Back to The Fertility Podcast archive for this episode to celebrate the release of the Netflix movie 'Joy' - Natalie has shared a conversation she had Connie Orbach about how she started her research to curate the British Science Museum's exhibition about the story of IVF.

What was discussed:

• Connie herself admitted how she didn't realize how much content she would find in the archives from Leslie Brown, regarding the correspondence she received from all around the world.
• Connie talked about Jean Purdy who I've learned all about over the last couple of weeks and she is talked about as being IVF's forgotten pioneer, despite being written about by Patrick Steptoe and Robert Edwards as one of the three of them.
• Connie has written a really good blog here Jean was hired as a lab technician however she was tasked with managing the laboratory and in reality, she did much more. Jean Purdy was not just central to the running of the lab but also to the scientific work. Connie and I spoke about whether her gender meant she was taken less seriously by reporters? Possibly, seeing as she was recorded in the photos as being the 'midwife'.
• Was her role as a lab technician seen as unimportant next to that of the surgeon and the scientist? This is so ironic seeing as she is credited with first discovering the blastocyst embryo stage, one of the key breakthroughs in our understanding of an embryo's development.
• Whatever the reason, it was not for lack of trying from Edwards. He repeatedly emphasized Purdy’s importance and unsuccessfully lobbied her name to be added to the commemorative plaque placed at the site of their original clinic. Read more in Connie's blog and here are some other articles that are written for the exhibition
• Sally Cheshire, chair of the HFEA has also written a blog for the exhibition. Martin Johnson discussing the challenges faced by Bob Edwards developing IVF.
• Gareth Downs on the male perspective: Bristol Archives wrote a blog recently about receiving the Lesley Brown Archive

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To celebrate the release on Netflix of the new film about IVF 'Joy' this is an old episode of The Fertility Podcast, which Natalie produced in celebration of Louise Brown's 40th Birthday and the fact that at that point in time, over 300,000 babies have been born through IVF treatment with more than 1 million cycles having taken place. TheHFEA asked Natalie to make a podcast with them, so Natalie is in conversation with its chair Sally Cheshire and one of its Inspectors, a lady called Janet Kirkland MacHattie, who worked as a nurse at Bourne Hall in 1982, under Patrick Steptoe, Robert Edwards and Jean Purdy.

In fact, it was during this conversation with Janet, that Natalie first learnt about Jean, and found herself feeling somewhat ashamed that she didn't know about her sooner!

What was discussed:

• Sally Cheshire talked about how at the time the treatment was quite experimental and Louise Brown's parents were quite brave in putting themselves forward
• She explains how the Government and Parliament decided to investigate how treatment should be regulated and asked Mary Warnock to form a committee in 1984 to look at how infertility should be regulated. The law came into being in 1990 and the HFEA came to be in 1991.
• Sally talked about her role at the HFEA and what has changed over the last 40 years and the importance of the focus of its work being on the 70% of people who aren’t successful with their treatment.
• The HFEA has a vital role, thinking about how emotional support can be improved in clinics because, as she explains 'We do know that even if you are pregnant after IVF there’s a level of anxiety you carry with you".
• The importance of being medically, emotionally and financially equipped to try again when going through fertility treatment. Sally explained how 'We still feel a lot of media stories about fertility treatment are positive… very often, there’s a lot of around celebrities with the example of Bridget Neilson who gave birth at 54. Are they being truthful about using donor eggs? Some of those stories give you a false impression."
• Janet explained how she went for the job at Bourn Hall, to join the nursing team - not really knowing what was involved and when she asked Patrick Steptoe his advice on a book she could read to learn more, his reply was 'My dear, they've not been written yet
• What the treatment process was like initially, with Ladies staying at Bourn Hall for ten day periods and how as they didn't have blood tests, the Ladies urine was tested every three hours to find out if they were ovulating.
• Janet talked about an interview Patrick Steptoe gave where he spoke about his vision for the future being "centres set up where people have been properly trained and this technique will be available to women all over the world"

To compare clinics like for like, or rate your clinic visit the HFEA website

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The Fertility Podcast is back with an all time favourite topic… stress!

