Brave & Curious with Dr Lora Shahine

What if the "final frontier" of fertility care is not IVF technology, but the aging ovary itself? Can science help improve egg quality, mitochondrial function, and reproductive lifespan? And how do patients sort through what is proven, what is promising, and what is still very much in the "ask your doctor before you try this" category?
In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine welcomes reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Roohi Jeelani for a fascinating conversation about ovarian rejuvenation, age-related fertility decline, and the future of fertility treatment. 
Together, they discuss why age remains one of the biggest factors in IVF success, how egg quality changes over time, and why topics like oxidative stress, mitochondrial health, inflammation, and lifestyle optimization are becoming such important parts of the fertility conversation.
In this episode you'll hear:
[1:07] Meet Dr. Roohi Jeelani
[2:32] Age and fertility
[4:23] Egg quality basics
[8:06] Sleep and fertility
[9:35] Stress and cortisol
[14:58] Movement and PCOS
[16:54] Nutrition for fertility
[18:51] Trimester zero prep: Small, sustainable changes
[29:25] CoQ10, Inositol, Melatonin
[35:38] NAD and egg quality
[43:56] GLP-1 fertility questions
[47:22] Peptides and PRP
[55:33] Ovarian rejuvenation research
[1:01:04] Future fertility medicine
Resources mentioned: 
onto.health
@roohijeelanimd on Instagram | LinkedIn
@onto-health-co on LinkedIn
Your Leggings Could be Causing Infertility? with Dr. Lora Shahine on YouTube
Can CoQ10 Improve Egg Quality and Sperm Health for TTC? with Dr. Lora Shahine on YouTube
Does Growth Hormone Improve IVF Outcomes? with Dr. Lora Shahine on YouTube

Dr. Shahine's Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations
Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books
Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode!
This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

Have you been told your fertility tests are normal, but pregnancy still isn't happening? What does unexplained infertility actually mean when it clearly feels like something is going on? And how do age, egg quality, sperm function, endometriosis, inflammation, and implantation issues factor into a diagnosis that can feel more frustrating than reassuring?
In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine takes a compassionate deep dive into unexplained infertility to explain how it's diagnosed, why it affects so many patients, and what may be happening behind the scenes when standard fertility testing does not reveal a clear answer.
Listeners will learn the most common hidden contributors to unexplained infertility, treatment options, and when moving to IVF may be the most effective path forward.
In this episode you'll hear:
[0:49] Dr. Lora Shahine's personal fertility story
[3:06] How Diagnosis Works
[4:31] How Common is Unexplained Infertility?
[8:07] Possible Cause #1: Age & Fertility
[11:51] Possible Cause #2: Hidden Sperm Factors
[13:48] Possible Cause #3: Egg Quality Unknowns
[14:13] Possible Cause #4: Implantation Mysteries
[15:19] Possible Cause #5: Tubal Function Problems
[16:49] Possible Cause #6: Endometriosis Link
[19:233 Possible Cause #7: Inflammation and Lifestyle
[20:39] What to Do Next
[23:38] Treatment Plans: IUI vs IVF
[31:31] Wrap up and next steps
 
Dr. Shahine's Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations
Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books
Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode!
This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

Are you frustrated by a diagnosis of unexplained infertility? What if a "normal" semen analysis is not telling the whole story about sperm health? Could a new male fertility test help explain why fertilization is not happening, even when sperm count, motility, and morphology look fine?
In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine welcomes Jeff Lysiak, PhD. He is a reproductive biologist, and co-founder and Chief Science Officer of PS Fertility. He is here to to talk about what standard semen analysis may miss. 
Together, Dr. Shahine and Dr. Lysiak explore the science behind sperm fertilization competence, the role of phosphatidylserine (PS) on live sperm, and how Dr. Lysiak's research led to PS Direct, a diagnostic test designed to measure sperm's ability to bind and fertilize an egg beyond traditional semen parameters.
Dr. Shahine and Dr. Lysiak also discuss the future of male reproductive health research, including lifestyle factors, environmental exposures, and the growing need for more precise answers earlier in the fertility journey.
In this episode you'll hear:
[0:39] Meet Jeff Lysiak, PhD
[2:01] From Placenta to Sperm
[3:24] PS Discovery Explained
[5:01] How Sperm Meets Egg
[9:02] From Lab to Clinic
[10:19] Limits of Semen Analysis
[12:46] PS Score and Misdiagnosis
[14:12] At Home PS Test Kit
[18:20] Where PS Fits Clinically
[21:13] Varicocele & Repair Surgery
[24:14] Using PS to Guide Care
[27:26] Lifestyle Factors
[33:006] Future Research Directions
[34:21] Where to Find the Test & Connect with Jeff
 
