Yolanda's story & infertility, blood clots, and the cost of wanting a baby (Episode 4)

March 23, 2026

In this episode of Down There Aware, Amy is joined by Yolanda, who shares her nine-year infertility battle—five IVF cycles, $40,000+ out of pocket, and not a single pregnancy. No doctor ever told her that egg quality crashes at 35, so she delayed family planning for career and didn't start trying until 37. After three failed cycles at her first clinic, she switched to a second one that discovered she has three rare blood clotting mutations that prevented embryo implantation. She shares about daily blood work and ultrasounds while hiding it from her corporate job, receiving "you're not pregnant" calls at work, losing three 20-year friendships to grief, years of depression, and the complex joy and heartbreak of being a devoted stepmom to two sons while mourning the biological children she'll never have.