In today's episode of Health Youniversity, we're tackling a critical gap in the fertility treatment journey: the missing emotional and educational support during IVF.

Join Dr. Susan as she sits down with Laura Weppler, a certified fertility nurse, infertility doula, and IVF mom of two. With 12 years of clinical experience working with thousands of patients and her own personal journey through PCOS, miscarriage, and multiple failed embryo transfers, Laura intimately understands both sides of the fertility treatment experience.

Laura reveals a truth many don't realize until they're deep in treatment: while IVF technology is miraculous, the support system for patients' emotional well-being is severely lacking. Patients are overwhelmed, left piecing together information from Reddit, Facebook groups, and TikTok just to figure out tomorrow's injections—or simply to feel less alone.

You'll learn why having a "pocket fertility nurse" changes everything, what questions to ask BEFORE starting IVF (not during your stim cycle), how to bridge the gap between what clinics provide and what you actually need, why building a support village is the #1 factor in treatment completion, when to advocate for yourself with your OB or fertility clinic, what makes Laura different from your clinic nurse (hint: 24/7 access and personal experience), and why the emotional component is the leading reason people drop out of treatment—not finances.

But this conversation goes deeper than just navigating protocols. Dr. Susan and Laura discuss why you need to be the CEO of your fertility journey, how to integrate holistic and conventional care (it's not either/or, it's both/and), the importance of second opinions and building your care team, why waiting "just a little longer" can cost you precious time, and how proactive preparation 3+ months before treatment makes all the difference.

Listen to this episode if you're considering fertility treatment and want to understand what support you'll actually need, currently in IVF and feeling overwhelmed or forgotten by your clinic, supporting a partner through fertility treatment and want to help effectively, facing a failed cycle and terrified of "doing the same thing, hoping for different results," wanting to integrate holistic support with your medical treatment, or a healthcare professional looking to better support fertility patients.

💻 About Susan Fox: https://www.healthyouniversity.co/about

Take your 5-Element Fertility Quiz: http://yourfertilityquiz.com/

Detox to De-Stress: View the FREE Masterclass on the importance of detoxification to prepare for a healthy pregnancy: https://susanfox1.easywebinar.live/gentle-detox

Learn about our program entitled Your Fertile Health: https://www.healthyouniversity.co/programs

Schedule a Fertile Health Assessment: https://www.healthyouniversity.co/your-fertile-health-call

Let us journey with you as you navigate your fertile health. Connect with me:

🎧 iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/health-youniversity-with-dr-susan-fox/id1592763186

🔊 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/08U9QJf...

📸 Instagram: @dr.susan.fox

💗 Facebook: ...

In today's episode of Health Youniversity, we're diving into the often-overlooked side of the fertility conversation: male factor infertility.

Join Dr. Susan as she sits down with Dr. Arthur "Bud" Burnett II, M.D., MBA, FACS, a trailblazing urologist and globally recognized expert at Johns Hopkins University with over 40 years of experience. Dr. Burnett is a pioneer in male sexual health research—his groundbreaking work on erectile function helped make oral therapies like Viagra possible.

Dr. Burnett reveals a critical truth: male factor accounts for up to 50% of infertility cases, yet men's reproductive health is still frequently neglected in fertility conversations. This episode changes that.

You'll learn what lifestyle factors are silently damaging sperm quality (processed foods, stress, sleep deprivation, environmental toxins), when men should consider getting a semen analysis, what really matters in sperm testing (spoiler: it's not just count), and why the 72-day spermatogenesis cycle means changes take time. Dr. Burnett also shares insights on the emotional and mental health components of male fertility, why young men need primary care providers after pediatrics, and the exciting advances coming in male reproductive medicine through AI and genetics.

But this conversation goes deeper than fertility alone. Dr. Burnett discusses his upcoming book "Penis Confidential" (2026), which tackles what it means to be a man in modern society—from helping teenagers navigate healthy masculinity to supporting older men through prostate cancer and sexual dysfunction. He challenges outdated notions of "toughness" that prevent men from seeking emotional and medical support, and advocates for destigmatizing men's health conversations.

Listen to this episode if you're a couple trying to conceive and want to address both partners' health, a man concerned about sperm quality or reproductive health, someone supporting a partner through fertility challenges, a young man (or parent of one) seeking guidance on male health, a healthcare professional wanting better male fertility resources, or anyone interested in redefining healthy masculinity for the next generation.

💻 About Susan Fox: https://www.healthyouniversity.co/about

Take your 5-Element Fertility Quiz: http://yourfertilityquiz.com/

Detox to De-Stress: View the FREE Masterclass on the importance of detoxification to prepare for a healthy pregnancy: https://susanfox1.easywebinar.live/gentle-detox

Learn about our program entitled Your Fertile Health: https://www.healthyouniversity.co/programs

Schedule a Fertile Health Assessment: https://www.healthyouniversity.co/your-fertile-health-call

Let us journey with you as you navigate your fertile health. Connect with me:

🎧 iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/health-youniversity-with-dr-susan-fox/id1592763186

🔊 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/08U9QJf...

📸 Instagram: @dr.susan.fox

💗 Facebook: ...

In today's episode of Health Youniversity, we're exploring one of the most empowering decisions women can make for their reproductive future: fertility preservation through egg freezing.

Join Dr. Susan as she sits down with Dr. Jamie Knopman, board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and co-author of the upcoming book "Own Your Fertility: From Egg Freezing to Surrogacy, How to Take Charge of Your Body and Your Future." Dr. Knopman serves as Director of Fertility Preservation for CCRM Fertility of New York and is a leading advocate for women's reproductive health education.

Dr. Knopman shares why egg freezing is "the new sunscreen"—a preventative measure that gives women control over their reproductive timeline. She explains the ideal age to freeze eggs (hint: it's younger than you think), debunks common myths about the birth control pill and fertility, and reveals how the vitrification process has revolutionized success rates since 2011.

This conversation covers the complete egg freezing process from start to finish, the recovery timeline, how employee benefits are changing to support fertility preservation, and why reproductive health education should start as early as high school. Dr. Knopman also discusses fertility planning for LGBTQ+ couples, the importance of understanding your menstrual cycle, and how egg freezing fits into the broader picture of reproductive rights and body autonomy.

This episode is for you if if you're in your 20s or early 30s planning your career and future family, considering egg freezing but unsure where to start, working in HR and evaluating fertility benefits for employees, part of the LGBTQ+ community exploring family-building options, a parent wanting to educate your daughters about reproductive health, or a healthcare professional seeking to better counsel patients on fertility preservation.

Pre-order "Own Your Fertility: From Egg Freezing to Surrogacy, How to Take Charge of Your Body and Your Future" Available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Own-Your-Fertility-Freezing-Surrogacy/dp/1324111488]

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/own-your-fertility-jaime-knopman/1147402776

Audible:

💻 About Susan Fox: https://www.healthyouniversity.co/about

Take your 5-Element Fertility Quiz: http://yourfertilityquiz.com/

Detox to De-Stress: View the FREE Masterclass on the importance of detoxification to prepare for a healthy pregnancy: https://susanfox1.easywebinar.live/gentle-detox

Learn about our program entitled Your Fertile Health: https://www.healthyouniversity.co/programs

Schedule a Fertile Health Assessment: https://www.healthyouniversity.co/your-fertile-health-call

Let us journey with you as you navigate your fertile health. Connect with me:

🎧 iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/health-youniversity-with-dr-susan-fox/id1592763186

🔊 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/08U9QJf...

📸 Instagram: @dr.susan.fox

💗 Facebook: ...