Realfoodology Podcast Episode Summary

Episode: Egg Freezing, IVF & Fertility Truths
Host: Courtney Swan
Date: March 18, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of Realfoodology, hosted by food activist Courtney Swan, brings listeners an honest and nuanced conversation on fertility. Four experts—Sasha Hockman, Dr. Z, Dr. Ben Lynch, and representatives from Wenatal—join Courtney to share the often-unspoken truths about egg freezing, IVF, and holistic fertility health. Key themes include the rising rates of infertility, environmental impacts, biological age versus chronological age, misconceptions about ovarian reserve, male fertility’s vital role, and actionable steps individuals can take to optimize reproductive health.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Infertility Rates and the Environment

• Rising Infertility Rates: Dr. Z emphasizes that infertility is increasing, with environmental toxins playing a significant role alongside the trend of having children later in life.
  • Quote: "In my opinion, the infertility rates are rising for sure. I think it's multifactorial... Our environment plays a huge role." — Dr. Z (04:26)
• Environmental Toxins: Discussion highlights how pesticides, like glyphosate, are linked to the decline in sperm parameters—especially in populations living near large-scale farms.
  • Quote: "There are many different researchers looking at pesticides... sperm parameters have declined quite significantly in the last 50 years." — Dr. Z (05:15)

2. Biological Age vs. Chronological Age in Fertility

• Testing Biological Age: Sasha Hockman explains how DNA methylation markers are used to predict fertility outcomes more accurately than chronological age.
  • Quote: "When women come back with an older biological age, they have poorer outcomes on fertility—even if they're younger chronologically." — Sasha Hockman (00:36, 16:55)
• Cellular Health and Fertility: The biological age test is a "speedometer" for aging, revealing that fertility issues often reflect overall cellular health, not just calendar years.
  • Quote: "Infertility is a byproduct of health. The healthier you are, the younger your biological age, and also the more fertile." — Sasha Hockman (18:07)

3. Debunking Misconceptions: Ovarian Reserve, Egg Freezing, and Age

• Ovarian Reserve Myths: High anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) or ovarian reserve does not predict the likelihood of pregnancy.
  • Quote: "Egg reserve does not predict likelihood of pregnancy... Diminished ovarian reserve can lead someone to feel like they're never going to get pregnant, which isn’t true." — Dr. Z (06:34)
• Priming and Preparation: Priming protocols (like birth control or estrogen) before egg freezing can sometimes help, but outcomes vary widely.
  • Quote: "...there have been many cases where I do what's called just like a straight start... But you can tell on ultrasound when follicles are all various sizes." — Dr. Z (12:33)

4. The Importance of Early Action & Regret Minimization

• Advocacy for Early Consultation: Dr. Z strongly recommends consulting a fertility specialist earlier than you think you need to.
  • Quote: "Female age is the number one predictor of reproductive success. If you're younger and even thinking about it, just go for the consultation." — Dr. Z (07:29)
• Regret Prevention: Many women’s top regret is not freezing eggs or freezing more eggs when they had the chance.
  • Quote: "The number one regret is, I wish I froze my eggs, or I wish I froze more eggs... The people who have the eggs never regret it." — Dr. Z (08:07)

5. The Underestimated Role of Male Fertility

• Sperm Health Matters: Male health and lifestyle have profound impacts on fertility outcomes.
  • Quote: "Sperm quality is a barometer of your health.... Men that have issues with erectile dysfunction have higher chances of cardiovascular disease." — Male Fertility Expert (23:09)
• Men Often Overlooked in IVF: Shockingly, many IVF processes begin without even testing the male partner.
  • Quote: "IVF is...a band aid, especially when it comes to male fertility. A lot of times one out of four couples...the partner isn’t even tested." — Male Fertility Expert (22:38)
• Male Supplements: Antioxidant supplementation in men can significantly increase the chance of pregnancy.
  • Quote: "Men that take antioxidants...have five times higher chances of getting their partner pregnant." — Male Fertility Expert (28:35)
• Team Approach: Fertility is a team sport; both partners must optimize health.
  • Quote: "We need to shift the gender paradigms...both partners are leveling up their health." — Wenatal Representative (30:04)

6. Genetic Considerations and MTHFR

• Both Parents' Genetics Matter: Dr. Ben Lynch discusses how both partners’ MTHFR gene variants can be passed to offspring, influencing outcomes such as miscarriage.
  • Quote: "It's not just a woman who gets pregnant. The sperm is heavily involved... Men, you need to be taking a prenatal vitamin as well." — Dr. Ben Lynch (30:27)

7. Holistic Fertility and Mental Health

• Lifestyle Factors: Sleep, stress, toxin reduction, and nutrition are emphasized for both potential parents.
  • Quote: "Getting enough sleep, reducing your stress, working on your toxic load... for your men too." — Courtney Swan (33:26)
• Mental Health and Gratitude: Maintaining gratitude and positivity can have measurable impacts during the fertility journey.
  • Quote: "Gratitude a few minutes a day can really help shift the brain... your mental health is so important also." — Wenatal Representative (24:39)

8. Normalizing Later Parenthood

• Benefits of Older Parenthood: Guests highlight the positives of having children later—greater financial stability, emotional readiness, and no FOMO.
  • Quote: "I am so grateful that I had my kids in my late 30s and early 40s. Like, I don't have FOMO." — Male Fertility Expert (25:42)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Biological Age:
  "I was mid-30s at the time, single in LA, wanting babies. I didn't come back in my 20s. I didn't even come back at my age. I came back four years older." — Sasha Hockman (16:55)

• On Regret:
  "The number one regret is, I wish I froze my eggs, or I wish I froze more eggs." — Dr. Z (08:07)

• On Male Fertility:
  "It could be linked. Men that have issues with erectile dysfunction have higher chances of cardiovascular disease." — Male Fertility Expert (23:09)
  "How are we not discussing that men are 50% of the fertility equation." — Wenatal Representative (29:40)

• On Genetics:
  "If the man's sperm are unhealthy, they are passing unhealthy chromosomes... both man and women must be supported with a prenatal." — Dr. Ben Lynch (32:09)

• On Collaboration:
  "It's a team sport. You cannot do it alone." — Wenatal Representative (30:03)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:25 — Advantages and disadvantages of egg freezing
• 04:26 — Rising infertility and the role of environmental toxins
• 06:34 — Ovarian reserve does not equal pregnancy likelihood
• 07:29 — Regret and the importance of early consultation
• 12:33 — Protocols for egg freezing (priming)
• 16:55 — Biological age test, impact on fertility
• 18:07 — Cellular health, mitochondria’s role in eggs
• 22:38 — Male fertility’s overlooked importance in IVF
• 25:42 — Positives of later-in-life parenthood
• 28:35 — Antioxidants and male fertility
• 30:03 — Fertility is a team sport; gender paradigms
• 30:27 — MTHFR genetics and prenatal recommendations for men
• 33:26 — Lifestyle choices: stress, toxins, nutrition, for both parents

Final Thoughts

This episode powerfully reframes fertility as a couple’s journey rooted in holistic health—physical, genetic, and emotional. The conversation busts major myths about ovarian reserve and age, centers male health as vital to outcomes, and provides actionable, hopeful advice to those considering or undergoing fertility interventions. Guests encourage early education, self-compassion, and a focus on overall wellbeing—empowering listeners to make informed, proactive choices about their reproductive futures.