The Egg Whisperer Show

Ever wonder why some couples grow closer through infertility while others grow apart? In this episode, I'm diving into one of the most important (and least talked about) sides of the fertility journey: the impact of infertility on relationships, and what you can do to stay connected as a couple if you're both hurting or stressed by the journey.
My guest is Dr. Clay Brigance, a licensed counselor, author, podcaster, and relationship researcher who studies the mental health and relationship impacts of infertility and reproductive loss. After experiencing infertility himself - including male factor, IUI, IVF, pregnancy complications, and a life-threatening postpartum hemorrhage and emergency hysterectomy - Clay set out to answer one question: why do some couples come together through infertility while others fall apart? His research with over 1,000 couples led to his Four Pillars of Connection, a framework that helps couples navigate emotional attunement, conflict, disrupted dreams of parenthood, and intimacy.

In this episode, we cover:

Why some couples grow closer through infertility while others grow apart (and what the research shows)
The "holding wet soap" metaphor: why trying to rescue your partner from pain can backfire
The Four Pillars of Connection: mindful attunement, navigating conflict, disrupted visions of parenthood, and maintaining intimacy
What to do when one partner wants to talk about everything and the other shuts down
Male factor infertility: the shame, identity crisis, and silent shattering men experience
How infertility impacts your sex life and practical ways to keep intimacy alive (including the six-second kiss!)
First steps for couples in the middle of IVF who feel like they're falling apart

Resources:

Dr. Clay Brigance's website (free 23-page mental health PDF manual)
Dr. Clay Brigance on Instagram: @dr_claybrigance
Love & Infertility Podcast with Dr. Clay Brigance and Ginny Lupka
Read the full show notes on my website.
Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more fertility tips!
 
My book, The Egg Whisperer Way, comes out in March 2027. You can pre-order order your copy here, on my website.

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Dr. Aimee Eyvazzadeh is one of America's most well known fertility doctors. Her success rate at baby-making is what gives future parents hope when all hope is lost. She pioneered the TUSHY Method and BALLS Method to decrease your time to pregnancy. Learn more about the TUSHY Method and find a wealth of fertility resources at www.draimee.org.

Egg freezing is IVF without the F (fertilization). You go through a standard cycle of In Vitro Fertilization in which you take hormone shots that stimulate the growth of eggs. A doctor like me then extracts your eggs through a simple surgical procedure, and I work with an embryologist to preserve your eggs in liquid nitrogen until you're ready to use them.

So the big question is what happens now that you're ready to use your eggs? In other words, what are the steps towards fertilization (or as I like to say, what the F?)

Step 1. Locate Your Eggs
Step 2: Decide if you want to unfreeze all your eggs.
Step 3. Complete Your Preconception Testing (follow the TUSHY Method)
Step 4: Complete Your Infectious Disease Labs
Step 5: Implantation Testing
Step 6: Make Embryos (and decide if you want to do genetic testing on your embryos)
Step 7: Decide Whether You Want to Transfer Fresh or Frozen Embryos

Click here to get the full show notes and transcript
Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more fertility tips!
 
My book, The Egg Whisperer Way, comes out in March 2027. You can pre-order order your copy here, on my website.

Join Egg Whisperer School
Checkout the podcast
Subscribe to the newsletter to get updates

Dr. Aimee Eyvazzadeh is one of America's most well known fertility doctors. Her success rate at baby-making is what gives future parents hope when all hope is lost. She pioneered the TUSHY Method and BALLS Method to decrease your time to pregnancy. Learn more about the TUSHY Method and find a wealth of fertility resources at www.draimee.org.

Egg Freezing parties are safe and surgery-free gatherings of women (and sometimes men) to learn more about the process of freezing your eggs (or sperm). Beyond that, we talk in general about fertility and how every woman (and man) can take a proactive role in preserving their fertility options. 


There is humor. There is honest talk. Most importantly, you will learn about clear steps you can take after the party is over. This is not merely an information session, this is meant to inspire action!
 
Read the full show notes on Dr. Aimee's website.
 
