『#88 Six Years of Infertility and $100k in Fertility Treatments』のカバーアート

#88 Six Years of Infertility and $100k in Fertility Treatments

#88 Six Years of Infertility and $100k in Fertility Treatments

無料で聴く

ポッドキャストの詳細を見る
Infertility can affect nearly every part of a person’s life, from their emotional well-being and relationships to their finances, identity, and sense of control over the future. After spending six years trying to conceive, navigating complex fertility treatments, and paying more than $100,000 out of pocket, Jessica Chalk understood firsthand how exhausting and isolating the fertility journey can become. Along with the physical demands of treatment, patients are often expected to coordinate appointments, track medical information, make complicated decisions, and advocate for themselves while coping with grief and uncertainty. In this episode of It Happened To Me, Jessica joins hosts Beth Glassman and Cathy Gildenhorn for an honest conversation about the realities of infertility that are often hidden from view. She shares the emotional and financial weight of her experience, the impact it had on her identity and relationships, and what helped her continue through six difficult years. Jessica also explains how feeling unsupported within the healthcare system ultimately inspired her to found myStoria and advocate for a more coordinated, compassionate approach to patient care. In This Episode, We Discuss The beginning of Jessica’s six-year journey to conceiveRealizing that becoming pregnant would be more complicated than expectedThe isolation, grief, and uncertainty associated with infertilityWhat fertility treatments demand from patients physically and emotionallySpending more than $100,000 out of pocket on treatmentHow financial pressure intensified an already stressful experienceFeeling unseen and overwhelmed while navigating the healthcare systemThe effects of infertility on identity, body image, and self-worthHow fertility struggles can affect partners, family members, and friendshipsHurtful comments and common misconceptions about infertilityProtecting your mental health during prolonged treatmentWhat helped Jessica continue during the most difficult momentsThe support she wishes she had received earlierWhat people who have not experienced infertility often misunderstandThe emotional turning point that inspired Jessica to create myStoriaHow her experience changed her understanding of patient-centered careJessica’s message for anyone currently struggling to build a family About Jessica Chalk Jessica Chalk is the founder and CEO of myStoria, a patient-support platform created to help people organize medical information, prepare for appointments, coordinate care, and navigate complex reproductive health journeys. Jessica’s work was inspired by her own six-year fertility journey, during which she experienced the emotional, financial, and logistical burden frequently placed on patients. She founded myStoria with the goal of ensuring that people facing complicated medical situations do not have to manage every aspect of their care alone. Infertility Support and Educational Resources myStoria: Patient navigation and organizational support for reproductive health and other complex medical journeysRESOLVE: The National Infertility Association: Education, peer-led support groups, advocacy resources, and information for people experiencing infertilityReproductiveFacts.org: Patient-friendly information from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine about infertility, reproductive health, testing, and treatment options A Note for Our Listeners Terminology update: During this episode, we use the term polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Since the episode was recorded, the condition has been renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS). The updated name is intended to better represent the condition’s wide-ranging hormonal, metabolic, and reproductive effects rather than suggesting that it is defined primarily by ovarian cysts. Infertility can involve grief, pregnancy loss, financial hardship, medical trauma, and difficult decisions about family building. Please take care of yourself while engaging with this episode and seek support from a qualified healthcare or mental health professional when needed. The experiences discussed in this episode reflect Jessica’s personal journey and are not intended as individualized medical advice. Treatment options, outcomes, costs, and insurance coverage vary considerably. Speak with your healthcare team about questions related to your own fertility or reproductive health. Connect With It Happened To Me Podcast Stay tuned for the next episode of It Happened To Me. In the meantime, explore our previous episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, ItHappenedToMe.com, or your favorite podcast platform by searching for It Happened To Me. It Happened To Me is created and hosted by Cathy Gildenhorn and Beth Glassman. Kira Dineen of Gene Pool Media serves as Executive Producer. For questions, guest suggestions, or other inquiries, contact us at ItHappenedToMePod@gmail.com.
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
まだレビューはありません