In this eye-opening episode of Fertility Village Live, co-hosts Tanya and Erin welcome Dr. Mathieu Boilard, PhD—CEO and founder of Nasci Biomed—for an in-depth conversation on male fertility and the groundbreaking science happening behind the scenes. Nasci Biomed is a private research and diagnostic lab based in Quebec, Canada, specializing in the advanced cellular biology of spermatozoa. Their work uses cutting-edge flow cytometry and biochemistry to offer some of the most comprehensive male fertility analyses available today.

Dr. Boilard walks us through what a fertility spermogram actually measures—from volume and pH to detailed mobility patterns, morphology, and even DNA fragmentation. He explains why these deeper insights matter when it comes to diagnosis, early detection of male factor infertility, and choosing the right course of treatment. We explore common diagnoses like oligospermia, azoospermia, and teratospermia, and discuss what current options exist for men with very low or no sperm—such as micro-TESE procedures and hormone treatments. We also talk about how testosterone and other hormones play a critical role in sperm production, and what signs men can look for if they’re wondering whether they may have a fertility issue.

We dig into sperm DNA fragmentation—what it is, how it’s tested, and how it can impact outcomes for IUI and IVF. Dr. Boilard shares how Nasci is bridging the gap between fertility research and clinical application, constantly searching for technologies that could lead to meaningful breakthroughs for patients.

Whether you're currently TTC, undergoing treatment, or just learning more about your reproductive health, this episode provides essential knowledge for anyone looking to better understand the often-overlooked male side of the fertility journey.

To learn more about Nasci Biomed or to book an appointment for a fertility spermogram or DNA fragmentation test, visit: www.nascibiomed.ca

In this episode of Fertility Village Live, Marissa and Joy are joined by Sam Marple, Chief Operating Officer of Reproductive Solutions and a proud parent through donor conception. Sam shares both professional expertise and deeply personal experience as we explore the evolving landscape of LGBTQIA+ family building.

Together, they discuss what it takes to create inclusive, affirming donor programs that recognize and support the needs of queer families. From navigating the egg donation process as an LGBTQIA+ individual or couple, to the ongoing journey of parenting a donor-conceived child, Sam offers invaluable perspective shaped by both lived experience and leadership in the fertility space.

This episode covers:

• How donor programs can become more inclusive and affirming for LGBTQIA+ intended parents
• Considerations and guidance for LGBTQIA+ individuals and couples pursuing egg donation
• Real-life reflections on parenting a donor-conceived child in today’s world
• Why supportive, informed, and community-centered care is essential for queer family building

Whether you're exploring your own path to parenthood, supporting a loved one, or working in fertility care—this is a must-listen conversation full of empathy, insight, and advocacy.

https://rsifertility.com/

Connect with Sam on LinkedIN

In this powerful and informative episode of Fertility Village Live, Hosts Sarah and Caley take a compassionate and comprehensive look at embryo adoption and donation—a path to parenthood that is still unfamiliar to many but filled with hope, possibility, and connection.

They are joined by Beginnings Family Services, a Canadian agency supporting adoption and embryo donation and explore what this process truly looks like from both sides. These professionals help demystify the logistics, emotional landscape, and legal aspects of embryo adoption, offering clarity and support to anyone considering this journey.

We also hear firsthand from two individuals with lived experience in embryo adoption. Their stories bring heart and honesty to the conversation, shedding light on the realities, the joys, and the nuances of receiving or donating embryos.

This episode is for:

• Anyone exploring alternative paths to parenthood

• Those curious about how embryo donation works in Canada

• Supporters and professionals working in fertility and family-building spaces

• Families navigating infertility and looking for informed, compassionate guidance

Whether you're in the early stages of learning or ready to take the next step, this discussion offers insight, support, and solidarity.

For more information or to explore embryo adoption services, visit:
👉 www.beginnings.ca
Beginnings Family Services offers counseling and ongoing support for expectant parents and those hoping to grow their families through adoption, including embryo donation.

Thanks for listening!

In this powerful and personal episode, we hear from Fiona, a mother who opens up about her journey through secondary infertility — a struggle that is often invisible, but no less heartbreaking. After having her first child without complication, she faced a long and painful road trying to conceive again, marked by multiple miscarriages, unanswered questions, and an ever-widening age gap between her children that brought its own emotional weight.

