Conceive Baby Podcast Series

So, you know a regular pap smear is important, but what do the results really mean? What are they screening for? Does is affect your fertility or the progression of a healthy pregnancy? In this episode I speak with Dr Alice Huang who answers these important questions and explains everything you need to know about Pap smears, including the new advances which are providing more scope in testing and why they are not officially called pap smears anymore! Dr Alice Huang is an experienced specialised gynaecologist who has been training or working in the field of gynaecology for the past 15 years, and working in the field of infertility and IVF for the past 10 years. Dr Huang specialises in IVF / fertility treatments Fertility preservation and egg freezing Ovulation induction and cycle tracking Endometriosis and laparoscopic surgery Fibroids and myomectomy surgery Abnormal CST and colposcopy PCOS Abnormal vaginal discharge and recurrent vaginosis Dr Huang's professional practice is not just built on evidence-

Whether it's plan A, plan B or plan C, there is a path to your baby. In this episode of the Conceive Baby Podcast, I speak with Dr Genia Rozen about the evolving world of fertility preservation. We discuss egg freezing, embryo freezing, sperm freezing and uterine tissue freezing. How they work, what the the benefits are and when they may be appropriate for you. Genia Rozen is Gynaecologist and Fertility specialist from Melbourne. She trained at the Royal Women’s Hospital, where she now works as a consultant. Her private practice is based in East Melbourne and the Peninsula. Genia has a special interest in medical fertility preservation and is the deputy head of the well-known Fertility Preservation Service at RWH. Dedicated to the field of reproduction and oncofertility, she is also undertaking a PhD aimed at helping women conceive after cancer. I hope you enjoy this inspiring discussion! You can find out more about Dr Rozen at her website http://www.geniarozen.com.au/ And more about Fertility Pres

In today's episode of the Conceive Baby Podcast we’re talking about a topic which is growing enormously and that’s Fertility over 40. I know in my practice I’m seeing more and more women starting or growing their families in their 40’s. But biologically, how fertile are we? What are your chances, really? And what can you do to stack the odds in your favour. Today we’re going to be answering all these questions and more with the lovely Angela Hywood, who understands this topic intimately, both personally and professionally. Angela is an experienced naturopathic clinician with over 20 years of clinical experience. She runs a busy clinic in Perth Western Australia, specialising in integrative endocrinology, fertility and women’s health. Prior to Angela’s career in naturopathy, she studied at the School of Pharmacy, Curtin University of Technology. Angela practiced at the world-renowned Jocelyn Centre of Natural Fertility Management, Australia’s first specialist practice in the area of Preconception

If you’ve been trying to conceive for a while you probably know about ovulation trackers and temperature charting, well today we’re going to be looking at a different way of charting your menstrual cycle and that’s via your lunar cycle. In this intriguing discussion we talk about the origins of the lunar cycle (it was actually developed by a Doctor) and how you can use your lunar cycle to optimise you chances of conceiving, and perhaps even increase your odds of having a boy or a girl!

In this episode I speak with Women's Health Dietitian Stephanie Valakas. We discuss the most common hormonal disorder found in women, Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS as it’s most commonly known. PCOS affects around 10% of women in Australia and can have a significant impact on fertility and our ability to fall pregnant. We discuss symptoms and diagnosis, but most importantly in the episode we do a deep dive into diet and the simple changes you can make to improve symptoms, improve your fertility and improve your chances of conceiving and carrying your healthy baby.

In this episode I speak with renowned Melbourne Fertility Specialists, Dr Lynn Burmeister about a very topical issue. One which is growing rapidly. And that’s egg freezing. More and more women are turning to egg freezing as an 'insurance policy', if they haven’t met Mr Right or are just not ready for a baby right now, but know it’s something they want in their future. But how much of a guarantee of a healthy baby is it really? What’s involved in the process and what can you do to optimise your chances of a healthy egg collection and a healthy baby? We’ll be answering all these questions and more! Enjoy!

Whether you are going through IVF, struggling with infertility or just wanting to prepare for a healthy pregnancy in this episode we talk about the fundamental things you need to know about your diet and lifestyle that will have a significant impact on your ability to conceive; on your ability to carry a healthy pregnancy and on the long term health of your future baby. It is in this precious preconception period that you have the opportunity to optimise the DNA you pass on to your future child. So regardless of what stage you are at in your fertility journey, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

In this episode I speak with Moira Bradfield who is currently completing PhD research into the vaginal microbiome. Moira will be providing her insights into the role of the vaginal microbiome in fertility as well as practical tips and advice to help you support a healthy vaginal environment to improve your chances of conceiving and carrying your healthy baby. We cover topics including * what is a microbiome? * how our vaginal microbiome differs from our gut microbiome * what role does it play in candida/thrush? * other infections of the vaginal impacting fertility health * Strep B and pregnancy complications * what discharge is 'normal' * douches, washes and intimate products, should you use them * tampons vs pads vs menstrual cups, what should you use * ways to optimise your vaginal health to support a healthy conception and pregnancy Moira Bradfield, founder of Intimate Ecology clinical and education services, is a Naturopath, Acupuncturist and educator with over 18 years clinical experience. She has a p

