I’ve always been wired to question why things happen. It is a human impulse – the attempt to derive meaning from the mysteries of life. But as I’ve gotten older, a little wiser, and more experienced, I’ve learned that some questions don’t have answers. It can be devastating to accept that what is happening to you is the result of a cause you may never realize. One of these problems that has appeared in many women in recent years is autoimmune infertility.
Luckily, there are those who will do whatever it takes to get answers. As someone who has experienced her own ups and downs when it comes to her reproductive health, I feel compassion for the countless women who have also faced these challenges. That’s why I’m grateful for the work of Caryn Johnson, co-founder and CEO of BOND, an innovative supplement line that is redefining reproductive wellness. And as is the case with many female founders, the brand was born from Johnson’s experience with what BOND is all about: women’s hormonal health.
I admit, before Johnson and I spoke over matcha chai lattes on a Friday afternoon at the Hoxton in Chicago a few weeks ago, I knew little about what autoimmune infertility entails. And unfortunately, this ignorance – the result of research on the subject that has only just begun – left Johnson searching for answers himself. The result was not only the birth of their two children Elijah and Ruthie, but also the birth of BOND. Through targeted nutritional supplements and educational content, the brand is transforming our understanding of our bodies, our lives and our world.
How an entrepreneur’s journey with autoimmune infertility inspired a brand
Johnson is no stranger to the world of supplements. As an industry experiencing the saturation that many vibrant product areas experience, it can be difficult to stand out from what else is out there. But it’s her experience—Johnson is the former chief marketing officer of Vital Proteins—combined with her personal commitment to the product’s target audience that has resulted in not only a compelling founding narrative, but also an effective product line that actually changes lives .
Below, Johnson and I discuss the ins and outs of autoimmune fertility, diving deep into her personal journey, the beginnings of BOND, and what women can do to proactively address these concerns head-on.
Caryn Johnson
Caryn Johnson is co-founder and CEO of BOND, an innovative supplement line that is redefining hormones and reproductive health, inspired by her experience with infertility. The former Chief Marketing Officer of Vital Proteins founded BOND in fall 2023, combining her expertise with her passion for helping women take a more proactive and confident approach to caring for their cycle and reproductive health.
What is Autoimmune Infertility?
“With traditional infertility, you look at your reproductive system as the cause or site of the infertility,” says Johnson. “But autoimmune infertility affects your immune system in ways that are independent of your reproductive health.” This is an important distinction because it not only distinguishes the two types of infertility, but also points to the puzzles involved in solving them the root of what holds us back from the life we want to lead and create.
Johnson expands on this. “With fertility in general, your body needs to be in a space where it can immunomodulate to its environment. When you become pregnant, your body goes through a semi-allogeneic learning phase with the blastocyst (the early-stage embryo), which means it has to accept it through a series of immune responses and reactions in your body. Many of these immune responses are new to your system at this particular stage of life.”
However, complications can arise if your immune system cannot tolerate these changes – and support you on your fertility journey. “What happened, and what happened in my case,” says Johnson, “is that my immune system caused my body to terminate the pregnancies.” It accepted them as foreign rather than going through the proper immune responses to become pregnant and maintaining the pregnancy.”
Essentially, autoimmune infertility takes “two different systems in your body,” she notes, “and looks at how they work together to allow your body to conceive and carry a pregnancy.”
Johnson’s personal journey with autoimmune infertility
“I couldn’t get pregnant at all,” Johnson reflects. “But when we started the IUIs and IVFs, they went well. My body performed well.” She told me that she had no blocked fallopian tubes and doctors confirmed that her reproductive system was fine. At this point, a gynecologist or reproductive endocrinologist is at a loss and unable to identify the cause, she notes. “My IVY cycles were failing and no one knew why. So I had to figure things out on my own.”
This was in 2017, when discussion of women’s reproductive health was even more limited. Johnson looked for answers himself and picked up the book Is your body baby friendly? by Dr. Alan Beer.
She flipped through the pages and learned that the root of her problems lay somewhere in her digestive system. “Hormonically I was a wreck, but I didn’t know what to associate with what I was experiencing on my fertility journey.” Ad hoc research led her to get in touch with a local doctor who specializes in reproductive immunology practiced. After a months-long waiting list, blood tests and a full ultrasound, Johnson was told she had the highest level of antibodies in her blood the doctor had ever seen.
“Luckily they knew how to deal with it.”
“Basically, my best advice is to take care of your body, your hormones, and your reproductive system, whether or not having a baby is important to you at that moment.”
Find answers
Although doctors encouraged Johnson to cancel her IVF, she was already medicated and prepared for the next round. “I ended up getting pregnant with twins. I lost my daughter at eight weeks and gave birth to my son at 35 weeks. He’s five now.
“After him, I lost another baby and then we threw in the towel,” she remembers. “Ruth, my second daughter, was born via surrogate, which was ultimately a decision we made to protect our mental health. When Ruth got here I felt like I had everything. I had learned everything, but there is still a world that is unknown to many women.”
What advice would you give to other women suffering from unknown or autoimmune infertility?
“Basically, my best advice is to take care of your body, your hormones, and your reproductive system, whether you’re planning on having a baby at that moment or not.”
Although there may still be factors beyond your control, Johnson assures that education and exposure to appropriate tools and resources can effectively support your reproductive health. As the discussion shifts and expands to embrace a broader understanding of the female body, it is important that we view proactive reproductive care more holistically than in the past.
“Doing this yourself now will support your daily cycle in ways you probably haven’t experienced or been educated about. It’s really nice to educate younger women and open their eyes to it.”
How BOND came about
Johnson’s experience with autoimmune infertility allowed her to see the gap between the research and what doctors could address with their patients. “I wanted to help bridge that gap and help people understand these factors in their fertility a little quicker,” she shares. “And this is where the enthusiasm for the brand began.”
Through practical research, medical advice and her experience at Vital Proteins, Johnson was able to bring the product line to market and launch BOND in 2023. Ultimately, their intent is to provide a selection of effective and accessible nutritional supplements for anyone with a reproductive cycle – not just those trying to conceive.
Lifestyle habits to support hormonal health
Although Johnson’s passion for reproductive and hormonal health was evident within seconds of meeting, that consistency permeates our entire conversation. Through her work with BOND, as well as personal research and advocacy, she is changing the narrative around our menstrual cycles. Rather than being a source of shame, Johnson celebrates the many different ways our bodies interact with the world.
And in addition to nutritional supplements, lifestyle factors play a key role in supporting hormonal balance. Johnson’s number one tip? Record your cycle. This will help you understand how to best support your body by choosing certain foods, forms of exercise, and even adjusting your social calendar to match the point in your cycle. “It’s about creating balance where your body needs it,” says Johnson, “and allowing your body to reset guilt-free.” We’ve created a comprehensive guide to cycle synchronization to get you started .
In addition, protein is essential. “Make sure you get enough protein. “Saturation and not too much sugar – especially on an empty stomach – are crucial for hormonal health,” she emphasizes. Curious about how much protein you need? Consult our nutritionist-backed guide. For recipes, we have breakfast, dinner, snacks, and even budget meals galore.
Ultimately, Johnson concludes, it’s about gaining a deeper understanding of your internal system. Find what works best for you and let the resulting benefits guide you.