Send us a text IUI is simple—but the expectations, emotions, and math behind it definitely aren’t. In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols walks you through exactly what to expect during an IUI cycle, from the first ultrasound to the trigger shot to the quick, 30-second insemination appointment. You’ll learn who IUI works best for, why success rates aren’t as straightforward as they seem, and how your odds really build with each cycle. Whether you’re preparing for your ...
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Send us a text IUI is simple—but the expectations, emotions, and math behind it definitely aren’t. In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols walks you through exactly what to expect during an IUI cycle, from the first ultrasound to the trigger shot to the quick, 30-second insemination appointment. You’ll learn who IUI works best for, why success rates aren’t as straightforward as they seem, and how your odds really build with each cycle. Whether you’re preparing for your ...
Send us a text IUI is simple—but the expectations, emotions, and math behind it definitely aren’t. In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols walks you through exactly what to expect during an IUI cycle, from the first ultrasound to the trigger shot to the quick, 30-second insemination appointment. You’ll learn who IUI works best for, why success rates aren’t as straightforward as they seem, and how your odds really build with each cycle. Whether you’re preparing for your ...
Send us a text What happens when IVF success leaves you with more embryos than you ever planned for? In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols tackles the emotional and practical side of “extra embryos.” He explains why the U.S. system often pushes patients to create as many embryos as possible — and how cost, culture, and regulation shape that pressure. You’ll learn the pros and cons of mini-IVF, selective fertilization, and egg-only freezing, and why “more” isn’t ...
Send us a text In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols opens up about something doctors rarely say out loud — that we have feelings too. Step behind the white coat to hear the human side of fertility care: the burnout that comes with modern medicine, the emotional weight of every failed cycle, and the reality of being judged not by effort, but by outcomes. Dr. Amols shares raw stories about patient misunderstandings, communication breakdowns...
Send us a text This week on Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols sits down with fertility naturopath and nutritionist Tasha Jennings to explore how natural and medical approaches to fertility can work hand in hand. Together, they break down the science behind how nutrition, lifestyle, and epigenetics can influence egg and sperm quality — and how collaboration between naturopaths and fertility specialists can lead to healthier pregnancies and better IVF outcomes. From real patient stori...
Send us a text Can you really boost your IVF success rate by doing everything before an embryo transfer? In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols breaks down one of the most common misconceptions in fertility treatment — the belief that more testing automatically means better results. From ERA and Receptiva testing to add-ons like PRP or HCG washes, Dr. Amols explains why these extra steps can’t push your chances beyond what the embryo already has — because you can’t bea...
Send us a text Are fertility clinics telling you the whole truth about their success rates? In this episode, Dr. Mark Amols breaks down the hidden math behind IVF statistics — and exposes how “creative marketing” can make average results look amazing. Learn why pregnancy rates don’t always mean babies, how clinics use “per transfer” versus “per cycle” numbers to their advantage, and what to look for in real CDC data before choosing a fertility center. From the “we take the toughest patients” ...
Send us a text Not all fertility pills are created equal. In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols breaks down the real differences between Clomid (clomiphene citrate) and Femara (letrozole)—two medications that may look the same but work in totally different ways. Learn how each medication triggers ovulation, why increasing your dose doesn’t always improve your chances, and when doctors decide to switch from oral pills to injectable gonadotropins. Dr. Amols also shares ...
Send us a text Freezing is one of the most powerful tools in modern fertility—but it’s also one of the most misunderstood. In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols unpacks the science behind freezing sperm, eggs, and embryos. Why do eggs and embryos need vitrification while sperm are slow-frozen? Does freezing harm fertility? Why can’t multiple sperm samples just be frozen and combined for IUI? And does the length of time embryos are frozen affect success? From the histo...
Send us a text ICSI—also known as intracytoplasmic sperm injection—sounds complicated, but it’s one of the most powerful tools in modern IVF. In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols breaks down what ICSI really is (hint: it’s the ‘needle in the egg’), when it’s a game-changer, and when it might just be an unnecessary add-on. From male factor infertility to frozen eggs, genetic testing, and even rescue ICSI, you’ll learn exactly when this treatment makes sense and when i...
Send us a text Are Day-7 embryos doomed to fail — or are they just late bloomers? In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols explains why embryos that don’t reach blastocyst until Day 7 have lower implantation and live birth rates compared to Day 5 or 6. Using a marathon analogy, he breaks down how timing reflects embryo quality, metabolism, and chromosomal health. You’ll also hear the surprising history of Day-7 embryos — from being discarded in the early 2000s to becomin...
