Queer Fertility Planning and Support with Guest Laine Halpern Zisman, PhD
Manage episode 322288102 series 3304523
Content Warning: Fertility Challenges, grief and loss
Hello and welcome to Perinatal Wellbeing episode #8. Today we’re going to talk about Queer fertility journeys and processes. My guest today is Laine Halpern Zisman, PhD, a Toronto-based queer doula who specializes in queer fertility support. She is also a queer culture and communications scholar and has published and taught on a range of topics related to queer theatre & media, activism & trauma, and critical queer feminist theory. Laine is also the LGBTQ+ Support Co-ordinator and Doula at Perinatal Wellbeing Ontario where she helps people find resources and supports from fertility planning to the postpartum period. Laine and I cover a lot in this episode. Laine guides us through various fertility planning considerations, fertility treatments and processes as well as how to cope with change and grief and the importance of self-advocacy throughout this process. And so much more! You can find her on instagram: @queerconceptions.
Highlights:
3:20 - Laine’s work
4:57 - What is involved in the fertility planning
5:19 - Learning to cope with change and anxiety through the fertility journey
10:25 - Lack of inclusivity in fertility clinics
13:05 - Options in queer fertility journeys
15:20 - Anonymous vs open-ID for sperm or egg donations
19:03 - CMV status testing
21:06 - Choosing a fertility clinic
25:08 - Choosing a method
27:40 - Creating a fertility plan
29:41 - Giving yourself permission to take a pause
31:56 - Creating your support network
32:57 - Transitioning from care during fertility treatments to pregnancy care
42:30 - Coping with grief and loss throughout the fertility process
49:07 - Support for non-gestational parents
50:57 - How the Pandemic has affected fertility journeys
52:59 - What do you think is missing from the space of Perinatal Support for people in the Queer community?
54:33 - How do we help to break down barriers?
58:27 - Understanding and using pronouns
Resources:
Check out Laine on Instagram @queerconceptions for information on fertility planning and journeys as well as questions to ask and think about on your fertility journey.
Take a look at Birth Mark’s Seed and Sprout program for 2SLGBTQIA families here https://birthmarksupport.com/seed-sprout
You can find us at www.perinatalwellbeing.ca on Instagram @perinatalwellbeing_ontario or by email info@perinatalwellbeing.ca
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