455: Inside the IVF Lab: What Your Embryologist Wants You to Know with Alease Barnes

In episode #458 of The Hormone Puzzle Podcast, our host, Dr. Kela Smith, talks about Is It Perimenopause...or Is Something Else Going On? More about Dr. Kela: Dr. Kela Smith is a women's health expert specializing in fertility, hormones, and root-cause healing. She helps women identify and address the underlying causes of fertility challenges, hormone imbalances, and perimenopause, empowering them to achieve optimal health and thrive at every stage of life. Thank you for listening! Follow Dr. Kela on Instagram: @‌drkelasmith 💚 Take the FREE Fertility Puzzle Assessment and discover where to focus next on your fertility journey: https://hormonepuzzlesociety.com/quiz/ FTC Affiliate Disclaimer: The disclosure that follows is intended to fully comply with the Federal Trade Commission's policy of the United States that requires to be transparent about any and all affiliate relations the Company may have on this show. You should assume that some of the product mentions and discount codes given are "affiliate links", a link with a special tracking code This means that if you use one of these codes and purchase the item, the Company may receive an affiliate commission. This is a legitimate way to monetize and pay for the operation of the Website, podcast, and operations and the Company gladly reveals its affiliate relationships to you. The price of the item is the same whether it is an affiliate link or not. Regardless, the Company only recommends products or services the Company believes will add value to its users. The Hormone Puzzle Society and Dr. Kela will receive up to 30% affiliate commission depending on the product that is sponsored on the show. For sponsorship opportunities, email HPS Media at [email protected]

In episode #457 of The Hormone Puzzle Podcast, our guest, Erica Ziel talks about Prenatal Through Postnatal Exercise. Wondering what might be missing from your fertility journey? Take the complimentary Fertility Puzzle Assessment to uncover areas that may need more support and learn where to focus your attention next. 👉 Take the Fertility Puzzle Assessment: https://hormonepuzzlesociety.com/quiz Looking for personalized fertility guidance? Book a Fertility Deep Dive Consultation with Dr. Kela. During this 1-on-1 consultation, we'll take a deeper look at your health history, fertility journey, lifestyle, and past labs, if available, to identify potential areas that may be impacting your fertility and determine what to focus on next. 📞 Book Your Fertility Deep Dive Consultation: https://hormonepuzzlesociety.com/fertility-consultation-promo This episode is brought to you in partnership with Fertility Class. Learn more at http://www.thefertilityclass.com and use code DRKELA when signing up for 15% off your first month About the Guest: Erica Ziel is the creator of Core Athletica®, is a Core Athletica® Movement Specialist and Pilates Instructor with over 20 years of experience, plus a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition® Practitioner. She helps women restore core and pelvic floor function so they can return to an active, pain-free life, and she educates movement professionals through her Core Athletica® Movement Specialist and Prenatal & Postnatal instructor courses. Follow Erica on Instagram: @‌knockedupfitness About the Host: Dr. Kela Smith, PhD is a Women's Health Expert specializing in fertility, hormones, and root-cause health. After navigating her own unexplained infertility journey, she developed the Hormone P.U.Z.Z.L.E. Method and has dedicated her work to helping women and couples better understand the many pieces that can influence fertility and hormone health. Through The Hormone Puzzle Society, Dr. Kela helps women identify and address potential underlying factors contributing to fertility challenges, hormone imbalances, and the changes that come with perimenopause so they can feel informed, supported, and empowered at every stage of their health journey. She is also the host of The Hormone Puzzle Podcast and author of the bestselling book Solving Your Infertility Puzzle. 📲 Follow Dr. Kela on Instagram: @‌drkelasmith 📩 Sponsorship & Media Inquiries: [email protected] Disclaimer: Some links may be affiliate links, meaning a commission may be earned at no additional cost to you.