Fiona speaks candidly about the grief and guilt that can accompany secondary infertility, and the isolation of feeling like you “should be grateful” but still aching for the family you imagined. With honesty and courage, she shares what it was like to keep going through each loss, what finally helped her feel seen, and how she continued to hold space for hope even in her darkest moments.

This episode reminds us that every fertility journey is unique — and that no pain is diminished just because joy came first.

Key Takeaway: “Gratitude and grief can coexist — and it’s okay to want more, even when you already have love.”

Connect with Fiona https://www.instagram.com/fitfertilitea/

** TRIGGER WARNING ** PREGNANCY LOSS ** We want to inform our listeners that this particular episode mentions the sensitive topic of miscarriage. We understand the potential impact it may have on some individuals, and we sincerely apologize if it triggers any discomfort or distress.**

--> We are not medical professionals or mental health practitioners, so please be sure to listen to your doctor and health care professional's advice, above all else. Our hope with each story we share on this Podcast, is that you find something and can relate in some way that brings you a sense of community and hope.

Please subscribe to our podcast so you don't miss an episode and become a part of our compassionate and supportive community. We welcome you.

Learn more about Oasis Fertility Support Network Learn more about Oasis Fertility Support Network:

WEB: ⁠https://oasisfsn.com/⁠

SOCIAL: ⁠@oasisfsn⁠

EMAIL: ⁠info@oasisfsn.com ⁠

⁠SIGN UP FOR A SUPPORT GROUP HERE ⁠

This episode was recorded at Crescent Health Collective in the Zen Den - find out more here ⁠https://crescenthealth.ca/ ⁠ ⁠@crescenthealthcollective⁠

#infertility #ivf #fertilitytreatment #fertilitystory #fertilitystories #Fertility #infertilitystories #ivfwarrior #fertilitycommunity #youarenotalone

This week on Fertility Village Live, Hosts Erin and Ashley, both who used sperm or egg donors to start their family, we’re joined by two inspiring advocates—Victoria and Alex—for a powerful, honest conversation about building a family through donor conception.

Together, we explore:

* What it means to parent beyond biology

* The emotional and practical layers of choosing a donor

* How identity and intention shape this path

* What we wish more people talked about openly.

Whether you’re just beginning to consider donor conception, parenting after it, or simply want to understand more about the different ways families are formed—this is an episode full of heart, insight, and community.

🧬 About Our Guests:

Victoria shares her journey using two egg donors to grow her family. She is the founder of Infertility Unfiltered, a powerful online space for support, and the author of a children’s book that helps parents talk to their kids about donor conception.

Alex brings a much-needed male perspective to this space, openly sharing his experience starting a family through sperm donation. His advocacy offers comfort and clarity to others walking a similar path.

💡 Key Topics Covered

~ Victoria’s story: navigating two donor egg cycles and creating intentional family connections

~ Alex’s perspective: exploring sperm donation and the often-unspoken emotional journey

~ How to choose a donor: what matters, what surprised them, and what they’d do differently

~ Talking to kids: approaches to telling donor-conceived children about their origins

~ Reflections and advice for those just beginning to explore this path

🔗 Connect with Our Guests:

Victoria: @expectinganything

Alex: @pursuingfatherhood

https://www.instagram.com/pursuingfatherhood/

Get a Copy of Victoria's book

📲 Follow us on Instagram @oasisfsn for updates, resources, and upcoming episodes

🗓️ Next Week

Join us for an eye-opening episode on Embryo Adoption—featuring personal stories and expert insight into this unique and growing family-building path.

💛 Thank you for being part of this conversation and this community. Wherever you are on your journey—you are not alone.

In this powerful and emotional episode of Fertility Village Live we shine a light on a journey shaped by courage, diagnosis, and the fierce, unwavering love between a mother and daughter.

Brianna Gill joins us alongside her mother, Lou Ann, to share her experience of being diagnosed with MRKH (Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome) as a teenager—a diagnosis that altered her vision of motherhood and ignited a long, heartfelt path to building her family through surrogacy.

Together, Brianna and Lou Ann open up about the heartbreak, strength, and deep connection that carried them through every step. From navigating MRKH to choosing surrogacy, this episode is a tribute to resilience, mother-daughter love, and the power of support that never wavers.

This conversation is for:

• Anyone living with or learning about MRKH

• Families exploring or undergoing surrogacy

• Those facing the emotional weight of infertility, especially around Mother’s Day

• Anyone who believes in the beauty and strength of chosen and biological family

✨ It's a story of heartbreak, hope, and how love builds families.

