Guest: Dr. Alice Domar Ph.D.

In this conversation, Anita Guru speaks with Dr. Alice Domar who discusses the profound effects of stress on reproduction, drawing parallels between levels of stress and fertility outcomes. She explains how stress can inhibit reproductive capabilities and emphasizes the body's instinctual responses to environmental threats, suggesting that stress relief education and tools is crucial for fertility.

Alice D. Domar, Ph.D., is a pioneer in the field of mind/body medicine. She conducts ongoing ground-breaking research which focuses on the relationship between stress and various medical conditions, including infertility and the impact of lifestyle habits on mental and physical health, with a focus on the impact of cognitive behavioural interventions as well as access to care and patient retention.

She is currently the Chief Compassion Officer at Inception Fertility, the largest provider of fertility services in North America, where she leads the Inception Research Institute, furthering the organization’s commitment to advancing groundbreaking research to better understand and treat infertility. She is also an associate professor in obstetrics, gynaecology, and reproductive biology, part-time, at Harvard Medical School, and a senior staff psychologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre.

Links:

Website - https://dralicedomar.com/

Published works - https://dralicedomar.com/published-works/

If you are struggling and need support, please contact the charity at https://fertilitynetworkuk.org/ or organisations that can support your mental health are below.

Contact Samaritans on 116 123

Contact NHS on 111

Fertility Network UK:

Website: https://fertilitynetworkuk.org/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/fertilitynetworkuk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FertilityNetworkUK

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/fertility-network-uk

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fertililitynetworkuk

X (Formely Twitter): https://x.com/FertilityNUK

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@FertilityNetworkUK

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast.

Guest: Clare Ettinghausen, Director of Strategy and Corporate Affairs at the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA).

In this conversation, host Anita Guru speaks with Clare Ettinghausen from the HFEA about the critical role of the HFEA in regulating fertility treatment in the UK. The HFEA plays a vital role in ensuring fertility clinics meet the highest standards of care and transparency, helping patients make informed decisions on their fertility journey. Clare shares the latest updates, insights, and guidance available to patients’ navigating treatment in the UK.

They discuss the complexities of IVF, the importance of patient safety, the controversial add-ons offered by clinics, and the wealth of data available to patients. Clare emphasizes the need for patients to advocate for themselves, the importance of understanding success rates and costs, and the disparities in treatment experiences among different ethnic groups.

This conversation offers practical advice and trusted insights for anyone navigating their fertility journey.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to HFEA and Its Role

03:08 Understanding Fertility Regulation and Patient Safety

05:50 The Controversy of Add-Ons in IVF Treatment

08:59 Utilizing Data for Informed Decisions

11:54 Preparing for Fertility Treatment

14:53 Addressing Misinformation in Fertility Treatment

17:55 Choosing the Right Fertility Clinic

20:55 Understanding Success Rates and Costs

23:45 Addressing Disparities in Fertility Treatment

26:47 Navigating Complaints and Patient Advocacy

29:54 Resources and Support for Patients

Links:

You can find out more about the work of the HFEA in the following links: HFEA:

HFEA: UK fertility regulator

HFEA dashboard | HFEA

Research and data | HFEA

National Patient Survey 2024 | HFEA

Treatment add-ons with limited evidence | HFEA

Choose a fertility clinic | HFEA

If you are struggling and need support, please contact the charity at https://fertilitynetworkuk.org/ or organisations that can support your mental health are below.

Contact Samaritans on 116 123

Contact NHS on 111

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast.

Breaking the Silence – Fertility Journeys in the South Asian Community

What happens when life doesn’t follow the path to parenthood? This heartfelt discussion explores identity, purpose, and creating a meaningful life beyond having children with honesty and openness.

In this final episode of the Breaking the Silence series, host Anita Guru is joined by:

• Aisha Balesaria, Coach & Founder of MindBodyRevival_Coach; Writer, Speaker & Reproductive Health Advocate
• Dr Rima Lamba, Clinical Director & Counselling Psychologist, Blue River Psychology
• Ms Srividya Seshadri, Consultant Gynaecologist, Apex Fertility

Together, they explore how to navigate life when the journey to parenthood takes an unexpected turn. Aisha shares her lived experience and reflections on redefining womanhood, while Dr Lamba and Dr Seshadri bring emotional and clinical perspectives on wellbeing and acceptance.

This live recording was part of the Breaking the Silence – Fertility Journeys in the South Asian Community event, held on Tuesday 5th August 2025, bringing together voices from across the community to spark open, honest conversations about fertility and reproductive health.

Find out more:

If you are struggling and need support, please contact the charity at https://fertilitynetworkuk.org/ or organisations that can support your mental health are below.

Contact Samaritans on 116 123

Contact NHS on 111

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast.

Breaking the Silence – Fertility Journeys in the South Asian Community

A heartfelt conversation about grief, miscarriage, and IVF loss in the South Asian community. Our guests share powerful stories of healing, compassion, and finding light after heartbreak whilst balancing cultural expectations from both a lived experience and expert perspective.