Send us a text In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols takes a deep dive into the ZyMōt microfluidic sperm chip — a device designed to mimic nature’s way of selecting the healthiest sperm. We explore: Why sperm DNA fragmentation matters for fertilization, embryo quality, and miscarriage risk.How the ZyMōt chip works compared to traditional methods like swim-up and density gradient centrifugation.What the science really shows — from lab data to clinical trials — includin...
Send us a text Today’s episode comes straight from a listener question: What’s the deal with MitoSure? Is this mitochondria-based score the secret weapon in embryo selection — or just another lab test with a fancy name and fuzzy usefulness? Join Dr. Mark Amols as he takes you on a wild science ride from embryo scoring to evolutionary biology, bacterial roommates, and the ancient origin of mitochondria. You'll learn what MitoSure actually measures, why the same embryo could score a “2” in one ...
Send us a text In this week’s episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols takes you on a guided tour of your baby’s very first pictures—the first trimester ultrasound. From the tiny gestational sac to the yolk sac (your baby’s first lunchbox), to the fetal pole and that reassuring flicker of a heartbeat, Dr. Amols explains what each step really means and when you should expect to see it. You’ll also learn: Why we stop checking hCG once we see the sacWhat it means if a yolk sac is m...
Send us a text You finally got the positive test after IVF or IUI — now what? In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols walks you through the first steps after a positive pregnancy test, from confirming with beta hCG bloodwork to your first ultrasound. Learn why rising numbers matter more than the absolute hCG value, why it’s crucial not to stop progesterone or estrogen too early, and what milestones to expect in the first 6–10 weeks. Dr. Amols also shares common myths, t...
Send us a text Understanding the different types of Diminished Ovarian Reserve and what they mean for your fertility journey Being told you have Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR) can feel overwhelming — but the truth is, it’s not the same diagnosis for everyone. In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols breaks down the “automobile” analogy to explain why DOR is a broad category that can mean very different things depending on the cause. You’ll learn: The four common “model...
Send us a text Ever had an amazing IVF cycle followed by one that made you question everything? You’re not alone—and no, your ovaries didn’t suddenly revolt. In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols breaks down the statistical concept of regression to the mean—why extreme fertility outcomes often return to average over time. From IVF cycles to PGT results, hormone levels to semen analysis, you’ll learn why bouncing numbers aren’t always bad—and why your “worst cycle ever...
Send us a text There’s a lot to worry about in IVF: Will you get enough eggs? Will your embryos be normal? Will the transfer work? But for Dr. Mark Amols, there’s one part that truly keeps him up at night—fertilization. In this deeply personal episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Amols shares why fertilization is the most unpredictable and emotionally gut-wrenching step in the entire IVF process. You’ll get a crash course in reproductive biology—meiosis, pronuclei, 0PNs, 2PNs, and more...
Send us a text Where did the semen go? In this week’s episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols unpacks one of the lesser-discussed causes of male infertility—low semen volume and retrograde ejaculation. From the science of what makes up semen (spoiler: sperm is only about 3% of it!) to the coordinated dance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, you’ll learn how the body decides when to open and close the right channels during urination and ejaculation. We ...
Send us a text Think infertility is just a female issue? Think again. In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols serves up some tough love (and solid science) about male fertility. From hormonal red flags and testicular trauma to lifestyle choices and personal history, this episode breaks down when men should consider that they might be the reason pregnancy isn’t happening. Whether you’ve been “lucky” to avoid pregnancy in every relationship or just assumed things were wor...
Send us a text You’ve heard of estrogen, maybe even LH—but the real superhero in fertility? It’s progesterone. In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols reveals how progesterone silently supports pregnancy, stabilizes the uterine lining, and prevents early contractions—all without the recognition it deserves. We break down the science: how progesterone is made from cholesterol, how it converts into testosterone and estrogen, and how granulosa and theca cells work together...
Send us a text IUI is simple—but the expectations, emotions, and math behind it definitely aren’t. In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols walks you through exactly what to expect during an IUI cycle, from the first ultrasound to the trigger shot to the quick, 30-second insemination appointment. You’ll learn who IUI works best for, why success rates aren’t as straightforward as they seem, and how your odds really build with each cycle. Whether you’re preparing for your ...
