Podcast Summary: The Tamsen Show

Episode: The Fertility Expert: Egg Freezing, IVF, and Supplements Explained

Host: Tamsen Fadal
Guest: Dr. Lucky C. Khan, Reproductive Endocrinologist
Date: January 14, 2026

Episode Overview

In this thoughtful, myth-busting conversation, Tamsen Fadal sits down with Dr. Lucky C. Khan to provide a grounded, science-backed primer for women navigating fertility in their 20s, 30s, 40s and beyond. They discuss Dr. Khan’s new book The Lucky Egg, why fertility information is often misleading, who needs to start the fertility conversation, and the realities—and limits—of IVF, egg freezing, and supplements. This episode is both practical and empathetic, aiming to equip women with clear knowledge and less guilt or overwhelm about their fertility journey.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Fertility Knowledge Gap and Outdated Narratives

• Why Dr. Khan wrote The Lucky Egg
  • Frustrated by misinformation and a lack of doctor-written resources about fertility (02:01)
  • Many popular books focus on “egg quality and supplements” but ignore clinical realities

    “The most quoted book, the most popular fertility resource is not even written by a doctor ... It’s such an outdated narrative.” – Dr. Lucky Khan (02:12)

  • Fertility needs holistic understanding, not just a focus on what women can “do” or control
  • Women are especially vulnerable to misinformation due to a time-sensitive, emotionally charged search for answers

2. Impact of Social Media, Celebrity Stories, and Misinformation

• Social communities and increased openness are helpful—but also amplify conflicting advice and unrealistic expectations, especially in the wake of celebrity pregnancies (04:17, 09:00)

  “On one hand, people see Janet Jackson or other celebrities having kids in their 50s ... but when you only share part of the story, it can make people feel like, well, IVF and science has come a long way, anything is possible.” – Dr. Khan (09:00)

• Jennifer Aniston’s openness about unsuccessful IVF helped “humanize” the process and made many feel seen (09:00)

3. Advances in IVF and Fertility Technologies

• IVF has rapidly improved; early success rates were below 5%, now up to 60–70% for some (06:00–07:20)
• Lab technology is crucial: we now grow embryos longer and use safer meds, resulting in fewer high-risk multiple pregnancies (07:24)
• “Breakneck” scientific advancement is fueled by demand and willingness to try new protocols, but also creates room for hype.

4. When to Start the Fertility Conversation

• Awareness should start in the early 20s—not just when partnered or trying (10:48)

  “Everyone should be thinking about this as they enter their 20s and 30s... even if they’re not ready to start trying.” – Dr. Khan (10:48)

• Guidelines for seeing a doctor (11:33):
  • Under 35: after one year of trying
  • 35 and older: after 6 months of trying
  • In your 40s: after 3 months
• Irregular, painful, or heavy periods may signal underlying issues warranting earlier evaluation (10:48)

5. Understanding the “Biological Clock”: Egg Quantity vs. Quality

• Quantity: Number of eggs (AMH hormone level and ultrasound can estimate). Important if considering egg retrieval/freezing. (16:29)
• Quality: The ability of an egg to create a chromosomally normal embryo. There is no direct test for egg quality; declines with age. (17:29)

  “Quality is ... the ability to make an embryo from your eggs that has all of the DNA it’s supposed to have.” – Dr. Khan (17:29)

• Aging affects egg quality more than quantity. At 35, about a third of eggs have genetic errors; at 40, up to two thirds (12:30–13:20)

6. The Role of Ovulation and Testing

• Ovulation predictor kits help with timing, not egg quality or quantity (18:20–20:13)
• Timing sex for the 2–3 days before ovulation is most effective

7. Emotional Burden and Gendered Blame

• Women unfairly shoulder the blame for fertility issues; men are just as likely to contribute (22:50–24:12)

  “It’s really 50/50, isn’t it crazy though that it’s shocking to people? ... Men always make new sperm for the rest of their life so I think that that gives them an air of invincibility.” – Dr. Khan (24:00)

• Dr. Khan insists both partners get tested

8. Perimenopause, Ovarian Reserve, and Pregnancy Later in Life

• Ovarian reserve (egg count) drops with age; first signs are shorter cycles, then erratic cycles as menopause approaches (24:48–26:00)
• The uterus does not age the same way as the ovaries, allowing for later pregnancy with frozen eggs/embryos (28:01)

  “Your uterus doesn’t really age. I should have started this conversation with that.” – Dr. Khan (28:01)

