Lori Metz, lcsw

Lori Metz, lcsw My specialties are fertility & relationships Utilizing a positive psychology approach, that includes

IVF access is under threat in South CarolinaThe South Carolina Senate has scheduled a hearing for Senate Bill 323, the "...
09/16/2025

IVF access is under threat in South Carolina

The South Carolina Senate has scheduled a hearing for Senate Bill 323, the "Unborn Protection Act."

What is S. 323?

This legislation would define a human embryo in the South Carolina Health Code as “a human being that begins as a fertilized egg or zygote.”

How does this impact access to IVF and fertility care in South Carolina?

This change would restrict access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other fertility treatments, and could prevent doctors from being able to practice IVF in accordance with clinical best practices. Unlike most legislation, S.323 is moving outside the regular session, in a special process designed to fast-track the bill. We need to remind lawmakers to keep IVF legal and available in the state by raising our collective voices.

Here’s how you can take action:

1. Email your State Senator today. Personalize your message by sharing your family building journey and why access to IVF matters.

2. Testify in person. Make your voice part of the official record. A public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, October 1st, at 9:30 AM. Gressette Building, Room 105, Columbia Statehouse.

Please Note: You need to register to testify ahead of time. Join SC Fertility Advocates for more information.

Let’s keep IVF safe, legal, and accessible in South Carolina. Oppose Senate Bill 323

For more info and ways to help, head to https://linktr.ee/LoriMetz

Parentage = Protection for Donor-Conceived ChildrenFor donor-conceived children, parentage is more than a legal formalit...
09/16/2025

Parentage = Protection for Donor-Conceived Children

For donor-conceived children, parentage is more than a legal formality — it is the foundation of security, stability, and care. Parentage determines who is legally recognized as their parent, shaping access to medical and educational decision-making, custody protections, inheritance rights, and essential benefits.

When laws fail to fully recognize diverse families, children are left at risk. Parents may be forced to fight for recognition, and children can lose vital safeguards during times of crisis or family change.

The 2023 report Relationships at Risk: Why We Need to Update State Parentage Laws to Protect Children and Families shows how outdated laws put donor-conceived children in jeopardy — and why modernizing parentage protections is essential to ensuring that every child, regardless of how they were conceived or the structure of their family, has the security of legally recognized parents from birth.

Click here to read the report: https://www.mapresearch.org/2023-parentage-report

09/09/2025

In this episode, Jennifer Mass, ESQ, of Law Office of Jennifer P. Maas, PLLC provides important considerations for those trying to conceive through donor conception and surrogacy for all family structures.

While each state has its own laws, you will hear about:
- Parentage laws and factors to consider.
- Surrogacy and the significance of the contract.
- Donor conception and legal implications.
- and so much more.

Listen here: https://www.lorimetz.net/life-podcast/legal-insights-education-donor-conception-and-surrogacy-for-intended-parents-with-jennifer-mass-esq

PCOS is both a medical condition and an emotional journey.Its impact on fertility, body image, and mental health can be ...
09/03/2025

PCOS is both a medical condition and an emotional journey.

Its impact on fertility, body image, and mental health can be overwhelming—and it’s not always easy to diagnose. You deserve compassion, understanding, and support.

I recently had the privilege of speaking with Sasha Ottey, Executive Director of PCOS Challenge: The National Polycystic O***y Syndrome Association, on the Life, Love, and Infertility podcast: a powerful conversation with a remarkable person, about advocacy, awareness, and community.

🎙️ Listen here https://www.lorimetz.net/life-podcast/2024/04/01/pcos-challenge-with-sasha-ottey-mha-mt-ascp-executive-director-of-pcos-challenge-the-national-polycystic-ovary-syndrome-association?rq=pcos

It’s also been an honor to know Ashley Levinson, better known as (on Instagram), whose tireless efforts have helped countless individuals with PCOS feel seen, supported, and empowered.

💬 Joining a support group or working with a therapist can help manage the stress, uncertainty, and emotions that often come with a PCOS diagnosis.

Whether you’re exploring treatment, building your family, or learning to advocate for your health, your voice matters. Your story matters.

💚 Let’s raise awareness and offer support, not shame. For resources, visit organizations like PCOS Challenge and PCOS Awareness Association to help you navigate your journey.