In episode #456 of The Hormone Puzzle Podcast, our host, Dr. Kela Smith, talks about How Chronic Inflammation Blocks Conception. At the end of every month on The Hormone Puzzle Podcast, Dr. Kela takes you Inside the Fertility Puzzle with a special solo episode dedicated to key fertility topics. From optimizing hormones and decoding lab results to fostering emotional resilience, these episodes deliver actionable advice and expert insights to support your journey to conception. Designed to equip you with the tools and knowledge needed to navigate your unique fertility challenges, this series is your guide to empowerment and clarity. Tune in and let's work together to solve your fertility puzzle with confidence! Wondering what might be missing from your fertility journey? Take the complimentary Fertility Puzzle Assessment to uncover areas that may need more support and learn where to focus your attention next. 👉 Take the Fertility Puzzle Assessment: https://hormonepuzzlesociety.com/quiz Looking for personalized fertility guidance? Book a Fertility Deep Dive Consultation with Dr. Kela. During this 1-on-1 consultation, we'll take a deeper look at your health history, fertility journey, lifestyle, and past labs, if available, to identify potential areas that may be impacting your fertility and determine what to focus on next. 📞 Book Your Fertility Deep Dive Consultation: https://hormonepuzzlesociety.com/fertility-consultation-promo About Dr. Kela: Dr. Kela Smith, PhD is a Women's Health Expert specializing in fertility, hormones, and root-cause health. After navigating her own unexplained infertility journey, she developed the Hormone P.U.Z.Z.L.E. Method and has dedicated her work to helping women and couples better understand the many pieces that can influence fertility and hormone health. Through The Hormone Puzzle Society, Dr. Kela helps women identify and address potential underlying factors contributing to fertility challenges, hormone imbalances, and the changes that come with perimenopause so they can feel informed, supported, and empowered at every stage of their health journey. She is also the host of The Hormone Puzzle Podcast and author of the bestselling book Solving Your Infertility Puzzle. 📲 Follow Dr. Kela on Instagram: @‌drkelasmith 📩 Sponsorship & Media Inquiries: [email protected] Disclaimer: Some links may be affiliate links, meaning a commission may be earned at no additional cost to you.  

In episode #455 of The Hormone Puzzle Podcast, our guest, Alease Barnes talks about Inside the IVF Lab: What Your Embryologist Wants You to Know. Wondering what might be missing from your fertility journey? Take the complimentary Fertility Puzzle Assessmentto uncover areas that may need more support and learn where to focus your attention next. 👉 Take the Fertility Puzzle Assessment: https://hormonepuzzlesociety.com/quiz Looking for personalized fertility guidance? Book a Fertility Deep Dive Consultation with Dr. Kela. During this 1-on-1 consultation, we'll take a deeper look at your health history, fertility journey, lifestyle, and past labs, if available, to identify potential areas that may be impacting your fertility and determine what to focus on next. 📞 Book Your Fertility Deep Dive Consultation: https://hormonepuzzlesociety.com/fertility-consultation-promo About the Guest: Alease is an experienced embryologist, educator, and content creator. She obtained a  Bachelor's degree in Genetics from NC State University and has been in the IVF lab for more than 7 years. Alease is passionate about fertility education and has been leveraging social media since 2021 to advocate for fertility awareness, dispel misinformation, and support those on their infertility journey. She continually strives to make complex scientific concepts accessible to a broad audience. This episode is brought to you in partnership with Fullscript. https://fullscript.com/welcome/drkela Follow Alease on Instagram: @‌alease_the_embryologist About Dr. Kela: Dr. Kela Smith, PhD is a Women's Health Expert specializing in fertility, hormones, and root-cause health. After navigating her own unexplained infertility journey, she developed the Hormone P.U.Z.Z.L.E. Method and has dedicated her work to helping women and couples better understand the many pieces that can influence fertility and hormone health. Through the  Hormone Puzzle Society, Dr. Kela helps women identify and address potential underlying factors contributing to fertility challenges, hormone imbalances, and the changes that come with perimenopause so they can feel informed, supported, and empowered at every stage of their health journey. She is also the host of The Hormone Puzzle Podcast and author of the bestselling book Solving Your Infertility Puzzle. 📲 Follow Dr. Kela on Instagram: @‌drkelasmith 📩 Sponsorship & Media Inquiries: [email protected] Disclaimer: Some links may be affiliate links, meaning a commission may be earned at no additional cost to you.

