Podcast · Health

Trying with Dr. Sasha Hakman

by Dr Sasha Hakman · English · Health

As a double board-certified OB-GYN and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility specialist, I've dedicated my career to helping women understand and navigate their reproductive health, but my passion for this podcast goes beyond my clinical background. My own personal experience with infertility g

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 1 hr 1 min
Latest: 14 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

14 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 12 minNew

Postpartum Depression, Anxiety & Psychosis Explained: What Every Woman Should Know

Mental health during infertility, pregnancy, and postpartum is often misunderstood, and knowing what's normal, what's not, and when to seek help can make all the difference. In this educational episode, Dr. Sasha sits down with Dr. Kristin Lassiter, a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in reproductive psychiatry, to break down the mental health conditions women may experience throughout their reproductive years. Together, they explain the differences between anxiety, depression, OCD, postpartum baby blues, and postpartum psychosis, while addressing common misconceptions about…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

7 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 16 min
How to Make a Birth Plan: Induction, Epidurals, VBAC & Labor Explained
A birth plan can help you feel prepared for labor, but birth does not always go according to plan. In this solo episode, Dr. Sasha Hakman shares her perspective as both a board-certified OB-GYN and a mom preparing for her third delivery after IVF. She breaks down birth plans, hospital vs. home birth, induction at 39 weeks, VBAC and TOLAC, epidurals, doulas, delayed cord clamping, cord blood banking, and the interventions that may come up during labor. Most importantly, she explains why informed decision-making, flexibility, and finding a care team you trust matter more than creating the…
30 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 2 min
Dr. Mona Amin on Sleep Training, Co-Sleeping & Gentle Parenting (Part 2)
What does it actually take to raise emotionally resilient kids without losing yourself in the process? In Part 2 of my conversation with pediatrician and PedsDocTalk founder Dr. Mona Amin, we move from her personal journey into some of the most debated topics in modern parenting: sleep training, co-sleeping, gentle parenting, attachment, boundaries, emotional regulation, and the pressure to get everything "right." Dr. Mona explains why parenting is rarely as black and white as social media makes it seem. We talk about what the research actually says about sleep training and attachment, why…
23 Sep 2026 · 54 min
Secondary Infertility After a C-Section: Dr. Mona's Journey to IVF
WARNING: This episode includes detailed discussion of traumatic birth, a NICU stay, a newborn stroke and seizures, maternal sepsis, repeat surgeries, and fear of dying in childbirth. What happens when the birth experience you imagined becomes a medical emergency, and the journey to growing your family takes a turn you never expected? In this deeply personal episode of Trying, Dr. Sasha Hakman sits down for part 1 of 2 episodes with pediatrician and mother of two Dr. Mona Amin, known as Dr. Mona of PedsDocTalk, to discuss her journey through birth trauma, a NICU stay, secondary infertility,…
16 Sep 2026 · 48 min
Fertility Q&A: IVF, Luteal Phase Defects, Embryo Testing, Exercise & More
In this solo Q&A episode of Trying with Dr. Sasha Hakman, Dr. Sasha answers listener questions across fertility, IVF, embryo transfer, hormone health, pregnancy, exercise, and reproductive genetics. From adenomyosis treatment before embryo transfer and ways to support a short luteal phase to whole genome sequencing, balanced translocations, IVF in your 40s, male factor infertility, and exercise during treatment, Dr. Sasha breaks down what the evidence tells us, where the research is still limited, and why fertility care often needs to be highly individualized. As always, this episode is for…
9 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 3 min
Fetal Movement, Kick Counts & Stillbirth Prevention with Count the Kicks
Stillbirth is a topic many expectant parents are afraid to talk about, but understanding your baby’s movement patterns can be an empowering tool during pregnancy. In this episode of Trying with Dr. Sasha Hakman, Dr. Sasha sits down with Karina Bennett, ambassador for Count the Kicks, a stillbirth prevention program created by Healthy Birth Day, Inc. Karina shares the story of losing her son to stillbirth and how that experience led her to advocacy, education, and a mission to help other families recognize changes in fetal movement before it is too late. Together, Sasha and Karina break down…
2 Sep 2026 · 58 min
OHSS: What You Need to Know Before IVF or Egg Freezing
Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, or OHSS, is a potential complication of ovarian stimulation that Dr. Sasha believes every patient going through IVF or egg freezing should understand. After seeing thousands of women comment that they wished they had known about OHSS before treatment, she knew it deserved a deeper conversation. In this solo episode, Dr. Sasha breaks down what OHSS actually is, why it happens, who is most at risk, and the steps fertility doctors can take to help prevent it. She explains the important role trigger shots play, the difference between mild and more serious…
26 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 7 min
