The Fertility Class adds medical and scientific advisors for fertility movement program

The Fertility Class has formed a Medical and Scientific Advisory Board as it expands its online movement platform for reproductive health and fertility. The board adds OB-GYN and reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Katherine VanHise and reproductive epidemiologist Dr. Carmen Messerlian to guide clinical, scientific and research work.

Why it matters: - The Fertility Class is trying to fill a niche in women’s health: movement programming designed specifically for people trying to conceive or moving through fertility treatment. - The advisory board could help the company strengthen clinical credibility and build evidence around movement and reproductive health. - The platform already serves members in 17 countries, so any guidance on safety, cycle health and fertility could affect an international audience.

What happened: - The Fertility Class announced the formation of its Medical and Scientific Advisory Board on October 30, 2026. - Katherine VanHise, MD, an OB-GYN and reproductive endocrinologist at HRC Fertility in Beverly Hills, joined as Medical Advisor. - Carmen Messerlian, PhD, MSc, a reproductive and environmental epidemiologist and founder and CEO of Vie Science, joined as Scientific Advisor. - The company said the appointments bring clinical and scientific expertise to movement guidance across the reproductive journey.

The details: - Dr. VanHise will review program content and advise on specialized movement programming for cycle health and fertility. - Her role also includes guidance on adaptations for different stages of fertility treatment. - Dr. Messerlian will help shape scientific direction, including evidence development and research opportunities related to movement and reproductive health. - The Fertility Class said its program was built to give women a structured way to approach movement throughout their reproductive journey. - The founders said the company was created because movement has an important place in women’s health, but few programs are designed with fertility in mind. - Dr. VanHise said patients often ask how to adapt exercise while trying to conceive, during egg freezing, IUI or IVF, and in early pregnancy. - Dr. VanHise said she wants to support the work with her perspective as an OB-GYN and reproductive endocrinologist. - Dr. Messerlian said she wants to support the team, bring a scientific perspective and explore opportunities to generate data and research in this area. - Dr. VanHise completed her OB-GYN residency and REI fellowship at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. - Dr. VanHise’s research interests include polycystic ovary syndrome, reproductive immunology and fertility preservation. - Dr. VanHise has published first-author research in journals including Fertility and Sterility and The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. - Dr. Messerlian previously served on the faculty of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and held a joint appointment in obstetrics and gynecology at Massachusetts General Hospital. - Dr. Messerlian founded and directed the Scientific Early Life Environmental Health and Development, or SEED, Program. - Dr. Messerlian’s research examines how environmental exposures and lifestyle factors affect fertility and pregnancy outcomes. - Dr. Messerlian has authored more than 100 scientific papers, peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. - Dr. Messerlian is an adjunct professor at McGill University. - The Fertility Class says its program is rooted in the Aviva Method, a therapeutic movement system developed in the 1960s for menstrual and reproductive health. - The platform offers cycle-aligned classes, personalized practice guidance and pathways for different stages of fertility treatment. - The platform is HSA/FSA eligible and is building relationships with clinicians and researchers to explore movement’s role in reproductive health. - The company did not disclose financial terms for the advisory appointments. - More information is available on The Fertility Class on Instagram.

Between the lines: - The advisory board gives The Fertility Class a way to bridge consumer wellness and clinical legitimacy. - The mix of an OB-GYN and a reproductive epidemiologist suggests the company wants both day-to-day medical guidance and a research-backed evidence base. - The focus on data and research signals that the platform may be aiming to move beyond classes into a broader authority on movement in fertility care.

What's next: - Dr. VanHise will review content and guide fertility-treatment-specific adaptations. - Dr. Messerlian will help shape scientific direction and research priorities. - The Fertility Class is expected to continue developing its movement program while deepening ties with clinicians and researchers. - The company may use the advisory board to support future evidence generation around reproductive health and movement.

The bottom line: - The Fertility Class is betting that medical oversight and scientific research can make fertility-focused movement more credible, more useful and more widely adopted.