With 15 million men and women in the United States affected by infertility annually, I’m excited to dive into a topic that is often shrouded in silence and stigma – and one that we've never explored before on The Big Silence!

Ali Prato is the host of Infertile AF, the number one infertility podcast, an IVF mom and a secondary infertility warrior. Ali’s mission is to create a space she wished existed during her own journey and to ensure that others grappling with similar issues, or simply seeking to understand them, are not alone.

An Empath’s Navigation Tools Through Infertility, IVF & Miscarriages

Ali opens up about her personal infertility journey and the decision to pursue IVF, bravely confronting and breaking stigmas along the way. We discuss how infertility affected her marriage, the challenges she and her husband faced, and the dark times they endured together.

Ali shares invaluable advice on finding support groups to navigate such profound heartbreak and offers guidance on how to support loved ones dealing with infertility or miscarriages.

We also explore Ali’s unique career path, from her days as a Playboy editor to becoming a podcaster, offering insights on navigating life and career transitions. I'm grateful for this conversation with Ali and the opportunity to provide information and advice on navigating a journey that profoundly impacts mental and physical health.

Tune in to gain a deeper understanding and perhaps find the support you need!

(00:02:58) Ending the Stigma Around Secondary Infertility & IVF

• How do we end the stigma of infertility?
• Ali’s journey with infertility
• Navigating geriatric pregnancies
• Unpacking the shift towards getting pregnant later in life
• Diving into secondary infertility: what it is and how to navigate it
• What led to her decision to pursue IVF?
• How Ali explains secondary infertility and addresses the stigma around it

(00:10:10) Real Talk on How Infertility Impacts Relationships

• How infertility affected her marriage
• How Ali and her husband each processed their miscarriages differently
• The compromise they came to in their infertility journey

(00:16:31) IVF Preparation & Protocol 101

• How she prepared her body for IVF
• What IVF protocol and treatment entails
• When you can tell the gender with IVF
• The difference between a fresh or frozen embryo transfer

(00:22:56) Advice for Supporting Loved Ones Going Through Infertility

• The importance of community support to get through infertility
• Infertility Support Group: Fertility Rally
• What to say to someone dealing with loss or infertility
• Event: Fertility Rally Live
• Confronting the biggest stigma around IVF
• Infertile AF Podcast: Leia and Kriston Burroughs' Infertility Story
• Addressing how infertility impacts communities of color

(00:32:35) Ali’s Career from Playboy to Podcaster & Embracing Transitions in Life

• How Ali got a job as an editor at Playboy
• How Ali’s career in journalism led to her starting her podcast
• Advice for navigating transitions throughout your life and career
• Insight for navigating pregnancy and motherhood after loss

Go to seed.com/karena and use code 25KARENA to get 25% off your first month of DS-01®. That’s 25% off your first month of Seed’s DS-01® at seed.com/Karena, code 25KARENA.

Visit betterhelp.com/thebigsilence, or choose “The Big Silence” during sign up, and enjoy a special discount on your first month. BetterHelp can match you with a licensed therapist who is trained to listen and give you helpful, unbiased advice.

Guest Info:

• Instagram: @infertileafstories
• Podcast: Infertile AF
• Infertility Support Group: Fertility Rally
• Website: infertileafgroup.com

Resources:

• Start a conversation in your The Big Silence merch: thebigsilence.com/collections/shop-all
• Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing
• Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn
• Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence
• Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel
• Therapy For All: Resources for those in need
• Thank you to our partners! Go to thebigsilence.com/partners for special offers for our listeners

Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!

“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.

Producer, Bobby Goldstein.