In this deeply moving discussion, host Anita Guru speaks with:

• Dr Rima Lamba, Clinical Director & Counselling Psychologist, Blue River Psychology
• Madhuri Bedi, Outreach Coordinator for South Asian Communities, SANDS
• Ms Srividya Seshadri, Consultant Gynaecologist, Apex Fertility

Together, they explore the pain and stigma surrounding baby loss, miscarriage, and failed IVF within South Asian communities. Madhuri shares her personal story of loss and advocacy, Dr Lamba brings a therapeutic lens to grief and resilience, and Dr Seshadri offers compassionate clinical insight.

This live recording was part of the Breaking the Silence – Fertility Journeys in the South Asian Community event, held on Tuesday 5th August 2025, bringing together voices from across the community to spark open, honest conversations about fertility and reproductive health.

Find out more:

If you are struggling and need support, please contact the charity at https://fertilitynetworkuk.org/ or organisations that can support your mental health are below.

Contact Samaritans on 116 123

Contact NHS on 111

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast.

Breaking the Silence – Fertility Journeys in the South Asian Community

Five inspiring voices open up about fertility struggles, IVF, and breaking cultural taboos in South Asian communities. A raw, hopeful, and honest discussion about what it really means to navigate conception and community expectations.

In this powerful opening episode, host Anita Guru is joined by:

• Dr Ravina Bhanot, GP & Women’s Health Specialist
• Rakhee Shah, Holistic Fertility Therapist, Integrated Functional Nutrition Practitioner & Coach
• Ms Srividya Seshadri, Consultant Gynaecologist, Apex Fertility
• Seema Duggal, Fertility in the Workplace, Fertility Network UK
• Alpa Patel, BBC Presenter & Reporter

Together, they share clinical insights, lived experiences, and cultural perspectives on trying to conceive and undergoing IVF in South Asian communities. This episode breaks the silence around fertility struggles, challenges cultural expectations, and offers hope and solidarity to anyone walking a similar path.

This live recording was part of the Breaking the Silence – Fertility Journeys in the South Asian Community event, held on Tuesday 5th August 2025, bringing together voices from across the community to spark open, honest conversations about fertility and reproductive health.

Find out more:

If you are struggling and need support, please contact the charity at https://fertilitynetworkuk.org/ or organisations that can support your mental health are below.

Contact Samaritans on 116 123

Contact NHS on 111

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast.

Summary

Doctor Abraham Zavala joins from Clinica Tambre in Alicante and in this episode shares his advice and tips for people starting out on a fertility journey, explaining baseline tests and shares advice for anyone considering treatment abroad. Clinica Tambre are the official sponsor for Season 2 of Unspoken, and we are so excited to invite him onto this episode. From an early age, Dr Abraham Zavala knew he wanted to pursue a career in medicine and found his true passion: gynaecology and reproductive medicine. During his training he discovered his interest in helping women and couples along their journey towards parenthood, which led him to specialise in fertility.

Today, as part of the Tambre team, he not only contributes through his knowledge and experience in complex cases such as repeated implantation failure or recurrent pregnancy loss, but also with his empathy and commitment to each patient. Dr Zavala talks about his career, what he values most about his work and how he and his team treat each patient at Tambre with a comprehensive, human and attentive approach.

Where to find Dr Abraham:

Links:

You can find out more about Doctor Abraham Zavala and Tambre here –

https://www.instagram.com/dr_zavala_gyn

https://www.instagram.com/tambre_international/

https://www.clinicatambre.com/en/dr-abraham-zavala-gynaecologist

https://www.clinicatambre.com

If you are struggling and need support, please contact the charity at https://fertilitynetworkuk.org/ or organisations that can support your mental health are below.

Contact Samaritans on 116 123

Contact NHS on 111

We are now sponsored!

We are thrilled that Season 2 is sponsored by Tambre – a leading Assisted Reproduction centre based in Madrid.

Tambre believe that fertility care should be both advanced and deeply human.

Find out more about them here https://www.clinicatambre.com/en/

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast.

In this episode, Dr Sharleen Hapuarachi from Bourn Hall Clinic, delves into the process of egg collection and freezing, genetic testing and recurrent miscarriage. She shares some common misconceptions and great advice for anyone seeking treatment.

Doctor Sharleen is a Consultant at Bourn Hall Fertility Clinic and has established herself as a leading expert in the field of reproductive medicine, securing key roles in areas such as Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy (PGTA), recurrent miscarriage clinics and transgender fertility preservation. Her dedication to patient advocacy and empowerment is evident in her approach to supporting individuals on their fertility journeys.

With a particular interest in fertility preservation, especially social egg freezing, Sharleen is a passionate advocate for women having the right to choose the timing of starting a family. She believes that every woman should have the autonomy to make this decision on her own terms.

