This is Infertility is a bi-weekly podcast where we fuse narrative storytelling with experience and science to give you a new perspective on what it’s really like to go through a family building journey. Each episode dives into the emotional, physical, and financial burdens carried by those who experience infertility on their path to parenthood. Be it IVF, IUI, egg freezing, surrogacy, adoption, etc., the path is never the same and it can be long, painful, and lonely. It’s our mission to give those struggling a platform to be heard, a community connection, and an opportunity to raise awareness of the 1 in 8 who, for many reasons, struggle with infertility.
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This is Infertility

Episode 19: Oncofertility: Making Fertility Preservation a Priority

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and in light of this, we are dedicating four episodes to oncofertility – the bridge between oncology and reproductive research that explores and expands options for the reproductive future of cancer survivors.  

In the first episode of the four-part series, we hear from Joyce Reinecke, a young and newly married lawyer, who was devastated when she found out she had cancer. Learning she could become infertile from cancer treatment made it tremendously more difficult, and at the time, fertility preservation was not a priority for cancer patients.  

Joyce tells her brave story of surviving cancer, preserving her fertility, and dedicating her life to helping other cancer patients through her work with the Alliance for Fertility Preservation. 

Guest: Joyce Reinecke, Executive Director at Alliance for Fertility Preservation 

Host: Lissa Kline, VP of Provider and Member Services at Progyny 

For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and the Alliance for Fertility Preservation. 

Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. 

Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at thisisinfertility@progyny.com. 

Lissa Kline

Host

Lissa Kline
LCSW, VP of Provider and Member Services at Progyny

Lissa manages and oversees Progyny’s Patient Care Advocates. Prior to joining Progyny, she worked at Columbia University Medical Center in the division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. Involved in Patient Services and the Donor Egg Program, she loved working with patients while they underwent fertility treatment. Lissa graduated with a Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University.

Podcast-Headshot-joyce_AFP

Guest

Joyce Reinecke
Executive Director at Alliance for Fertility Preservation

Before joining the AFP, Joyce was a Cancer & Fertility Adviser for the LIVESTRONG Foundation. Prior to that, she served as the Vice President of Programs for Fertile Hope.

Throughout her tenure at Fertile Hope, she worked to expand patient and provider awareness of fertility preservation and of advances in the burgeoning field of oncofertility. She was instrumental in developing groundbreaking programs and services including innovative patient materials, a provider education program and Fertile Hope’s Centers of Excellence program.

Joyce is the co-author of 100 Questions & Answers About Cancer and Fertility as well as several articles on cancer & fertility. Joyce has also given countless presentations to varied audiences across the country, and collaborated with leading professional and patient organizations to promote dialogue and policy change.

Joyce is a long-term survivor of leiomyosarcoma who opted for embryo freezing and surrogacy to create her family. Her personal oncofertility journey informs her professional focus and her commitment as a patient advocate.

Prior to her work at Fertile Hope, Joyce was a trademark attorney in Seattle, WA. Joyce obtained a law degree from Fordham University School of Law, and a B.A. from Occidental College. Joyce currently lives in Lafayette, CA with her husband, John, and their twin daughters, Alexandra and Olivia.

Music From This Episode:

Artist: Kai Engel
Track: Traffic
URL: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Kai_Engel/Traffic/Kai_Engel_-_Traffic

Artist: Lee Rosevere 
Track: You’re Enough (version a)
URL: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere/Music_For_Podcasts_5/Lee_Rosevere_-_Music_For_Podcasts_5_-_04_Youre_Enough_version_a

Track: Betrayal
URL: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere/Music_For_Podcasts_5/Lee_Rosevere_-_Music_For_Podcasts_5_-_08_Betrayal

Track: Everywhere
URL: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere/Music_For_Podcasts_5/Lee_Rosevere_-_Music_For_Podcasts_5_-_06_Everywhere

Artist: sawsquarenoise 
Track: El Pastor Cordial
URL: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/sawsquarenoise/~/El_Pastor_Cordial