Everything You Were Never Taught About Fertility ft. Dr. Lucky Sekhon

Most of us spend our teens and 20s trying not to get pregnant and our 30s and 40s desperately trying to. But no one ever taught us how any of this actually works.In this episode, Mary Alice Haney and Dr. Aliabadi sit down with Dr. Lucky Sekhon, New York City-based reproductive endocrinologist and fertility expert and author of The Lucky Egg, for one of the most comprehensive conversations on fertility we've ever had. Whether you're trying to conceive, thinking about egg freezing, navigating a diagnosis like PCOS or endometriosis, or simply want to understand your own body this episode is for you.Subscribe to SHE MD Podcast for expert tips on PCOS, endometriosis, fertility, hormonal balance, mental health, and more. Share with friends and visit SHE MD website and Ovii for research-backed resources, holistic health strategies, and expert guidance on women’s health and well-being.What You'll LearnWhy human reproduction is naturally inefficient even when everything is workingWhat ovarian reserve actually tells you (and what it doesn't)Why egg quality matters more than egg quantityWhen fertility actually starts to decline (and why 35 isn't a cliff)What you can and can't control about your egg qualityHow PCOS, endometriosis, and insulin resistance silently affect fertilityWhy every woman in her 20s should get a baseline pelvic ultrasoundThe full fertility workup explained: ultrasound, AMH, hormone panel, tube test, and sperm analysisWhen to track ovulation, when to seek help, and when to skip straight to IVFThe difference between IUI ("speed dating for the reproductive tract") and IVFHow embryo genetic testing has revolutionized success ratesEgg freezing vs. embryo freezing and the real tradeoffs of eachThe truth about autoimmune conditions and infertilityWhy men have a biological clock too and why sperm freezing is underratedMyth-busting on IVF and cancer, bed rest, birth control, and "using up your eggs"Key Timestamps00:00 Meet Dr. Lucky & The Lucky Egg07:14 Why Human Reproduction Is Inefficient By Design09:48 You're Born With All Your Eggs: The Basics14:03 When Does Fertility Actually Start to Decline?15:45 Can You Protect Your Egg Quality?19:09 PCOS, Insulin Resistance & Fertility22:29 Why PCOS & Endometriosis Get Missed So Often29:47 Why Every Woman Needs a Baseline Pelvic Ultrasound32:22 The Four Components of Getting Pregnant41:56 How to Track Ovulation the Right Way47:55 IUI vs. IVF: When to Move On59:15 Egg Freezing vs. Embryo Freezing: The Real Difference1:04:47 Does IVF Cause Cancer? Myth Busted1:11:03 Men Have a Biological Clock Too1:13:42 Does Birth Control Cause Infertility? Myth Busted1:16:47 Where to Find Dr. Lucky & The Lucky EggKey TakeawaysFertility is on a continuum, not a cliff at 35Egg quality matters more than egg quantityHuman reproduction is naturally inefficient, persistence is part of the designPCOS, endometriosis & insulin resistance are the most-missed causes of infertilityEvery woman in her 20s should know her baseline pelvic anatomyStandard of care is often the bare minimum, not the gold standardSperm testing is cheap, easy, and skipped far too often"Unexplained infertility" usually has an explanation50% of fertility cases involve a male factorTrack ovulation from the start, don't wait six months to learn your cycleIVF does not cause cancer or use up your eggsEgg freezing preserves potential, embryo freezing preserves certaintyMen have a biological clock too, just a different oneInformation is the most underrated fertility tool a woman hasGuest BioDr. Lucky Sekhon is a New York City-based reproductive endocrinologist, board-certified OB/GYN, and one of the most followed fertility experts on social media. Over the course of her career, she has helped thousands of patients build families through IVF, IUI, and egg freezing, and counseled many more through the realities of PCOS, endometriosis, recurrent loss, and unexplained infertility. Frustrated by the fragmented nature of online fertility education and the persistent knowledge gap she saw in her own consult room, Dr. Lucky wrote The Lucky Egg, a comprehensive guide that distills the science of fe