LLP105 : From Infertility to Motherhood with Dr. Jerisa Berry

Introduction

Dr. Berry:
And welcome to another episode of the Lunch and Learn with Dr. Berry. Everybody, I’m your host, Dr. Berry Pierre, your favorite Board Certified Internist. Founder of drberrypierre.com and Pierre Medical Consulting. Helping you empower yourself for better health with the number one podcast for patient advocacy. This week we bring you Episode 105 with Dr. Jerisa Berry and we get to talk a lot about National Infertility Month and Infertility Week. And most importantly, we get a personal story with Dr. Jerisa and gives you the start from the beginning with her path and her journey when discussing the topic of infertility. I want to read some of her bio because again, I like to quantify why some of these guesses so amazing. Why I'm excited to have her here for you guys today with the Lunch and Learn community.
Dr. Jerisa Berry is one of a nation acclaimed doctors. She's a Board Certified in Emergency Medicine Physician. She is a nationally recognized author, speaker, consultant and media personality. She's the co-owner of medical clinic and concierge patient practice, vital care medical center with her husband, Dr. Adam Berry. Dr. Jerisa is the founder of secure your fertility where she helps single ladies and career minded women take control of their fertility. Because of experience and medicine, both are the best teacher for women's seeking to optimize and work to various fertility options. Dr. Jerisa, a subject matter expert in ovarian preservation, assistant fertilization surrogacy and helping to decrease the pressures and stresses associated with the process.
And you know, ladies and gentlemen, that's just a smidge of this person's character. She is an amazing, being amazing colleague, I've had a chance to know her for about almost three years now and you know, I've kind of watched her grow due to journey that she's going to tell you today. And again, like I said earlier, she's going to talk about her personal struggle with infertility and you know what she did to navigate this journey. Right? I'm excited for you guys to hear today's episode. So let's sit back and be ready for another amazing episode here on Lunch and Learn with Dr. Berry.

Episode

Dr. Berry:
Alright Lunch and Learn community. So you just heard another fabulous introduction for guest that we hear and you know that Lunch and Learn community had an interest to talk to and get on the shoulder. Really talk to you about a very important topic, especially depending on when you listen to this, Infertility Week, a National Infertility Month. This is a person that not only did I, you know, know of as a personal friend has been a few years. So I wanted to kind get her on and kind of talk about her story. So, again, thank you Dr. Jerisa for coming onto the show today.

Dr. Jerisa Berry:
Thank you. Thank you Dr. Berry for having me.
Dr. Berry:
So how did you share it? You're definitely the superstar, this episode. So, and you know, with the month, obviously when I read the bio and bio bio does with the bio does, but like, can you tell someone who may just be listening? Like, who is Dr. Jerisa and you know, why are you such an amazing person and why we were about to come and listen to you talk.
Dr. Jerisa Berry:
That's an amazing person, oh man. Thank you for that. You know, I think that whenever you, of course your listeners have just heard that I'm a physician, I'm an ER physician and I also own of course two medical practices in South Florida. But you know, sometimes when you step outside of your occupation, you know, and I guess that's why we're here now is because of, you know, what I went through with my journey. It was a difficult time but I was able to kind of turn that around and I turned it around to really help other women, other couples that could be experiencing infertility or having problems conceiving. And so when you go through something that really is supposed to get you down, but you turn it into something great. That’s kind of what I guess is making me amazing. You know thank you for that. And thank you for having me.
Dr. Berry:
What's interesting, especially in, you know, well obviously get into the nitty gritty when we talk about infertility. I think it's, a lot of times, I know when I was naive and didn't really know about a subject, I always assumed this disease or this issue to happen to older people or people who pass it weighs right? But you know, just doing innovative research and realizing that this was actually a lot more common than expected. Was this something that, you know, before all of this kind of happen, with your personal story that you know, you thought of, you had any personal experience with friends or family members?
Dr. Jerisa Berry:
Dr. Berry know. And you really are, you're right on, it is so common. Even myself, I'm amazed, you know, the more and more I talk to even younger women, it is not a condition of, you know, women over 40 anymore. For me, you know, for us, me myself and my husband, we didn't really know at that time, you know, this is going back now maybe about four years now since we started and a lot has happened. Of course there's a lot more awareness and a lot more women and of course famous women have come forward. And so it's more of, a lot more people are talking about it now. But when we were going through it at the time, it was still kind of a stigma and so it wasn't anything that we were necessarily aware. But us being both doctors, we knew that we didn't want to keep trying.
Of course, you know, infertility, the definition of infertility is, have you tried for six months. If you're over 35, then you know, you really want to kind of get to the root of the issue and seek assistance with a specialist. And so that's what we did early on. We didn't wait. We knew kind of what we were working with the timeline. And so, that alone, that knowledge that couples can have that, you know, don't keep trying year after year, go seek professional help. And that's what we did. Even as physicians kind of early on in our process, we really only gave it six months and we were like, okay, what's going on? You know, why are we not, you know, how are we having problems with them? I always knew I had fibroids, you know what I mean? That is something that I've known since my twenties. But fibroids are not necessarily a problem. You know, you can have small fibroids and depending on where they are, the location, the size, you can still have a viable pregnancy or not. And so that was kind of one of the issues that we had, where, you know, we saw specialty services from our doctor.
