Knocked Up: All About Fertility and Women's Health

We speak with Dr Lironne Wein about the BRCA gene and its implications for breast and ovarian cancer risk. 

Topics covered: 

• BRCA Gene Basics
• Cancer Risk Statistics
• Screening and Prevention
• Genetic Testing
• Fertility Considerations
• Menopause After Surgery

Find us on Instagram - @knockeduppodcast

Join our community! Follow Women's Health Melbourne on Facebook and Instagram (@womenshealthmelbourne), and follow Dr Raelia Lew on Instagram (@drraelialew).

Have a question about women's health? Is there a specific topic you'd like us to cover? Email [email protected]. We keep all requests anonymous.

Women's Health Melbourne is a holistic care precinct, for more information about the work we do click here.

This episode is brought to you by Ellechemy - Lubricants and intimate care to meet your needs created by women's health authority and Gynaecologist Dr Raelia Lew

Discount Code for 10% off and free shipping: KNOCKEDUP
Website: ellechemy.com.au/
Instagram: @ellechemy.com.au

Hosts: Dr Raelia Lew and Jordi Morrison

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With elective egg freezing being so new, how we interpret the data in the context of today's population doesn't quite give the accurate story. Dr Raelia Lew explains. 

We recommend listening to the 'Beyond Expectations' podcast episode "Kate Lancaster on What They Don't Tell You About Egg Freezing" 

Find us on Instagram - @knockeduppodcast

Join our community! Follow Women's Health Melbourne on Facebook and Instagram (@womenshealthmelbourne), and follow Dr Raelia Lew on Instagram (@drraelialew).

Have a question about women's health? Is there a specific topic you'd like us to cover? Email [email protected]. We keep all requests anonymous.

Women's Health Melbourne is a holistic care precinct, for more information about the work we do click here.

This episode is brought to you by Ellechemy - Lubricants and intimate care to meet your needs created by women's health authority and Gynaecologist Dr Raelia Lew

Discount Code for 10% off and free shipping: KNOCKEDUP
Website: ellechemy.com.au/
Instagram: @ellechemy.com.au

Hosts: Dr Raelia Lew and Jordi Morrison

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we are joined by guest experts Dr. Vanessa Ross and Dr. Samantha Mooney to discuss the new research they are conducting on endometriosis and fertility.

With endometriosis affecting about 1 in 7 women generally, and more like 1 in 3 infertile women. We discuss the dilemma of whether to recommend surgery or IVF for patients with moderate to severe endometriosis who are trying to conceive. 

We also learn more about their new Endometriosis Longitudinal Fertility Study (ELFs), which aims to gather data on fertility outcomes for women with endometriosis to provide better clinical guidance. Dr Vanessa and Dr Samantha explain the project's goals methodology and described what participation looks like for women who want to contribute to our understanding of endometriosis.

To learn more and apply to participate in the project check it out here. 

Find us on Instagram - @knockeduppodcast

Join our community! Follow Women's Health Melbourne on Facebook and Instagram (@womenshealthmelbourne), and follow Dr Raelia Lew on Instagram (@drraelialew).

Have a question about women's health? Is there a specific topic you'd like us to cover? Email [email protected]. We keep all requests anonymous.

Women's Health Melbourne is a holistic care precinct, for more information about the work we do click here.

This episode is brought to you by Ellechemy - Lubricants and intimate care to meet your needs created by women's health authority and Gynaecologist Dr Raelia Lew

Discount Code for 10% off and free shipping: KNOCKEDUP
Website: ellechemy.com.au/
Instagram: @ellechemy.com.au

Hosts: Dr Raelia Lew and Jordi Morrison
Guests: Dr Vanessa Ross and Dr Samantha Mooney

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Australia's Medicare has broadened the definition of infertility, aligning with recommendations from the Gorton Review and the 2018 MBS review. So, we ask Dr Raelia Lew, what does this mean for us?

We quickly mention a few organisations by their abbreviations:
ANZREI - Australia and New Zealand Society of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility 
Fertility and Sterility - Fertility and Sterility is a monthly peer-reviewed medical journal published by Elsevier on behalf of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
FSANZ - Fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand
RANZCOG - The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Find us on Instagram - @knockeduppodcast

Join our community! Follow Women's Health Melbourne on Facebook and Instagram (@womenshealthmelbourne), and follow Dr Raelia Lew on Instagram (@drraelialew).

Have a question about women's health? Is there a specific topic you'd like us to cover? Email [email protected]. We keep all requests anonymous.

Women's Health Melbourne is a holistic care precinct, for more information about the work we do click here.

