We are discussing IVF Adds Ons this week with James Nicopoullos, clinical director at The Lister Fertility Clinic.

We discusses the complexities and controversies surrounding IVF add-ons and how difficult it can to make decisions about whether to use or not alongside IVF treatments.

We discuss:

• why IVF add-ons are optional extras that may not be necessary.

• How the HFEA's traffic light system categorizes treatments based on evidence.

• How not all add-ons are supported by strong evidence.

• Why individual circumstances dictate the need for specific add-ons.

• Why Sperm DNA testing is crucial for unexplained infertility cases.

• Why patients should be informed about the pros and cons of add-ons.
• Why communication between patients and clinics is essential.

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For more information on Add Ons please see the HFEA website.

*** Fertility Nutritionist, Kirsty Harrison and I will be running a free "Optimise Your Egg Quality" workshop on Monday 17th March at 7. To join us live or get the replay ⁠⁠⁠register here.⁠⁠⁠ ***

💛 Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Fertility Support Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for access to Teaching To Conceive, (our fertility education course), our monthly webinars and lovely group of supportive people who understand where you're at.

🤩 Follow us on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

☎️ Book a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠discovery call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to find out how we can support your fertility journey.

I am joined by Dr Lynne Chapman from LCRH. We are discussing the process of IVF and the advantages and disadvantages of the extra testing and investigations available alongside treatment. Lynne shares her insight into her approach to IVF and how to optimise a cycle for the best possible outcome.

We discuss:

• how fertility challenges can be deeply personal and complex.

• how IVF success rates can vary significantly based on individual circumstances.

• why genetic testing plays a crucial role in optimising IVF outcomes.

• why understanding both male and female factors is essential in fertility treatments.

• how proactive measures in fertility can sometimes lead to unnecessary stress.

• how egg quality declines with age, impacting fertility success rates.

• how healthy lifestyle choices can positively influence fertility outcomes.

• why tailored approaches to treatment are more effective than one-size-fits-all solutions.

*** Fertility Nutritionist, Kirsty Harrison and I will be running a free "Optimise Your Egg Quality" workshop on Monday 17th March at 7. To join us live or get the replay ⁠⁠register here.⁠⁠ ***

💛 Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Fertility Support Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for access to Teaching To Conceive, (our fertility education course), our monthly webinars and lovely group of supportive people who understand where you're at.

🤩 Follow us on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

☎️ Book a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠discovery call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to find out how we can support your fertility journey.

I am with Jenny Wordsworth, CEO and founder of Ovum this week.

Ovum is a female led company dedicated to improving the fertility journey for women. Jenny shares her personal experiences with trying to conceive, the challenges faced in the fertility market, and how Ovum's products are scientifically led.

The conversation covers the importance of research in women's health, the role of supplements in improving egg quality, and innovative approaches to pregnancy testing that prioritise emotional support and sustainability.

We discuss:

• why Jenny founded Ovum after feeling vulnerable while trying to conceive.

• how the fertility market often takes advantage of vulnerable individuals.

• how improving egg quality is a key focus of Ovum's supplements.

• how IVF clinics are increasingly recommending Ovum's products.

• Ovum's pregnancy tests and support around this.

*** Fertility Nutritionist Kirsty and I will be running a free "Optimise Your Egg Quality" workshop on Monday 17th March at 7. To join us live or get the replay ⁠register here.⁠ ***

💛 Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Fertility Support Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for access to Teaching To Conceive, (our fertility education course), our monthly webinars and lovely group of supportive people who understand where you're at.

🤩 Follow us on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

☎️ Book a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠discovery call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to find out how we can support your fertility journey.

I have lovely fertility nutritionist Kirsty Harrison on the show this week and we are continuing the conversation about egg quality. Kirsty explains what we can do to optimise egg quality.

We discuss:

• How egg quality is influenced by both genetic and lifestyle factors.
• Why nutrition plays a crucial role in enhancing egg quality.
• Why CoQ10 is vital for mitochondrial health and energy production.
• How Omega-3 fatty acids support hormone production and reduce inflammation.
• How chronic inflammation can negatively impact egg quality.
• Why sleep and stress management are essential for fertility.
• Why a three-month preparation period is recommended before IVF.
• Why Methylation is important for gene expression and egg quality.

*** Kirsty and I will be running a free "Optimise Your Egg Quality" workshop on Monday 17th March at 7. To join us live or get the replay register here. ***

💛 Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Fertility Support Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for access to Teaching To Conceive, (our fertility education course), our monthly webinars and lovely group of supportive people who understand where you're at.

🤩 Follow us on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

☎️ Book a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠discovery call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to find out how we can support your fertility journey.

Today I am joined by our very own, very lovelyMarca Nieto,acupuncturist here at Hannah Pearn and Embryologist atThe Lister Fertility Clinic.