Sometimes, the medical treatments we need to save our lives or improve our health can also impact our ability to have ch...
08/26/2025

Sometimes, the medical treatments we need to save our lives or improve our health can also impact our ability to have children in the future. This is known as iatrogenic infertility—a term that comes from the Greek meaning “brought forth by the healer.” In medicine, it describes any condition caused by medical treatment or care.

When someone is navigating a serious diagnosis or undergoing essential treatment, fertility may understandably not be top of mind. Still, knowing about iatrogenic infertility—and the steps you can take to protect your future family-building options—can be empowering.

Common causes include:

🧬 Cancer treatments: Chemotherapy, radiation (especially to the pelvis or brain), and certain surgeries can damage reproductive organs or disrupt the hormones needed for fertility.

🧬 Surgeries: Procedures like hysterectomy, oophorectomy, orchiectomy, or surgeries that alter blood flow or nerve pathways may impair fertility.

🧬 Hormonal therapies: Treatments for conditions such as endometriosis or fibroids—or gender-affirming care—can suppress ovulation or s***m production.

🧬 Medications: Some drugs can have temporary or permanent effects on fertility depending on dosage, duration, and mechanism.

🧬 Medical devices or procedural complications: In rare cases, device-related issues or procedural errors can lead to reproductive harm.

Many states define iatrogenic infertility in their insurance laws as “an impairment of fertility caused directly or indirectly by surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or other medical treatment affecting the reproductive organs or processes.” Knowing your state’s laws and coverage can make a difference in accessing care.

Iatrogenic infertility may be temporary or permanent, and it’s a crucial consideration in fields like oncology and gender-affirming care. Because of this, fertility preservation options—such as egg, s***m, or embryo freezing—are increasingly discussed before starting treatments that may affect reproductive health.

08/22/2025

Today, we honor the rainbow after the storm. ⛈️

August 22nd is National Rainbow Baby Day, a day to hold space for the heartbreak of loss and the healing that can come with new life.

A rainbow baby is a child born after miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss. While the joy of their arrival is profound, the journey to get there often carries grief, anxiety, and complicated emotions.

As a therapist who works with individuals and couples navigating infertility, pregnancy loss, and donor conception, I know how important it is to recognize both the sorrow and the celebration.

💬 You are allowed to feel joy.
💬 You are allowed to grieve what came before.
💬 And you are never alone in either.

To those still waiting on their rainbow: I see you. Your feelings are valid. Your story matters.

🌈 Let’s continue to support one another with compassion and honesty.

Why Do Some States Require Insurance Coverage for Fertility Preservation?Over the past few years, many states have intro...
08/18/2025

Why Do Some States Require Insurance Coverage for Fertility Preservation?

Over the past few years, many states have introduced bills that would compel insurers to cover fertility preservation procedures for cancer patients and others facing potential infertility as a result of medical treatment—known as iatrogenic infertility.

In 2017, the first two states, Connecticut and Rhode Island, passed those measures into law. Since then, several others have followed suit, and a national trend toward coverage has developed.

We’re thrilled to see this significant expansion of access—but much work remains to be done.

Iatrogenic infertility is a foreseeable side effect of:
❄️ Chemotherapy and radiation
❄️ Surgery involving reproductive organs
❄️ Hormonal treatments for endometriosis, fibroids, or gender-affirming care

When patients are about to undergo treatment that may impair fertility, preserving fertility isn't elective. It’s medically necessary.

Yet there is an unsettling lack of counseling on oncofertility. Studies show that more than half of newly diagnosed cancer patients either denied having, or could not recall having, a conversation with a healthcare provider about how treatment could affect their fertility.

Without this essential information, patients are unknowingly deprived of their reproductive agency. Medical professionals cannot provide truly patient-centered care if they fail to address fertility risks and preservation options.

Fertility preservation should not be a privilege reserved for those with financial means. Without insurance coverage, many patients are left to pay out of pocket—or go without entirely—during an already overwhelming time.

Policymakers must act to make fertility preservation services more accessible and equitable, while also ensuring patients receive timely, accurate information. Every state should follow those that have already filled insurance gaps and restore reproductive decision-making to the patients who need it most.