In episode #454 of The Hormone Puzzle Podcast, our host, Dr. Kela Smith, talks about You're Not Lazy, Your Hormones Are Talking: 10 Symptoms You Shouldn't Ignore. Wondering what might be missing from your fertility journey? Take the complimentary Fertility Puzzle Assessmentto uncover areas that may need more support and learn where to focus your attention next. 👉 Take the Fertility Puzzle Assessment: https://hormonepuzzlesociety.com/quiz Looking for personalized fertility guidance? Book a Fertility Deep Dive Consultation with Dr. Kela. During this 1-on-1 consultation, we'll take a deeper look at your health history, fertility journey, lifestyle, and past labs, if available, to identify potential areas that may be impacting your fertility and determine what to focus on next. 📞 Book Your Fertility Deep Dive Consultation: https://hormonepuzzlesociety.com/fertility-consultation-promo About Dr. Kela: Dr. Kela Smith, PhD is a Women's Health Expert specializing in fertility, hormones, and root-cause health. After navigating her own unexplained infertility journey, she developed the Hormone P.U.Z.Z.L.E. Method and has dedicated her work to helping women and couples better understand the many pieces that can influence fertility and hormone health. Through The Hormone Puzzle Society, Dr. Kela helps women identify and address potential underlying factors contributing to fertility challenges, hormone imbalances, and the changes that come with perimenopause so they can feel informed, supported, and empowered at every stage of their health journey. She is also the host of The Hormone Puzzle Podcast and author of the bestselling book Solving Your Infertility Puzzle. 📲 Follow Dr. Kela on Instagram: @‌drkelasmith 📩 Sponsorship & Media Inquiries: [email protected] Disclaimer: Some links may be affiliate links, meaning a commission may be earned at no additional cost to you.  

In episode #453 of The Hormone Puzzle Podcast, our guest, Rafaella Elias talks about Shifting Your Emotions From Fear, Grief Into Hope. Wondering what might be missing from your fertility journey? Take the complimentary Fertility Puzzle Assessmentto uncover areas that may need more support and learn where to focus your attention next. 👉 Take the Fertility Puzzle Assessment: https://hormonepuzzlesociety.com/quiz Looking for personalized fertility guidance? Book a Fertility Deep Dive Consultation with Dr. Kela. During this 1-on-1 consultation, we'll take a deeper look at your health history, fertility journey, lifestyle, and past labs, if available, to identify potential areas that may be impacting your fertility and determine what to focus on next. 📞 Book Your Fertility Deep Dive Consultation: https://hormonepuzzlesociety.com/fertility-consultation-promo About the Guest: Rafaella Elias has always been passionate about improving public health. With a background in Nutrition, Health Sciences and Epidemiology, her career path was focused on understanding health from a scientific perspective. However, when she faced Type 1 diabetes, hypothyroidism and infertility, she embarked on a transformational healing journey—one that extended beyond medicine. Along the way, she discovered the profound power of the mind-body connection, emotional healing, and shifting beliefs to manifest what the heart desires. By embracing these principles, she transformed her pain into power, turning what once felt impossible into reality: the gift of motherhood. Inspired by her journey, Rafaella developed Little Miracle Creations, an initiative to share meaningful offerings that support women on their journey to motherhood. Through creative expression and heartfelt insights, she continues to expand this growing collection, beginning with her poetry book and guided journal. With more to come, each offering is created to inspire women to believe in their own miracles. Rafaella's debut book, Little Miracle Milestones, is a collection of affirmation-infused poetry, written as an intimate dialogue between mother and baby. Accompanied by a guided journal, this collection provides a space to release limiting beliefs and step into the energy of manifesting a little miracle. Thank you for listening! This episode is brought to you in partnership with Fullscript. https://fullscript.com/welcome/drkela Follow Rafaella on Instagram: @‌littlemiraclecreations About the Host: Dr. Kela Smith, PhD is a Women's Health Expert specializing in fertility, hormones, and root-cause health. After navigating her own unexplained infertility journey, she developed the Hormone P.U.Z.Z.L.E. Method and has dedicated her work to helping women and couples better understand the many pieces that can influence fertility and hormone health. Through The Hormone Puzzle Society, Dr. Kela helps women identify and address potential underlying factors contributing to fertility challenges, hormone imbalances, and the changes that come with perimenopause so they can feel informed, supported, and empowered at every stage of their health journey. She is also the host of The Hormone Puzzle Podcast and author of the bestselling book Solving Your Infertility Puzzle. 📲 Follow Dr. Kela on Instagram: @‌drkelasmith 📩 Sponsorship & Media Inquiries: [email protected] Disclaimer: Some links may be affiliate links, meaning a commission may be earned at no additional cost to you.  