9. Egg and Embryo Freezing

• Egg freezing: single cells stored, possible to fertilize later
• Embryo freezing: eggs fertilized and grown to embryos in lab, tested for genetic errors, then frozen (36:44–38:02)
• “Stopping the clock” is real; eggs & embryos can be frozen indefinitely (38:02–38:04)
• There is still no guarantee of success, even with these advances

10. Lifestyle, Environment, and Supplements

For Egg and Sperm Health:

• Focus on overall health: cardio, resistance training, sleep, Mediterranean diet, minimize smoking and avoid unnecessary restrictive diets (34:01–35:34)

  “Whatever is better for heart health typically is better for fertility ... exercise, Mediterranean diet ... try to avoid processed foods.” – Dr. Khan (34:01)

• Insulin resistance is a key modifiable factor, especially for PCOS (31:55)
• Environmental toxins (plastics, fragrance, endocrine disruptors) matter, but be practical—not extreme—in making changes (45:08–46:55)

Supplements:

• Prenatal vitamins with folic acid are essential for prevention of neural tube defects, not necessarily improving fertility (47:28)
• CoQ10 may be helpful (“low lift”), little risk, some evidence for improved outcomes (48:40)
• Beware unregulated, “overreaching” supplement claims (DHEA can have significant side effects and unclear benefit) (49:36)

  “Supplements feel like the Wild West, right? And I think that too much is never a good thing...” – Dr. Khan (46:59)

11. Specific Diagnoses: PCOS, Endometriosis, Fibroids

• Those with gynecologic diagnoses (endometriosis, fibroids, PCOS) should seek fertility consultation and baseline ultrasound before trying (43:27)
• Early awareness and check-ups prevent complications and set expectations

12. Coping with Uncertainty and Overwhelm

• Much of fertility is out of your control; there is no test that can fully predict your unique journey (50:09)

  “Try and be the healthiest version of yourself without driving yourself crazy. Right. There’s a balance to it.” – Dr. Khan (45:02)

• Prioritize mental health: accept uncertainty, don’t obsess over “doing everything right,” and get a second opinion if you feel lost (51:14)

  “The common thread between the patients that emerge from the journey ... is that they prioritize their mental health. Right. It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon.” – Dr. Khan (51:14)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the pressures and myths of control:

  “I always say, try and be the healthiest version of yourself without driving yourself crazy ... There’s a balance to it.” – Dr. Lucky Khan (45:02)

• On the randomness and luck of conception:

  “I named my book the Lucky Egg because it really is a random ovulation. As much as we can talk about the science and the stats, there is some element of luck and serendipity.” – Dr. Lucky Khan (13:09)

• On misinformation and supplements:

  “Supplements feel like the Wild West, right? ... You don’t always know what you’re getting, and you don’t always know about the purity and other additive compounds, heavy metals, and other things that could be in it.” – Dr. Lucky Khan (46:59)

• On emotional support:

  “Prioritize your mental health... The common thread between the patients that emerge from the journey... is that they prioritize their mental health. Right. It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon.” – Dr. Lucky Khan (51:14)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction, context of episode: 00:00–01:56
• Why Dr. Khan wrote The Lucky Egg: 01:57–02:41
• Fertility myths and outdated narratives: 02:41–03:59
• Social media influence on fertility knowledge: 03:59–04:56
• IVF advancements and reasons for rapid progress: 06:00–09:00
• Celebrity influence—positives and pitfalls: 09:00–10:34
• When to start thinking about fertility: 10:48–11:35
• Biological clock explained (quantity vs. quality): 14:29–18:10
• Role of ovulation and timing: 18:10–20:13
• Addressing blame and male factor infertility: 22:50–24:31
• Perimenopause, ovarian reserve, and late pregnancy: 24:48–28:01
• Egg freezing vs embryo freezing, expectations: 36:38–40:36
• Lifestyle and supplement advice: 31:55–35:34, 46:59–49:36
• Guidance for women with PCOS, fibroids, endometriosis: 43:27–44:51
• Coping with overwhelm, advice for the journey: 50:09–53:30

Takeaways

• Fertility clarity starts with understanding both your biology (what can and cannot be measured or changed) and your options.
• Social trends, improved science, and open conversations are shifting the narrative, but confusion and unrealistic expectations persist—especially with celebrity stories and social media.
• Mindset and mental well-being are as important as medical steps you take. There is no shame, no single timeline, and no perfect “fertility fix.”

For More: Get Dr. Lucky C. Khan’s book The Lucky Egg for an in-depth, compassionate roadmap to understanding fertility at any age.
Links in show notes.