From Consult to Cycle: How to Get Started Without Losing Your Mind

🎙️ Fertile-ish Podcast

Season 2, Episode 8

From Consult to Cycle: How to Get Started Without Losing Your Mind

Special Guest: Justine Taylor, Chief Nursing Officer at CNY Fertility

Starting fertility treatment can feel like stepping into a maze with no map. In this episode, Laura and Brandis sit down with the ultimate insider—CNY Fertility’s Chief Nursing Officer, Justine Taylor, aka Queen Justine—to walk you through exactly what happens from your very first consult to your first cycle (and beyond).

With nearly 30 years in reproductive medicine and almost two decades at CNY, Justine spills everything patients wish they were told sooner—from how to book the right appointments to ordering meds without panic, using your portal the right way, and knowing who to contact and when.

This episode is a must-listen for:
✨ New patients
✨ IVF first-timers
✨ Travel patients
✨ Those restarting treatment
✨ Anyone who has ever asked “am I doing this right??”

🧭 In This Episode, We Cover:✅ Intro Calls: Your First StepLearn how free, 15-minute introductory calls help you decide if CNY is right for you—and what questions you should be asking before you book a consult.

✅ What Happens During a Consult (And After)

Understand how consults work, what information you should upload beforehand, and why your portal setup matters way more than you think.

✅ The Nurse Navigator Call ExplainedWhat it is. When to schedule it. Why it’s your secret weapon for moving forward smoothly (and stress-free).

✅ Medications & IVF Bundles (Demystified)Justine breaks down:

• Why bundles save you money

• How long meds actually take to arrive

• What to do if you’re running low

• Why two people never have the same protocol

• How insurance vs. self-pay changes everything

✅ Communication Hacks You NEEDNot sure who to call? When to message? What’s an emergency?
Justine spills:

• Best times to call the clinic

• When not to use the portal

• How to report Cycle Day 1 properly

• Why Instagram isn’t the place for medical questions

• The reality of weekend messaging

✅ Fresh vs. Frozen TransfersWhy your clinic may recommend freezing embryos before transfer—and how this can improve your chances.

✅ How to Advocate for Yourself Without FearNo question is stupid. No concern is silly. Learn how to speak up, ask for add-ons, and navigate protocols without comparison paralysis.

Justine’s most powerful insight:

✅ Emotional Survival Mode

“Nobody wants to walk through our doors—but we want to walk with you.”

Quote Worth Remembering:“Communication is the key. Just connect. We truly want this for you.” – Justine Taylor

🎧 Where to ListenAvailable now on:

• Spotify

• Apple Podcasts

• Amazon Music

• Wherever you get your podcasts

💬 Listener Reminder:

⭐ Don’t forget to rate, review, and share with someone who needs this episode.

If today’s episode helped you, consider sharing it with someone who’s just starting out. Sometimes the hardest part isn’t treatment—it’s taking the first step.