If you’re in IVF and being offered a menu of embryo tests – PGT‑A, PGT‑M, PGT‑P – it can feel overwhelming. What do they actually tell you? How much is genetics vs environment? And how do you think about ethics, money, and risk for your family?

In this two‑part series, I’m joined by Jonathan Anomaly, a social scientist and philosopher who works with a company developing and researching embryo testing tools, including PGT‑P.

In Part 1, we cover: – What PGT‑A, PGT‑M and PGT‑P are (in plain language) – What kinds of conditions these tests can screen for – and what they can’t – How to think about risk, family history, and the role of environment – The real‑world pros and cons: cost, access, equity, and ethics – Guardrails for deciding whether embryo testing makes sense for you

You’ll leave with a clearer framework for talking to your doctor or genetics team, without being told what you “should” do.

⚠️ Important: This episode is for education and reflection only. It is not medical, genetic, or legal advice. Always discuss your specific situation with your own care team.

🎁 Free IVF “Zoom Out” Decision Guide

If this episode left you feeling pulled in many directions about embryo testing, I created a short Zoom Out guide to help you: – Step back from the pressure of the moment – Get clear on your own priorities and values – Walk into appointments more prepared to ask questions and make decisions that fit you

👉 Get it free here: https://familybuilding.net/newsletter/

📅 Upcoming free workshops

If you’d like more free support on decisions, donor conception, or surrogacy, you can see all of my upcoming workshops here: 👉 https://familybuilding.net/events-page/

Learn more about Dr. Anomaly: https://jonathan-anomaly.com/ Learn more about Herasight: https://www.herasight.com/

About Lisa

Lisa Schuman, LCSW, is the founder of the Building Your Family community, an expert‑led platform that provides evidence‑based education and support for people using fertility treatment, donor conception, and surrogacy – including LGBTQ+ families and single parents by choice.

#IVF #EmbryoTesting #PGTA #PGTM #PGTP #FertilityTreatment #GeneticTesting #DonorConception #Surrogacy #InfertilitySupport #BuildingYourFamily

Journalist Pedro Andrade joins me to talk about his new documentary series Somewhat Familiar – a global journey through surrogacy, adoption, foster care and modern LGBTQ+ families, including his own path to fatherhood with his husband and their daughter via surrogacy.

From “illegal” same‑sex parenthood in Italy to adoption in Korea and foster families in the U.S., we explore how love, law and culture shape who gets to be a family.

In this episode, we talk about:

Why Pedro created Somewhat Familiar and how it changed his view of becoming a parent What he learned from same‑sex parents whose families are not legally recognized The emotional reality of surrogacy, adoption, foster care and independent parenting How legal systems and social norms can make some families invisible or “illegal” What really matters most in building strong family relationships across cultures This conversation is for anyone building a family through IVF, donor conception, surrogacy, adoption, foster care or on their own – and wondering where they fit.

📺 Watch Somewhat Familiar with Pedro Andrade (Streaming details may vary by region.)

📩 Free support for your journey If you want a simple 10‑minute reset for the hardest days of treatment, DM me “ZOOM” on Instagram or leave a comment here, and I’ll send you my free Zoom Out Theory ebook + guided meditation.

Follow Pedro Andrade on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pedroandradetv/

This special Best of 2025 Learn episode brings together the most powerful insights on IVF, donor conception, and surrogacy to help you feel more prepared, informed, and less alone in your 2026 fertility journey.

Inside this episode, we revisit key moments from conversations with leading voices in reproductive medicine, psychology, and lived experience. Using my Zoom Theory (regulate vs learn), this is the Learn episode:

Part 1 – New Insights • IVF: how to think about your cycle and when to pursue treatment • Donor conception: talking about donors, identity, and long‑term implications for you and your future child • Surrogacy: the experience of a surrogate

Part 2 – What You Need To Remember • Core truths to hold onto when you feel discouraged or behind • Frameworks to use on your journey • How to keep learning without overwhelming yourself

This episode is for anyone using IVF, donor conception, or surrogacy to build their family, and for professionals who support them.

🔍 Resources mentioned: • My free “Zoom Out” ebook on regulating first, then learning in manageable steps: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/2qiyompkg6cowwk18waj6/Year-End-e-book.pdf?rlkey=hrz9uan0c87pnobh3qm1w2scv&st=5bvv3zpx&dl=0 • Workshops on [DONOR CHOICE / PARENTING / SURROGACY] and ongoing support: https://familybuilding.net/ • Listen to the full podcast on audio platforms: https://familybuilding.net/podcast/

If this helped you, please subscribe, leave a review, or share it with someone on this path. No one should have to navigate third‑party reproduction and fertility treatment alone.