How to Get in Shape After Baby: Postpartum Fitness, Nutrition & Strength with Samantha Christine
Getting stronger after pregnancy is not about "bouncing back." It is about rebuilding your body, fueling it properly, and creating habits you can actually maintain. In this episode, Dr. Sasha sits down with certified personal trainer and nutritionist Samantha Christine to talk about postpartum body recomposition, strength training, nutrition, macros, GLP-1 medications, and what it really takes to feel strong and confident in your body again. Samantha also opens up about her own postpartum transformation, losing her period at a very low body fat percentage, and why she now encourages women to…
19 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 16 min
The IVF Protocol No One Explains: What Actually Determines Your Results
IVF medication protocols can be one of the most confusing parts of fertility treatment. In this solo episode, reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Sasha Hakman explains how IVF medications actually work, why different patients may need different stimulation protocols, and how factors like AMH, ovarian reserve, age, previous IVF response, and risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) influence treatment decisions. In this episode, we cover: How the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis controls the menstrual cycle, including the roles of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH),…
12 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
Dr. Mamina Turegano on Hormonal Acne, Hair Loss & Skincare That Works
We share more with a reproductive endocrinologist than you'd think — hormones drive skin and hair just as much as fertility. In this episode, Dr. Sasha sits down with triple board-certified dermatologist Dr. Mamina Turegano to break down what's really behind hormonal acne and hair loss, the environmental factors quietly wrecking our skin, and the exact prescriptions, supplements, and skincare routines that actually work. In this episode, we cover: Why acne is so common (80-90%+ of women experience it) and why it's rising in adulthood The environmental theories behind the "acne epidemic" —…
5 Aug 2026 · 48 min
Secondary Infertility Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment: Everything You Need to Know
Secondary infertility affects millions of women — and yet it remains one of the most isolating diagnoses in the fertility space. You already have a child, so you feel like you can't complain. But the confusion, grief, and frustration are completely real. In this solo episode, Dr. Sasha Hakman breaks down exactly what secondary infertility is, why it happens, and what to do about it — including causes that will genuinely surprise you. If you've been pregnant before and are struggling to get pregnant again, this episode was made for you. In this episode, we cover: What secondary infertility…
29 Jul 2026 · 58 min
The Truth About Cycle Syncing, Fasted Training & Building Muscle After 40
Most women have been told at some point that their menstrual cycle should dictate how they train, that fasted workouts are wrecking their hormones, or that muscle-building becomes nearly impossible after 40. In this episode, Dr. Sasha Hakman sits down with researcher and women's health expert Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple to separate what the science actually shows from what the fitness industry is selling. They break down why cycle syncing isn't backed by the data, whether fasted training really matters, how much protein your body can actually use at once, and what's really true (and not true)…
22 Jul 2026 · 50 min
What IVF Protocol Did a Fertility Doctor Choose for Herself?
You asked for it, and here it is. In this solo episode, Dr. Sasha Hakman walks through her own two IVF cycles in full detail — the exact medications, doses, trigger decisions, lab outcomes, and the reasoning behind every choice she made. As a reproductive endocrinologist who has navigated IVF both as a clinician and a patient, she brings a level of transparency you rarely get from a doctor. From a purely elective embryo freeze at 32 to a second retrieval at 37, this episode breaks down what actually goes into building a family through IVF — and helps you understand your own protocol along…
15 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 12 min
Does a Hysterectomy Cure Endometriosis? An Endo Surgeon Answers Your Top Googled Questions
Endometriosis affects at least 1 in 10 women, yet the average patient waits years for a diagnosis — often after being told their pain is normal. In this episode, Dr. Sasha Hakman sits down with board-certified OB/GYN and endometriosis surgeon Dr. Mallory Stuparich to break down what endometriosis actually is, why it's now understood as a systemic immune and neuro-inflammatory condition rather than a purely hormonal one, and how patients can push back when they're being dismissed. If you've ever been told your pain is "just part of being a woman," this episode is for you. In this episode, we…
8 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 9 min
What Causes Miscarriage? A Fertility Doctor's Full Breakdown
Pregnancy loss affects 15–25% of clinically recognized pregnancies, yet so many people are left without answers — or without hope. In this solo episode, Dr. Sasha Hakman breaks down everything you need to know about miscarriage and recurrent pregnancy loss: the five major causes, how each one is diagnosed, what treatment actually looks like, and which lifestyle factors are (and aren't) worth worrying about. If you've experienced a loss and are searching for answers, this episode is for you — and remember, it is not your fault. In this episode, we cover: Why miscarriage is so common, and how…
