Fertility Untamed

Being diagnosed with adenomyosis can be confronting, especially when you're already navigating fertility challenges. But what does an adenomyosis diagnosis actually mean for your chances of getting pregnant?

In this episode of Fertility Untamed, Dr Rebecca Mackenzie Proctor, Dr Sylvia Ross and Dr Devini Ameratunga discuss adenomyosis, sometimes described as the “evil sister” of endometriosis, and what we currently know about its relationship with fertility.

Episode Topics include:

• What adenomyosis is and how it's diagnosed
• Symptoms of adenomyosis
• The connection between adenomyosis and endometriosis
• Whether adenomyosis can affect natural fertility
• What adenomyosis means for IVF and embryo implantation
• Current treatment options and why the evidence is still evolving
• Whether treatments such as hormonal suppression can improve fertility outcomes
• When surgery may or may not be considered
• Why the severity of adenomyosis matters
• The most important thing to remember after receiving a diagnosis

Most importantly, an adenomyosis diagnosis does not mean you can't get pregnant. The doctors discuss why the condition needs to be considered as part of the bigger fertility picture, rather than something to automatically catastrophise

Fertility Untamed is hosted by three reproductive endocrinologists discussing fertility, reproductive health and the questions that come up when you're trying to build a family.

#Adenomyosis #Fertility #Infertility #IVF #Endometriosis #FertilityUntamed

You've probably heard of gut microbiome, but did you know that your vagina has its own microbiome, and that it contains almost 10% of your body's total bacteria? I this ep, we're talking about how an imbalance of that bacteria can negatively impact your fertility, how we might test for that, and what steps you might take to restore balance. Naturally, we'll be talking probiotics, and ending with Rebecca's entertaining detour into, drumroll...vaginal microbiome transfers. Who wants to go first?

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Ever wondered if oxygen therapy could boost fertility? Have you been told to take coenzyme Q10 while trying to conceive, or maybe melatonin? In this episode, we serve up the research on antioxidants in the fertility space, and whether they're either worth trying, a waste of money, or, in some cases, possibly doing you harm. Rebecca even puts her body on the line to test one of these antioxidants…with unexpected results. (The things we'll do for our podcast listeners!).

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The days of women being solely blamed for infertility are (thankfully!) behind us. A third of cases of infertility in a couple are now attributed solely to the male, and when taken in combination with a partner's issues, that number rises up to around 50%. In this ep, we discuss fertility investigations, common male fertility problems, and what can be done to improve male fertility. We'll also touch on the growing research around male age.

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Unexplained infertility is a hard road to travel. And is it really unexplained, or have we just not found the cause yet? In this episode, we discuss how we might diagnose this complex condition better, when laparoscopy and tubal testing can be helpful, and whether IVF over IUI for these patients is likely to deliver a significantly better result. Also, is DNA fragmentation testing really worth it?

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Will losing weight before fertility treatment actually increase your chance of having a baby? The answer is more complicated than you might imagine. In this episode, we talk about whether BMI matters, if weight cutoffs at clinics are fair, and the effects that either being underweight or obese can have on fertility and pregnancy. We’ll also dig into practical steps for losing weight, including the fast-moving data around injectables. 

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We have a treat in store for you this episode, with our first special guest. Suellen Peak is an accredited mental health, social work and integrative practitioner with over 15 years experience supporting people through the emotional rollercoaster of fertility treatment. Mental health is incredibly important to us — not just as doctors, but as women who have had our own struggles around fertility and pregnancy. In this episode, we share our own experiences, as well as expert strategies and advice for coping during your fertility journey.

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You wouldn't run a marathon without training. So why do we go into trying to grow an entire human being without preparing a little first? In this episode we discuss all the steps you and your partner can take before pregnancy to get in optimum health for the journey ahead. From preconception tests to supplements to how to keep your relationship and stress levels from suffering during infertility, we're helping you get prepped for parenthood.

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As fertility specialists, we’d love to say we can ‘end’ endo. The truth is, we can only help you manage it— and this episode is all about how. We’ll start by talking about what endo and adenomyosis are, and the somewhat murky waters of diagnosis. We'll talk about the ways we can help you get pregnant, from surgery to medication to going straight to IVF. Just like our last 2 episodes, we’ll be framing this one in the context of our own journeys with infertility, with Dr Dev sharing her experiences with endometriosis, and her ultimate pregnancy success.

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What is hypothalamic hypogonadism? What causes women to lose their periods or have really long cycles? And how can we get your brain to kickstart communication with your ovaries again so you can get pregnant?  In this ep, we also share Rebecca’s personal story of hypo-hypo, and how tackling her high-exercise, high-stress lifestyle was a big part of her journey to pregnancy success.

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