In episode #452 of The Hormone Puzzle Podcast, our guest, Bria Gadd talks about Peptides in Perimenopause - What's Safe, What's Hype, and What's Next. Wondering what might be missing from your fertility journey? Take the complimentary Fertility Puzzle Assessmentto uncover areas that may need more support and learn where to focus your attention next. 👉 Take the Fertility Puzzle Assessment: https://hormonepuzzlesociety.com/quiz Looking for personalized fertility guidance? Book a Fertility Deep Dive Consultation with Dr. Kela. During this 1-on-1 consultation, we'll take a deeper look at your health history, fertility journey, lifestyle, and past labs, if available, to identify potential areas that may be impacting your fertility and determine what to focus on next. 📞 Book Your Fertility Deep Dive Consultation: https://hormonepuzzlesociety.com/fertility-consultation-promo About the Guest: Bria Gadd is a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition® Practitioner, holistic health coach, and certified personal trainer, who specializes in female hormones, helping women with weight release and energy gain in pre and post menopause, and finding clarity in hormonal chaos. Thank you for listening! This episode is brought to you in partnership with Fullscript. Follow Bria on Instagram: @‌bria_period_whisperer Watch FREE Training and get the exact 5 steps to feel amazing in midlife HERE. About Dr. Kela: Dr. Kela Smith, PhD is a Women's Health Expert specializing in fertility, hormones, and root-cause health. After navigating her own unexplained infertility journey, she developed the Hormone P.U.Z.Z.L.E. Method and has dedicated her work to helping women and couples better understand the many pieces that can influence fertility and hormone health. Through The Hormone Puzzle Society, Dr. Kela helps women identify and address potential underlying factors contributing to fertility challenges, hormone imbalances, and the changes that come with perimenopause so they can feel informed, supported, and empowered at every stage of their health journey. She is also the host of The Hormone Puzzle Podcast and author of the bestselling book Solving Your Infertility Puzzle. 📲 Follow Dr. Kela on Instagram: @‌drkelasmith 📩 Sponsorship & Media Inquiries: [email protected] Disclaimer: Some links may be affiliate links, meaning a commission may be earned at no additional cost to you.

In episode #451 of The Hormone Puzzle Podcast, our host, Dr. Kela Smith, talks about What Unexplained Infertility Is Really Telling Us - Inside the Fertility Puzzle with Dr. Kela. At the end of every month on The Hormone Puzzle Podcast, Dr. Kela takes you Inside the Fertility Puzzle with a special solo episode dedicated to key fertility topics. From optimizing hormones and decoding lab results to fostering emotional resilience, these episodes deliver actionable advice and expert insights to support your journey to conception. Designed to equip you with the tools and knowledge needed to navigate your unique fertility challenges, this series is your guide to empowerment and clarity. Tune in and let's work together to solve your fertility puzzle with confidence! Wondering what might be missing from your fertility journey? Take the complimentary Fertility Puzzle Assessmentto uncover areas that may need more support and learn where to focus your attention next. 👉 Take the Fertility Puzzle Assessment: https://hormonepuzzlesociety.com/quiz Looking for personalized fertility guidance? Book a Fertility Deep Dive Consultation with Dr. Kela. During this 1-on-1 consultation, we'll take a deeper look at your health history, fertility journey, lifestyle, and past labs, if available, to identify potential areas that may be impacting your fertility and determine what to focus on next. 📞 Book Your Fertility Deep Dive Consultation: https://hormonepuzzlesociety.com/fertility-consultation-promo About Dr. Kela: Dr. Kela Smith, PhD is a Women's Health Expert specializing in fertility, hormones, and root-cause health. After navigating her own unexplained infertility journey, she developed the Hormone P.U.Z.Z.L.E. Method and has dedicated her work to helping women and couples better understand the many pieces that can influence fertility and hormone health. Through The Hormone Puzzle Society, Dr. Kela helps women identify and address potential underlying factors contributing to fertility challenges, hormone imbalances, and the changes that come with perimenopause so they can feel informed, supported, and empowered at every stage of their health journey. She is also the host of The Hormone Puzzle Podcast and author of the bestselling book Solving Your Infertility Puzzle. 📲 Follow Dr. Kela on Instagram: @‌drkelasmith 📩 Sponsorship & Media Inquiries: [email protected] Disclaimer: Some links may be affiliate links, meaning a commission may be earned at no additional cost to you.  

