Ep. 120 Should I Freeze My Eggs? What to Know Before You Decide
In this solo episode of Fertility Café, host Eloise Drane breaks down one of the most buzzed-about topics in modern fertility: egg freezing. Once considered a niche medical intervention, egg freezing has become a mainstream option for those seeking to preserve their fertility, but what does it really involve?
Eloise takes you through the entire landscape, from the medical process and emotional considerations to the financial realities and cultural shifts. She unpacks how egg freezing evolved from a last-resort treatment to a proactive choice, what it actually looks like to go through a cycle, and why access remains unequal despite growing interest.
This episode is for anyone who’s ever wondered:
“Is egg freezing right for me?”
“What’s the real cost, and not just financially?”
“How does this intersect with identity, access, and equity?”
Whether you're exploring your options or simply trying to understand the conversation more deeply, this episode offers real talk, grounded insights, and the kind of honesty that Fertility Café is known for.
Mentioned Resources:
American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM.org)
FertilityIQ.com
Tune in for a thoughtful guide through the myths, facts, and nuances of egg freezing, because your timeline, your body, and your decisions deserve clarity and care.
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Ep. 119 How Egg Donation Helped Me Become a Mom: Erica Ferraro’s Story
What happens when every path to parenthood seems to close? For Erica Ferraro, the answer was egg donation—a deeply emotional and empowering decision shaped by a long, painful battle with undiagnosed endometriosis. In this powerful episode, Erica joins host Eloise Drane to share the real story behind her journey: the years of misdiagnosis, the trauma of IVF failure, and the healing that came from choosing donor conception.
You’ll hear:
-What it’s really like to receive an endometriosis diagnosis after two decades
-Why Erica believes egg donation is a form of organ donation—and not “less than”
-Honest insights on grieving genetic loss, finding the right donor, and parenting after donor IVF
-How her new book, Moving Mountains for Motherhood, became the U.S.'s first professionally published infertility survival guide
Whether you’re navigating your own fertility journey or supporting someone who is, this episode is a raw, real, and hopeful reminder that love—not biology—defines family.
Moving Mountains for Motherhood is available now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and more. Connect with Erica on Instagram @eri.ferraro
Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share this episode to support more honest conversations about modern family building.
#FertilityCafe #EggDonation #EndometriosisAwareness #DonorIVF #InfertilitySupport #ModernParenthood
Chapters
(00:00:00) - Fertility Cafe(00:00:58) - Egg Donor: Moving Mountains for Motherhood(00:02:04) - I Got A Mother's Endometriosis Diagnosis(00:07:27) - The Secret to Managing Endometriosis in Your 20s(00:11:26) - Egg Donation After IVF(00:16:05) - Donor Eggs For Couple's Baby(00:21:47) - The Donor Selection in My Egg IVF(00:23:55) - The Decision Between Anonymity & Open ID(00:28:32) - Janet on Frozen Eggs vs. Fresh IVF(00:35:15) - Why I Don't Share My Egg Donor Story(00:41:06) - The Journey to Parenthood: Third-Party Reproduction(00:42:20) - The Book Moving Mountains For Motherhood(00:46:58) - E egg donation in the United States(00:50:16) - Where Can People Get A Copy of Moving Mountains For Motherhood?
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Ep 118 Surrogacy and the Emotional Journey to Motherhood
In this heartfelt episode, Ashley Hengston opens up about her deeply personal path from infertility to motherhood through surrogacy. She shares the emotional highs and lows—from the grief of infertility to the complex decisions involved in choosing surrogacy. Ashley walks us through the process of matching with a surrogate, navigating medical and legal steps, and managing the emotional terrain of pregnancy and birth.
This conversation sheds light on the importance of trust, preparation, and communication in the surrogacy journey. Ashley candidly discusses the emotional impact of the birth, her experience with postpartum depression, and how intended parents can stay connected throughout the process. She also shares the value of community and support groups for those navigating the often isolating road of infertility.
Whether you’re considering surrogacy or supporting someone who is, this episode offers raw insight and real encouragement.
Have questions about your surrogacy journey?
