Advocate, founder of Grain Fertility, and father through IVF, Joe Cody shares his family's journey which spanned four years and included multiple failed cycles and significant financial burdens. We explore the emotional and practical challenges faced by families navigating infertility, the immense impact that proactive conversations with extended family - or a lack thereof - can have on a growing family, and the systemic issues within healthcare that complicate fertility treatments.

Joe also shares about his work since infertility, channeling his experiences into helping others navigate the complexities of infertility and advocating for accessible resources, equitable access to care, and supportive communities. 

Joe Cody is an IVF dad who has worked on health care policy and advocacy since 2008. He founded Grain Fertility after he and his wife went through a nearly 4 year journey to have their daughter and his wife used a 3-ring binder she put together to help keep their fertility journey organized. He is an active volunteer with RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, and served as the co-chair for National Advocacy Day in 2020 and 2021. He lives in Silver Spring, MD with his amazingly supportive wife, their 4 year old daughter, and their rescue dog, Fuskie.

LINKS:

Learn about Grain Fertility: https://www.grainfertility.com/

IG @joecody5

Join advocates across the US for RESOLVE Advocacy Day 2025: https://resolve.org/events/advocacy-day/

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

Fertility treatment, infertility, diminished ovarian reserve, IVF, one and no longer trying for another, therapy, mental health support, advocacy, RESOLVE, Advocacy Day, access to care, cost of care, reproductive health care, assisted reproductive technology, Grain Fertility, patient advocacy, care coordination, IVF journey, infertility support, family building, fertility advocacy, emotional toll of infertility, fertility treatment options, navigating IVF, patient advocacy in fertility, financial aspects of IVF, sharing infertility stories, mental health and infertility, hormone testing and fertility, family planning challenges, infertility awareness, personal experiences with IVF, fertility clinics, support networks for infertility, coping with infertility, growth through adversity, Grain Fertility app

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