Refer a Friend and Earn Offers! - Beli Prenatals are HSA/FSA eligible!

Your Path to Pregnancy: Q&A with Arielle Spiegel, Founder and CEO of CoFertility

Your Path to Pregnancy is an interview series highlighting conception stories from real couples, brought to you by Beli Vitality for Men, a male prenatal for optimum fertility. We spoke to Arielle about the importance of taking reproductive health into our own hands, and finding joy in pregnancy after fertility treatment.

We’re big fans of CoFertility, your site that provides answers to questions from real people who are trying to conceive. We feel such a kinship with your mission of helping every couple on their unique fertility journey. What led you to create the site?

I went on a 2.5 year long journey to get pregnant. While experiencing infertility, I had tons of questions, and I’d ask everyone—doctors, nurses, technicians, friends, family—basically, anyone who would listen. Especially because my diagnosis was relatively unexplained, I had an insatiable appetite for knowledge and wanted to soak it up like a sponge.

At the time, I was fortunate enough to live in New York City with access to amazing resources and a team of nationally-recognized experts handling my care. But when their answers weren’t enough, when I still had—gasp!—more questions, guess where I turned? Yep, I sought answers on the internet. 

When I looked online, I found some useful information. But as someone with a brand marketing background, I felt that the 1 in 8 American couples facing fertility challenges deserved a better experience of getting information online. As a member of this club, I knew what was missing—a helpful, educational resource to quickly answer specific fertility questions, with a dose of keep-it-real personality. CoFertility was born. 

Of those 1 in 8 couples, one third of fertility troubles are attributed to male factors. Women can find loads of recommendations for nutrition and rest and healthy movement, but there are far fewer prenatal wellness resources for men. Do you hear from men who are experiencing infertility?

Definitely. At CoFertility, we hear from a lot of people looking for content that pertains to male factor infertility. Everything on our site is inspired by actual real-world questions people have about infertility. Do Male Fertility Supplements Actually Work? What’s It Like to Get a Semen Analysis for Infertility? 

We also don’t just cover infertility. We strive to cover as many fertility questions as we can in a trustworthy way, including longer-term information about reproductive health. 

Love that. We’re invested in the idea that fertility wellness should be seen more holistically; less as a set of fires to be put out, and more as an illuminating piece of the overall health picture. 

Taking charge of your own fertility health is very empowering. Our site makes it easy to find information about treatments, understanding insurance coverage, finding clinics nearby, and applying for financial grants for treatment. 

Even in normal times, there are access barriers to reproductive healthcare. At-home access to fertility resources is crucial.

We did a study about barriers to infertility treatment which showed that, of people who have undergone fertility treatment or who are currently undergoing fertility treatment, 86% of them have forgone, or would forgo, treatment recommended to them by their doctors due to cost. 

Geography can also be a barrier. It’s comparable to the idea of food deserts in lower income communities, where there isn’t nearby access to fresh food. There are fertility treatment deserts, too. Some people live two hours away from the closest clinic, and that’s a huge barrier. 

This time of pandemic and quarantine is underscoring the way folks need to take their health into their own hands. Have you noticed an increase in couples looking for ways to increase their fertility at home?

Yes. We’ve seen an uptick in people wondering what they can do for their own fertility at home. Whether that’s finding the right supplements, home fertility testing, home hormonal testing, or at-home insemination. People are motivated to improve their own health. I think that effort to regain a sense of control over our own fertility healthcare will continue, even as fertility clinics are opening back up.

Congratulations on your pregnancy, by the way!

Thanks! I’m 34 weeks pregnant now, and things have been good and healthy so far.

Did anything surprise you about becoming pregnant?

I think I knew when I got pregnant, because I’ve experienced several losses in the past, that I would be a highly anxious pregnant person. So it wasn’t surprising to me that I was indeed anxious.

I was surprised when I realized I was ready to actually embrace the pregnancy! Once I had a feeling that things would be okay, I felt able to do normal pregnancy things. And I surprised myself by being able to experience them. I can breathe and not be intensely anxious all the time.

