The Total Fertility Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Overview

Dr Campbell Murdoch is a GP with a special interest in metabolic health. He is the Medical Director of the Preventative Healthcare Group, an organisation focused on preventing and reversing modern diseases. He is also a clinical director for primary care in the NHS and works with Combe Grove in Bath providing metabolic health retreats.

 

Campbell's focus is on delivering services that enable people to measure and understand their metabolic health, allowing them to make informed choices to achieve rapid health improvement. Benefits include reversal of conditions of such as Type 2 diabetes. Achieving sustainable weight loss, can help with improvements in conditions such as PCOS and fertility.

Show notes + Links

X.com. @CampbellMurdoch

www.metabolichealth.guide (a free Metabolic Health Guide)

www.healthtolife.org (the free Metabolic Health 28 Day Programme, including the 28 Day Rapid Results Plan)

www.combegrove.com

Overview

Mr Oli O’Donovan is consultant gynaecologist experienced managing all benign (non-cancerous) gynaecological conditions, with specialist expertise in laparoscopic and hysteroscopic surgery, gynaecological ultrasound, endometriosis and pelvic pain, fertility, fibroids and heavy periods.

Oli holds an NHS consultant post at University Hospitals Bristol, where he leads the St Michael's Endometriosis Centre (accredited by the British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy). He is also a consultant fertility specialist at The Bristol Centre for Reproductive Medicine (BCRM, http://www.fertilitybristol.com). His private practice is conducted at The Spire Hospital in Bristol (www.oliverodonovan.com).

After qualifying from Imperial College School of Medicine he completed most of his junior training in obstetrics and gynaecology in the South West of England, before moving to the London and Oxford areas for specialist training in fertility and advanced laparoscopy and hysteroscopy.

He is particularly expert in the diagnosis (including ultrasound) and management of endometriosis and subfertility, although has a broad experience of all benign (non-cancerous) gynaecological problems.

He has published and presented (nationally and internationally) on many topics related to fertility, endometriosis and minimal access surgery, and is regularly invited to teach on courses. He is keenly involved in research and teaching (both at undergraduate and postgraduate level), and is active within the British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy (BSGE); currently working on the endometriosis centres and information and guidelines committees.

Oli prides himself on collaborating to the highest level with both patients and colleagues to provide outstanding quality patient-centred care.

Show notes + Links

March is Endometriosis Awareness Month - https://www.endometriosis-uk.org/action-month

You can find out more using the link below:

https://www.endometriosis-uk.org/

Overview

Thousands of people every year embark on IVF treatment. It can be a challenge, as there is a lot of new terminology to get to grips with in a short space of time. In this episode we look at all the different stages of IVF, and make it easy to understand how general IVF treatment works.

To understand more about the IVF process listen to Ally Richardson, who is our guest and a Consultant Gynaecologist and Subspecialist in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery in the East Midlands.  She has nearly 10 years' experience in the field of fertility including time spent completing research for her PhD.  Ally is therefore well published and has given numerous presentations at both national and international conferences.  Her recent research efforts have focussed on the use of androgen priming in women with reduced ovarian reserve, whether a woman's chronological age or 'ovarian age' is more important in determining perinatal outcome after IVF and the effect of deprivation on IVF outcome.  Clinically, she has a particular interest in ovarian reserve, premature ovarian insufficiency and fertility preservation.  Ally also has an interest in medical education and sits on related committees at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the British Fertility Society.

Show notes + Links

@DrAllyR

The first discussions about fertility usually take place with a GP. General Practice is there to advise and guide you with your fertility. Many people will never need to see a fertility specialist as there are many preventative early measures that can often help you to get pregnant.

Dr Louise Price qualified from Bristol University in 2003. She completed 4 years as an Obstetrics and Gynaecology specialist trainee before changing career path to become a GP.

She has maintained her interest and passion for women’s health and became accredited as ‘GP with Special Interest’ in gynaecology in 2013. She went on to set up a successful community gynaecology clinic in west London where she worked for several years.

She is now based in Bath as a GP but also works as a specialty doctor in gynaecology. Louise talks openly about when patients with fertility concerns should approach their GP for advice and when to get checked if they are struggling to conceive.

Show notes + Links

NICE guidance https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg156/chapter/Recommendations#initial-advice-to-people-concerned-about-delays-in-conception

https://stermemedical.uk/

https://stchadsandchilcompton.org/team/doctors/

Overview

Claire’s life turned upside down on 6th May 2007 when she became paralysed from the chest down in a horse riding accident. Claire fractured her neck, dislocated her back, fractured ribs, punctured a lung and got pneumonia. Luckily the neck fracture didn't damage the spinal cord but the dislocation to the vertebra T4 left her paralysed from the chest down. Claire was a Chiropractor and top level event rider when this freak accident left her unable to do the things she loved.

Although Claire was determined from the start to make the best out of the situation there were plenty of days Claire struggled to even get the motivation to get out of bed. She discharged herself from hospital after only 8 weeks, did a lot of rehab (and still does) and over time she found strength and courage to rebuild her life by finding new interests and work as well as raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for research.