08/07/2025

Reminder: You don’t need to earn rest. 🧘♀️
With everything going on in the world—the headlines, the noise, the pressure to keep pushing forward—it’s no wonder so many of us feel emotionally exhausted.

In the midst of doing, planning, and showing up for others, don’t forget to show up for yourself.

📆 August often feels like the last sprint of summer, but it’s also a perfect time to pause.

✨ It’s okay to take a break. In fact, it’s encouraged. Give yourself permission to do nothing.

Rest isn’t a reward—it’s a necessity. Whether you’re navigating fertility treatments, parenting solo, dealing with loss, or just trying to stay grounded amidst the chaos, your mental and emotional well-being matters.

💛 You are allowed to exhale. In fact, it’s essential.

I’m honored to be featured on a special bonus episode of the ASRM Today podcast alongside the incredible Dr. Serena Chen...
08/05/2025

I’m honored to be featured on a special bonus episode of the ASRM Today podcast alongside the incredible Dr. Serena Chen and Joe Cody.

In this episode, we dive into the Inclusive Family History Project, a topic close to my heart. So often, traditional medical forms and conversations don’t reflect the full diversity of today’s families—especially those formed through donor conception, surrogacy, or adoption. That can lead to gaps in care, missed connections, and feelings of exclusion.

We explore how to reimagine family health history in ways that are inclusive and responsive to the realities of modern family building. This conversation is a step toward creating systems that truly see and support every family.

A huge thank you to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine for shining a light on this important work.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here:
https://www.asrm.org/news-and-events/podcasts/asrm-today/asrm-today-genetics-bonus-episode---inclusive-family-history-project/

07/27/2025

July 27th is Parents' Day. Whether you’re just beginning your family-building journey or already knee-deep in the parenting trenches, support makes a difference.

✨ Find a local group of solo parents by choice, people who understand your path and can offer solidarity, resources, and laughter when you need them most.
✨ Explore options for practical help, such as babysitting swaps with friends, part-time help at home, or simply asking a loved one to lend a hand.
✨ Connect with a therapist to process the emotional load; your well-being matters.
✨ Seek out peer groups, especially those who used donor conception to build their families—you’ll be amazed at how powerful can be.

Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a sign of wisdom. It takes a village, even when you’re parenting solo.

07/25/2025

Happy World Embryologist Day! 💛🔬

Behind every successful fertility journey is a team of dedicated professionals, and embryologists are among the quiet heroes of it all.

They work behind the scenes with immense precision, care, and heart, cultivating the earliest stages of life and offering hope to individuals and families navigating infertility, donor conception, and solo parenting.

As a therapist who works closely with individuals building families in various ways, I’ve seen firsthand the impact that embryologists have. Their work isn’t just clinical; it’s deeply personal.

Today, we extend our gratitude to the embryologists who shape futures one embryo at a time.

Additionally, if you'd like to hear the unique insights of embryologists, please visit this link, where I share several podcast episodes I've recorded with individuals such as Alease Daniel Barnes of Gattaca Genomics and Carol Lynn Curchoe, PhD, of Poma Fertility: https://www.lorimetz.net/search?q=embr

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Working together, to put the pieces together.

I have adopted a positive psychology, approach that includes mindfulness and cognitive behavioral health in partnering with my patients in an optimistic goal-oriented manner.

Often times a person initially calls when they’re feeling sad, alone, depressed, confused, and need to talk. It’s an opportunity to explore, feeling a bit out of control, stress, self-image, self-confidence, professional choices, counterproductive habits, and pain. Making that initial phone call (to me or any professional) is the first step towards change. It’s an opportunity to achieve, and I am excited to help along that path.

I work with individuals, couples, and families, specializing in relationships and fertility. I assist people through life’s transitions personally, and professionally. Any of life’s challenges that can potentially lead to depression, anxiety, low self-image, decreased self-confidence, loneliness, or behaviors they would like to change.

I find that a positive approach, in conjunction with mindfulness, cognitive behavioral health, behavior modification, self-exploration, and reality-based decision making works well for most people. I also believe in the power of pausing. It is typically powerful when those I work with are able to take a moment, to pause and gain perspective of what they are experiencing.