Dr. Berry:
What's interesting, especially for Lunch and Learn community. I just want to kinda, we're gonna throw out some myths that we tend to hear all the time and then just to give some round numbers, right? Because Lunch and Learn community likes to, you know, they liked the numbers, they like to kind of put stuff in perspective, right? So a lot of the, the myths that we really want to get out of the way really early, especially in this show when talking about this discussion is, you know, that infertility is rare. Right? That's a myth that fertility issues are a women's problem which I think has, which is probably one of the biggest, you know, travesty as far as the subject in general. And I definitely want to kind of get your opinion on that. How much onus is unfortunately put on the woman as being the issue?
Dr. Jerisa Berry:
Thank you Dr. Berry.
Dr. Berry:
Yeah, no, no, it was again I trust, I got you. I got you. Like I said this episode, I guess some stuff. So it's, I think your story is definitely one where it's going to resonate with a lot of people and I think you hit it right on the head, I think. And now that like I'm in the know and I know of and all of a sudden I started looking around and I got a lot more friends. (Left and right, right?).
Oh, okay. Oh, you too. And you too. It's one of those things where right when you know it's is hitting in your face every way. It's always been there. Right? And I think you hit it right on the head when you said like we're becoming more aware of it and that it would become more aware. We know what the definition, we know what term means. All of a sudden we're starting to see and we're seeing the issues kind of hand in hand. Some quick numbers, you know, one in eight couples, right? One in eight couples have trouble getting pregnant. A 7.4 million have had to receive infertility services in a lifetime. Right? That's about 12%.
And just from a causes, right? Because again, I know we like to causes. A one third is attributed to the woman, one third is attributed to male and one third is a really a combination of issues that I really kind of, you know, go partners or unexplained. Right? So you know, these are missing facts that I think really has to be kind of hit home for folks to really understand. Like, no, we're actually dealing with an issue that's really widespread in our face, but we don't even realize it.
Dr. Jerisa Berry:
Yeah. Yeah. And I mean, you said it. And even to add to that, you know, 2 million couples each year, every year, you know, we'll have difficulties conceiving and yeah. Yeah. And so, and then the numbers in terms of the men, the male components are, the male factor infertility is increasing. You know, and the latest studies are really slant. It could be close to 40, 45% of the causes. So some astounding numbers then we're just glad that we had this month, this week where, you know, we can kind of talk about it more and create a safe place for even more people, you know, to come forward and really just shed light on it.
Dr. Berry:
And I think this was so important, especially with these months, because every month seems to be some type of month. (Right). And I always get the question, well, why, you know, why do we have to be aware of this issue? Right. And it really is because a lot of times I'll kind of go silent and there's, and this isn't a thing that's only affecting a few people. It affects a lot of people, men every year are affected by infertility. But if you don't shed the light, if you don't spotlight and say, hey we're talking about it now. Sometimes you get lost in the shuffle of all of the other medical issues that may take a little bit precedents just from a media standpoint.
Dr. Jerisa Berry:
Exactly. Exactly. And then, you know, the more and more we talk about it, the more you have companies that come forward and say they're going to pay for fertility treatments. Are you have, even this year in New York state came forward and said that they're going to cover IVF fertility treatments for their couples. So they're joining the ranks is really only like four or five right now. But you know, the more we let them know, look, and 2 million couples are affected by this. What are you all going to do to really help us? Then you do have companies, you know, these corporate companies, I won't name them, but you know, that are really coming forward, thankfully, and helping to paper because it can be expensive.
Dr. Berry:
We're definitely gonna talk about the expenses for sure because I think that's something, that's sometimes is prohibitive to a lot of people when they talk about options. And so when we talk about infertility and again, we know that we can no longer look at it as if you get over 40. Is there a certain age anymore that women really should start thinking about it? Is there like, what should women thinking about? And again, I hate to say women because you know, as your stats show a 45% of men, which I got some theories on that we might back why we made them 45% is being affected now. But like, is there even an age anymore that women should start thinking about it?