Do you have questions about IVF?
Click here to join Dr. Aimee for The IVF Class.
The next live class call is on Monday, October 19, 2026 at 4pm PST, where Dr. Aimee will explain IVF and there will be time to ask her your questions live on Zoom.

 
Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more fertility tips!

Join Egg Whisperer School
Checkout the podcast
Subscribe to the newsletter to get updates

Dr. Aimee Eyvazzadeh is one of America's most well known fertility doctors. Her success rate at baby-making is what gives future parents hope when all hope is lost. She pioneered the TUSHY Method and BALLS Method to decrease your time to pregnancy. Learn more about the TUSHY Method and find a wealth of fertility resources at www.draimee.org.

Dr. Aimee shares how she personalize the process of finding an egg donor, sperm donor, or gestational carrier, so that everyone involves feels like they are well informed and empowered with the right information.

Do you have questions about IVF?
Click here to join Dr. Aimee for The IVF Class.
The next live class call is on Monday, October 19, 2026 at 4pm PST, where Dr. Aimee will explain IVF and there will be time to ask her your questions live on Zoom.

Click to find The Egg Whisperer Show podcast on your favorite podcasting app.
 
Watch videos of Dr. Aimee answer Ask the Egg Whisperer Questions on YouTube.
 
Sign up for The Egg Whisperer newsletter to get updates
 
Dr. Aimee Eyvazzadeh is one of America's most well known fertility doctors. Her success rate at baby-making is what gives future parents hope when all hope is lost. She pioneered the TUSHY Method and BALLS Method to1 decrease your time to pregnancy. Learn more about the TUSHY Method and find a wealth of fertility resources at www.draimee.org.

Get the full show notes: https://www.draimee.org/intrauterine-surgery-and-other-life-saving-interventions-with-dr-emery-and-dr-sanfilippo
 
In this episode, I'm joined by two incredible guests: Dr. Steven Emery, a maternal fetal medicine specialist and director of the Center for Innovative Fetal Intervention at the University of Pittsburgh, and Dr. Joseph Sanfilippo, a renowned reproductive endocrinologist, past President of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and author of "Everyday Medical Miracles." Together, we explore the latest advances in intrauterine surgery, fetal interventions, and fertility innovations that are changing lives for families everywhere.
 
In our conversation, we dive deep into the courage and hope that medical innovation brings to patients. Dr. Emery and Dr. Sanfilippo share real-life stories, discuss the evolution of fetal and reproductive care, and offer practical advice for anyone navigating fertility or high-risk pregnancies. We also touch on the future of medicine, from gene therapy to the impact of artificial intelligence in the embryology lab.
 
In this episode, we cover:
 
A remarkable case of fetal anemia and the life-saving power of intrauterine transfusions
What pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT) is: and what it can and can't detect
The latest interventions for fetal conditions, including twin-twin transfusion syndrome and fetal hydrocephalus
How to prepare for pregnancy: lifestyle, medical, and genetic considerations
The role of maternal fetal medicine specialists and when to seek their expertise
New research and approaches to fibroid prevention and treatment
The future of fertility and fetal medicine, including gene therapy and AI
 
Resources:
 
Dr. Sanfilippo's book website: Everyday Medical Miracles or order via Amazon
Dr. Sanfilippo's book Expert Guide to Fertility via Amazon
Dr. Emery's email: emerysp @ upmc.edu
Dr. Sanfilippo's email: sanfjs @ upmc.edu
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: acog.org
American Society for Reproductive Medicine: asrm.org

Would you like to learn more about IVF?
Click here to join Dr. Aimee for The IVF Class.
 
The next live class call is on Monday, October 19 at 4pm PST, where Dr. Aimee will explain IVF and there will be time to ask her your questions live on Zoom.
 
Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more fertility tips!

Join Egg Whisperer School
Checkout the podcast
Subscribe to the newsletter to get updates

Dr. Aimee Eyvazzadeh is one of America's most well known fertility doctors. Her success rate at baby-making is what gives future parents hope when all hope is lost. She pioneered the TUSHY Method and BALLS Method to decrease your time to pregnancy. Learn more about the TUSHY Method and find a wealth of fertility resources at www.draimee.org.