistance and benefits of letrozole
[40:48] Timing and testing pitfalls
[43:02] Future research and wrap up
Resources mentioned: 
Overexpression in Eutopic Endometrium of Women With Endometriosis. doi: 10.1177/1933719116649711.  
Endometrial BCL6 testing for the prediction of in vitro fertilization outcomes: a cohort study. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.09.017.  
Unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss and unexplained infertility: twins in disguise. doi: 10.1093/hropen/hoz021.  
This episode is sponsored by Cicero Diagnostics.
Dr. Shahine's Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations
Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books
Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode!
This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.