Hi friends,
This week, we’re talking about what it means to trust yourself in a process that can make you second-guess everything.
Fertility has a way of making even the most thoughtful decisions feel shaky. You can do the research, ask the questions, and still find yourself wondering if you’re doing enough, asking enough, or making the right call. But self-advocacy isn’t about having all the answers. Sometimes, it’s simply about listening to that quiet inner voice telling you to ask one more question, get one more opinion, or move forward with a little more confidence in what you know.
So in this issue, we’re exploring two sides of that same experience. First, we look at when a second opinion (or even a clinic switch) might be the right move, and why speaking up for yourself can matter so much. Then, we dive into one of the biggest sources of anxiety for many people: pregnancy after 40, with clear answers to the questions that can help you feel more informed, more grounded, and more confident in the decisions you’re making.
Because while this journey may not always feel certain, you still deserve clarity, support, and the confidence to trust yourself along the way.
Let’s get into it.
In this Issue We'll Cover...
The Second Opinion That Changed My Life
When fertility treatment isn’t working, it can be hard to know whether to stay the course or trust the feeling that something needs to change. This piece explores why getting a second opinion can be one of the most underused tools in fertility care, and how to recognize the signs that it may be time to ask more questions, seek a fresh perspective, or consider a new clinic. Through real patient stories and practical guidance, it’s a powerful reminder that advocating for yourself is not giving up, it’s moving forward with more clarity.
Self-Advocacy in a Noisy Fertility World: A Few Links Worth Reading
When you’re trying to make fertility decisions, the hardest part isn’t always finding information, it’s figuring out what to trust. Between medical advice, social media, personal stories, and the pressure of time, it can be easy to feel like you need to become your own researcher overnight. This week’s roundup is all about that tension: knowing when to ask more questions, when to seek another perspective, and how to stay grounded in your own judgment while sorting through a lot of noise.
With patients often reduced to “just a number,” the fertility system demands more self-advocacy This piece is a strong companion to this week’s theme because it explores what self-advocacy looks like when the system itself feels impersonal. Through Kayann Crowther’s experience navigating PCOS, medicated cycles, IUIs, and IVF, it highlights how many patients end up chasing answers, researching on their own, and pushing for the support they should have been offered in the first place. It’s a thoughtful reminder that confidence in your fertility journey is not just about making decisions, it’s also about recognizing when you deserve more clarity, more compassion, and more individualized care. READ ARTICLE HERE
When to Think About Getting a Second Opinion
This is a practical, validating read for anyone who’s feeling stuck, confused by a treatment plan, or unsure whether their concerns are “enough” to bring up. It walks through some of the clearest signs it may be time to revisit your plan, including repeated cycles with no success, not fully understanding the next step, or simply feeling like something isn’t sitting right. It’s a good reminder that asking for more clarity is not overreacting; it’s part of good care. READ ARTICLE HERE#misinformation: The Perils of Using Social Media for Medical Advice Regarding Infertility For the more science-minded readers, this 2025 paper looks at fertility-related content on Instagram and X and evaluates it for accuracy, credibility, quality, and readability. It’s especially relevant for anyone who has ever gone down a fertility-content rabbit hole and come away feeling more overwhelmed than informed. The takeaway is simple but important: self-advocacy also means being careful about where your information is coming from. READ ARTICLE HERE
• Mandy Moore on Having a Baby at 40 and the “Outdated” Pregnancy Labels This one brings in the cultural side of the conversation. In discussing having her third baby at 40, Mandy Moore pushes back on the way older mothers are often treated as an “anomaly” and calls out the outdated, one-size-fits-all language that still shows up in women’s healthcare. It’s a lighter read, but it connects to a very real theme: how much confidence can be shaped not just by medical facts, but by the way the system talks to women in the first place. READ ARTICLE HERE
Optimizing Natural Fertility on a BudgetYour Biggest Questions About Pregnancy After 40, Answered
Pregnancy after 40 can feel like carrying two realities at once: the weight of the statistics and the very real hope of what’s still possible. This piece walks through the biggest questions people have about fertility, risk, testing, and treatment after 40, offering clear, evidence-based answers without stripping away the reassurance and humanity readers actually need. It’s an honest, grounding guide for anyone trying to make sense of the numbers while still trusting themselves and their path forward.
If you enjoyed this issue of Path to Parenthood, be sure to share with anyone you know who is currently on a TTC journey ❤
P.S.
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