Episodes

  • Ep 14: Confessions of A Foster Parent

    Ep 14: Confessions of A Foster Parent
    Aug 4 2021
    In this episode, retired police officer Kelli Williams reflects on her secret life of infertility in the 90’s and how her heartbreaking experience as a foster parent inadvertently led her to become a foster care advocate.

    Watch this interview on YouTube.com/ChildlessWomen

    To support our series, visit www.AsToldByChildlessWomen.com
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    18 mins
  • Ep 13: The Diagnosis of The Infertile Couple

    Ep 13: The Diagnosis of The Infertile Couple
    May 12 2021
    In this episode, Catrina Dupuis candidly discusses the combined infertility diagnoses of both she and her husband, advanced maternal age causing low egg reserve, and the alienation of experiencing infertility.

    Watch this interview on YouTube.com/ChildlessWomen

    To support our series, visit www.AsToldByChildlessWomen.com
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    23 mins
  • Ep. 12: Recurring Miscarriage

    Ep. 12: Recurring Miscarriage
    May 4 2021
    In this episode, Dayna Mohan talks about her devastating losses, long-term mental and physical effects, and the inner-strength she found to transform pain into power and wounds into wisdom.

    Watch this interview on YouTube.com/ChildlessWomen

    To support our series, visit www.AsToldByChildlessWomen.com
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    38 mins
  • Ep 11: Why Society Can't Cope With Being Childfree By Choice

    Ep 11: Why Society Can't Cope With Being Childfree By Choice
    Mar 31 2021
    In this episode, Sadie Tichelaar curiously discusses the highs and ‘often-stigmatized’ lows of being childfree by choice; also despite being confident in her decision, she finds herself undermined by society's inability to separate womanhood and motherhood.

    Watch this interview on YouTube.com/ChildlessWomen

    To support our series, visit www.AsToldByChildlessWomen.com
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    38 mins
  • Ep 10: Secrets of IVF

    Ep 10: Secrets of IVF
    Mar 17 2021
    In this episode, Mandi Schwab opens up about experiencing multiple miscarriages, early menopause; and she breaks down the IVF process, causes of IVF failure and its heavy toll on physical and mental health.

    Terms used:
    Birth control pills: A daily medication that contains 2 hormones (estrogen and
    progestin) to prevent pregnancy — or manage and suppress heavy periods.

    Early Menopause (or premature menopause): A loss of normal function of the ovaries before age 40. In early menopause, the ovaries don't produce normal amounts of the hormone estrogen or release eggs regularly.

    Endometriosis: A medical condition that involves the presence of tissue similar to the uterine lining in abnormal locations. This condition can affect both fertilization of the egg and embryo implantation.

    Involuntarily childless: Someone who wants children or is open to children but can’t have them or unable to have children due to various circumstances.

    IVF (or In vitro fertilization): In vitro which means outside the body, is a process of fertilization by extracting eggs, retrieving a sperm sample, and then manually combining an egg and sperm in a laboratory dish. The embryo(s) is then transferred to the uterus.

    Miscarriage: The spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before the 20th week.

    Ovulation: This occurs when an egg is released from your ovary. When the egg is released, it may or may not be fertilized by sperm.

    Premature ovarian failure: Also known as primary ovarian insufficiency or early menopause, happens when a woman's ovaries stop working normally before she is 40.

    Watch this interview on YouTube.com/ChildlessWomen

    To support our series, visit www.AsToldByChildlessWomen.com
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    28 mins
  • Ep 9: Endometrial Cancer And Fertility

    Ep 9: Endometrial Cancer And Fertility
    Feb 17 2021
    In this episode, cancer survivor Tish Smith explains endometrial cancer, while discussing early signs, causes, treatments, and aftereffects.

    Terms used:
    Endometrial cancer (uterine cancer): A cancer of the womb, or uterus, with adenocarcinoma of the endometrium the most common type. Endometrial cancer starts in the layer of cells that form the lining of the womb, called the endometrium.