#IVFjourney #DonorConception #SurrogacyJourney

Struggling with PCOS and trying to understand your fertility options – and all the talk about PGT‑A, PGT‑M and PGT‑P?

In this episode, fertility specialist Dr Steven Palter walks through how he approaches PCOS treatment and lifestyle, then explains the differences between PGT‑A, PGT‑M and PGT‑P in IVF embryo genetic testing.

I frame this as a kind of “second opinion” conversation – not to replace your own doctor, but to give you another way of hearing the information so you can ask clearer questions at your own clinic.

Learn more about Dr. Steven Palter: https://www.goldcoastivf.com/ Follow Dr. Steven Palter on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevenpaltermd/

In this episode I share The Zoom Out Theory: a 30‑minute reset to calm your nervous system and regain perspective during IVF, donor conception, or surrogacy. You’ll learn why your brain spirals during treatment, how to “zoom out” in the hardest moments, and a simple way to come back to yourself when it all feels like too much. Free companion ebook + guided meditation: DM me “ZOOM” on Instagram and I’ll send it to you.

Many people using donor conception or surrogacy feel “different” and quietly wonder what family really means when genetics aren’t shared in the way they expected.

In this episode, I talk about chosen family in the context of donor conception and surrogacy: how to see yourself not as “other,” but as part of a growing, very real type of family.

We’ll explore: • How the concept of family has changed – and where you fit in • Why grief about not using your or your partner’s genetics is natural • How grief about genetics and your bond with your child often get conflated (and why they’re different) • How to think about who is in your “inner circle” • How to decide what to share with close family and friends, and what to keep private • Why doing both the inner work (your own feelings) and the external work (how you talk to others) can help you feel more prepared for the future

If you’re building your family with donor sperm, donor eggs, embryos, or surrogacy, you are not alone – and you are not less of a family. There are ways to navigate grief, boundaries, and conversations that honor you, your partner, and your child.

💬 Want more support? Inside my membership, I offer: • Weekly live workshops on choosing donors, talking to donor‑conceived kids, and navigating surrogacy relationships • A growing library of replays, including topics like this one • A community of people building families through reproductive medicine

Learn more or join here: https://familybuilding.net/building-your-family-community/

🔔 New episodes every week on donor conception, surrogacy, and parenting in these families. Subscribe so you don’t miss them.

#donorconception #donorconceived #surrogacy #chosenfamily #modernfamily #infertilitysupport #thirdpartyreproduction #intendedparents #lgbtqfamily #fertilityjourney

If you’ve been reassured that your donor will only create a “small number” of families, or even that they’re effectively “just for you,” this episode is important.

In this conversation, I unpack: – What clinics and banks usually mean when they talk about “family limits” – Why those limits often don’t work the way intended in real life – How donor siblings can appear over time, even when you were told the donor wouldn’t donate again – Why spending a fortune trying to secure an “exclusive” donor is rarely the best way to protect your child – What is in your control: planning to tell your child about their donor conception so they understand there may be donor siblings now or in the future

I also talk about openness: when having more access to a donor can be helpful for medical or emotional reasons, and why it’s still possible to raise a healthy, secure child with a non‑open donor. The goal is to replace scary myths with realistic expectations and practical steps you can take as a parent.

If this brought up questions for you, there are two free workshops that can help:

Choosing a Donor: What Clinics & Websites Don’t Teach You – for people still in the donor decision or selection process Talking To Your Donor‑Conceived Child: Where & How To Begin – for parents thinking about how to start these conversations

You can see dates and register for both at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1976369301784?aff=oddtdtcreator, or via the links in the show notes.

#donorconception #donoreggs #donorsperm #donorsiblings #familylimits #thirdpartyreproduction #fertilitytreatment #fertilitysupport #fertilitypodcast

If you’re in IVF and quietly wondering, “How many more rounds can we do before we have to think about donor eggs?” this conversation with Dr. Moomjy is for you.

In this episode, we talk about: – Why IVF fails for some people even when everything looks “normal” – How many tries – at different ages – actually make sense before you seriously consider donor eggs – When donor eggs are one option vs when they’re realistically the only path to a baby

This is not vague reassurance. We walk through what the research and real‑world data actually say, so you can have a more informed discussion with your own doctor and feel more grounded in whatever you decide next.

If you’re considering donor conception and want structured, research‑based guidance, you can learn more in our community. https://familybuilding.net/services/donor-conception-explained/

Learn more about Dr. Maureen Moomjy: https://www.drmoomjy.com/

#ivf #ivfjourney #donoreggs #donorconception #fertilitytreatment #fertilitysupport #ttccommunity #fertilitypodcast #reproductivemedicine