1 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
Fertility After 40: Real Stats, Real Options, Real Talk
In this solo episode, Dr. Sasha dives into one of the most requested topics on the podcast: trying to conceive and being pregnant after 40. She cuts through the noise of misleading celebrity headlines and online misinformation to give you a clear, honest, and compassionate look at the biology, statistics, and real options available to you. In This Episode, You'll Learn: Why more women are having babies in their 40s than ever before — and why that's a good thing The biology of egg aging: how quantity and quality decline, and what's actually happening at the cellular level (mitochondrial…
24 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 26 min
The IVF Test That Could Finally Explain Your Failed Transfers with Jeremy Grushcow of Juniper Genomics
If you've ever gone through a failed embryo transfer and wondered why , this episode is for you. Dr. Sasha sits down with Jeremy Grushcow, co-founder and CEO of Juniper Genomics, to break down a groundbreaking advancement in IVF: whole genome and transcriptome embryo testing. Jeremy holds a PhD in molecular genetics and cell biology from the University of Chicago, along with a law degree, and has published research in DNA repair, cancer, gene therapy, bioethics, and patent law. He's building the technology that could change the odds for IVF patients everywhere. In this episode, we cover:…
17 Jun 2026 · 40 min
The Truth About Women's Health, Medical Misinformation, and Advocating for Yourself
What does it actually mean to try as a woman, as a patient, as a person navigating a healthcare system that wasn't built with you in mind? In this first solo episode of the newly rebranded Trying with Dr. Sasha Hakman, Dr. Sasha shares why she changed the name, what this podcast is really about, and who it's for. She opens up about the conversation that sparked the rebrand, the reality of practicing medicine in a field driven by IVF incentives, and why she started a podcast in the first place. She also shares a personal update (18 weeks pregnant with baby #3!) and answers one of the most…
10 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
Your Doctor Is Wrong About Exercise: What a Doctor of Physical Therapy Wants You to Know
Are you being told to stop exercising while trying to conceive or going through IVF? You're not alone and according to today's guest, you're also likely being given advice that isn't backed by science. In this episode, Dr. Shannon joins us for a conversation that is equal parts empowering and eye-opening. As both a physical therapist and a patient who exercised throughout her own fertility journey, she brings a rare dual perspective to the table. She and host Dr. Sasha take on the pervasive fear around exercise during fertility treatment, break down why the "rest and raise your legs"…
3 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
A Reproductive Endocrinologist's Guide to Protecting Your Hormones
In this solo episode, Dr. Sasha goes deep on one of her most-requested topics: endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). What they are, where they're hiding, how they affect your hormones and fertility, and exactly what you can do about it. As a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist, she brings both clinical expertise and personal practice to this conversation. This episode is grounded in evidence-based research, including a 136-page scientific statement from the Endocrine Society, and is designed to inform, not alarm. In This Episode, You'll Learn: What the endocrine system…
28 May 2026 · 1 hr 11 min
Sitting Down with My Husband: What IVF Really Looks Like from the Partner's Side
Dr. Sasha Hakman is finally joined by her husband, Dr. Eryk Hakman. In this honest, funny, and surprisingly emotional episode, Sasha and Eryk sit down together for the first time to share the full story: how they met on labor and delivery, why Eryk almost didn't commit, and what it has really been like to navigate three rounds of IVF as a couple, including a failed embryo transfer that hit them both harder than either expected. Eryk opens up about feeling powerless in a process driven by his wife's expertise, what grief looked like from the partner's side, and what finally convinced him to…
20 May 2026 · 47 min
The Protocol That Got Me Pregnant: A Fertility Doctor's Honest Account of Her Own IVF Journey
Dr. Sasha Hakman goes solo to finally answer the question her community has been asking for weeks: what exactly did she do differently for her second embryo transfer, the one that worked? Now 14 weeks pregnant, Dr. Sasha walks through her full protocol in detail, from the switch to a programmed FET to every medication, supplement, and lifestyle change she made. She also opens up about the emotional rollercoaster of a failed transfer, a terrifying bleed at seven weeks, and what it's like to be a fertility doctor going through fertility treatment herself. This episode is one of the most…
13 May 2026 · 51 min
Acupuncture, Fertility & Chinese Medicine: What Every TTC Woman Needs to Know with Dr. Felice Chan
Dr. Sasha Hakman sits down with Dr. Felice Chan, a Chinese medicine practitioner and licensed acupuncturist based in Los Angeles, to explore how traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can support women's health and fertility. What starts as a curiosity from a fertility doctor who regularly refers patients for acupuncture quickly turns into one of the most eye-opening conversations yet covering everything from reading the tongue to treating endometriosis, PCOS, and preparing for IVF. Dr. Felice shares her unexpected journey from a pre-med neuroscience track to becoming a Chinese medicine…
