Are you one of the millions of couples struggling with a diagnosis of “unexplained infertility"?
What if the answer isn't a medical mystery, but simply a test that hasn't been run yet?
In this episode of the testhim podcast, we are joined by Lalana Songra, medical advisor at Examen. With a fascinating background spanning surgical urology and a Masters in Public Health, Lalana brings a unique "ground-up" perspective to male fertility education and behavior change.
We delve even deeper into sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF), breaking down the crucial differences between single-strand and emerging double-strand DNA damage. Lalana shares new data on how high levels of double-strand damage are heavily linked to delayed embryo development, implantation failure, and recurrent pregnancy loss even when a standard semen analysis comes back completely "normal."
In this episode, we discuss:
The public health shift: Why fertility needs to be reframed as a shared, couple-centric journey rather than a female-first issue.
The blue print inside the ladder: Understanding the structure of sperm DNA and why standard semen analysis fails to catch up to 25% of male-factor issues.
Single vs. Double-Strand damage: How different types of DNA breaks impact your ability to conceive naturally versus later-stage pregnancy outcomes and live births.
The power of a label: Why having an accurate, in-depth diagnosis provides couples with the ultimate emotional empowerment and financial clarity before investing in invasive treatments like IVF or ICSI.
The golden window: Lalana’s public health vision for changing primary care so couples can optimise sperm and lifestyle health before ever stepping foot inside a fertility clinic.
Whether you are trying to conceive naturally, staring down another round of IVF, or dealing with the heartbreak of recurrent miscarriage, this episode is a powerful reminder that knowledge is power