In addition to her clinical work, Sharleen is committed to the education and development of future IVF specialists. She has initiated a rolling teaching program within her clinic for allied health practitioners in fertility, providing a platform for continuous learning through case reviews and reflections. This initiative has been instrumental in enhancing the knowledge and skills of those entering the field of reproductive medicine.

Bourn Hall Clinic are an official partner of Fertility Network UK, they partner with Fertility in the Workplace initiative to improve the experience for those juggling workplace commitments alongside fertility treatment and have been paramount in producing the Clinic Pledge.

Links:

You can find out more about Doctor Sharleen and Bourn Hall Fertility Clinic here –

https://www.bournhall.co.uk/clinic-team/dr-sharleen-hapuarachi/

https://www.bournhall.co.uk

If you are struggling and need support, please contact the charity at https://fertilitynetworkuk.org/ or organisations that can support your mental health are below.

Contact Samaritans on 116 123

Contact NHS on 111

We are now sponsored!

We are thrilled that Season 2 is sponsored by Tambre – a leading Assisted Reproduction centre based in Madrid. Tambre believe that fertility care should be both advanced and deeply human.

Find out more about them here https://www.clinicatambre.com/en/

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast.

In this episode, Anita Guru is joined by Seetal Savla to discuss the nuances within the South Asian community in relation to fertility, the unhelpful comments, her own lived experiences during a heartbreaking journey, and how to support someone who is on a fertility pathway.

Seetal is a fertility patient advocate, writer and speaker. Having experienced multiple failed IVFs and losses before becoming mum to a daughter, she is passionate about sharing her story to support others and challenge stigma - particularly within South Asian communities. Seetal is dedicated to creating space for honest, compassionate conversations around fertility, loss and hope. Through her writing and advocacy, she helps others feel less alone in their journeys.

Don’t miss the South Asian Heritage Month Event on 5th August 2025 in London

Where to find Seetal:

Follow Seetal's story and work on Instagram @seetalsavla

You can read some of Seetal’s work below:

Infertility as an Indian woman for HuffPost UK

Where are all the South Asian egg donors for Metro

If you are struggling and need support, please contact the charity at https://fertilitynetworkuk.org/ or organisations that can support your mental health are below.

Contact Samaritans on 116 123

Contact NHS on 111

We are now sponsored!

We are thrilled that Season 2 is sponsored by Tambre – a leading Assisted Reproduction centre based in Madrid.

Tambre believe that fertility care should be both advanced and deeply human.

Find out more about them here https://www.clinicatambre.com/en/

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast.

In this episode, Anita Guru is joined by Seetal Savla to discuss the nuances within the South Asian community in relation to fertility, the unhelpful comments, her own lived experiences during a heartbreaking journey, and how to support someone who is on a fertility pathway.

Seetal is a fertility patient advocate, writer and speaker. Having experienced multiple failed IVFs and losses before becoming mum to a daughter, she is passionate about sharing her story to support others and challenge stigma - particularly within South Asian communities. Seetal is dedicated to creating space for honest, compassionate conversations around fertility, loss and hope. Through her writing and advocacy, she helps others feel less alone in their journeys.

Don’t miss the South Asian Heritage Month Event on 5th August 2025 in London

Where to find Seetal:

Follow Seetal's story and work on Instagram @seetalsavla

You can read some of Seetal’s work below:

Infertility as an Indian woman for HuffPost UK

Where are all the South Asian egg donors for Metro

If you are struggling and need support, please contact the charity at https://fertilitynetworkuk.org/ or organisations that can support your mental health are below.

Contact Samaritans on 116 123

Contact NHS on 111

We are now sponsored!

We are thrilled that Season 2 is sponsored by Tambre – a leading Assisted Reproduction centre based in Madrid.

Tambre believe that fertility care should be both advanced and deeply human.

Find out more about them here https://www.clinicatambre.com/en/

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast.

In this episode, host Anita is joined by Ogechi Ekwegh, an award-winning volunteer with Fertility Network UK, where she facilitates the Black Women's Group. Over the past four years, she has dedicated her time to volunteering for the charity, including partnering with Gaia Family and Fertility Network UK to organise a mental health and fertility event. Having undergone fertility treatment herself, Ogechi is also exploring alternative paths to motherhood. In addition to her volunteer work, Ogechi is a project manager responsible for planning Judicial recruitment across England and Wales.

Where to find Ogechi:

You can find out Ogechi here on Instagram @faith_fertilitysupport

If you are struggling and need support, please contact the charity at https://fertilitynetworkuk.org/ or organisations that can support your mental health are below.

Contact Samaritans on 116 123

Contact NHS on 111

We are now sponsored!

We are thrilled that Season 2 is sponsored by Tambre – a leading Assisted Reproduction centre based in Madrid.

Tambre believe that fertility care should be both advanced and deeply human.

Find out more about them here https://www.clinicatambre.com/en/

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast.