• Naomi's personal story of infertility, IVF, and emotional healing
  
  
• The Embrace Fertility Method and how it supports the mind-body connection
  
  
• How to manage emotions and reduce anxiety during fertility treatment
  
  
• Daily practices like visualization, EFT, and mindset exercises
  
  
• A guided meditation to help bring calm and clarity on your path to pregnancy
  
  

I'm joined by Dr. Diane Tober, medical anthropologist, researcher, and author of Eggsonomics, a book that exposes the hidden realities of the global egg donation industry. Her NSF-funded research includes nearly 900 survey participants and close to 300 interviews with donors across the U.S., Spain, and beyond.

We talk about the real risks donors face, the ethical complexities of how donors are selected and compensated, and what a more transparent fertility industry could look like for donors, intended parents, and doctors alike.

Read the full show notes on my website.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why egg donors often don't feel like "real patients" and how clinics can do better
• The truth about OHSS complication rates and why the statistic that "less than 1%" of those going through egg retrieval may be misleading
• How donor compensation in the U.S. varies by education, ancestry, and school prestige
• Key differences between egg donation in the U.S. vs. Spain
• What donors need to know about donating eggs, and how to self-advocate
• How private equity is changing patient care at fertility clinics
• Why 90% of donors in Dr. Tober's study actually want a national donor registry

Resources:

• Eggonomics by Dr. Diane Tober available on Amazon
• Romancing the Sperm by Dr. Diane Tober (on Amazon)
• Dr. Aimee's Freeze & Share Program - freezeandshare.com
• ASRM: asrm.org
• SART: sart.org

• The role of mindfulness and emotional health in fertility
• How past experiences shape our reproductive wellness
• Why intimacy and connection matter during fertility treatments
• The impact of stress and how to manage it holistically
• Integrative wellness strategies for a healthy fertility journey

• Why endometriosis is so often misdiagnosed and how to advocate for proper care
  
  
• The difference between excision surgery and other surgical treatments
  
  
• The connection between gut health, inflammation, and endometriosis symptoms
  
  
• Why a multidisciplinary approach—including physical therapy, nutrition, and mindfulness—can make all the difference
  
  
• The biggest myths about endometriosis that can delay diagnosis and treatment
  
  

• Dr. Iris Kerin Orbuch's Website
  
• Follow Dr. Orbuch on Instagram
  
• Beating Endo: How to Reclaim Your Life from Endometriosis
  
  

• How pregnancy is possible after menopause
• The role of donor eggs in menopausal pregnancy
• Health risks and considerations for pregnancy at an older age
• Success rates and advancements in reproductive technology
• Emotional and social aspects of becoming a parent later in life

This episode is a special one. Sara Jensen, co-founder and Co-CEO of Hugh & Grace invited me to join her for a live conversation in honor of National Infertility Awareness Week and the interview was so good, I knew I had to share it with all of you here on the Egg Whisperer Show. Sara has walked the deeply personal road of unexplained infertility for 14 years, ultimately building her family through the incredible gift of surrogacy. And, she and her husband Ben and channeled that journey (and what they learned) into a company dedicated to hormone-supportive, toxin-free wellness products.

Together, Sara and I unpack some of the fertility trends we both are seeing in 2026. From understanding your fertility before you're trying to conceive, to the emotional marathon of IVF, to the role environmental toxins play in hormone health, and the topic of sperm maxing and egg maxing - we tackle many of the trending topics. And, we share what it really takes to prepare your body, protect your partnership, and make empowered choices on the path to parenthood.

• In this episode, we cover these fertility trends from 2026:
  Trimester Zero: what it means to truly prepare for pregnancy, why it matters for both partners, and how men can improve sperm quality through behavioral changes
• The TUSHY Method: my method for getting the foundational fertility workup done (tubes, uterus, sperm, hormones, and genetics) before surprises arise
• Egg maxing & sperm maxing: the supplements I actually recommend (CoQ10, NAD+), what to skip, and why "more is not better" when it comes to your supplement stack
• At-home fertility testing tools: how to use LH tests, the Proof Complete kit, and ovulation apps like Oura accurately, and the timing mistakes that cause couples to miss their window
• The emotional toll of fertility treatments: how to build your fertility support team early, manage IVF-related stress, and protect your relationship throughout the process
• Environmental toxins and hormone health: how everyday skincare and household products can impact your hormones, and what Sara learned firsthand after 6 rounds of IVF
• The fertility trends no one is talking about: why biology hasn't changed even as more women over 40 are having babies, and what declining birth rates mean for all of us

Resources:
Hugh & Grace (hormone-supportive, toxin-free wellness products)

The Egg Whisperer Show (Dr. Aimee's podcast) on Spotify

Yo Sperm Test (at-home semen analysis)

Fellow sperm testing kit

Legacy male fertility testing

Proof Complete fertility hormone test

The Hermosa Study (research on chemical exposure and teens): https://cerch.berkeley.edu/research-programs/hermosa-study

Oura Ring (fertility & cycle tracking): ouraring.com