The Truth About Fertility, Egg Freezing, and the Biological Clock with Dr. Lucky Sekhon
Ambition 2.0Show Notes
We’re told that we can have it all if we time it right: build your career first, then start a family. But what does the medicine actually say?
Amanda Goetz sits down with Dr. Lucky Sekhon, a double board-certified reproductive endocrinologist at RMA of New York and author of the USA Today bestseller The Lucky Egg.
Dr. Lucky busts the biggest fertility myths (no, your fertility doesn't fall off a cliff at 35), explains why so-called "fertility checks" are mostly marketing, and breaks down the real difference between freezing eggs and freezing embryos. She also flips the script on a part of the story we tend to ignore—male-factor infertility, which accounts for roughly half of cases—and why family building is a team sport. Women shouldn’t carry all the burden!
It's an honest, science-forward, and surprisingly reassuring conversation about the fertility knowledge gap—and how it’s okay to not have it all figured out in your 20s. .
This episode gets into both the emotional and physical considerations of fertility treatment, and we think it's a worthwhile listen, regardless of what stage of life you might find yourself in—and even if you're undecided on the whole kids thing.
Key Takeaways:
Fertility doesn't fall off a cliff at 35. It's a gradual continuum, and many women conceive naturally into their 30s and 40s.
AMH measures egg count, not fertility, and a low number shouldn't cause panic.
Most pop-in or at-home "fertility checks" are marketing. No single test can predict whether you'll struggle to conceive.
Start paying attention in your 20s by understanding your cycle and spotting red flags like PCOS or endometriosis. And pay attention to your family history.
Freezing eggs and freezing embryos are different—eggs offer more flexibility and stay solely yours, while embryos give clearer answers but need both partners' sign-off.
When choosing a clinic, ask about its actual thaw and IVF success rates, not just whether you like the doctor.
Male-factor infertility is something we need to talk more about.
Every day stress doesn't cause infertility, but insulin resistance is an under-recognized and treatable driver worth checking.
(01:20) Intro
(03:30) Dr. Lucky's personal journey
(08:49) The misinformation problem and why absolutes are a red flag
(10:22) The "cliff at 35" myth and the continuum of fertility
(11:03) When to start paying attention (hint: your 20s) + birth control myths
(15:28) Amanda's PCOS diagnosis
(18:31) Family timing, privilege, and perfectionism
(21:46) Feeling "behind," the knowledge gap, and giving yourself grace
(24:56) Egg freezing: when it should enter the conversation
(27:14) All about eggs vs. embryos
(32:12) Men and male-factor infertility
(36:00) Rapid fire
(44:00) Inside The Lucky Egg
GUEST LINKS
Read The Lucky Egg
https://www.instagram.com/lucky.sekhon/
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ABOUT AMBITION 2.0
Powered by Girlboss, Ambition 2.0 is a podcast where we'll be exploring what it really means to "have it all" in work, family, identity, and self… and if it's actually worth it. Each week, you'll hear from hardworking women who've walked the tightrope of ambition. They'll share their costly mistakes, lessons learned, and practical tips for how to have it all and actually love what you have.
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