If you’ve been told “this is just your protocol,” “we’ll just try again,” or “everything looks fine” while IVF keeps failing, this episode is for you. Standard IVF works for many people, but not for everyone. So what happens when you don’t fit the usual box?
In this conversation, I’m joined by Dr. Pietro Bortoletto, reproductive endocrinologist at Terra Fertility. He trained at Northwestern, Brigham & Women’s / Mass General, and Weill Cornell, and now focuses on the hard cases: diminished ovarian reserve, recurrent implantation failure, recurrent pregnancy loss, endometriosis, fibroids, and Müllerian anomalies.
We talk about:
Why he stepped out of the traditional IVF system
How real experts think “outside the box” without going fringe
When surgery actually helps (and when it’s just more trauma)
The role of endometriosis, inflammation, and the immune system in fertility
What thoughtful immunologic workups look like (and when they’re not useful)
When to seek a second opinion and how to do it respectfully
Mindset tools for staying sane when the road is long and uncertain
This is not personal medical advice. It is a window into how a well‑trained REI thinks when standard IVF isn’t working, so you can have better, deeper conversations with your own team.
🔗 If you’re in treatment, using donors, or considering surrogacy and want more support with the emotional and decision‑making side of this journey, that’s exactly what we do inside The Building Your Family Community. You’ll find the link in the description.
Guest resources:
Website: https://www.terrafertility.com/
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#RecurrentImplantationFailure #RecurrentPregnancyLoss #Endometriosis
#FertilityDoctor #FertilitySupport #FertilityJourney #IVFSupport
#TryingToConceive #FertilityClinic #FamilyBuilding
