An Interview With Lucinda Koza
Find a support system. It’s important to have support when you’re going through infertility. A support system can look like a select few family members who you can lean on and who will listen to you as you navigate the challenges ahead or it could look like finding a community of women who are going through a similar path.
Infertility and the journey through IVF are challenges that many individuals and couples face, often accompanied by emotional, physical, and financial stress. Despite advancements in reproductive technology, the process can be isolating and fraught with uncertainty. How can we better support those navigating infertility and IVF, and what strategies can help manage the various challenges along the way? As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing MacGregor Lennarz, Co-Founder of Gyna.co.
MacGregor Lennarz is the Co-Founder of Gyna.co, a platform dedicated to empowering women on their fertility journey with personalized health insights and resources. With a passion for leveraging technology to solve real-world challenges, MacGregor combines entrepreneurial acumen with a commitment to advancing health and wellness. His innovative approach has been instrumental in driving Gyna.co’s mission to create accessible, impactful solutions for women worldwide.
Since founding Gyna.co, MacGregor and his co-founders have helped over 100,000 women on their fertility journey.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you tell us a bit about you and your backstory?
My journey began with a fascination for how mobile technology could transform access to essential services in even the most remote, underserved communities. After graduate school, I worked in both London and Silicon Valley, exploring how mobile phones could deliver essential financial and healthcare services to people who lacked access to traditional systems.
Through my work, I saw firsthand how mobile connectivity was bridging gaps in financial services, and I began to wonder — why couldn’t the same be done for health and wellness, particularly in areas like fertility where the need is so deeply personal and global? This realization led to the development of Gyna.
At Gyna, we aim to provide culturally sensitive, evidence-based fertility support to women everywhere. My goal has always been to harness technology to solve real-world problems, and I’m incredibly proud of the work we’re doing to empower women, and families, when it comes to fertility.
How did you get involved in this field?
My co-founders and I started by asking a simple question: could we deliver high-quality, personalized health and wellness services through mobile phones to women in underserved areas? Our initial SMS-based menstrual cycle tracking tool in Kenya sparked a remarkable response — when we added a simple “ask a question” feature, we were flooded with fertility-related inquiries.
Over time, Gyna.co evolved from a local pilot to a global platform offering fertility plans, educational resources, and a supportive community. After participating in the Duke UNICEF Innovation Accelerator, we refined our approach, making Gyna.co accessible worldwide. Today, we empower women to take charge of their fertility journey regardless of their location.
From your experience working with individuals and couples navigating infertility and IVF, what are some of the most common emotional challenges they face, and how can healthcare providers best support them in managing these emotions?
Our clients often express that the uncertainty is the hardest part of infertility. If there was a way to know when you would achieve pregnancy, it would make the process so much easier. Since that’s not feasible, the best thing that we’ve found is to use a fertility plan. Having a plan helps you take control and not feel helpless in the face of uncertainty. Another great mental health tool can be finding a supportive community of people experiencing the same things, much like we offer our Gyna.co users.
Fertility treatments often come with significant physical and hormonal impacts on the body. What strategies do you recommend to patients for managing the physical toll of IVF, and how can healthcare professionals better assist in minimizing these side effects?
One thing we recommend at Gyna.co to support your body through IVF is to key in on nutrition to help reduce any inflammation that medications may cause. The idea is to set up your environment and nutrition to support your body while you undergo treatment. Many of our users feel more supported and prepared throughout the IVF process when they follow our personalized fertility plans — and in some cases, achieve conception naturally before needing further medical assistance.
Following through with the complete process of fertility testing and treatment can be absolutely grueling for the body for what could be years. How can someone cope with constant procedures, medications, hormones?
Our fertility coaches at Gyna.co strongly advocate taking care of your mental health and preparing yourself for the road ahead and be sure that you are ready for it. Give your body a break when you need to and make sure that you and your partner are on the same page with every step so you both can support each other during the process.
Try your best to prioritize your nutrition, hydration, and exercise to help cope with the stressors of the process — your body will thank you for it.
Financial stress is a major factor for many couples undergoing fertility treatments. How can healthcare providers and therapists address this stress proactively, and are there any resources or advice you offer to help patients navigate the financial challenges of IVF?
