Endometriosis, Fertility & Immunology Education and Support: An Interview with Emanuela Lazzaroni, MS, CTSS
International Endometriosis Conversations recently sat down with Emanuela “Ema” Lazzaroni-Tealdi, a Senior Embryologist and Reproductive Biologist with nearly 20 years of experience in IVF and reproductive sciences.
Ema currently serves as the Director of Support & Medical Education at ESSI. Together with Dr. Andrea Vidali, she is spearheading a groundbreaking new section: ESSI Fertility & Immunology. This initiative is designed to bring clarity, education, and support to patients navigating the complex intersection of endometriosis, fertility challenges, and immune-related conditions.
In this exclusive interview, Ema shares how her personal journey shaped her mission, why education became her calling, and how her biomedical background transformed into a global role in patient support.
Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?
Ema: My name is Emanuela Lazzaroni, and I am a Senior Embryologist and Reproductive Biologist. I’ve spent almost two decades in IVF laboratories in the United States. My work has involved the most delicate and complex procedures in the field: performing ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection), embryo culture, embryo biopsy, evaluating embryology and PGT results, and troubleshooting complex laboratory systems.
I’ve also contributed to several scientific publications and have always been deeply connected to the scientific side of reproductive medicine and immunology.
Over time, however, I realized something important about myself: I love teaching. I love explaining and helping patients truly understand the science behind their experience. Today, I serve as the Director of Support & Medical Education at ESSI, where I combine science, communication, and patient-centered support.
You’ve spoken openly about your infertility and immune-related challenges. How did that experience influence your work?
Ema: My personal infertility and immune issues are not my whole story, but they absolutely shaped my purpose. Even as a Senior Embryologist—someone who knew the science inside and out—I found the journey confusing, heavy, and emotionally overwhelming.
That realization changed everything for me. It made me understand something critical: If I felt lost despite my scientific background inside IVF laboratories, then thousands of patients must feel even more alone and uninformed.
This experience pushed me toward what is now my mission: to ensure that no patient faces fertility or endometriosis without clarity, education, and support.
What inspired your shift from strictly laboratory work into patient education?
Ema: Inside the lab, I witnessed a significant gap between what clinicians explain and what patients actually understand. Many people were told about their embryo development, immune results, or PGT findings without proper context or clear guidance. They left feeling dismissed or confused.
I knew I could help bridge this gap.
-
My biomedical background gave me the accuracy.
-
My personal story gave me the empathy.
-
My communication skills helped me make complicated science feel human.
Joining ESSI gave me the space to bring all these elements together. I began offering patient education, research explanations, weekly Lives, and trauma-informed support. It became clear that this is where I truly belong because I truly love my job.
What does your role at ESSI include today?
Ema: As the Director of Support & Medical Education, my goal is to translate complex medical realities into understandable concepts. I help patients understand:
-
How endometriosis impacts their overall health and daily life.
-
How the disease can influence pelvic pain, inflammation, and long-term well-being.
-
How endometriosis may affect reproductive function when relevant.
-
Their embryo development and lab reports when they pursue IVF.
-
Their PGT results in a clear and accessible way.
-
Their immune-related findings, especially in relation to chronic inflammation.
-
What to expect before and after excision surgery.
-
How to navigate the emotional and physical challenges that come with endometriosis.
“For me, education is not just information—it is a form of care, empowerment, and emotional grounding.”
You’re building a new section at ESSI: ESSI Fertility & Immunology. Can you tell us more about it?
Ema: ESSI Fertility & Immunology is a new educational initiative created to give patients the clarity they’ve been missing.
My role in this new section centers on my scientific and educational strengths. I work to translate complex fertility and immunology concepts into simple, accessible language. This includes reviewing embryology and PGT results with accuracy and transparency and guiding patients through their fertility journey.
A major focus is helping patients understand immune-related findings, especially in the context of chronic inflammation and endometriosis, and explaining how immune dysregulation may influence reproductive function.
We also focus on the surgical journey—guiding patients before and after excision surgery to build realistic expectations and facilitate informed decisions. Above all, we offer trauma-informed support that addresses both the emotional and scientific sides of their journey.
The goal is simple: to give patients the understanding they deserve, with science explained in a way that feels human, gentle, and empowering.
What do you hope patients gain from your work?
Ema: I hope they feel:
-
Informed
-
Supported
-
Validated
-
Less anxious
-
More confident in their decisions
-
Empowered through clarity
The endometriosis and fertility journey is deeply uncertain. If I can turn even part of that uncertainty into understanding, then my work has meaning.
Any message you want to share with those facing endometriosis, infertility, or immune-related fertility issues?
Ema: You deserve clarity. You deserve to be heard. And you deserve a specialized team that helps you understand your story with compassion and science, not fear or confusion.
No one should walk this journey alone. Support exists, education exists, and hope exists.