In this episode of the Conceive Baby Podcast we talk about fertility, as always, but from a different perspective. We discuss a wonderful, collaborative, celebratory event, which is on a mission to change the conversation around fertility and infertility. Fertility Fest. I speak with inspiring founder Jessica Hepburn who shares with us her personal journey, as well as insights into the evolution of Fertility Fest and what you can expect at this year's event. Jessica Hepburn is one of the leading patient voices on fertility, infertility and assisted conception. She is the author of two books The Pursuit of Motherhood (2014) and 21 Miles: Swimming in search of the meaning of motherhood which is launching in a few weeks. In 2016, following her ten year tenure as Executive Director of the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith in London she founded Fertility Fest, the world's first arts festival dedicated to fertility, infertility, modern families and the science of making babies. The third edition of the festival wi

In this episode I speak with Dr Jemma Evans about the impact of your diet on the most important and amazing organ when it comes to fertility, and that’s the uterus. We hear a lot these days about egg health in relation to fertility, which is obviously super important but there is another important player and that’s your baby’s first home. The place where this tiny fertilised egg will have the opportunity to grow into a thriving, healthy baby. The health of the uterus plays an important role in supporting implantation and supporting the health and development of this precious new life. In this episode we delve deeper into the role of the uterus, as well as ways to optimise uterine health, through diet, to improve your chances of conceiving and carrying your beautiful, healthy baby. Jemma will be sharing exclusive insights from her new research. Jemma is a research scientist with a focus on understanding the endometrium, the inner lining of the uterus into which the embryo must implant. Her previ

In this episode of the Conceive Baby Webinar Series we discuss a very topical issue in fertility, and that's donor conception. We now not only have donor sperm, we also have donor eggs and donor embryos. In a previous episode I spoke with Louise Johnson and Karin Hammarberg from the Government Body VARTA about the legalities and your rights and options around donor conception and today we're going to discuss the actual process. What is involved in a donor conception from egg donation perspective. Today I'm speaking with Dr Raelia Lew. Raelia graduated from medicine at Monash University with Honours, and later trained as a Gynaecologist and Obstetrician at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney. Raelia went on to completed her Masters of Medicine in Reproductive Health Science and Human Genetics at The University of Sydney and graduated from a Doctorate of Philosophy in the area of Preconception Health Promotion and Reproductive Genetics in 2016. Her PhD research was commenced at the University of Sydn

In this episode of the Conceive Baby Podcast Series we talk about a topic which, historically, hasn’t received that much attention. Infertility has, for a long time, focused largely on the female. So in this webinar we turn the tide and look at the impact of male preconception health. Assistant Professor of Reproductive Biology, Dr Adam Watkins provide his personal insights into his new research, focusing on the role of sperm in a healthy conception and healthy embryo development. Dr Watkins has always had an interest in the sensitivities of events early in pregnancy to environmental factors such as maternal diet. However, Dr Watkins’ current research is exploring the role that a father’s diet may have on influencing the quality of his sperm as well as the long-term health of his offspring. Currently, Dr Watkins is looking at how the diet of a father may affect the long-term cardiovascular and metabolic health of his offspring. Dr Watkins’ recent research has shown that a poor father’s diet at the time

Egg freezing is a hot topic. Whether it be for IVF treatment or social reason, there are many myths surrounding the process. In this informative webinar I speak with board certified reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist Dr Julie Lamb, who will bust the myths and give us the facts you need to know. Julie Lamb, MD, FACOG a specialist at Pacific NW Fertility in Seattle and also serves as clinical faculty at the University of Washington as well as being the president-elect of Seattle Gynecology Society. Dr. Lamb graduated at the top of her class in biology and psychology from Seattle Pacific University, and completed her training in medical school at Northwestern University Fienberg School of Medicine in Chicago. She awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study international women’s health in Zimbabwe. Dr. Lamb completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Washington in Seattle, and did her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at University of Cali

In this episode I speak with Elizabeth Mucci about the impact of infections on fertility. We discuss the role of infections in unexplained infertility, the immune system, natural killer cells as well as investigations, tests and treatment strategies. Elizabeth Mucci is a scientist, nutritionist and herbalist with a Masters in Reproductive Medicine and over 18 years experience as a clinician and teacher. Elizabeth has helped thousands of patients start their families, manage chronic illness, lose weight, gain hormonal balance and overcome a range of unresolved health issues. The combination of Elizabeth’s education in science, nutrition, herbal and reproductive medicine along with her close work with a number of Sydney’s top Fertility Specialists has provided her with a unique perspective on hormonal and reproductive health.