🔖 Tags:
#FertilityVillageLive #InfertilitySupport #Surrogacy #MRKH #MothersDay #FamilyJourney #ReproductiveHealth

📲 Follow Brianna on Instagram: @growingthegills

https://www.instagram.com/louloueyb/

🎧 Subscribe and listen on your favorite podcast platform.

Watch the video on YouTube

In this heartfelt episode, we hear from Caley — our eloquent and courageous Director of Communications — as she shares her personal fertility journey. With openness and vulnerability, Caley walks us through her multi-year path to parenthood: from the frustration of unexplained infertility and painful procedures like IUI and IVF, to the eventual discovery of endometriosis and a septate uterus after years of searching for answers.

She reflects on the emotional toll of repeated setbacks, the quiet weight of high-functioning depression, and the often overlooked reality of fertility burnout. Caley talks about the importance of support systems, coping rituals, setting boundaries, and learning when to take a break. This episode highlights the sisterhood that Oasis can create from attending a support group with Erin, Tiffany and Caley reflecting on their time together and the origin story of Oasis FSN.

Her story ultimately ends with the joy of a successful natural transfer and the birth of her baby boy — a beautiful reminder of what can happen when we advocate for our bodies and allow ourselves space to heal.

As someone who now supports others through her work at Oasis, Caley offers insight, hope, and the kind of compassionate wisdom only lived experience can bring.

Key Takeaway "Fertility burnout is real — and so is the healing power of community." – Caley

--> We are not medical professionals or mental health practitioners, so please be sure to listen to your doctor and health care professional's advice, above all else. Our hope with each story we share on this Podcast, is that you find something and can relate in some way that brings you a sense of community and hope.

Please subscribe to our podcast so you don't miss an episode and become a part of our compassionate and supportive community. We welcome you.

Learn more about Oasis Fertility Support Network:

WEB: ⁠https://oasisfsn.com/⁠

SOCIAL: ⁠@oasisfsn⁠

EMAIL: ⁠info@oasisfsn.com ⁠

⁠SIGN UP FOR A SUPPORT GROUP HERE ⁠

This episode was recorded at Crescent Health Collective in the Zen Den - find out more here ⁠https://crescenthealth.ca/ ⁠ ⁠@crescenthealthcollective⁠

#infertility #ivf #fertilitytreatment #fertilitystory #fertilitystories #Fertility #infertilitystories #ivfwarrior #fertilitycommunity #youarenotalone #endometriosis

In this episode of Fertility Village LIVE, Tanya and Erin welcome Dr. Lorne Brown, a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, clinical hypnotherapist, and founder of the Acubalance Wellness Centre, Healthy Seminars, and the Integrative Fertility Symposium.

As the host of the Conscious Fertility Podcast, Dr. Brown brings a unique and deeply integrative perspective to fertility care. He shares his personal journey from chartered accountant to TCM practitioner and explains how a powerful shift in mindset led him to build one of the first integrative fertility clinics in Canada.

The conversation explores the concept of conscious fertility—how the subconscious mind, emotional healing, and energy psychology tools like EFT, RTT, and PSYCH-K can influence fertility outcomes. Dr. Brown dives into how stress and emotional patterns can impact physical fertility and how changes at the mental and emotional level can even influence gene expression.

The discussion also highlights insights from his podcast, including memorable guests and themes that explore the intersection of neuroscience, spirituality, and reproductive health. Dr. Brown outlines common subconscious blocks that patients face, and how often “trying too hard” becomes counterproductive—not in the way people are often told to “just relax,” but in understanding how internal pressure can disrupt alignment and ease. He describes what a typical patient journey looks like at Acubalance, incorporating acupuncture, low-level laser therapy, nutritional support, and hypnotherapy to create a personalized plan. He also discusses the Acubalance Fertility Diet and its role in creating an optimal internal environment for conception.

As the episode closes, Dr. Brown shares a small but powerful daily practice for shifting from fear into alignment, offers encouragement for those who feel stuck or hopeless, and speaks to what gives him hope in this work. This episode offers valuable insight for anyone navigating the fertility journey or working in the integrative health space.

Resources and links from the show:
* Visit Dr. Lorne Brown’s clinic at acubalance.ca
* Explore courses and trainings at healthyseminars.com
* Listen to the Conscious Fertility Podcast on all major platforms
* Watch the replay on YouTube: @OasisFSN
Subscribe to the Oasis Fertility Podcast or for tickets for the upcoming Fertili’tea Party visit oasisfsn.com