Financial stress can be one of the most challenging aspects of fertility treatments, but addressing it proactively can make a significant difference. Start by creating a plan to manage the costs. Some couples explore employment opportunities that offer fertility coverage, while others seek support from family members or financial assistance programs. Choosing a clinic that is transparent about costs and willing to work with you on a manageable payment plan is also essential.
Beyond financial planning, it is equally important to focus on self-care during this time to minimize stress. Taking care of your physical and emotional well-being can help you feel more in control and better equipped to handle the process. Prioritize balanced nutrition, regular movement, and stress-relieving activities like meditation or gentle yoga. Not only does this help your body prepare for treatment, but it also supports a healthier mindset to navigate the emotional ups and downs.
This is one of the many reasons we created Gyna. By empowering women with the tools they need to conceive, we aim to make the fertility journey feel less overwhelming and more manageable.
Can you please share “5 Things You Need to Navigate the Challenges of Infertility and IVF”?
1 . Find a support system. It’s important to have support when you’re going through infertility. A support system can look like a select few family members who you can lean on and who will listen to you as you navigate the challenges ahead or it could look like finding a community of women who are going through a similar path.
2 . Take care of your mental health. This one coincides with the last. Find that support system, find ways to reduce your stress. That can look like exercise, journaling, meditation, or a night out with friends. There are also therapists who specialize in infertility and this could be a beneficial piece to your care plan.
3 . Consider a team approach. It’s beneficial to have a team of professionals on your side. A team approach regarding infertility could look like having a Nutritionist and food plan, Reproductive endocrinologist, a Naturopath, and an Acupuncturist all working with you to help you achieve your goal of pregnancy.
4 . Stay connected to your partner. This is sometimes an overlooked piece, but it’s imperative to make sure you and your partner are in tune throughout the process. If you both want the same end goal and agree to the plan of care then you can both support each other. It’s also important to find time to connect and bring yourselves back to some normalcy outside of infertility.
5 . Have a plan. The sense of purpose and direction that comes with setting goals, outlining steps, and working through actionable items can really help. We hear from lots of our clients that once they started using Gyna.co and had an actual fertility plan, their mental health dramatically improved as well as their physical health.
The isolation that often accompanies infertility can be overwhelming. What role does mental health support play in the IVF journey, and what can healthcare professionals do to create a more connected and supported experience for patients going through this process?
Mental health support isn’t just helpful — it’s essential. Fertility challenges often spark feelings of isolation and anxiety. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, we advocate having a fertility plan and really leaning into a support community.
Wonderful. We are nearly done. Is there a person in the world, or in the US, with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)?
Oprah Winfrey. Oprah’s ability to bring taboo topics into the mainstream and foster empathetic conversations could be a game-changer for normalizing fertility and mental health discussions. Her approach to storytelling and personal narrative could serve as a guide in designing more relatable, supportive, and accessible communications for those navigating infertility.
If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
Partnerships with Employers for Family-Building Benefits:
For the US, a movement encouraging employers to offer fertility-related benefits — such as flexible work arrangements, sponsored fertility treatments, and mental health days — supporting the modern workforce in balancing career, treatment, and family-building goals.
How can our readers follow your work online?
They can follow along on our socials for regular updates: https://www.instagram.com/gyna_fertility/?hl=en. Readers can also check out our website here: https://gyna.co/.
Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational.
About the Interviewer: After becoming her father’s sole caregiver at a young age, Lucinda Koza founded I-Ally, a community-based app that provides access to services and support for millennial family caregivers. Mrs. Koza has had essays published in Thought Catalog, Medium Women, Caregiving.com and Hackernoon.com. She was featured in ‘Founded by Women: Inspiration and Advice from over 100 Female Founders’ by Sydney Horton. A filmmaker, Mrs. Koza premiered short film ‘Laura Point’ at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival and recently co-directed ‘Caregivers: A Story About Them’ with Egyptian filmmaker Roshdy Ahmed. Her most notable achievement, however, has been becoming a mother to fraternal twins in 2023. Reach out to Lucinda via social media or directly by email: lucinda@i-ally.com.
MacGregor Lennarz Of Gyna.co On Navigating the Challenges of Infertility and IVF was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.