TTC Burnout: When Trying To Conceive Takes Over Your Life (with Jennifer Edmonds)

Trying to conceive can slowly become the center of your life. Appointments, test results, treatment decisions, waiting, disappointment, and the pressure to keep going can leave you emotionally exhausted and disconnected from yourself. In this episode of **Beyond AMH**, Dr. Marc Sklar is joined by Jennifer Edmonds, a fertility yoga and meditation teacher whose own journey included an early menopause diagnosis, multiple IVF cycles, pregnancy loss, chronic insomnia, and eventually two successful pregnancies. Jen shares how fertility struggles affected her sleep, relationships, emotional wellbeing, and trust in her body, as well as the practices that helped her begin reconnecting with herself during an incredibly difficult season. Marc and Jen also explore the emotional toll of highly medicalized fertility care, nervous system regulation, cycle awareness, gentle movement, creativity, and the importance of supporting the whole person rather than focusing only on procedures and test results. **In this episode, we discuss:** - Jen’s experience being diagnosed with early menopause after stopping birth control at 33 - Her first IVF cycle, which resulted in no eggs being retrieved - Her second IVF journey and the birth of her daughter - Returning to TTC and navigating low AMH, thyroid issues, partially blocked fallopian tubes, male factor fertility, and chronic insomnia - How fertility struggles can affect sleep, relationships, identity, and emotional wellbeing - Jen’s experience discovering fertility yoga and meditation during lockdown - Pregnancy loss and the emotional impact of continuing to TTC afterward - Why fertility treatment can leave women feeling disconnected from or distrustful of their bodies - How prolonged fertility stress can affect the nervous system - The role of cycle awareness in rebuilding body trust - Gentle ways to support yourself through TTC, including yoga, walking, breathing practices, time in nature, and creativity - Why needing a break from TTC does not mean you have given up **About Jennifer Edmonds** Jennifer Edmonds is a fertility yoga and meditation teacher and women’s wellbeing advocate. Her work grew out of her own experience navigating infertility, IVF, pregnancy loss, and the emotional and physical toll of trying to conceive. Today, she supports women in reconnecting with their bodies through fertility-focused yoga, movement, meditation, cycle awareness, and nervous system support. **Connect with Jennifer** **Website:** https://www.elementpilatesyoga.com/ **Instagram:** https://www.instagram.com/jen.elementpilatesyoga/ **TikTok:** https://www.tiktok.com/@elementpilatesandyoga **YouTube:** https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7OGYIuCxwJgH4KuaW1Jq4w **Jennifer’s Resources:** **Trial Jen’s fertility yoga online program for $1:** https://www.elementpilatesyoga.com/in-your-element-membership **Free Fertility Yoga Guide:** https://jennifer-edmonds.mykajabi.com/fertilityyogaguide **Chapters / Timestamps:** 00:00 Episode introduction 03:50 Jen’s path into fertility work 04:19 Early menopause diagnosis and first IVF cycle 06:12 Second IVF round and the birth of her daughter 07:57 Low AMH, thyroid issues, blocked tubes and insomnia 09:54 Reaching burnout after fertility treatment 10:21 Discovering fertility yoga and supporting sleep 11:20 Pregnancy loss and returning to TTC 13:18 Why TTC becomes mentally and emotionally consuming 14:14 Stress, sleep and the nervous system 18:58 When fertility treatment becomes a hamster wheel 23:02 How infertility can change your relationship with your body 27:29 Rebuilding body trust and understanding your cycle 35:46 How fertility struggles affect relationships 41:59 Why taking a break doesn’t mean giving up 50:03 Myth or Truth: TTC burnout, IVF and emotional support