In the beginning I struggled with sharing the pregnancy. My whole identity is really invested in the fertility community and my own infertility journey. Before we told anyone outside of our friends and family, I was a little worried about how it would be received by the infertility community when I shared that I was pregnant. But everyone was so supportive. People experiencing infertility get excited when one of their own gets pregnant.

Despite my current pregnancy, I know that I’ll always feel connected to the fertility community. Infertility changes you in an irreversible way. Just because I am pregnant now doesn’t mean I no longer feel that our current education system does a terrible job preparing us for when we do try to conceive. In fact, it’s the opposite—I actually feel an even stronger personal responsibility to improve access to information to make this process suck less. Knowledge is power, and we need more of it when it comes to our fertility.

Additional Resources

Many men overlook how crucial sperm health is until it's too late. Red flag statements can signal poor sperm quality. Whether trying to conceive or maintaining health, recognizing these signs early can impact your fertility and well-being.

Read More

Fall is not just a time for pumpkin spice lattes and cooler weather; it’s also an opportunity to optimize fertility, particularly for men. Cooler temperatures naturally benefit sperm health, while Beli for Men provides the essential nutrients needed to take those benefits even further. 

Read More

Egg quantity and quality are critical aspect of our reproductive well-being. By understanding the ideal number of eggs at various ages, why egg quality and quantity matter, and how to nurture and improve egg health, we can make informed decisions about our fertility and overall health.

Read More

Miscarriage is a complex issue, and while sperm health is just one factor, it's a crucial one. By understanding the statistics and research surrounding miscarriage and sperm health, couples can take proactive steps to improve fertility outcomes. Beli Vitality for Men offers a comprehensive fertility supplement solution, supported by industry research and designed to improve sperm health. By combining Beli Vitality with healthy lifestyle choices, couples can optimize their fertility journey and increase their chances of a successful pregnancy.

Read More

While it’s true that popular hair loss meds work minor miracles on that receding hairline and back-of-the-head bald patch, it’s also true that it can come with side effects—some of them sexual. So, what does that mean in terms of male fertility? Here’s what couples should understand about the effects of popular hair-loss medications on sperm health.

Read More

The long, lazy days of summer aren’t just prime vacation days. Summer could actually be an especially fertile season, which may be of interest to couples who are interested in starting a family. If you’re angling for parenthood this summer, here’s what to know about the season of fertility.

Read More

The summer heat really can have a temporary effect on male fertility, so doing what you can to keep cool, especially if the goal is becoming a dad, is really important. Here are tips to keep you and the boys cool this summer.

Read More

If you’re no stranger to the telltale signs of seasonal allergies—sneezing, itching, nasal congestion, irritated eyes, the works—you’re likely familiar with antihistamines. When you’re actively trying to conceive, there’s more to understand about histamines, seasonal allergies and how it affects your fertility.

Read More

When the plan is a baby, but you’re having a hard time conceiving, it’s normal to start wondering why. While there can be a number of issues in play, one tends to be overlooked: sleep quality. Specifically, men who have the sleep disorder sleep apnea could be at greater risk of fertility issues. Now, new research is drawing a more definitive link between sleep apnea and male fertility. Let’s review.

Read More

Fact: You can’t look at a guy—or eyeball his semen sample, for that matter—and determine his fertility. It just doesn’t work that way. The only way to truly assess sperm health is with a semen analysis. But there are a few lifestyle choices and truths that may indicate whether a man’s sperm is healthy and happy. 

Read More

While PCOS can be a challenging condition to manage, natural supplements like inositol that are included in Beli Preconception Boost offer a beacon of hope. Inositol's ability to improve insulin sensitivity, hormone balance, and ovulatory function makes it a valuable tool in the PCOS management toolkit. 