Dr. Jerisa Berry:
Ohh, Dr. Berry, if you know, it's a little scary. The more and more I consult with women, the more they reach out to me, the more I even do things with my secure fertility, the masterclass. I meet younger and younger women and you know, there really has not been a consensus even with fertility testing. As it is with pap smears and mammograms, there really isn't an age that they put so far. The American College of Ob-Gyn, obstetrician and gynecologist, they had talked about for fluid testing and the pap smear, but they never really came to a consensus with that. But it's unfortunate because you know, society has made it as though, you know, you should be concerned if you're over 35 or if you're over 40 but oh my gosh, Dr. Berry I'm just amazed myself with the younger women, the women in their younger twenties you know, younger thirties that are having problems and the problem they could, it varies, you know, of course the causes of infertility or various. I have, I met with a young lady about a month ago now her egg reserve is low and she's 34 years old. She is single, and she's never been on birth control. You know, she's been single for some time and she decided to get her test through our app and she found out her egg reserve is low at 34 but you know, of course she's not 40. You know, and then I've talked with several women who have been in their twenties and so there isn't an age, but you know, forums like yours, forms like what we're doing with National Infertility Awareness Week. Hopefully let women, even younger women know, as something to not just put on the back burner. You know, if you are, if you know you're single, that's kind of my costs. You know, if you know your single and waning, don't hesitate to kind of see where you stand with your biological clock. Unfortunately they haven't put an age on it cause it just buried, you know and.
Dr. Berry:
And it’s interesting especially, could you kind of elaborate and when you talk about like egg reserves, biological clock, is that like the same thing? Like is again, because that's a new term, right? Again, Lunch and Learn community, I use these guests to like learn as well. So like there's definitely a new term for me. Egg reserve. Like how would a person know if the egg reserves are even low?
Dr. Jerisa Berry:
So, yeah. Well that is the biological clock, you know, as the common joke that a lot of women say, our eggs are drying up as we get older or of course our biological clock is ticking. But you know, when you look at it in terms of science or medicine, when you see a fertility specialist, they're going to look at your egg reserve or your ovarian reserve. And that's what we also realized when we were going through the testing and we've talked to other couples because you'd need a lot of couples, when you're going through the process, especially women, you know, we're stressed. Soof course you're going to talk to someone else and kind of see what they're going through. And so we met, we talked with a lot of different couples, why we were going through the process and even our specialist. We talked about fertility testing why isn't us be in positions, of course, why isn't it available for couples or women that are younger because of course their biological clock is ticking.
But you know women are born with a finite number of eggs. You know men, they can always grow new sperm, but women were born with a finite given number of eggs. And that varies from person to person. It varies from mom to daughter to grandmother, you know. And so there is a test that is available and of course nothing is in medicine is exact. But yeah, there is a test that is available that can give you an idea of the number of eggs. Okay. There's just the reserve your egg reserve that you may have left. It doesn't really talk about the quality, but that particular test called AMH, anti-mullerian hormone, it has gained a lot of popularity. Recently a lot more studies have been ongoing with it. And it can let women know, you know, if it's low that your egg reserve is also low. And that knowledge, whether you're, you know, 35 or 25 can really guide you. You know, it can guide you with your family planning even when you're single. Because you think about, you know, should you freeze your eggs, you know, when you're single. And so those are kind of the conversation that I'm having with women even in there, you know, younger thirties as it relates to the biological clock or the egg reserve.
Dr. Berry:
And especially because you're being in the thick and thin and being, you know, as a kind of like a world leader. Now when we talk about infertility, what are some of the reasons that you're running into, right? Then people say, well, I'm in for therapy because of this. Right? And again, like I hate that we're biasing just the women, right? Because the men got a lot more issues in and of itself. But like on the women's side, like what are there some other reasons? And we talked about some of the myths like birth control and digging site that people used to say, Oh, if you hit birth control once, all of a sudden, that's the reason why.
Dr. Jerisa Berry:
That is definitely a myth as it relates to birth control. Why you're on it? So the causes are vast, you know, be a physician of course you have fibroids, which I talk a lot about. Fibroids was kind of thing. You know, 20 and 80% of women, by the time they're age 50, you have endometriosis. Of course, you know, one in 10 women will be affected with endometriosis. Same thing with PCOS or Polycystic ovary syndrome disease. 5 million women in the United States alone has been diagnosed with PCOS. And then one of the more common causes lately studies are showing is the blocked tubes or the blocked fallopian tubes or tubal occlusion is about 40% of cases now of infertility, is the blocked fallopian tubes, which, you know, that can be from various things, that can be from scar tissue. It can be from Hydrosalpinx, any cause, it's just important for women, especially couples that if you're trying and you have really been trying, you're under 35, don't give it longer than a year before you really seek to see if one of these reasons could be the cause and perhaps seek treatment for that are, you know, fertility assistance.
Dr. Berry:
Kind of leading up to, especially when we talk about some of the treatment options. Because it definitely sounds like there's a lot of anatomical reasons, right? Especially for the women's side. Again, Lunch and Learn community if don't know for some reason I'm an internist, right? So one of the reasons why I didn't turn this in so I can avoid women's health. I'll be honest, when I was in medical school, they used to kick me out of the rooms. As I say, you know what, I'm going to do a telemedicine and I'm just going to do, I'm going to go with every chance I get to educate myself on women's health. I do. So from the male side, every time when I'd have patients come and talk about infertility. The thing I would do is, you know, do a sperm count, right? Like that was from my standpoint. All right, let me do a sperm count with you guy. Because I think that's what I'm good for. Everything else I'm going to send you to somebody else. Now is it just that simple? Right? For, especially on the men's side, let me just do a sperm count of your sperm as low. That's it.