Most of us know that too much sugar is generally not great for us. We shouldn't be eating too many cakes and lollies because it contributes to weight gain and inflammation. In this webinar, we look beyond the diet. Beyond the calories and find out what sugar is actually doing to our cells at a biological level and how that impacts our ability to conceive and carry a healthy baby. I speak with Associate Professor M. Louise Hull about her research into the impact of a high sugar diet on fertility and pregnancy outcomes. Associate Professor M. Louise Hull is a gynaecologist and reproductive medicine physician with a biomedical science background. She leads the Endometriosis Research Group at the Robinson Research Institute and the Implantation Special Interest Group for the Asia Pacific initiative for Reproductive Medicine (ASPIRE). Dr Hull works at Women’s and Children’s Hospital and in private practice at O and G in North Adelaide. Dr Hull’s practice focuses on improving fertility and early pregna

In this podcast I speak with one of Australia’s most highly respected fertility specialists, Professor Michael Chapman Dr Chapman is the co-founder of IVF Australia. He is a busy clinician who has personally been involved in fertility care resulting in over 3000 pregnancies. His academic position enables him to be at the forefront of new advances in treatment which he applies in his practice at the earliest opportunity. He has a high public profile due to his tireless efforts to ensure access to Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) for all Australians, as a vocal patient advocate and senior medical academic training practitioners of the future. Dr Chapman draws on his years of experience and research to give you the facts about IVF. How does it really work? What is involved? How long does it take? What can I expect? What about needles and hormones? What medical advances should I know about? What are my options? All these questions and more are answered in this informative podcast.

In this informative episode I speak with Professor Sarah Robertson, Director of the University of Adelaide’s Robinson Research Institute and Head of the Reproductive Immunology research group about her fascinating research into fertility and the immune system. We discuss the role of the immune system in successful reproductive outcomes as well as the contentious issue of natural killer cells and why current popular treatment may do more harm than good! You will also learn way’s you can support healthy immune function to improve your chances of a healthy pregnancy . Professor Robertson is known internationally for innovative research in reproductive immunology that has formed the basis for a new understanding of the origins of health at conception. She has identified specific cytokines and immune cells that regulate embryo implantation and fetal development, and has demonstrated that male seminal fluid acts to induce adaptations in the female immune response that promote receptivity to pregnancy. Her work

What an amazing discussion. It was such a pleasure to speak with Jessica Hepburn, one of the leading patient voices on fertility, infertility and assisted conception. Jessica has also just been named Woman of the Week in Stylist Magazines Visible Woman Series. A year long celebration of women who are making a difference to society. Jessica joined us live from London and shared her very personal journey through infertility, miscarriage and IVF to becoming an author and founder of the worlds first arts festival dedicated to fertility, infertility, modern families and the science of making babies, Fertility Fest. Fertility Fest is a week-long programme of events, entertainment, discussion, debate, support and solidarity from Tuesday 8th May to Sunday 13th of May at London's Bush Theatre. We also got a hint that Fertility Fest may be coming to Australia! Here's hoping! I hope you enjoy this inspiring discussion.

In this episode of the Conceive Baby Podcast I discuss one of the most common conditions affecting women’s reproductive health. Endometriosis. Endometriosis is a complex condition and medical treatments are limited. This is where natural medicine comes in. There are many factors involved in endometriosis, which can be successfully treated and overcome to reduce symptoms and improve fertility and pregnancy outcomes. In this episode I discuss these factors, diagnostic tests and natural treatment strategies with renowned Naturopath Leah Hechtman. Leah is an experienced and respected clinician and has been in practice for over 20 years. She specialises in fertility, pregnancy and reproductive healthcare for men and women. Her primary passion is her clinical practice where she is inspired and humbled by her patients. Leah has completed extensive advanced training and is currently completing her PhD through the School of Women’s and Children’s Health (Faculty of Medicine). She is a keynote speaker at major

In this Conceive Baby discussion we talk about quite a controversial topic in the fertility field. A topic that’s received significant media attention, which has raising many questions and concerns from those going through or considering IVF treatment. Embryo freezing. Specifically what your options and rights are if you have ‘spare’ embryos. There have been many concerning reports of embryos being 'stolen' and families torn apart. Here we get the facts you need to know. I two experts in the field, Louise Johnson and Karin Hammarberg. Louise is the CEO for the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority (VARTA), a position which she has held for past ten years. Louise oversees VARTA’s administration of aspects of the Assisted Reproductive Treatment Act 2008 as well as its public education about assisted reproductive treatment, the health and welfare of children born as a result of treatment, and the causes and prevention of infertility. From 1st March 2017, VARTA took over management of