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.

Episode 9: Family After a Vasectomy: Gretchen Rossi and Slade Smiley

There’s never a linear process when it comes to deciding if you want to expand your family or not. So, what happens when you take steps to permanently prevent pregnancy, because that was worked best for you in the moment… but you later desire to have a child? Can you get a second chance?

In this episode, Gretchen Rossi and Slade Smiley share their story of navigating fertility treatment after Slade’s vasectomy, a procedure that prevents the sperm from reaching the seminal fluid. Hoping for a second chance, the couple tried IVF in order to get pregnant, given Slade’s male infertility.

While the idea seemed straight forward, the journey that followed tested their relationship and threatened to bring them to their breaking point. In this episode, we learn the trials and tribulations that fertility treatment can have on a couple’s relationship, and the importance of supporting one another during this difficult time.

Guests: Gretchen Rossi and Slade Smiley

Expert: Dr. Mark Surrey, SCRC

Host: Lissa Kline, Director of Member Services at Progyny

For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and SCRC.

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.

About the Speakers

Host: Lissa Kline

LCSW, Director of Member Services at Progyny

Guest: Gretchen Christine Rossi

Actress, Creative Director for The Gretchen Christine Collection

Guest: Slade Smiley

Actor, President of Grayson Entertainment, LLC

Guest: Dr. Mark W. Surrey

F.A.C.O.G., F.A.C.S., Co-founder and Medical Director of Southern California Reproductive Center

Host: Lissa Kline

LCSW, Director of Member Services at Progyny

Lissa oversees the Patient Care Advocates. She worked at Columbia University Medical Center for several years in the division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. Involved in Patient Services and the Donor Egg Program, she loved working with patients while they underwent fertility treatment. Lissa graduated with a Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University.

Guest: Gretchen Christine Rossi

Actress, Creative Director for The Gretchen Christine Collection

Ever since debuting her first handbag line, Gretchen Christine has steadily grown the company to be a well-respected and highly sought-after fashion and beauty brand. With fans and customers in more than 144 countries, the companies’ extreme attention to detail, the quality craftsmanship, forward thinking colorways, yet simple and classic designs make Gretchen Christine handbags extremely desirable.

In June of 2008 Gretchen’s desires to create and perform where noticed by Hollywood producers who approached her about joining the wildly popular NBC/Bravo Television series, The Real Housewives of Orange County. Gretchen embraced the offer as a business opportunity, she saw the show as a way to showcase her designs to the masses. Gretchen’s presence and popularity were a consistent factor with-in the TV series over the last 6 seasons. Now entering its 12th season, the show is a huge international success recently celebrating more than 120th episodes and being aired in just over 140 countries.

Guest: Slade Smiley

Actor, President of Grayson Entertainment, LLC

Long before Slade became a resident of the OC and an original cast member of Bravo TV’s The Real Housewives of Orange County, he discovered he had a love for entertainment in his native town of Anchorage, Alaska. Slade joined a local performing choir at age 13 and furthered his interest in the arts by performing in musical productions and drama classes in high school and college with roles in Hello Dolly, West Side Story, The Music Man and more.

Aside from Slade Smiley’s television and entertainment work, he also continues to put his degree in international business from California State University Long Beach to good use as the owner of Grayson Entertainment, LLC. Grayson Entertainment specializes in marketing, consulting, brand development and sponsor integration for such high profile brands such as HBL/Enjoy Hair Care Products, HBL Magazine, Gretchen Christine Collection Handbags & Cosmetics, Asombroso Tequila and Armstrong Interactive Inc., RIM (Blackberry) and Verizon Wireless.

Guest: Dr. Mark W. Surrey

F.A.C.O.G., F.A.C.S., Co-founder and Medical Director of Southern California Reproductive Center

Dr. Mark Surrey is a leader in the field of fertility and reproductive medicine, including reproductive surgery and in vitro fertilization (IVF). He is a board-certified reproductive and endoscopic surgeon and serves as clinical professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He is also associate director for advanced technologies at SCRC, providing IVF services to UCLA and Cedars Sinai Medical Center. He has been in practice for more than 25 years.

Music From This Episode

Artist: Swelling

Track: Dawn I

URL: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Swelling/Projector_Music_For_Visual_Media/Swelling_-_Projector-_Music_for_Visual_Media_-_06_Dawn_I

Track: Dawn II

URL: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Swelling/Projector_Music_For_Visual_Media/Swelling_-_Projector-_Music_for_Visual_Media_-_07_Dawn_II

Artist: Steve Combs

Track: A Vital Piece of Music for All Your Soundtrack Needs

URL: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Steve_Combs/Jaw/Steve_Combs_-_Jaw_-_01_A_Vital_Piece_of_Music_for_All_Your_Soundtrack_Needs

Artist: Rest You Sleeping Giant

Track: Jazzmasters and Delay Pedals

URL: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rest_You_Sleeping_Giant/Songs_for_a_Sad_Guitar/Rest_You_Sleeping_Giant_-_Songs_for_a_Sad_Guitar_-_09_Jazzmasters_and_Delay_Pedals

Artist: Lee Rosevere

Track: I Wanted To Live

URL: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere/The_Big_Loop_-_FML_original_podcast_score/Lee_Rosevere_-_The_Big_Loop_-_FML_original_podcast_score_-_14_I_Wanted_To_Live

Artist: Breath Before the Plunge

Track: End of All Things

URL: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Breath_Before_the_Plunge/Breath_Before_the_Plunge/Breath_Before_the_Plunge_-_Breath_Before_the_Plunge_-_03_End_of_All_Things