This episode is brought to you by Ellechemy - Lubricants and intimate care to meet your needs created by women's health authority and Gynaecologist Dr Raelia Lew

Discount Code for 10% off and free shipping: KNOCKEDUP
Website: ellechemy.com.au/
Instagram: @ellechemy.com.au

Hosts: Dr Raelia Lew and Jordi Morrison

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we are joined by Dr. Lima Wetherall, an AGES Specialist Gynaecologist and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgeon. Dr. Wetherall brings her expertise to a comprehensive discussion about endometriosis, exploring critical topics including surgical treatments, diagnostic challenges, and the latest innovations in women's reproductive health.

We discuss the complexities of endometriosis, addressing everything from surgical techniques and patient expectations to fertility preservation and multidisciplinary care. 

Find us on Instagram - @knockeduppodcast

Join our community! Follow Women's Health Melbourne on Facebook and Instagram (@womenshealthmelbourne), and follow Dr Raelia Lew on Instagram (@drraelialew).

Have a question about women's health? Is there a specific topic you'd like us to cover? Email [email protected]. We keep all requests anonymous.

Women's Health Melbourne is a holistic care precinct, for more information about the work we do click here.

This episode is brought to you by Ellechemy - Lubricants and intimate care to meet your needs created by women's health authority and Gynaecologist Dr Raelia Lew

Discount Code for 10% off and free shipping: KNOCKEDUP
Website: ellechemy.com.au/
Instagram: @ellechemy.com.au

Hosts: Dr Raelia Lew and Jordi Morrison
Guest: Dr Lima Wetherall

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pregnancy after fertility treatments can differ from spontaneous conception. Patients typically discover pregnancy earlier through blood tests, receive more intensive monitoring in the first trimester, and face slightly elevated risks for complications like multiple pregnancies, preterm birth, and placenta previa before transitioning to regular obstetric care around 8-12 weeks. The psychological journey presents unique challenges as patients navigate anxiety, fear of loss, and identity shifts after prolonged fertility struggles. 

Find us on Instagram - @knockeduppodcast

Join our community! Follow Women's Health Melbourne on Facebook and Instagram (@womenshealthmelbourne), and follow Dr Raelia Lew on Instagram (@drraelialew).

Have a question about women's health? Is there a specific topic you'd like us to cover? Email [email protected]. We keep all requests anonymous.

Women's Health Melbourne is a holistic care precinct, for more information about the work we do click here.

This episode is brought to you by Ellechemy - Lubricants and intimate care to meet your needs created by women's health authority and Gynaecologist Dr Raelia Lew

Discount Code for 10% off and free shipping: KNOCKEDUP
Website: ellechemy.com.au/
Instagram: @ellechemy.com.au

Hosts: Dr Raelia Lew and Jordi Morrison

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We speak to Dr Daniel Lantsberg, featured in the channel 9 show "Big Miracles" with his patient, Anna.

Dr. Daniel Lantsberg is a Fertility Specialist at Melbourne IVF. After graduating with honors from Israel's Ben Gurion University in 2008, he completed extensive training at world-class Israeli hospitals before relocating to Australia for an additional three-year subspecialty fellowship at the Royal Women's Hospital and Melbourne IVF. With special interests in elective egg freezing, age-related and unexplained infertility, male infertility, PCOS, endometriosis, and fibroids, Dr. Lantsberg maintains private practice in East Melbourne while holding public appointments at the Royal Women's Hospital where he trains junior doctors. 

Anna is a 39-year-old woman  pursuing life as a Single Mother by Choice (SMBC). Her journey highlights the unique medical and emotional considerations involved, from selecting fertility treatments appropriate for solo parents to navigating Victoria's specific regulations regarding donor sperm access, which differ from other Australian states. The show documents how Daniel guides patients like Anna through critical decisions about known versus clinic recruited donors while addressing common concerns about single parenthood.

Find us on Instagram - @knockeduppodcast

Join our community! Follow Women's Health Melbourne on Facebook and Instagram (@womenshealthmelbourne), and follow Dr Raelia Lew on Instagram (@drraelialew).

Have a question about women's health? Is there a specific topic you'd like us to cover? Email [email protected]. We keep all requests anonymous.

Women's Health Melbourne is a holistic care precinct, for more information about the work we do click here.

