DeepSummary
Dr. Lauren Rubal is a former Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility physician who worked in the IVF industry for many years before leaving to start her own integrative medicine practice focused on holistic fertility treatments. In this interview, she provides a detailed breakdown of the IVF process, including egg retrieval, fertilization, embryo grading and genetic testing, and embryo transfer. She also discusses the ethical concerns surrounding IVF, such as the creation and potential destruction of embryos, the use of pornography for sperm collection, and the practice of selective reduction (aborting one fetus) in cases of multiple pregnancies.
Dr. Rubal reveals that there are significant physical, emotional, and financial costs to IVF, as well as increased health risks for both mothers and babies. She explains that her decision to leave the IVF industry was driven by her realization that the process often treats women as mere "ovaries in a vacuum" without considering their whole health, and that the creation and destruction of embryos raises profound moral and ethical questions.
In her current practice, Dr. Rubal takes an integrative and restorative approach, focusing on identifying and addressing the root causes of infertility and reproductive disorders through lifestyle changes, natural treatments, and a holistic understanding of the interconnected systems of the body. She emphasizes the importance of educating women about their bodies, fertility cycles, and natural family planning methods, as well as empowering patients to be proactive and informed advocates for their own health.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The IVF process involves invasive procedures for women, including daily hormone injections, egg retrievals under sedation, and embryo transfers.
- IVF often results in the creation of multiple embryos, some of which may be discarded, frozen indefinitely, or selectively reduced (aborted) in cases of multiple pregnancies.
- The use of pornography is common for sperm collection in IVF, raising ethical concerns.
- IVF carries increased health risks for both mothers and babies, including preterm birth, hypertensive disorders, placental problems, birth defects, and stillbirth.
- The IVF industry often treats women as mere biological vessels, neglecting their holistic well-being and failing to address the root causes of infertility.
- Dr. Rubal left the IVF industry due to ethical concerns over the creation and destruction of embryos, as well as a desire to take a more integrative and restorative approach to fertility treatment.
- Dr. Rubal's current practice focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of infertility through lifestyle changes, natural treatments, and a holistic understanding of the interconnected systems of the body.
- Education and empowerment of women about their bodies, fertility cycles, and natural family planning methods are crucial components of Dr. Rubal's approach.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “Again, this embryo is a human being and that human being deserve, has inherent dignity and should be protected as the most vulnerable of all.“ by Lauren Rubal
- “I would say that the majority of the time that those would be attempted to be fertilized. Yes.“ by Lauren Rubal
- “The standard would be absolutely to say that due to the risk of the risk to the mother and to the children, which I know sounds very ironic, that selective reduction would be recommended.“ by Lauren Rubal
- “I decided again to stop, to leave it all behind. I just felt like, for me, my soul was at.“ by Lauren Rubal
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Episode Information
Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey
Blaze Podcast Network
6/12/24