Claire had her own fertility concerns and was unsure if she would ever be able to have a family. Just a year after her accident Claire met and later married Dan, and they had a baby girl - Maisie. Claire had pregnancy difficulties but went on to have Chloe after a challenging pregnancy. S

In 2012 Claire became headline news worldwide. She was the first (and only) paralysed person to walk the London Marathon, she did it in a pioneering robotic suit. It took 17 days and raised £210,000 for Spinal Research. 

Claire was invited to light the Paralympic cauldron in Trafalgar Square at the London 2012 Paralympic Games

Show notes + Links

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claire_Lomas

@claire80lomas

https://www.claireschallenge.co.uk/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95ICORJbevE

Nikki joined the Oxford Fertility team in 1995 as a fertility nurse and has worked at Oxford fertility for all of her career. Nikki has over 25 years’ experience caring for people with fertility difficulties and has led the nursing team in Oxford since 2015. Nikki always realised she wanted to have children herself but knew she may face fertility challenges as her husband Russ had previously had a vasectomy. They knew they would probably need to embark on IVF treatment to fulfil their dream of having a family. Nikki and Russ started their 1st cycle in 2000, and went on to have 3 cycles before welcoming twin girls in 2002. The Fertility Journey is not always smooth but Nikki gives us a unique perspective both as a patient and a fertility nurse. Shownotes + Links https://www.totalfertility.co.uk/en/oxford-fertility/

Dr Ken Hodson is a Consultant Obstetrician and Maternal Medicine specialist at The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Ken is the Head of the UK Teratology Information Service and has been working very closely with public bodies to ensure that the Covid-19 vaccination schedule for fertility and pregnant patients is carefully considered. In this episode we look at the current evidence behind the Covid-19 vaccination schedule for those trying to conceive or undertaking fertility treatments. We also look at the effects of Covid-19 on pregnancy and whether or not you should have a Covid-19 vaccination if you are pregnant. Shownotes + Links The Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists  www.rcog.org.uk https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/coronavirus-covid-19-pregnancy-and-womens-health/covid-19-vaccines-and-pregnancy/covid-19-vaccines-pregnancy-and-breastfeeding/#:~:text=Key%20messages,age%20and%20clinical%20risk%20group. BUMPS – Best Use of Medicines In Pregnancy https://www.medicinesinpregnancy.org/ The UK Teratology Information Service http://www.uktis.org/

Jheni Osman is a science journalist and presenter. She has written and spoken about fertility for Science Focus and BBC Radio 4's Costing the Earth. Jheni has two daughters born via IVF. In this episode we speak to Jheni Osman who has experienced first hand the challenges of trying to conceive and the ups and downs of assisted conception. Jheni is a science journalist who is not only passionate about the subject but also helping to make it easier for those going through fertility difficulties to get a head start by understanding what it all means. We are going to delve into the mind of Jheni who lived and breathed fertility for many years but came through it and was successful. Jheni has written the brilliant book “Conceivable”, which we will be discussing on the podcast as it really does help to debunk many of the myths and explain the science. Shownotes/Links Jheni’s latest book is Conceivable: an Insider's Guide to IVF www.amazon.co.uk/Conceivable-Everything-need-know-about/dp/1472968220 jheniosman.co.uk @jheniosman

Our aim is to make your fertility journey a bit easier. For anyone who has been going through fertility struggles or perhaps is facing difficulties getting pregnant, then this podcast is here to help you.

Over the coming weeks we’ll be looking at how to get a head start with your fertility. We’ll be chatting with experts in their fields and tackling many of the difficult issues surrounding fertility treatment today.

Overview

In this episode we look at the big picture view of what is really required to optimise women’s health for all.

Professor Dame Lesley Regan is a Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at Imperial College London and Consultant at St Mary’s Hospital in London. She is also Honorary Secretary of FIGO, a member of the NHS Assembly and Chair of the Charity Wellbeing of Women.

She was the 30th President of Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) (2016-2019) and only the second woman to be elected to this position and the first in 64 years. During her tenure as PRCOG she co-chaired the National Women’s Health Task Force with Jackie Doyle-Price MP (then Health Minister) and authored “Better for Women”, a hard hitting RCOG report which promotes a life-course approach to the delivery of women’s health services.

Having graduated from the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London in 1980, Professor Regan pursued her training at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, where she first became enthused by clinical and laboratory research, completing her MD on miscarriage.  She went on to set up the world’s largest recurrent miscarriage clinic at St Mary’s Hospital in London.

In 2015 she received a Doctorate of Science from University College London for her contribution to women's health.  In 2020 she was awarded a DBE for her services to women’s health in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.

Show notes + Links

https://www.wellbeingofwomen.org.uk/

https://www.instituteofhealthequity.org/resources-reports/fair-society-healthy-lives-the-marmot-review

https://www.rcog.org.uk/