Speak with our expert team today: https://familyinceptions.com/intended-parents/
Stay Connected
Instagram: @fertilitycafe
Facebook: @fertilitycafe
Website: https://thefertilitycafe.com
More Resources
Learn more about surrogacy & fertility: https://familyinceptions.com/
All information shared is for educational purposes and subject to change. Always consult with a medical or legal professional for personalized advice.
Chapters
(00:00:00) - Fertility Cafe(00:01:09) - Ashley Hingston on Becoming a Parent Through Surrog(00:02:10) - Ashley Hingstown on Her Infertility(00:02:59) - The Process of Introspective surrogacy(00:05:53) - The Parents Who Used Surrogacy(00:08:12) - The Joy of Surrogacy(00:10:54) - When Did You Choose To Use an Agency or Go Independent?(00:11:59) - A Couple's Matching Experience(00:14:28) - The Family Blueprint(00:15:41) - The Surrogate's First Meet the Parents(00:18:25) - The Secret to Getting A Mother's Love(00:21:19) - The Secret to Surrogacy(00:22:37) - After Having a Surrogate Baby,(00:25:03) - The Surrogate's Relationship With Her Partner(00:32:54) - The Day My Surrogate Was Born(00:35:51) - The Surrogate's Postpartum Depression(00:43:28) - "I'm Not In Love With My Parenting"(00:44:32) - In the Elevator With Infertility Support Group(00:45:40) - Pregnant Woman on Her Journey(00:46:56) - Ashley on Rage Against Infertility(00:48:11) - Surrogacy 101
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Ep 116 Hidden Struggles of High-Achieving Women in Fertility Treatment with Dr. Chatterjee-Morris
Why are ambitious women waiting too long to think about fertility preservation, and what's the real cost?Host Eloise Drane welcomes Dr. Suzanna Chatterjee-Morris, a dual board-certified physician in OB-GYN and obesity medicine who brings both clinical expertise and deeply personal experience to today's conversation. Dr. Chatterjee-Morris has navigated her own challenging fertility journey, including multiple egg retrievals, donor eggs, and preparing for surrogacy while maintaining a demanding medical practice. Her unique perspective as both physician and patient offers invaluable insights for women balancing high-pressure careers with family planning decisions and fertility preservation choices.
This episode explores the complex reality of fertility treatment for ambitious women in leadership roles, covering egg-freezing decisions, the challenges of coordinating IVF cycles with demanding schedules and navigating fertility clinic experiences. Discussion includes the importance of early fertility preservation, advocating for yourself in medical settings, weight-related barriers in fertility treatment, and the emotional journey of third-party reproduction. Dr. Chatterjee-Morris shares practical advice about choosing fertility clinics, understanding BMI requirements, and making informed decisions about donor eggs and gestational carriers while managing autoimmune conditions.
In This Episode:
(00:00) Dr. Chatterjee-Morris shares her complete fertility journey from residency decision to current surrogacy plans
(08:40) The difficult transition from own eggs to donor eggs to gestational carrier due to multiple sclerosis
(14:32) Balancing seven IVF cycles with demanding medical practice and patient care
(20:33) Experiencing dismissive treatment and unprofessional care at fertility clinics
(27:12) The critical importance of egg freezing in your twenties for career-focused women
(32:34) Recognizing endometriosis symptoms early and advocating for reproductive health education
(39:44) Navigating weight stigma and BMI requirements in fertility treatment with compassion
(46:25) Final advice on self-advocacy and making the best decisions for your fertility journey
Share with someone who may be interested, like and subscribe to hear all of our future episodes!
Resources:Instagram/TikTok: @healthyobgyn
Website: rivervalleyobgyn.com
Book a Free Consultation
Have questions about becoming a surrogate? Learn more: https://familyinceptions.com/surrogates/
Curious about how much you could make with surrogacy? Use our Compensation Calculator: https://familyinceptions.com/s...
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Ep 115 How She Made Surrogacy Legal in Michigan: Stephanie Jones's Story
What would you do if a Google search from your hospital bed revealed your only path to motherhood was illegal in your state?Today Eloise welcomes Stephanie Jones, founder of the Michigan Fertility Alliance and 2024 RESOLVE Hope Award recipient for advocacy. After facing life-threatening pregnancy complications that ended her ability to carry a pregnancy, Stephanie discovered through a Google search from her hospital recovery bed that Michigan banned surrogacy contracts—her only option to grow her family. She leveraged her business expertise as an engineer and company VP to transform this personal crisis into legislative change.
