Last month, The Huffington Post released a podcast about IVF called IVFML: A Podcast About Infertility. And it’s pretty good. It follows Huff Post senior editor Anna Almendrala and her husband, Simon Ganz, on their quest to get pregnant with IVF.
I love this podcast for a few reasons. Number one: it’s only five episodes! This is short enough to get even non-IVF people to listen to it. It’s a quick listen taking enough time to give the listener an elementary look at IVF without all of the (sometimes daunting or boring) details. I love those details for what it’s worth, but that’s for another day.
Number two: It’s very relatable to people who have had or are going through IVF. I shook my head “yes” often while listening and it’s helpful to let IVF-ers know they’re not alone.
Number three: they interview real doctors. I like to know the technical details of things and health care professionals are more esteemed than the hosts themselves giving opinions and thoughts on treatment.
Number four: the hosts are likeable and you are definitely rooting for them—even though I root for everyone having IVF. This podcast does come off as pretty rehearsed though. I wish the banter was more casual as at times it’s very, “produced.” I enjoy frank conversation about IVF and while there is some of that, a lot of it seems contrived.
The only thing that really bothers me about this podcast is the name, IVFML. I think that IVF in and of itself implies a fair amount of privilege. Anna herself mentions that she has an employer-provided benefit package to assist with IVF expenses. In most cases if someone is going through IVF, they have the money to afford it, a good job whose benefits cover all or part of it, or a good enough credit score to take on the debt. In any of those cases, I do not think FML.
So go on, give it a listen.
