The Current Making babies the modern way
Apr 7, 2026
Catherine Blaisbaum, investigative journalist and author who chronicled her multi-year IVF and surrogacy journey, walks listeners through the complex world of assisted reproduction. She shares moments from failed cycles, a surprising diagnosis, and the emotional highs of a surrogate pregnancy. She also explores clinic transparency, costs and the rules around surrogacy in Canada.
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Four Year IVF Journey Led To Surrogacy
- Catherine Blaisbaum endured a four-year IVF saga with five egg retrievals and eight embryo transfers.
- She also had surgeries for Asherman syndrome and ultimately moved to surrogacy after repeated failed cycles, illustrating prolonged multimodal treatment.
Embryos Don’t Guarantee Pregnancy
- IVF is not a guaranteed quick fix; embryo creation does not equal pregnancy for most people.
- Blaisbaum expected a silver bullet but learned multiple cycles and additional interventions are often required for success.
Measure Expectations And Ask More Questions
- Measure expectations before starting fertility treatment and ask more questions of clinics.
- Blaisbaum warns desperation plus a multi‑billion dollar industry can lead patients to be taken advantage of, so be informed and skeptical.
