Fertility Education: Why Knowledge Is Power When Trying for a Baby
If you're trying for a baby, how do you know what fertility advice you can actually trust?
We have access to more fertility information than ever before, from Google and social media to podcasts, fertility clinics, online communities and AI. But with so much information comes another problem: how do you separate good fertility education from opinions, marketing and misinformation?
In this episode, I'm joined by Hannah Pearn, fertility educator, fertility acupuncturist, award-winning podcaster and founder of Don't Tell Me To RELAX.
Hannah and I both believe that understanding your own fertility can help you ask better questions, advocate for yourself and make more informed decisions about what happens next, rather than simply following generic fertility advice or feeling you have to accept the first option you're given.
And that's exactly what we get into in this conversation.
We talk about why so many of us reach adulthood knowing how not to get pregnant, but knowing surprisingly little about how fertility and conception actually work. Hannah shares why people still come to her in their 30s asking, "Why has nobody ever told me this before?" and why she believes fertility education needs to start much earlier.
We also explore what you might want to know about your fertility before you start trying for a baby, including understanding your menstrual cycle, recognising potential fertility red flags, looking at male fertility too, and knowing when it may be worth asking questions or investigating further.
And if you're already struggling to conceive, we talk about how to navigate conflicting fertility advice, why different fertility specialists and clinics may give you different opinions, and why becoming informed doesn't mean you have to become a fertility expert yourself.
Because having more information isn't about frightening yourself or disappearing down another Google rabbit hole. It's about having enough knowledge to understand your options and make decisions that feel right for you.
In this episode, we talk about:
- Why fertility education matters before and during trying for a baby
- What we should have been taught about fertility and conception at school
- Understanding your menstrual cycle and potential fertility red flags
- Why male fertility needs to be investigated too
- Fertility testing and when it may be worth asking for further investigation
- How to tell trustworthy fertility information from marketing, opinion and misinformation
- Why getting information from more than one reputable source can be helpful
- How fertility information overload can actually leave you feeling more stuck
- Asking questions and advocating for yourself during fertility investigations and treatment
- Why different fertility specialists or clinics can recommend different things
- Unexplained infertility and whether there may be more to investigate
- Why IVF is incredible, but isn't necessarily the automatic next step for everybody
- Looking at the whole fertility picture rather than individual test results in isolation
- How better fertility education can help you make informed decisions about your next steps
This episode is particularly relevant if you've been told your fertility tests are "normal" but you're still not getting pregnant, you've been diagnosed with unexplained infertility, you're wondering whether IVF really should be your next step, or you're simply overwhelmed by conflicting fertility advice and don't know who or what to trust.
About Hannah Pearn
Hannah Pearn is the Founder and Clinical Director of Don't Tell Me To RELAX Fertility Acupuncture, leading one of the largest and most qualified specialist fertility acupuncture teams in London and across the UK.
By combining Chinese and Western medicine with holistic therapies, Hannah and her team provide comprehensive fertility investigations and care designed to optimise health and improve fertility outcomes.
With more than 15 years of experience, Hannah holds a degree in Acupuncture and the Advanced Fertility Diploma and is trained in both counselling and fertility awareness.
She is also Chair of the Acupuncture Fertility Network, the largest professional network for fertility acupuncturists. Hannah teaches fertility acupuncture within her field and regularly contributes as a speaker and partner to fertility organisations.
Hannah is passionate about making fertility education and support more accessible. She hosts the award-winning Don't Tell Me To RELAX Fertility Podcast, voted a top fertility podcast by Stylist and winner of Best Fertility Podcast at the European Fertility Society Care Awards.
She also leads the Don't Tell Me To RELAX fertility support community, helping people access trustworthy information, better understand their fertility and feel supported throughout their journey.
Hannah and her team have clinics in London and Birmingham, alongside a UK-wide practitioner network.
Find Hannah
Don't Tell Me To RELAX Fertility Acupuncture: https://donttellmetorelax.co.uk/
Book a free discovery call: https://donttellmetorelax.co.uk/book-a-call/
Don't Tell Me To RELAX Fertility Podcast: https://donttellmetorelax.co.uk/fertility-podcast/
Fertility support community: https://mailchi.mp/hannahpearn/facebook-group
Instagram: instagram.com/donttellmetorelax
Feeling stuck in your own fertility journey?
If you're struggling to have a baby, have been told you have unexplained infertility, your bmi is too high or you aren't sure whether you've had the right fertility testing, or simply don't know what your next step should be, I can help you look at the bigger picture - at home or abroad.
As an independent fertility strategist, I help you look at what's happened so far, identify where there may be gaps, understand your options and work out what could move you forwards, whether you ultimately decide to have fertility testing or treatment at home or abroad.
Find out more / book a complimentary call: https://calendars.yourivfabroad.co.uk/free-15-min
Want to learn more about going abroad for fertility treatment? Watch this free masterclass: yourivfabroad.co.uk/freemasterclass
FREE 15 minute video call - ready to take the next step and want to discuss the services Emma offers at home or abroad?: calendly.com/yourivfabroad/15min
Your IVF abroad planner/journal - Keep everything organised and in one place and document your journey and feelings along the way. Find out more/buy one here:yourivfabroad.co.uk/shop