Dr. Jerisa Berry:
No, it's not just the sperm count. When it comes to the semen analysis, they checked for the, of course like the count, but they also checked motility as well as morphology. So, you wanna make sure that the DNA quality is good, you know, not necessarily just the count. And you can have a low sperm count and you can have a normal sperm count, but you could have still problems with them not moving as fast or their motility are, the more value. But the good thing as it relates to men is that when you know that, you know, there's a lot I even, so one of the things I'm big about is getting a second opinion and also holistic medicine. And so when we met with the fertility specialist as well. My husband, we both had things we want it to change.
And you know they have male supplements that you can take to improve your morphology. And so when you meet with the good holistic doctor or fertility specialists be open to that because they're, the men, they're semen analysis, they can’t improve. Women, as it relates to egg reserve that can really change that. You can do things to improve the quality of your eggs. But you know, for men it's good to know if they could be the factor because there are certain things that they can do to really improve their chances and really try again three months after you kind of, you know, try certain things to improve your semen analysis.
Dr. Berry:
Kind of leading into it when we talk about the patient who comes in or the client who comes to see you and say Dr. Jerisa, I'm infertile, right? What are some options that are out there?
Dr. Jerisa Berry:
So that's where you really want to see what. I've met, oh my God, it's a vast number of reasons. Most recently, I'm so happy about this as well. I had a young lady where she had a polyp, so she had, she didn't really know her and her husband. They tried for six, seven years. Dr. Berry. They try for any month. Yeah, you know, start assistance. And so she got one test. She had one particular ultrasound and I was able to look at that and point something out to her because there was a filling defect that was seen and I recommended her to have another ultrasound and she did. And so what they found was that she had a polyp. You don't necessarily have to have fibroids. You can have surgical polyp, you can have polyps that can affect implantation.
And so you want to know that, right? Because you can remove that and you can have that surgically removed and then that can increase your chances of having a viable pregnancy. And so, you know, when I meet with women, there's various causes of infertility. Blocked tubes. I've met with. Several women where that was a cause. And so, the treatment for that, for a lot of women that don't necessarily want to have surgery because the prognosis of surgery with blocked tubes, it's not necessarily the best. And so a lot of times, at the onset, doctors are recommending IVF, but you know, IVF can be expensive. But you know, it can be a viable solution and so we're of course what happened when more and more states are paying for it because for something like tubal occlusion and you know that IVF is going to really help that couple, then you know as good to have that as an option that they can afford.
Dr. Berry:
I'm definitely glad that insurance companies are kind of getting on the ball. Like especially when it comes to like paying for it because this was one of the more frustrating things, especially in Madison that lot of times we'll have options, you know, some bureaucrats like, no, we're not going to cover your medical problem. I'm not sure if they are, if it's just a lack of recognition or what it is. But you know, that tends, unfortunately it tends, it happened in medicine where they catch up late a lot in that regards. Now, as far as in your story, right, when we talk about a treatment option that you were able to and to go and we'll be talking about the IVF, right? Like was there any hesitations right when you went in that direction? Was there concerns? Like what was the thought process?
Dr. Jerisa Berry:
For us doctors are the worst patient, you know. (I know). So we knew any and everything about it. We probably were, I think we were good, but we probably differ a little bit, but we wanted to know everything. We were open to it because we knew that what we were working with, you know what I mean? So I did. I don't know your listeners know my story, but I had surgery for my fibroids. And when you're going through things like IBM, I went through IUI as well. The fibroids can grow larger because of the medication, the stimulation that you're doing. And so that's actually what happened. We had one ultrasound and then we had another ultrasound and the Firebirds were larger and come back.
And I'm like, oh my God. So, you for us, it got to a point where it was like, you know what, I've already had surgery, we've done all we can do right now. We have two embryos right now. So I, the risk versus the benefit. And this is tough because you have a lot of questions that, you know, you sit down with your significant other and you try to come up with the answers, or at least the process that you're going to go through on this tough making some of those decisions. But for us kind of winging the options. It's like, well, we know that if I have fibroids, if I have surgery again and we're going to have to wait another six months and then there's still no guarantee, that you already had one miscarriage.
It’s not like we have 10, 20 embryos. So you want to, for us, we wanted to create or have the best viable option for the growth of our baby, for a long full term pregnancy. And I got to the point where it wasn't necessary with me. And so those are the decisions that couples have to face. How many IBS do they want to do? We've heard of celebrities, right? You know, that went through, seven, nine, ten IBS, Angela Bassett, Gabrielle Union, and you know, right? I would do three, like how many? Those are the tough questions that you don't necessarily prepare yourself for. But when you're kind of faced with it, you just have to do all this. We have to do to get through it. But it is tough.