In episode #449 of The Hormone Puzzle Podcast, our guest, Jamie DeLaurentis talks about Histamine & Hormones- The Hidden Link. Wondering what might be missing from your fertility journey? Take the complimentary Fertility Puzzle Assessmentto uncover areas that may need more support and learn where to focus your attention next. 👉 Take the Fertility Puzzle Assessment: https://hormonepuzzlesociety.com/quiz Looking for personalized fertility guidance? Book a Fertility Deep Dive Consultation with Dr. Kela. During this 1-on-1 consultation, we'll take a deeper look at your health history, fertility journey, lifestyle, and past labs, if available, to identify potential areas that may be impacting your fertility and determine what to focus on next. 📞 Book Your Fertility Deep Dive Consultation: https://hormonepuzzlesociety.com/fertility-consultation-promo About the Guest: Jamie is a registered dietitian and gut health expert and, as she often shares, a retired "sensitive Sally." She personally experienced the frustration of navigating GI specialists, receiving normal lab results despite ongoing symptoms, following strict elimination diets, and trying countless supplements. Like many of the clients she now supports, she felt stuck and questioned whether her health would ever truly improve or if the stubborn symptom cycle would ever break. Through her own journey, Jamie realized the missing piece wasn't doing more or simply changing what she was doing — it was understanding why the symptoms were happening in the first place. That insight propelled her into the functional medicine space and ultimately transformed the way she approaches gut health today. Thank you for listening! This episode is brought to you in partnership with Branch Basics. Use code DRKELA at checkout for 15% off. Follow Jamie on Instagram: @‌legalivingdietitian About the Host: Dr. Kela Smith, PhD is a Women's Health Expert specializing in fertility, hormones, and root-cause health. After navigating her own unexplained infertility journey, she developed the Hormone P.U.Z.Z.L.E. Method and has dedicated her work to helping women and couples better understand the many pieces that can influence fertility and hormone health. Through The Hormone Puzzle Society, Dr. Kela helps women identify and address potential underlying factors contributing to fertility challenges, hormone imbalances, and the changes that come with perimenopause so they can feel informed, supported, and empowered at every stage of their health journey. She is also the host of The Hormone Puzzle Podcast and author of the bestselling book Solving Your Infertility Puzzle. 📲 Follow Dr. Kela on Instagram: @‌drkelasmith 📩 Sponsorship & Media Inquiries: [email protected] Disclaimer: Some links may be affiliate links, meaning a commission may be earned at no additional cost to you.  

In episode #449 of The Hormone Puzzle Podcast, our host, Dr. Kela Smith, talks about Why Your Bloodwork Says "Normal"... But You're Still Not Pregnant . Wondering what might be missing from your fertility journey? Take the complimentary Fertility Puzzle Assessmentto uncover areas that may need more support and learn where to focus your attention next. 👉 Take the Fertility Puzzle Assessment: https://hormonepuzzlesociety.com/quiz Looking for personalized fertility guidance? Book a Fertility Deep Dive Consultation with Dr. Kela. During this 1-on-1 consultation, we'll take a deeper look at your health history, fertility journey, lifestyle, and past labs, if available, to identify potential areas that may be impacting your fertility and determine what to focus on next. 📞 Book Your Fertility Deep Dive Consultation: https://hormonepuzzlesociety.com/fertility-consultation-promo About Dr. Kela: Dr. Kela Smith, PhD is a Women's Health Expert specializing in fertility, hormones, and root-cause health. After navigating her own unexplained infertility journey, she developed the Hormone P.U.Z.Z.L.E. Method and has dedicated her work to helping women and couples better understand the many pieces that can influence fertility and hormone health. Through The Hormone Puzzle Society, Dr. Kela helps women identify and address potential underlying factors contributing to fertility challenges, hormone imbalances, and the changes that come with perimenopause so they can feel informed, supported, and empowered at every stage of their health journey. She is also the host of The Hormone Puzzle Podcast and author of the bestselling book Solving Your Infertility Puzzle. 📲 Follow Dr. Kela on Instagram: @‌drkelasmith 📩 Sponsorship & Media Inquiries: [email protected] Disclaimer: Some links may be affiliate links, meaning a commission may be earned at no additional cost to you.