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 213: Fertility 101: The Basics of Genetics and Genetic Testing

Guest: Jay Shaw, MS, CGC, Senior Product Manager, Fulgent Genetics
Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny

The Fertility 101 Series, because there’s no shortage of daunting terms to keep your mind running, is a quick and dirty breakdown on a specific topic with insights from a fertility expert.

Today’s episode is a deep dive into the role of genetics in fertility care and planning. We’re joined by Jay Shaw, a certified genetic counselor and Senior Product Manager at Fulgent Genetics, who walks us through the basics and beyond when it comes to genetic testing.

We start with a foundational overview, and Jay makes sure to break down the medical jargon for us. What is genetic testing? And what do terms like “carrier screening,” “single gene disorder,” and “pathogenic variant,” actually mean?

From there, Jay explains how test results can inform decisions around IVF, embryo selection, and prenatal diagnostic testing. She also walks us through options available to people and couples when carrier screening reveals shared risks, including IVF with genetic testing, sperm or egg donation, and early interventions during pregnancy or at birth.

Jay also shares how genetic testing is expanding with new tools for cancer screening, direct-to-consumer options, and exciting advancements on the horizon, including genome sequencing and the potential for AI to transform how we interpret genetic results.

Genetic testing is a crucial part of the family-building journey, protecting the health of your baby and ensuring a well-informed pregnancy. Tune in to hear all that it has to offer.

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: https://youtu.be/vnn0VA4lcno

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.

Jay Shaw

Guest

Jay Shaw
MS, CGC, Senior Product Manager, Fulgent Genetics

Jay Shaw, MS, CGC (she/her) is a board-certified genetic counselor with over 10 years of experience in the field. Currently a Senior Product Manager at Fulgent Genetics, she specializes in carrier screening, prenatal testing, expanded newborn screening, pediatric panels, whole exome sequencing, whole genome sequencing, hereditary oncology, and somatic oncology. Jay has previously worked as a laboratory genetic counselor focused on pediatric diagnostic testing, as well as a clinical genetic counselor in pediatrics, prenatal, and hereditary cancer clinics. Her clinical experience includes cystic fibrosis and metabolic clinics as well. Jay obtained her MS in Genetic Counseling from Long Island University – Post and her BS in Zoology from Colorado State University. She holds Genetic Counseling licensure in multiple states and is passionate about providing the best tests and services to patients and clinicians who are interested in genetic testing. Jay is dedicated to assisting people in their reproductive journeys.