Dr. Berry:
And when the decision was made, I say, you know what, I've done all that I can right? I've taken the steps, I've done a nutrition, I've done those things and my body isn't like the body that's going to be at. Right? What was that thought process like? Especially when you're thinking like, all right, I think I'm going to need someone else to help me out here because especially as a physician, but just people in general, a lot of times when we're dealing with problems we tend to always think we're the only ones. But when it sounds like pretty early, you were kind of, and I'm not sure if this happened after the fact or while you were in it, you guys within a community of women and men kind of going through the same issue that you are going through.
Dr. Jerisa Berry:
I think for us we realize and even, you know, my husband will say that it is just so much more common. This was before Michelle Obama, but Gabrielle Union, right? This was before all the big celebrities came forward. And I guess we just got comfortable with it. I mean, I, we are a praying family and I always pray for direction. I pray for God to protect me. We know even last week, the number of black women and postpartum or peripartum mortality. And so could this have been something that protecting me? I really believe that. But I just think that we just got to a space where it was like, you know what, we have done all that we could do.
And we prayed and we look for open doors and we listen and we, you know, I have my mom, my husband, they were just, and we just did a lot of praying and meditating. You, and I guess I just got to a place where actually I don't, I didn't mention this, I've talked about them a lot, but even before surrogacy, that route, I got to a place where I was like, well, you know what? Maybe I'm okay, to not be a mom and you kind of go through that phase as well. It's a lot of phases you go through it, but you know, you go through the acceptance phase. And I think that's kind of what helped us kind of get more comfortable with the surrogacy because I could still be a mom. Whereas before it was like, okay, we're dealing with a miscarriage or we're dealing with the fact that we may not be parents. But now, oh, wait a minute, you know, we do have this option of gestational surrogacy. And so you're just thankful for the options and being open to that. There's some couples that are saying, no, I don't want to, for us we were open to, you know, various stages including adoption, we were open to that as well if it got to that point. Yeah.
Dr. Berry:
And with this, is that something like they are national companies that do it was this, within the support groups that you able to reach out with other like-minded people who have the, cause I feel like it's, and I may be wrong, is this something that you can just Google? Like how does you can find this arrogant? Screen this arrogant and do and all of these things that I feel would have to occur before you say yeah. Yeah. You could be my stereo.
Dr. Jerisa Berry:
Yeah. There is a process. There are several agencies and so there's a lot of, I guess it's, it's more widely known or, are talked about in terms of adoption. And so a lot of people know that there's adoption agencies that you want to use. And so it's the same thing with surrogacy. They have surrogacy agencies all across the country and more and more daily. So be careful which one you go to when, you know how you choose. That makes you do your research. Choose to find a local one. You don't have to use one within your state. You could live in Florida and have an agency in Utah. But we choose to kind of go with the recommendation of our fertility clinic as well as have a local service, the agency. But yeah, you can. I mean of course it's always good also, you never know. You might have a family member or a friend, church, anyone that you may be near and dear to you that may be willing to carry for you. But for us, we didn't have that. And so we went through the guidance of a surrogacy agency, which I highly recommend that you don't do without consulting.
Dr. Berry:
Amazing. Perfect. And, was there any process as far as I know, because I know you talked a little bit about that from the holistic standpoint because I'm always interested. A lot of Lunch and Learn community members always, it's just sometimes I feel like maybe too interested in the holistic point of view where there are certain minerals and vitamins, things they can take that can kind of help prepare them, especially for surrogacy or IVF or infertility. Was there any tips or tricks that you got along the way? On that route? Especially from the holistic, because again, I got some Lunch and Learn community members, they’re strict on taking their vitamins and minerals, but I can't get them to take their blood pressure medication. Yes I’m talking to somebody else.
Dr. Jerisa Berry:
Try everything but the prescription medication. There are several things that have been kind of widely talked about in the fertility or TTC, tried to conceive community and that varies from DATA to Cookie 10 and one of the things also that acupuncture good for several reasons. Now there are different, there are some fertility, there are some acupuncture that specialize in fertility. And those are the ones that you want to seek after. You were fortunate enough to have them in your community, we actually do have some here. But it increases the blood flow to your pelvic area, your pelvic organs. And it also helps to reduce stress overall. But there's a lot of research that's been done to support the benefit of not just some of the supplements that I named, but also acupuncture. And for us, nutrition, we realize, for me, I lost 15 pounds. I did change a lot of what I was eating just to kind of eat healthier. But yeah, holistic medicine can definitely help.
Dr. Berry:
Okay. All right. So holistic listener you got your section. I already know they was going to ask me for it. I already know if I went through this episode and then ask about what about the holistic. I've got a message, that's I already knew. So there you go. So I think first of all, congratulations, right? Congratulations on going through the downs, which, and she said it's the try to concede community. I'd actually, I caught that. Oh, that the TTC community try. Okay. Alright. Again, Lunch and Learn community, we're here to learn. Right? And Dr. Berry's learning just as well. Thank you for kind of sharing a story, right, of your lows and congratulations on your highs, right? Like how old is the child now? How old is the child?