In this episode Kate is with Alice Domar to talk all about stress and how it affects your fertility. Stress and Fertility is a topic that is often asked by a lot of patients, and it is one that leaves people little answer to whether stress causes infertility.

There is no question that infertility causes stress, through all the waiting, the tests, the remembering so many different things and then sometimes, not ever finding an answer to your unexplained infertility.

So in this episode, Kate and Alice talk about infertility about how most of the women and men going through it have psychological issues and lots of stress. They talk about how infertility effects everything in your life, your friends and family, mental and physical health, your body image and so much more.

Alice talks about infertility is a disease, however, unlike most other diseases, you are blamed for it. She goes onto talk about how it should be seen as a mental health issue or how it should be treated as the same but it is not.

They also talk about being on hold and feeling like you can’t do anything because you don’t know what is going to happen if you do.

OUR SPONSOR:

We are delighted that the current series is being sponsored by Proceive who are kindly offering all listeners to The Fertility Podcast 15% off any Procieve purchase, when you use the discount code FP15.

Socials:

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Inception Fertility - Inception (@inceptionfertility) • Instagram photos and videos

Website - https://dralicedomar.com/

LinkedIn ​​https://www.linkedin.com/in/alice-domar-ab03736/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inceptionfertility/

Alice’s research - The relationship between stress and infertility:

THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON WOMEN PREGNANT FOLLOWING ART: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY -

PREVIOUS EPISODE: Stress and Fertility by Kate Davies

Welcome to another episode of The Fertility Podcast! This week is a special week as it is National Fertility Awareness week.

Joining Kate are two incredible women, Jane and Toni, who are here to talk all about fertility and their new book, What Every Woman Needs to Know About Fertility.

This episode, Jane and Toni talk about what it is that they do. Jane, being a Fertility nurse specialist, taught Kate everything she knows about fertility awareness. And Toni, who specializes in sexual and reproductive health information.

Together, they have written a book that is somewhat a guide for a woman all about fertility. From the essentials like understanding your cycles to the bits of information that you might not know like what does IVF mean and how does it work?

They talk about how they have spent their entire professional lives talking to women who don’t have any knowledge around fertility or their body, and then are saddled with fertility issues that they weren’t aware of.

When they wrote the book, they had the intention to deliver clear and honest information about fertility to the world, giving women the opportunity to find out more about their bodies, how they can plan or avoid pregnancy. The book is a guide, like a dictionary for those who are curious as to what a certain term means. It is there to dip into when you need it.

Lastly, they talk about going through fertility, what you can do to prepare your body for pregnancy, what menopause is like and what different terms mean in the fertility world.

OUR SPONSOR:

We are delighted that the current series is being sponsored by Proceive who are kindly offering all listeners to The Fertility Podcast 15% off any Procieve purchase, when you use the discount code FP15.

Socials:

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Website for Fertility Network - https://www.fertilityuk.org/

Amazon link to book - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Every-Woman-Needs-About-Fertility/dp/1399814591

FNUK - https://fertilitynetworkuk.org/national-fertility-awareness-week-2024

Hello again! This episode Kate is joined by the founders of the Swimmers Charity, Tara and Henry.

In this episode, Kate talks with the couple about how this charity is the first and only charity for male factor infertility. Started as a result of their own fertility journey, this charity aims to provide support for those going through infertility and to restore sperm health.

Before Kate and the couple dove into what the charity does and aims to do, Tara and Henry shared their own fertility story that led them to creating the charity.

Back before Tara and Henry were to be married, they decided to check that everything was okay for them to hopefully have children in the future. Through doing all the tests, Tara found that she was perfectly healthy and that there was nothing that flagged concern. Unfortunately, Henry’s results didn’t have the same outcome.

Henry’s results told him that he had low sperm, and that it was decreasing. However there was never an actual reason or explanation as to why this was the case.

The couple decided to go through the IVF process but sadly, they had to abandon the cycle. Tara and Henry tried again, this time with 3 embryos, however, these embryos failed the transfer.

Through all of this, the couple were still trying to achieve their dream of one day having a family. So, after many talks with doctors they were pointed towards DNA fragmentation testing. This unfortunately, came back inconclusive, which Henry explained was incredibly frustrating.

