Brave & Curious with Dr Lora Shahine11 Dec 2023

Ep 49 Olympic Champion Figure Skater to Fertility Advocate: What Tara Lipinski Learned while Unexpecting

No two fertility journeys are alike, but Tara Lipinski's experience is perhaps even more unique than most. The champion, gold-medal-ice-skater-turned-sports-analyst was 35 and still not necessarily ready to start building her family. So she decided to put her options "on ice" — literally preserving eggs and/or embryos until she and her husband Todd were ready.

However, the process turned out to be more complicated than it appeared when a diagnosis of endometriosis sent them down a different path.

What followed was two surgeries, four miscarriages, six failed transfers, and five years of treatment, hope, and heartbreak.

Spoiler alert: perfect Georgie was born in 2023, so there is a happy ending, but the picture on Instagram of Tara, curled up on her couch, heart-broken and clutching pregnancy tests, sent waves through the fertility community. Here was a very public figure speaking very publicly about her struggles to build her family.

Please listen and share to help us continue the conversation.

In this episode you'll hear:

[07:74] Why Tara and Todd shared their story on their Unexpecting podcast

[13:19] How did Tara's athletic career prepare her and NOT prepare her for infertility

[19:51] Reflecting on relationships through infertility, men vs. women on coping

[30:02]When to share and not share the fertility journey

[34:53] When we are surprised by infertility

[38:01] Misconceptions and reality about surrogacy

[46:12] Instagram Questions

Amanda: Did you and Todd ever consider giving up?

Marena: How did you and Todd keep going?

Dana: Advice to someone who is struggling with infertility?

[55:21] Finding Tara and her podcast

Resources mentioned:

Tara on Instagram: @taralipinski

Tara Lipinski: taralipinski.com

Tara Lipinski: Unexpecting Tara and Todd's podcast

Babyquest Foundation Fertility Grants: babyquestfoundation.org

Sunfish financial solutions for fertility treatment:joinsunfish.com

Stay Up to Date in Fertility News and Events: Weekly Newsletter

Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books

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