6 May 2026 · 53 min
All Birth Control Methods Compared: Pill, IUD, Shot, Implant Pros and Cons
Today, I’m breaking down one of the most misunderstood topics in women’s health: hormonal contraceptives. With so much misinformation online, it’s easy to feel confused or even scared about your options. As a reproductive endocrinologist, I want to give you the science-based facts so you can make informed decisions about your body and your future fertility. I walk you through the different types of hormonal birth control, including the pill, patch, ring, IUD, Depo shot, and implant. I explain how they actually work in your body, the real risks versus exaggerated claims you might see online,…
29 Apr 2026 · 36 min
Male Factor Infertility: Why Men Need to Get Tested at 20 (Not When It's Too Late)
What happens when you're the picture of health, crushing it in your career, and then find out you can't get your partner pregnant? In this episode, I sit down with Brian Mazza, entrepreneur, founder of High Performance Lifestyle Training, and one of the few men openly talking about male infertility. Brian shares his deeply personal journey from receiving devastating test results to navigating IVF, relationship strain, and ultimately becoming a father to two boys through ICSI. We talk about the moment he found out about his low sperm count, motility, and morphology, and how that diagnosis…
22 Apr 2026 · 50 min
Unexplained Infertility? The Truth About Endometriosis Doctors Don’t Always Tell You
I see this all the time. You’re doing everything right, your tests look “normal,” and yet… you’re still not getting pregnant. What if something is being missed? In this episode, I’m breaking down one of the most underdiagnosed and misunderstood conditions in fertility: endometriosis. I walk you through what endometriosis actually is, how it impacts your body, and more importantly, how it can affect your ability to conceive. From inflammation and egg quality to blocked tubes and implantation issues, this condition can interfere with fertility in ways most people don’t even realize. We also…
15 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
8 Embryo Transfers, 6 Years of Infertility, and the IVF Story That Finally Worked | ft. Abbe Feder
Can you really get pregnant after seven failed embryo transfers? What does it take to keep going when nothing seems to work? In this episode, I sit down with Abbe Feder to talk about one of the most intense fertility journeys I’ve ever heard. After 6 years of trying to conceive, 8 embryo transfers, a miscarriage, an ectopic pregnancy, and multiple failed IVF cycles, Abby finally got her miracle… twins. But this conversation goes far beyond just the outcome. We break down what unexplained infertility actually means, why IVF doesn’t always work even when everything looks “perfect,” and the…
8 Apr 2026 · 41 min
The Best Fertility Supplements for Egg Quality, PCOS, and Pregnancy Prep From an OBGYN
Are you wasting money on fertility supplements that don’t actually help you get pregnant? In this solo episode, I break down the truth about fertility supplements, what is worth taking when you are trying to conceive, and what may be overhyped or unnecessary. There is so much conflicting information online, especially around prenatal vitamins, folic acid, and trending supplements, so I wanted to walk through this in a clear and evidence-based way. I share what I recommend starting with before pregnancy, including prenatal vitamins and key nutrients that support fertility and early fetal…
1 Apr 2026 · 54 min
Fertility Doctor Explains Egg Freezing, AMH, and the Truth About Your Biological Clock | Dr. Jessica Ryniec
Should you freeze your eggs? And if you do, how many do you actually need to feel confident about your future fertility? In this episode, Dr. Sasha Hakman sits down with Dr. Jessica Ryniec, a reproductive endocrinologist based in Boston, to break down everything you need to know about fertility preservation. From egg freezing to embryo banking, this conversation covers the science, the process, the myths, and the practical decisions that come with preserving your fertility. Dr. Ryniec explains why fertility preservation has become so popular, who should consider it, and how the process…
25 Mar 2026 · 52 min
What Actually Happens in an IVF Lab (And Why No One Talks About It) | Shaun Reed
What really happens to your eggs once they leave the operating room? And how much does the embryology lab actually impact IVF success? In this episode, Dr. Sasha Hakman sits down with Shaun Reed, an experienced embryologist from Utah Fertility Center, to break down one of the most misunderstood parts of the fertility journey: the IVF lab. From egg retrieval to embryo transfer, Shaun walks through what happens behind the scenes, why it matters, and what patients should actually care about. You’ll learn what a day in the life of an embryologist looks like, how labs protect eggs and embryos…

About Trying with Dr. Sasha Hakman

Trying with Dr. Sasha Hakman is a English health podcast from Dr Sasha Hakman. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Dr Sasha Hakman
Language: English
Category: Health
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 1 hr 1 min
Latest episode: 14 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1827296631

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