We are discussing the topic of egg quality, what we mean by this, to what extent it can and can't be changed and how we can make improvements to it.

Marca is well placed to help us understand both genetic and environmental factors in that contribute to this.

We discuss:

• why egg quality is a complex topic influenced by various factors.

• how there is no definitive test for assessing egg quality.

• why egg quality declines with age, particularly after 35.
• how genetic factors play a significant role in egg quality.

• what lifestyle changes can positively influence egg quality.

• how acupuncture may support egg quality and overall fertility.

• how IVF protocols are not one-size-fits-all; they vary by individual.

• why understanding the ovarian environment is crucial for egg development.

• why preparation for IVF can enhance the chances of success.

💛 Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Fertility Support Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for access to Teaching To Conceive, (our fertility education course), our monthly webinars and lovely group of supportive people who understand where you're at.

🤩 Follow us on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

☎️ Book a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠discovery call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to find out how we can support your fertility journey.

Today I am joined by Sian, and Catherine from IVF BFF.

Sian and Catherine are friends, who re connected through our Don't Tell Me To RELAX Facebook Community and started their very own podcast, IVF BFF to document their their personal journeys through IVF.

Catherine and Sian are both in the middle of their treatment and we discuss how it's all going, how they connected and why they decided to make a podcast about their journeys.

We discuss:

Why finding a supportive community is crucial during IVF.

How the two-week wait can be an emotional roller coaster.

Why it's important to communicate openly with friends about feelings during IVF.

How podcasting has provided a therapeutic outlet for both hosts.

You can follow Catherine and Sian and listen to their podcast through their IVF BFF instagram page.

💛 Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠Fertility Support Community⁠⁠⁠⁠ for access to Teaching To Conceive, (our fertility education course), our monthly webinars and lovely group of supportive people who understand where you're at.

🤩 Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram.⁠⁠⁠⁠

☎️ Book a ⁠⁠⁠⁠discovery call⁠⁠⁠⁠ to find out how we can support your fertility journey.

I have Dr Irfana Koita from IVF Matters with me to discuss the various physical investigations available for women's health and fertility. Irfana discusses the different types of scans and when they should be used.

Irfana highlights the need for comprehensive fertility investigations to identify potential issues that could affect conception and the importance of addressing these issues before proceeding with treatments like IVF.

We also discuss the role of diagnostic procedures in improving treatment outcomes and the significance of patient education in navigating fertility challenges.

We discuss:

Why transvaginal scans are essential for assessing ovarian function.

Why HYCOSY and HSG are important tests for checking fallopian tube patency.

Why comprehensive fertility investigations are crucial for effective treatment.

How mild endometriosis may not be detected by transvaginal scans.

Why diagnostic procedures can impact the success of fertility treatments.

Why Hysteroscopy allows for both diagnosis and treatment of uterine issues.

Why patient education is vital in managing fertility concerns.

This podcast is sponsored by⁠⁠⁠ Invivo Healthcare⁠⁠⁠, the human microbiome company restoring human health and ecology with seamlessly connected testing, supplements and education.

💛 Join our ⁠⁠⁠Fertility Support Community⁠⁠⁠ for access to Teaching To Conceive, (our fertility education course), our monthly webinars and lovely group of supportive people who understand where you're at.

🤩 Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram.⁠⁠⁠

☎️ Book a ⁠⁠⁠discovery call⁠⁠⁠ to find out how we can support your fertility journey.

Katy is back this week! And we are discussing what a holistic approach to investigating your fertility looks like. We're talking all about the wider ways to assess health and fertility and the wider options to improving and understanding health and therefore your fertility.

We discuss:

• Why holistic practitioners assess fertility in a broader context.

• When blood tests should be timed correctly for accurate results.

• Why a full thyroid panel is better for understanding thyroid function.

• Why advocating for oneself in medical settings is essential.

• How male factor infertility is often overlooked but important.

• How microbiome health can impact fertility and overall health.

• How nutrition plays a vital role in fertility and should be prioritized.

• Why stress management is an important part for overall health and fertility.

• How tracking menstrual cycles can provide valuable insights into fertility.

This podcast is sponsored by⁠⁠⁠ Invivo Healthcare⁠⁠⁠, the human microbiome company restoring human health and ecology with seamlessly connected testing, supplements and education.

💛 Join our ⁠⁠⁠Fertility Support Community⁠⁠⁠ for access to Teaching To Conceive, (our fertility education course), our monthly webinars and lovely group of supportive people who understand where you're at.

🤩 Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram.⁠⁠⁠

☎️ Book a ⁠⁠⁠discovery call⁠⁠⁠ to find out how we can support your fertility journey.