Dr. Jerisa Berry:
He is eight and a half months. He is such a joy. Worth every tear, penny, dime, everything.
Dr. Berry:
I love it. So let's, so, because of course I gotta highlight, right? And I want to talk about Secure your Fertility and most importantly, I want to talk about the motivation behind it. Was this something that you thought of, you know, in the middle of going through your journey at the end? Like when you realize, and I find that sometimes when we're going through, because my oldest child, he's autistic. And when my wife was going through the troubles of getting services and realizing like so much of a void I was there and that's when a light bulb kinda hit her. Oh, I need to do something for like that. What was that like something that kind of driven you when we talk about Secure your Fertility or was it something that kind of naturally happened with. Did you always kind of think about it? What were some of the, you know, what walk us through, right? And then let's brag and let's talk about Secure your Fertility and all of its glory.
Dr. Jerisa Berry:
It wasn't anything that I thought about prior to, you know, having my own issue, and our own difficulty. I was blessed to connect with a wonderful doctor by the name of Dr. Dreon – Birch. And in his class, he kind of coaches physicians that may want to do things outside of medicine and just coming up with your passion. And he kind of taught us to kind of turn something that might be a difficult time into our passion. And so having gone through his class where you're like I said, he coaches different physicians that helped me realize because I was kinda going through that at that time that maybe this particular dark moment that I'm having could help someone else. And so it just happened that, you know, because myself, my husband, we own a primary care clinic.
We have a relationship with a national lab. And so we were able to kind of create that account and we just said, you know, kind of going through the process. Like I said, we learned a lot. We talked to so many different specialists, so many different other couples that we've wanted to make fertility testing available before you even have an issue. We said, you know what, because we knew insurances are not covering it, we knew that there single women that are not necessarily thinking about it because they're not trying it. And so we were just like, do you know, together, my husband and I were, maybe we should kind of use this to increase access or those single women to be able to get fertility testing. And then that just kind of opened the doors for Secure your Fertility, which is kind of taking a meeting of itself.
And just really inspired a lot of people. Like you said, worldwide, we had over 4,000 downloads within six months of our first launch. And now we have joined forces with different celebrities and just kind of wanting to get their story out because it's a lot of us, we know that we need, when we hear someone like just celebrity that's going through an issue and also just increases awareness and brings more attention to the cause. And so we're just excited for Secure your Fertility. The fact that it's helped a lot of people so far.
Dr. Berry:
And what I love about Secure your Fertility, we talk about this a lot in Lunch and Learn community where prevention, prevention. We don't want to be blindsided by information that we could have gotten earlier. It's the reason why we say go get your annual checkup, right? It's not because we expect someone to find out. We want to stop you before you get the diabetes, stop you before you get to high cholesterol, high blood pressure. So when you have an app like Secure your Fertility, see, like hey, like I'm not even saying that you're looking to have children right now, but don't you want to know that when you are ready, right? It's, it's good to go, right? Because it's easy to say like, all right, good, and you get, you do Secure your Fertility, everything's great. That's good to know. That peace of mind is get to know, but not knowing is you could probably piggy piggyback on it can sometimes be dangerous, right? Because again, and I think me and you, we run around the same circle of women, especially career minded women who aren't really thinking about having a child right now. Thinking about having it later, but not realizing the time that, I don't want to say losing, but they're kind of loose because they're not just aware of what’s going on.
Dr. Jerisa Berry:
You’re not, you're not. You’re thinking that when you turn 37, 38 or whatever, that is going to be fine when you meet your husband. And, but when I can honestly say that when we first launched Secure your Fertility, I didn't necessarily know about the impact that it would have or the women that I would have met that have the causes of infertility that they do at their age. I've just been taking it back, like I said, a 34 year old, and even 28 year old, that's kind of when I first started about this, I had met with, started with this. I met with a 28 year old who at that time had a low egg reserve at 28, and so the benefit of secure fertility is just hands on.
I'm very happy because the young lady that I consulted with last month now knows about her low ovarian or egg reserve. And in that conversation we were able to kind of guide these other, you know, a guy, her, more so into what she should do next. And in her case, you gotta really think about freezing your eggs right now. She didn't think about that before. You kind of just going through life and building your career. But the fact that she ordered that test, she now knows and she was able to check her insurance and see what they would cover, what they wouldn't cover and just kind of take steps toward freezing her eggs.

Dr. Berry:
Let's take us through the process of someone who downloads the app. Now the app is available where?
Dr. Jerisa Berry:
Everywhere, Google, Android, Apple.