The conversation explores Stephanie's journey from secondary infertility through building the Michigan Fertility Alliance from scratch during the pandemic, culminating in the passage of the Michigan Family Protection Act in 2024. Listeners will gain insights into Michigan's surprising surrogacy history, the complexities of having a surrogate birth in another state during COVID, and how the nine-bill package revolutionized fertility and parentage laws for all Michigan families.
In This Episode:
(00:00) Introduction to Michigan's restrictive surrogacy laws and transformation
(03:01) Stephanie Jones's background and secondary infertility journey
(08:46) The Google search that started it all from hospital recovery bed
(12:39) Michigan's surprising surrogacy history from first to banned
(18:37) Building advocacy during the pandemic while having daughter via surrogate
(20:50) The complicated experience of surrogacy birth in Kentucky during COVID
(26:17) Overcoming challenges to get people to care about fertility issues
(31:53) Balancing business executive role with intensive advocacy work
(34:29) Breaking down the nine-bill Michigan Family Protection Act
(38:21) Introduction to State Strong national coalition for advocacy
(41:29) The urgent need for fertility advocates to act nowShare with someone who may be interested, like and subscribe to hear all of our future episodes!
Resources:Michigan Fertility Alliance: www.michiganfertilityalliance.org State Strong Coalition: www.statestrong.org Michigan Family Protection Act Information: www.michigan.gov/familyprotectionact Stephanie Jones Email: [email protected] RESOLVE National Infertility Association: www.resolve.org
Who knew making a baby could be so hard?! Luckily, the fertility journey isn’t meant to be traveled alone. So grab a seat and let’s talk fertility and alternative family building with leading industry expert Eloise Drane here at Fertility Café!
Fertility Café is here to support, encourage, and educate, anyone seeking to start or complete their family and the selfless women willing to help . This bi-weekly podcast discusses all aspects of the fertility journey experience, emphasizing alternative family forming methods. Explore modern family building through IVF, surrogacy, and egg donation, sperm donation and embryo donation . Whether you’re a straight couple, LGBTQIA+, single individual or anything in between, considering egg donation, thinking of becoming a surrogate, or dealing with infertility, you'll receive insider information.
Join in-depth conversations that explore these methods from medical, legal, and financial standpoints. Learn how to empower yourselves when dealing with infertility and the unknowns of how to complete your family building. Gain understanding on how to become a surrogate or an egg donor and what you need to consider when you make your decision.
In addition to finding the best third-party providers and appropriate fertility solutions for you, learn about fertility awareness, the questions to ask and what steps you need to take to make the right decisions for you. There is so much information out there. How do you know what is fertility fact versus fiction. You’ll receive advice and tips on how to navigate the world of fertility options.
Listen to fertility experts and medical practitioners as they impart valuable wisdom about all kinds of issues related to your fertility to include unexplained infertility, fertility preservation, PCOS, and fibroids to name a few. Their professional guidance is your best bet in increasing the likelihood of getting pregnant without fearing for your health or breaking the bank.
This show is also for fertility professionals who want to widen their knowledge and expertise. By listening to fellow experts, discover brand-new information to share with your patients and improve your practice.
Host Eloise has helped hundreds of people build (and grow) their families over the last 20 years. She always speaks candidly about the processes involved in making the dream of a baby a reality right now. Eloise helps individuals become surrogates and egg donors through Family Inceptions, an agency she founded in 2008. She highlights the importance of ethical and transparent practices.
Above all, Eloise makes sure that young women who donate eggs or become surrogates are properly educated and empowered. Her reputation makes Eloise a top speaker and guest in many assisted reproduction technology events and shows. Her story and agency were even featured by OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network.
Eloise is not only a guide to surrogates and donors; she has been an egg donor six times and a gestational surrogate three times. She is a happily married mother of five who spends most of her free time with family.
Failing to get pregnant should never lead to a life of regret, self-pity, and hopelessness. With egg donation, surrogacy, and medical advancements focused on fertility, your fight is far from over. You are not a lost cause. What you need is proper information, practical tips, and valuable insights on addressing your reproductive issues. Explore all this and more on the Fertility Café.
Listen to the podcast right now at www.thefertilitycafe.com
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