Read More

The concern that hormonal contraception affects future fertility is making the rounds on social media again. But research continues to show that all that worry is for naught. While birth control doesn’t cause long-term fertility issues, it can mask them by creating an artificial cycle—something that’s important to understand.

Read More

While it’s lumped into the “bodily fluid” category, semen is a complex cocktail of compounds designed to support fertility. Like sperm quality, semen health can be influenced by lifestyle factors—an important realization for couples trying to conceive. From color to consistency, here’s what healthy semen looks like.

Read More

There’s a lot of chatter when it comes to male masturbation and what it says about a man’s fertility or whether it’s an issue when a couple is actively trying to conceive. And in the interest of clearing up the confusion, we’re taking a facts-based approach to the topic of men, masturbation and fertility.

Read More

For many of us, our twenties and even thirties are a time when the focus is on pregnancy prevention. And that’s okay! But even when the idea of motherhood is miles away there is tremendous value in understanding your fertility health and what you can do to support it during these young, carefree days.

Read More

Once a month, PMS symptoms make their unpleasant presence known. And while knowing what’s happening won’t make PMS magically disappear, it can help you manage symptoms by balancing hormones and supporting your reproductive health. Let’s review.

Read More

Raise your hand if you already know that you have a biological clock. From age 35 and beyond, there is a natural decline in testosterone and sperm quality. Just as people lose muscle strength, flexibility and endurance with age, sperm also tend to lose their "fitness" over the life cycle. But what does that mean—and does it really matter?

Read More

It’s an easy assumption, but you’re much better off thinking that every prenatal vitamin is wildly different in terms of composition, nutrient quality and, importantly, nutrient amount. Not only is that actually true, it puts you in the smart consumer mindset of understanding what matters in a prenatal vitamin—and why.

Read More

If you have endometriosis, you can already recite its lengthy list of pretty terrible symptoms. And the standard options for managing those symptoms — medications, hormone therapy, hormonal birth control, estrogen blockers, surgery —  aren’t always great. But there is evidence that a so-called “endometriosis diet” can help.

Read More

Men really do benefit from specialized nutrition in the form of a prenatal vitamin that’s formulated to support sperm health. Here’s what that looks like, and how specific nutrients can impact a man’s fertility health before fatherhood.

Read More

Shilajit is finally getting the credit it’s due, and we’re proud to point out that our proprietary formula was the very first to include this powerful Ayurvedic compound. Here’s why shilajit is rapidly becoming the darling of the male fertility world–and what you’re missing if you’re skipping it.

Read More

Ever wondered why men produce so much darn sperm, especially if only one of them will ultimately fertilize the egg? There are millions of sperm in normal ejaculate because it increases the likelihood that one will reach the egg and seal the deal. It begs the question, what exactly happens on the journey to the egg?

Read More

Optimal nutrition plays a pivotal role in enhancing fertility and supporting a healthy pregnancy. A diet rich in essential nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and healthy fats, lays the foundation for reproductive health.

Read More

Is there anything unsexier than scheduled, pressure-ridden, trying-like-hell-to-conceive sex? But good news. We’ve found handy workarounds and tricks of the trade, so forget the basal temperature chart for a second and read on for four ways to keep things hot when you’re TTC.

Read More

Just as women’s bodies need to be prepared for pregnancy, men’s bodies need to be ready to contribute healthy sperm for conception. Nutrients are the foundation that support the normal structure and function of sperm and men's fertility health. Taking Beli’s male prenatal supplement is a proactive way to strategically fuel your body to optimize fertility contributing to your overall chances of conceiving and supporting a healthy pregnancy.  

Read More

Choline is an overlooked essential nutrient in many prenatal vitamin formulas, and it's a major oversight. Here at Beli, we've been sounding the alarm for years and it's gratifying to see that the market is beginning to catch up. That's thanks in part to articles like "The 7 Best Choline Supplements for Pregnancy, According to a Prenatal Dietitian" from Parents. Spoiler: Beli for Women made the list.

Read More
×

Change Shipping Country

Cancel