Dr. Berry:
So if for some reason your team android the app is also over it as well. If Apple, like over here you go to the app store and you download this app. What is the process? Take us to, especially for, because it sounds like they eventually get to talk to you, right? So like what happens, what are some of the steps that lead up to someone saying like, all right, let me go get this consultation and that led Dr. Jerisa school me and educate me.
Dr. Jerisa Berry:
Through the app where there's several things in the app. We don't just have fertility testing, but when you download the app you are able to see and you scroll through and one of the features is fertility testing. Of course we have other features. We have financial component now, which I'm happy about all the financial resources all in one place. Of course we have celebrity fertility. But fertility testing, you can just click there and you enter your information. Of course you order the test. Once you order the test you then we'll get an email. Using the email comes within about two to three days. Okay. You get an email with the instruction and that instruction let you know what laboratory you would go to. You then go to the laboratory. You just give your blood. But the testing starts at home. We take care of the doctor’s order. You pay for it, insurance won't cover it.
So that's kind of the issue with the society right now is that insurance is not going to cover a $400 test. So we, it's not $400, for us its $107. So we lowered the cost as well and we just kind of made it direct to order fertility testing. Once you supply the blood, you then can log in, you register with the site, you log in, and usually within about five to seven days, you can log in and get the result right there from the comfort of your home.
Dr. Berry:
And once they get this result, because again, it makes them very excited. Like again, Lunch and Learn community I hope you hear that, like this. Not only do they skip the middle man, right? They give it to you as such a discounted rate. So even if you wanted to do this on your own, you'd see the financial investments you'd have to make if you don't go through this app. And again, I encourage all Lunch and Learn listeners. If you have friends, if you have family members who you realize like, oh that raven made me for a while, are they trying, are they having problems? Please make sure you recommend this app and sent the link will be in the show notes. You can do it from the comfort of your own home. Uh, it's a much discounted rate. So it is, and we're not even gonna tell you about a celebrity because we want you to download the app to see the celebrities. Right? Okay. So they get these results and do they get an explanation of the results and how is that?

Dr. Jerisa Berry:
So what we typically do is any abnormal value, we do notify them. So it is considered abnormal, then we have a process in place that we notify them. They of course, when they ordered this online, they are consenting to getting information online. Okay. So that's kind of our privacy policy, but we notified them also that your result was abnormal. Would you like to consider having a consultation to discuss your results? If your result is normal, then it's normal. But anything, any value that's considered abnormal, we have a process in place so that way we of course were covered. But we also want to make sure that they feel comfortable with that and that they checked, cause you know, believe it or not, I've actually had women order and they'll get the test or they order and they don't log in it. Yes. I was like, oh my gosh, you still haven't gotten the test yet, you order? And so, we just kinda follow up with kind of a closed loop procedures.
Dr. Berry:
That’s remind me, some of my patients now, you know. They come to the appointment, they get the prescription, they get the lab set and then you just be waiting and then you're like, hold on. Are you, did you go and get to lab or?
Dr. Jerisa Berry:
Yeah. You know, we try to have a closed loop system, especially if the value is abnormal. Yes.
Dr. Berry:
Perfect. Do you personally have to like talk to everyone? Like, cause I wonder about you as a fellow, I always worry about, my fellow mobile time. Do you have the time to talk to, you know, 4-400 people?
Dr. Jerisa Berry:
No, I have staff. I have a team and the team that I have with me that have been with me since the beginning May of 2017 when we first launch. I had stay same people around me that are involved in the processing of everything.
Dr. Berry:
Love it, love it. And so tell us what is the ultimate goal, right? What's the ultimate goal for Secure your Fertility and where do you see yourself? Right. Especially, as being a leader in this industry, being a person I emailed and that not only like if you're going to have with someone, we can kind of look up to and, and in see a personal story and be happy, right? Be happy for your triumph as if it's our triumph as well. Where does Dr. Jerisa go in three years? In five years or 10 years? Where does Secure your Fertility go in three years? In five years or 10 years?
Dr. Jerisa Berry:
Oh well, the Secure your Fertility will still be there. It will still be an avenue for women, couples to get their fertility testing before it is a problem. So that will still stand. I'm happy like I've mentioned in terms of the relationships that I've formed in, developed and excited about Celebrity Fertility. Celebrity Fertility was something that came about because a lot of us, when we hear about Michelle Obama, we hear about Gabrielle Union, we want more of their details to, and how they got there because there's oftentimes, they're up. You think they're so perfect and they don't go through trials and things like the average person. And so I'm happy to kind of bring their stories to life and hopefully that will continue. So just kind of inspire everyone that even as celebrities go through it and they are able to be successful and go through, they're trying times and that can just give hopefully anyone the same kind of hope. So I'm just excited about that. Where the future really hones I don't necessarily know, but I'm open to wherever it lead us Dr. Berry.