Resources mentioned: 
PSFertility.com
 
Dr. Shahine's Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations
Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books
Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode!
This episode was sponsored by PS Fertility.
This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

What if the hardest part of your fertility journey isn't the medicine, it's affording the best treatment? How do you plan for IVF costs when coverage is unclear or incomplete? And is there a smarter, more supported way to navigate the financial stress of building a family? 
In this episode of Brave & Curious, Angela Rastegar, CEO and founder of Sunfish, joins Dr. Lora Shahine. They are honoring National Fertility Week through their conversation that explores the real cost of fertility care and why financial planning is just as critical as medical care.
Angela shares her deeply personal fertility journey, including multiple rounds of egg freezing without financial support, and how that experience led her to build a platform designed to support patients through every step of their family-building journey, from egg freezing and IVF to surrogacy. Dr. Shahine and Angela talk about the hidden gaps in insurance coverage, the rising reality of fertility-related debt, and how Sunfish's data-driven, AI-powered programs aim to reduce uncertainty with personalized care plans, cost transparency, and even financial protections for IVF and egg freezing outcomes.
In this episode you'll hear:
[0:34] Angela Rastegar's personal journey, without financial support
[3:28] Along comes Sunfish
[5:45] The IVF Success Program
[8:35] The hidden costs of IVF
[13:40] Common misconceptions with insurance coverage
[19:53] Step-by-step breakdown of cost
[23:01] Grants, loans, and creative solutions
[27:08] New AI-powered egg freezing program
[30:55]The "silent tax" of egg freezing
[37:00] Getting connected to Sunfish
Resources mentioned: 
joinsunfish.com
Sunfish provides personalized financial plans using proprietary software to estimate costs for each Program. If actual costs exceed projections, eligible patients may receive a partial refund under program terms. Sunfish is not a medical provider. Terms and conditions apply.
 
Dr. Shahine's Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations
Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books
Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode!
This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

IVF is under fire. So, what happens when access to IVF is suddenly at risk? How much power should policy have over your ability to build a family? And what can one voice, or one story, really do to protect fertility care for millions? 
In this timely episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine is joined by Danielle Melfi, the new CEO of RESOLVE, who brings a powerful blend of policy expertise, personal fertility experience, and a deep commitment to family-building equity. 
Airing at the start of National Infertility Awareness Week, Dr. Lora Shahine and Danielle are talking about the real-world impact of recent legislative threats to IVF, including the Alabama ruling that temporarily halted treatment. They explore how advocacy organizations mobilize quickly to protect patients. 
Danielle shares her own egg freezing journey, her background in government and healthcare advocacy, and how RESOLVE is working to expand access, improve patient education, and fight misinformation in an increasingly complex fertility landscape.
In this episode you'll hear:
[1:41] Meet Danielle Melfi, CEO of RESOLVE
[5:45] Why IVF Stopped in Alabama
[10:55] What RESOLVE Does
[14:15] Fertility Care Coverage in California and Recent Advocacy Wins
[19:29] The Power of Fertility Stories
[21:48] Restorative Reproductive Medicine Movement: A Threat in Disguise?
[23:12] Personhood Bills Explained
[36:55] RESOLVE's Strategic Plan
[38:31] Get Involved
 
Resources mentioned: 
resolve.org
@resolveorg on Instagram
 
Dr. Shahine's Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations
Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books
Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode!
This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.