This is Infertility is a bi-weekly podcast where we fuse narrative storytelling with experience and science to give you a new perspective on what it’s really like to go through a family building journey. Each episode dives into the emotional, physical, and financial burdens carried by those who experience infertility on their path to parenthood. Be it IVF, IUI, egg freezing, surrogacy, adoption, etc., the path is never the same and it can be long, painful, and lonely. It’s our mission to give those struggling a platform to be heard, a community connection, and an opportunity to raise awareness of the 1 in 6 who, for many reasons, struggle with infertility.
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This is Infertility

Episode 212: Beating the Odds: From Cystic Fibrosis to Fatherhood

Guest: Dustin and Tequila Menken, Progyny Members at TE Connectivity
Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny

“I grew up with an expiration date.”

Dustin Menken was born with cystic fibrosis, a genetic condition that brought him lifelong health challenges and made him part of the 98% of men with CF who are infertile. He never imagined he’d live to see 40, let alone become a father. But with persistence, support from his wife Tequila and a critical fertility benefit, Progyny, from his employer, TE Connectivity, Dustin beat the odds. Again.

In this episode, Dustin and Tequila Menken share their remarkable story: from a childhood spent in hospitals to navigating genetic testing, sperm aspiration, and multiple IVF cycles. They walk us through the setbacks, the emotional toll, and the moment they finally learned they were expecting their daughter, Jannie Bell Allena, who has now arrived healthy and thriving.

Tune into this episode for the Menkens story of resilience, partnership, and the power of access. Behind every fertility journey is a deeply personal fight – one that can be helped with the right support.

For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at thisisinfertility@progyny.com.

Watch this episode on YouTube:

 

Dan Bulger

Host

Dan Bulger
Producer at Progyny

Dan has been in the healthcare industry for the past ten plus years as a multimedia content producer. Better known as ‘Video Dan’ he has interviewed numerous doctors, patients and other experts in the world of fertility. He’s also the producer for this podcast, This is Infertility and the producer behind the Progyny YouTube Channel which features interviews with dozens of the nation’s leading fertility specialists. On a personal note Dan’s parents started fostering kids when he was four years old, and he considers himself a proud older brother to over 100 foster children.

The Menkens

Guest

Dustin and Tequila Menken
Progyny Members at TE Connectivity

The Menken Family always knew they would need help when conceiving a child due to infertility. Dustin was born with a terminal illness called Cystic Fibrosis, which left him infertile and he always knew he would need intervention to have a child of his own. Tequila found out during the IVF process that she suffered from PCOS and required multiple procedures to ready her body for implantation.

Dustin’s employer just so happened to partner with Progyny, so him and his wife Tequila decided to work with them and give IVF a shot. With the help of Progyny and Carolinas Fertility Institute, they were able to conceive their now 10 month old Jannie Bell through IVF. Tequila and Dustin are huge advocates for mental health, self-care, and a willingness to trust the experts to lighten the burdens of the whole process. They wish everyone health and happiness on their own journey with Progyny through the IVF process.

From Dustin: Fun fact —Jannie Bell was born just about 2 weeks before Hurricane Helene hit Asheville where we live. We raised her in our house without power for a week and without running water for 2 months.