Dr. Berry:
I love it. And what's the most, especially because I think the Celebrity Fertility will add, right? Because I think a lot of times, because again we're talking about awareness, right? And of course we're in the month of April and of course they're aware here, but when you hear a celebrity, right, talk about infertility, you may, all of a sudden you start thinking like, okay, all right. Their money couldn't protect them from a problem right? There fame couldn't protect them from a problem. They are kind of just like me right? And once you get that right, once patients feel that. That's when sending there more open. Right? And that's where they don't wait six, seven years, right? Because I can tell you what happened after that second year, they probably wanted to talk to somebody.
But because that barrier, and it's usually a mental barrier, sometimes it's a physical barrier, right? Because that barrier is there. They don't even want to reach out for the help because they just keep trying and trying and trying. Because this guy is something different. Now when you have Secure your Fertility, you have Celebrity Fertility, you have all of these different avenues to say like, Oh, you know what, I'm not alone. (Yeah). And once they realize I'm not alone, then they're open. Then they join the TTC Community. They do that and that's where this story. And again, I was brag. Brag on all by medical, especially you because we were there, right? We were there. Again, Lunch and Learn community, me and Dr. Jerisa probably rocket since 2016 I think. (Yeah). 2016. So the journey, uh, I've been following along since the beginning as well too, and I'm just like amazing, ecstatic when I see her do just these amazing things that we knew was in her and once she realized it was inherited, the sky was the limit.
Dr. Jerisa Berry:
Thank you. Thank you so much for that. If, you have to kind of rely on, well at least, you know, for me, I've relied on my faith a lot and relied on a prayer and for some couples and it's sometimes it's a hard conversations I have with certain women that are on their 10th, 11th IVF. But I really encourage women to really just kind of start to be happy with who you are and where you are now even before you know the baby and without the baby. You really want to love yourself whether you're going to be that mom or not. And you have to kind of get comfortable with that and really being genuinely happy with who you are and seeking your purpose. Whether you are successful or not, it's tough to have that conversation, right?
Diagnosis with cancer and all kinds of things and so it's kind of, I'm not being a pessimist at all, but I really want to encourage women that are having difficulties. You're still trying, you're still not successful to find that piece where you will be happy with who you are as a person. You may not become a mom. Maybe that is not necessarily in your story, but your story is still hold. You are still a beautiful purpose person and you still have a purpose. And so that's what helped me. That’s the realization that I came to and maybe that took me to a high, when you kind of, sometimes when you stand still and you turn it over and you just accept where you are. Sometimes things happen, but you know, ultimately be happy with who you are and learn that purpose no matter what. When you're going through your fertility journey.
Dr. Berry:
I love it. Before you go, I always ask this question to our guests. And you actually already answered it, but we'll ask it again. Like, how can what you do help empower families really to take better control of their fertility?
Dr. Jerisa Berry:
Don’t wait, don't wait. Those stories where couples wait, two, three years that needs to be of the past. If you are of course, if you're over 35, only give it six months. If you're under 35, give it a year of trying before you seek specialist REI or reproductive endocrinology specialists and also for those single women. Those single women that are not necessarily trying. You're building your career, you may not have met your knight in shining armor. There is a way where you can kind of gain a sense of where you are on the biological clock through Secure your Fertility and it can help you with family planning before it becomes an issue.
Dr. Berry:
Love it, love it. And before we get you out of here, where can others find you to get in contact with you to get some paid consultations with you? Have you speak at their conference? Where this can find you?
Dr. Jerisa Berry:
So we have of course secureyourfertility.com. Of course drjerisaer.com, that's J E R I S A dot com. And you can also email me at [email protected]m or [email protected] Of course I'm on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram with Dr. Jerisa.
Dr. Berry:
Love it. And I remember mentioning Lunch and Learn community, depending on where you are listening, at work, driving, shower or whatever. All of these things will be in the show notes so you'll have access. Again, even for some reason if you're on team android, I'm going to make sure the link to the android is there. If your team apple like myself, you know the apple app will be there and, and I was just thinking as we're talking right, I've definitely got to get you off as I was thinking like what would the ultimate goal for me, especially for Secure your Fertility, right? Is that when I'm doing a primary care visit, and especially if it's so, and especially right now, if there's a woman, right? Like I would recommend that, oh hey, you know what? This is an app for your fertility.
Like it just hit me we're speaking like that's it, right? Where people realize like, oh yes, let me get my A1C and my cholesterol. Oh, let me get Secure your Fertility app checked on. So make sure my fertility is looking good. All right. I'm putting it out there to the world. Let Dr. Jerisa go to work and do. I'm going to get rid of hard work. I would just put it out there to where cause that's where I think it should go.
Dr. Jerisa Berry:
Yes.

Dr. Berry:
Thank you for coming on Lunch and community. You've been absolutely amazing. Your stories absolutely uplifting, empowering and again, we're here when we empower ourselves for better health. Right? You have done that and not only have you done that yourself, but you're doing that for countless of others. Again, thank you.

Dr. Jerisa Berry:
Thank you Dr. Berry.