After this, they found out that Henry’s sperm was decreasing in numbers, so Henry made the decision to freeze his sperm, something which he recommends anyone does. Then, Henry made some lifestyle changes, like stopping drinking caffeine, taking cold diets and more.

They then started another IVF cycle and this time it was successful and now they have a baby boy.

They both explain how through this journey, they didn’t tell their family or friends about what it was that they were going through. Although they are wanting to try IVF again, the two of them have said that they would tell their family and friends.

Kate asks about the reasons for setting up the charity and what their goals, and both Tara and Henry shared that they want to help others achieve their dreams of having children of their own. Henry tells Kate about all the exciting things that the charity is going to be doing over the next couple of months such as grants to help those fund their own fertility journey and funding research into finding out why so many people have unexplained infertility.

OUR SPONSOR:

We are delighted that the current series is being sponsored by Proceive who are kindly offering all listeners to The Fertility Podcast 15% off any Procieve purchase, when you use the discount code FP15.

Socials:

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Read more about Request a babyloss certificate here

Hello, this is a little bit of a special episode as The Fertility Podcast is sharing The F Word at Work!

We’re thrilled to have you here, and if this is your first time tuning in, we encourage you to explore our previous episodes.

They feature thought-provoking discussions about why fertility and family-building topics should be a priority on workplace wellbeing agendas. This fourth series focuses specifically on how to support colleagues through various family-building challenges.

In this episode, we’re delighted to welcome Katy Schnitzler, an esteemed trainer and founder of Mist. Katy is an academic whose work revolves around pregnancy loss, miscarriage, and the experiences of those who are childless not by choice, particularly their impact in the workplace.

She is also a lead trainer at the Miscarriage Association, and we're excited to delve into this vital conversation together.

Here’s a glimpse into our conversation:

• Katy emphasizes the holistic approach needed when discussing pregnancy loss, highlighting both the physical and emotional implications for those affected in the workplace.
• We explore common misconceptions surrounding pregnancy loss and the potential physical challenges that individuals face, which can significantly impact their work life.
• Katy offers practical advice for managers and HR professionals on how to compassionately support colleagues experiencing pregnancy loss. This includes the importance of using appropriate language and demonstrating genuine empathy.
• We discuss the emotional toll of pregnancy loss not only on the individual but also on their partner, stressing the importance of acknowledging their feelings and experiences as well.
• We talk about the need for workplace policies that address pregnancy loss and how to implement them, as well as the importance of peer support and training for colleagues
• Katy shares strategies for initiating open conversations about pregnancy loss, emphasising that it's crucial for workplaces to foster an environment where employees feel safe discussing their experiences.

As we approach Baby Loss Awareness Week, we encourage organisations to consider how they can acknowledge this sensitive topic thoughtfully and inclusively.

Thank you for joining us for this important discussion. We hope you find these insights helpful in fostering a supportive workplace culture.

Thank you to Apricity who are sponsoring this series of The F Word at Work. To find out more about how they can support your employees with inclusive fertility care please get in touch with its expert corporate team here. We'd love your support and feedback so please do hit follow and if possible leave a review in the app you are listening to.

StayConnected:

Follow The F Word at Work for access to our free resources:

• Download our guidance Ideal Policy Guidance - Fertility Matters at Work.
• You can book a call to speak with us Calendly - Fertility Matters at Work.
• Explore our services and subscribe to our newsletter Fertility Awareness & Support Training Workshop - Fertility Matters at Work
• Join our vibrant community on Instagram, X and LinkedIn - Becky, Claire & Natalie (@fertilitymattersatwork) • Instagram photos and videos, (1) Fertility Matters at Work:...

This week on The Fertility Podcast, Kate is joined by a patient of hers, Alice, to talk about PCOS and how to live with it. This episode is a refreshing topic as Kate and Alice chat about looking after you first and trying to conceive second.

Alice, who has been trying to conceive for a while with her husband, came to Kate looking for a way to be able to live with PCOS. Together, they adopted the term ‘Project Alice’ which they both share is all about making sure that Alice is happy and healthy first.

In this ep, Alice talks about how her PCOS diagnosis turned her life around and has impacted almost every aspect of her life. She talks about how it took a toll on her not only physically but also emotionally. Alice explains how she struggled with the symptoms, the results of the diagnosis and the fear of the unknown.