    Endometrial hyperplasia: Thickens the uterus lining, causing heavy or abnormal bleeding. Atypical endometrial hyperplasia raises the risk of endometrial cancer and uterine cancer. Endometrial hyperplasia is rare. It affects approximately 133 out of 100,000 women.

    Laparoscopic hysterectomy: A minimally invasive surgical procedure to remove the uterus.

    Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS): A common hormonal condition in which an imbalance in the sex hormones may cause menstrual abnormalities, skin and hairchanges, obesity, infertility and other long-term health problems. The name comes from the multiple small cysts which line the ovaries of most women with the disorder.

    Uterine polyps: Growths attached to the inner wall of the uterus that extend into the uterine cavity. Overgrowth of cells in the lining of the uterus (endometrium) leads to the formation of uterine polyps, also known as endometrial polyps. These polyps are usually noncancerous (benign), although some can be cancerous or can eventually turn into cancer (precancerous polyps).

    Watch this interview on YouTube.com/ChildlessWomen

    To support our series, visit www.AsToldByChildlessWomen.com
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    23 mins
  • Ep 8: Premature Ovarian Failure And Its Consequences

    Ep 8: Premature Ovarian Failure And Its Consequences
    Jan 27 2021
    In this episode, Courtney uncovers finding out in her early 30's that she had premature ovarian failure, while revealing her high-risk physical and emotional effects.

    Terms used:
    Bone scan (or bone scintigraphy): An imaging test used to help diagnose problems with your bones. It can help diagnose a number of bone conditions, including cancer of the bone or metastasis, location of bone inflammation and fractures, and bone infection.

    Early Menopause (or premature menopause): A loss of normal function of the ovaries before age 40. In early menopause, the ovaries don't produce normal amounts of the hormone estrogen or release eggs regularly.

    Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Levels: FSH helps control the menstrual cycle and stimulates the growth of eggs in the ovaries. FSH levels in women change throughout the menstrual cycle, with the highest levels happening just before an egg is released by the ovary. This is known as ovulation.

    Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): A medication that contains female hormones.

    Hormonal Intrauterine Device (IUD): A long-term contraception T-shaped plastic frame device that's inserted into the uterus, where it releases a type of the hormone progestin.

    Osteoporosis: A bone disease that occurs when the body loses too much bone, makes too little bone, or both. As a result, bones become weak and may break from a fall or, in serious cases, from sneezing or minor bumps.

    Premature Ovarian Failure (primary ovarian insufficiency): This disorder occurs when the ovaries stop functioning normally before age 40. When this happens, your ovaries don't produce normal amounts of the hormone estrogen or release eggs regularly.

    Thyroids (hypothyroidism or underactive thyroid): A common disorder. With hypothyroidism, your thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone.

    Watch this interview on YouTube.com/ChildlessWomen

    To support our series, visit www.AsToldByChildlessWomen.com
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    21 mins
  • Ep 7: Unexplained Infertility

    Ep 7: Unexplained Infertility
    Jan 13 2021
    In this episode, Laurie Spellmeyer discusses her frustrating 10-year journey of unexplained infertility before proper diagnosis; she also shares her life-changing experience as a foster parent of over 20 children, while exposing the tedious adoption process.

    Terms used:
    Appendix: A narrow, finger-shaped pouch that projects out from the colon.

    Endometriosis: A medical condition that involves the presence of tissue similar to the uterine lining in abnormal locations. This condition can affect both fertilization of the egg and embryo implantation.

    Low hormones (low estrogen): Estrogen is largely produced in the ovaries, and declining estrogen is primarily associated with female development during puberty and the reproductive cycle, and it affects everything from bone health to emotional well-being.

    Low thyroids (hypothyroidism or underactive thyroid): A common disorder. With hypothyroidism, your thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone.

    Unexplained infertility (or Idiopathic infertility): A diagnostic category used when no cause of infertility is found in either the woman or the man.

    Watch this interview on YouTube.com/ChildlessWomen

    To support our series, visit www.AsToldByChildlessWomen.com
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    18 mins