The Egg Whisperer Show

Today, Dr. Kristin Brogaard is joining me today to talk about the Path Fertility SpermQT test. I'm so excited to have her share about the test, because as you'll hear her say "lots of infertility goes undiagnosed because men go undiagnosed, and when men go undiagnosed, women go through procedures that will not work." (Who else wants to see this on a bumper sticker?) While sperm were long considered to be just carriers of DNA, it turns out they are a lot more complex than that! Understanding the sperm side of the equation can help anyone trying to conceive better understand what's going on, and help them figure out the best plan to get pregnant.

Read the full show notes on my website.


A few exciting highlights from our discussion:


Male and sperm epigenetics play a big role in getting pregnant, and having a successful live birth.
The SpermQT test can tell someone if their sperm is excellent, average, or poor quality. - Knowing this information can help you and your doctor determine the most efficient and appropriate next steps in your treatment or protocols.
Understanding the quality of the sperm can lead to better outcomes. If it is "excellent," there is an increased likelihood of IUI working, even in cases where doctors thought sperm might be the issue with getting pregnant.
If sperm quality is "poor," you may want to try making lifestyle changes to improve sperm quality, and retest. - Poor sperm quality often correlates with other longer term health issues for men, as sperm acts as a "canary in the coal mine." (an early warning system)
Dr. Kristin Brogaard has a PhD from Northwestern University where she developed a novel epigenetic technology that allowed for a more accurate understanding of gene expression in health and disease cells. She is now the chief scientific officer of Path Fertility, whose goal is to raise the standard in male reproductive health, starting with male infertility.


Thank you for joining us, Kristin!

My Book, The Egg Whisperer Way comes out in Summer of 2026. Click here to order your copy.


You can learn more about the Path SpermQT test here: https://pathfertility.com/

Subscribe to the newsletter to get updates: https://draimee.org/blog

Join the TUSHY Method Class: https://the-egg-whisperer-school.teachable.com/p/the-tushy-method

Join Egg Freezing Class: https://the-egg-whisperer-school.teachable.com/p/egg-freezing-party/

Buy Your Fertility Pants: https://egg-whisperer.myshopify.com/

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.

Today on The Egg Whisperer Show podcast, I'm sharing The BALLS Method. We've got the TUSHY Method for the gals, and the BALLS Method is a super easy mnemonic that makes it easy to remember the five things you need to know if your sperm count is low. So, tune in to hear me talk more about these important considerations for the guys:


B = Background genetics (sperm DNA frag, chromosome analysis, Y chr microdeletion)


A = Anatomy (varicocoele)


L = Labs (hormones like testosterone)


L = Lifestyle (alcohol, marijuana, medications, body size, exercise + nutrition)


S = Sex life (get help for erectile dysfunction)


Read the full show notes on Dr. Aimee's website

My Book, The Egg Whisperer Way comes out in Summer of 2026. Click here to order your copy.

Do you have questions about IVF?
Click here to join Dr. Aimee for The IVF Class.
The next live class call is on Monday, May 20, 2026 at 4pm PST, where Dr. Aimee will explain IVF and there will be time to ask her your questions live on Zoom.
 
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.

Other ways to connect with Dr. Aimee and The Egg Whisperer Show:
Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more fertility tips!
Subscribe to the newsletter to get updates

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a procedure commonly done in fertility clinics around the world. We place the sperm inside the uterus, close to the fallopian tubes. If you're going to do IUI treatment, you want it to work.
Tune in as I break down the steps to give you the best chance of success at IUI. I'll take you through what I typically do with my patients to give you insight into what you can expect! 


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, May 18, 2026 at 4pm PST, where Dr. Aimee will explain IVF and there will be time to ask her your questions live on Zoom.

My Book, The Egg Whisperer Way comes out in Summer of 2026. Click here to order your copy.

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.

Other ways to connect:
Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more fertility tips
Join Egg Whisperer School
Subscribe to the newsletter to get updates

I am talking to the incredible Victoria Nino, author of Our Hearts Match, donor conception advocate, and mom of two about one of the most vulnerable moments in a fertility journey: what happens after IVF fails.
Victoria has lived through multiple failed IVF cycles, stage three endometriosis, years of heartbreak, and ultimately became a mother twice over through donor egg conception via two very different paths. Her story is raw, honest, and full of the kind of hard-won wisdom that only comes from truly living it.

We dive deep into the emotional rollercoaster of failed IVF cycles, the grief that so often goes unacknowledged, and what it really takes to open the door to donor eggs, not out of defeat, but out of empowerment. Victoria shares how education, community, and even a spiritual trip to Thailand helped her find her footing, and why she believes you don't have to be 100% emotionally ready, you just have to be willing to take a peek.

In this episode, we cover:

The grief of failed IVF cycles and why it deserves to be treated like any other profound loss
The emotional tipping point between exhaustion and openness when considering donor eggs
The difference between fresh and frozen donor eggs including cost, timeline, and access
What an open donor relationship looks like and why Victoria wishes she'd had it from the start
How epigenetics and bonding science can help shift your perspective on the mother-child relationship
Overcoming shame, fear of judgment, and the "am I the real mom?" question
Why Victoria's one regret is that she didn't do it sooner and what she'd tell anyone in the "what now" moment right now

Resources:

Victoria Nino on Instagram: @expectinganything
Victoria's website: expectinganything.com
Victoria's support groups & classes: Infertility Unfiltered | @infertilityunfiltered
Donor Nexus (frozen & fresh egg donation with open relationship options): https://www.instagram.com/donor.nexus/
Book: Our Hearts Match by Victoria Nino
Book: What Makes a Baby by Cory Silverberg
The Egg Whisperer Show on YouTube and Spotify
 
My Book, The Egg Whisperer Way comes out in Summer of 2026. Click here to order your copy.


Do you have questions about IVF?
Click here to join Dr. Aimee for The IVF Class.
The next live class call is on Monday, May 18, 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 to decrease your time to pregnancy. Learn more about the TUSHY Method and find a wealth of fertility resources at www.draimee.org.

Read the full shownotes on Dr. Aimee's website: click here.

Do you think you can put botox in your ovaries? You know, plump up those older eggs to regain their youthfulness?


Nope, sorry. Not possible.


Or have you thought that because you can take a youthful looking selfie, and feel great, that your fertility must be picture perfect too?


Nope, sorry. Good selfies don't equal good fertility.


But you're not dumb. You know that. But there may be some tricky information out there that you're not entirely sure if it's true.


Fertility isn't surface level. It's not skin-deep. It's biology. It's what's deep inside, and yet impacted by what's outside of you too. Suffice to say, it can be complex.


Which is why I'm here. I'm certainly a fertility doctor with over a decade of training and advanced degrees that have gotten me to the point where I finally know how to make a baby. And I want to share what I know with all of you.

My Book, The Egg Whisperer Way comes out in Summer of 2026. Click here to order your copy.


Do you have questions about IVF?
Click here to join Dr. Aimee for The IVF Class.
The next live class call is on Monday, May 18, 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 to decrease your time to pregnancy. Learn more about the TUSHY Method and find a wealth of fertility resources at www.draimee.org.