Alice shares what her life was like before receiving the diagnosis and how she put her life on hold whilst she and her husband were trying to conceive. She talks about how she would put off holidays because she envisioned that she would be pregnant by then or weddings where she had hoped to be expecting. Alice then talks about how she felt when those events came and went and she wasn’t pregnant.

Together they talk about reaching out for help and support, how easy it was for Alice to find Kate, as well as what Alice wanted to achieve out of Kate’s consultations. She explains that she felt as though her future was uncertain and unclear but after a consultation with Kate, she found her future more clear and Alice was able to ask the right questions at her appointments and other things.

Coming to the end of this episode, they talk about PCOS weight loss injections and Alice’s journey with taking them. Although there is limited information and research upon these injections, as they are still a fairly new treatment, they seem to be having a positive effect on Alice. Kate and Alice go into a little more detail about these injections and what they are like.

Alice’s advice is to talk to everyone, to be open with not just those going through a similar journey to you, but also friends and family too. She shares that it can be quite lonely and that being able to share the burden can lessen the burden.

OUR SPONSOR:

We are delighted that the current series is being sponsored by Proceive who are kindly offering all listeners to The Fertility Podcast 15% off any Procieve purchase, when you use the discount code FP15.

Links to the article:

Carmina E, Longo RA. Semaglutide Treatment of Excessive Body Weight in Obese PCOS Patients Unresponsive to Lifestyle Programs. J Clin Med. 2023;12(18):5921. Published 2023 Sep 12. doi:10.3390/jcm12185921

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10531549

International PCOS guidelines - https://www.eshre.eu/Guidelines-and-Legal/Guidelines/Polycystic-Ovary-Syndrome

Vertity - https://www.verity-pcos.org.uk/

AskPCOS - https://www.askpcos.org/

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Hello, and welcome to the second episode of this series! This week is a very special week as it is World Childless Week, and what better way to start this week off than to listen to Kate talk to Hazel who is an award-winning highly regarded facilitator, advisor and executive coach to high profile private and public sector organizations.

Hazel joins Kate this week to talk about childlessness and her own fertility journey. She talks about how her experiences led her to making the decision to not have children. When Hazel was about to be married to her now husband, they decided that they would like to try to have children. And after many checks with doctors and gynecologists, they were told that if Hazel were to get pregnant, she would most likely be put into a vegetative state.

This was unfortunately due to a brain surgery that she underwent years ago. Hazel describes how she felt after being told the news, expressing her sadness and numbness after the appointment.

Hazel then goes on to talk about how she and her husband found a way to live without children, how they have almost come up with their own terms for things, like a language that only they know. Hazel shares some of the terms they use like ‘Pram Count’ when deciding on a cafe.

She also talks about some of the things they have discovered while being childless, like creating little crafts or being a cat mum to her two cats. Hazel opens a new perspective on childlessness, and offers a way of living without children.

Kate and Hazel talk about how Hazel copes with social situations that might resurface feelings of sadness about childlessness. Hazel describes it as lifetime grief, she shares that it comes around again when in situations where someone might ask about grandchildren, she talks about she and her husband deal with those types of questions.

Lastly, Kate and Hazel talk about having to rewrite your own story, finding a new path without children and coming to terms with reality. Hazel reveals that her childlessness life is actually quite fun and she basks in the time she spends with her husband and her fur-babies.

Check out these episodes about childlessness:

• Kate Pleace & World Childless Week (thefertilitypodcast.com)
• What support is there for childless Men? • The Fertility Podcast
• How do I deal with the grief of not being able to get pregnant? • The Fertility Podcast
• How to answer that you don’t have kids, so they don’t ask again • The Fertility Podcast
• Why we need to talk about childless women differently • The Fertility Podcast
• Childless not by choice • The Fertility Podcast

OUR SPONSOR:

We are delighted that the current series is being sponsored by Proceive who are kindly offering all listeners to The Fertility Podcast 15% off any Procieve purchase, when you use the discount code FP15.

This episode is also sponsored by Ovom Care, who have partnered with GlycanAge, a testing company. Ovom Care are looking for participants to help with their research around knowing what your actual biological age is. So if you are interested...