This episode is brought to you by Ellechemy - Lubricants and intimate care to meet your needs created by women's health authority and Gynaecologist Dr Raelia Lew

Discount Code for 10% off and free shipping: KNOCKEDUP
Website: ellechemy.com.au/
Instagram: @ellechemy.com.au

Hosts: Dr Raelia Lew and Jordi Morrison
Guest: Dr Daniel Lantsberg, Fertility Specialist

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Big Miracles back on TV for 2025, we speak with one of the Doctors featured in the series, Dr Kokum Jayasinghe.

Dr Kokum combines extensive medical expertise in fertility and IVF with deep personal understanding from her own fertility journey, and alongside her clinical practice, she is dedicated to training the next generation of reproductive medicine specialists.

Big Miracles offers an unprecedented look into fertility treatment journeys, and we discover how patients were selected, how their privacy was managed, and how the filming process affected their experience compared to typical fertility treatments.

We discuss unexplained infertility - from its diagnosis and prevalence to its emotional impact - and learn about how medical understanding has evolved, when couples should seek help, and what misconceptions exist about this condition.

Find us on Instagram - @knockeduppodcast

Join our community! Follow Women's Health Melbourne on Facebook and Instagram (@womenshealthmelbourne), and follow Dr Raelia Lew on Instagram (@drraelialew).

Have a question about women's health? Is there a specific topic you'd like us to cover? Email [email protected]. We keep all requests anonymous.

Women's Health Melbourne is a holistic care precinct, for more information about the work we do click here.

This episode is brought to you by Ellechemy - Lubricants and intimate care to meet your needs created by women's health authority and Gynaecologist Dr Raelia Lew

Discount Code for 10% off and free shipping: KNOCKEDUP
Website: ellechemy.com.au/
Instagram: @ellechemy.com.au

Hosts: Dr Raelia Lew and Jordi Morrison
Guest: Dr Kokum Jayasinghe, Fertility Specialist

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the start of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month we learn more about this 'silent killer' with Dr Tzippi Ben-Harim, Specialist Gynaecologist from the WHM team.  

• What is ovarian cancer – where does it grow, how does it develop? 

• Why do we often hear ovarian cancer described as a 'silent killer'? 

• What makes ovarian cancer particularly challenging compared to other cancers? 

• Are there any key risk factors that we should be aware of? 

• I’ve heard there’s a myth that the contraceptive pill increases ovarian cancer risk, is there any truth to this? Where does this myth come from?   

• If a woman has a family history of ovarian cancer, what steps should she take to protect their health? Is there a role for genetic testing? If yes, could these results impact treatment decisions? 

• Are there any early symptoms that women often dismiss? 

• Why don't we have a reliable screening test like the smear for cervical cancer? 

• From a fertility perspective, what does an ovarian cancer diagnosis mean?  

• What are the fertility options once you have received a diagnosis of ovarian cancer?  

• Walk us through what happens after a woman receives an ovarian cancer diagnosis.  

• Has treatment evolved in recent years? 

• What support systems should women have in place during treatment? 

• What promising developments in ovarian cancer research excite you most? 

Find us on Instagram - @knockeduppodcast

Join our community! Follow Women's Health Melbourne on Facebook and Instagram (@womenshealthmelbourne), and follow Dr Raelia Lew on Instagram (@drraelialew).

Have a question about women's health? Is there a specific topic you'd like us to cover? Email [email protected]. We keep all requests anonymous.

Women's Health Melbourne is a holistic care precinct, for more information about the work we do click here.

This episode is brought to you by Ellechemy - Lubricants and intimate care to meet your needs created by women's health authority and Gynaecologist Dr Raelia Lew

Discount Code for 10% off and free shipping: KNOCKEDUP
Website: ellechemy.com.au/
Instagram: @ellechemy.com.au

Host: Jordi Morrison
Guest: Dr Tzippi Ben-Harim
Produced by Jordi Morrison

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Raelia Lew talks us through the testing that we may undergo before starting fertility treatment. 

Find us on Instagram - @knockeduppodcast

Join our community! Follow Women's Health Melbourne on Facebook and Instagram (@womenshealthmelbourne), and follow Dr Raelia Lew on Instagram (@drraelialew).

Have a question about women's health? Is there a specific topic you'd like us to cover? Email [email protected]. We keep all requests anonymous.

Women's Health Melbourne is a holistic care precinct, for more information about the work we do click here.

This episode is brought to you by Ellechemy - Lubricants and intimate care to meet your needs created by women's health authority and Gynaecologist Dr Raelia Lew

Discount Code for 10% off and free shipping: KNOCKEDUP
Website: ellechemy.com.au/
Instagram: @ellechemy.com.au

Hosts: Dr Raelia Lew and Jordi Morrison
Produced by Jordi Morrison

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.