Don't Tell Me To RELAX- Your Fertility Podcast

If you'd like more support for IVF prep you can grab a spot on our Optimise Your IVF Outcomes talk here I am joined by fertility nutritionist Kirsty and fertility coach Carly to discuss the essential aspects of preparing for IVF. We discuss Why blood sugar stability is crucial for hormone health. How gut health is essential for nutrient absorption. That a Mediterranean diet can support positiv...

Happy New Year and welcome to a brand new series of Don't Tell Me To RELAX! We're kicking off 2026 with some sound advice from our very own a team of fertility acupuncturists. Having around 80 years of experience between them the team share their top tips for supporting individuals struggling to conceive. We disucss: How to think of food as your first medicine, supplements second. Why eati...

***BONUS CHRISTMAS EPISODE*** We are releasing this in the middle of Christmas in case anyone is looking for some extra emotional support during this time. I am with one of our affiliate acupuncturists, Danielle Croft from Banbury, to discuss the emotional challenges faced during fertility journeys and how Chinese medicine can provide support. We discuss How fertility journeys can evoke a range of...

I am with Fertility Nutritionist Kirsty Harrison to discuss the complexities of alcohol consumption during the festive season, when you are trying to conceive. We chat about societal pressures surrounding drinking at Christmas, the impact of alcohol on fertility, and provide practical advice for making informed choices. We discuss Why the festive season can be sp emotionally charged How the resear...

If your IVF has not gone how you hoped this episode is for you. I am with Dr. Shabana Bora from Alma Fertility to discuss the emotional and practical aspects of dealing with IVF failure. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the reasons behind unsuccessful cycles, the necessity of further testing, and the value of recovery time before attempting another cycle. We discuss How IVF failure c...

I am joined by Tim Royle this week. Tim shares his deeply personal journey through IVF alongside his wife, Hannah . Tim discusses how going through so much treatment led to him making a short film about his experience "Its The Hope That Kills You" We discuss the emotional toll of fertility treatments, the male perspective on the experience, and the importance of communication and support...

Today I am with Dr. Grace Lee Brindle from Hope In Mind Psychology to discuss the often overlooked topic of secondary infertility. We explore the emotional complexities, including feelings of guilt and shame, that accompany the desire for another child when one already has a child. We discuss Why secondary infertility is often accompanied by feelings of guilt and shame. How the isolation felt by t...

Episode 8 of our Teaching To Conceive Series 💛 As part of this Series we are running a free fertility masterclass also called, Teaching To Conceive. on Tuesday 29th October we will be discussing Testing & Investigations for your Fertility, with Independent Fertility Nurse, Morven. You can register  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠ to watch live or get the play back. 💛 In this episode Morven and I discuss fe...

Over the next 3 months we will be looking at the complex and emotional topic of miscarriage. In this episode I am joined by Morven, an Independent Fertility Nurse and resident Fertility Nurse in our Don't Tell Me to RELAX community. We discuss the various types of miscarriage, symptoms, and management options. Plus: How miscarriage is a common yet heartbreaking experience. What are different t...

As it is Acupuncture Awareness Week we thought "How to Find A Fertility Acupuncturist" would be a good topic to cover. I am joined by Fertility Acupuncturist Laura Foster from Light and Shade Acupuncture, Bristol to explore the training and regulation of acupuncturists, the importance of qualifications, and how to identify both red and green flags in practitioners. We discuss Why finding...

I am with Kayleigh from Seen (previously Fertility Mapper) to discuss the often very difficult decision of choosing an IVF clinic to work with. We explore common challenges faced by individuals seeking fertility treatment, the significance of communication and cost transparency in clinics, and the balance between data-driven choices and intuition. We discuss: How choosing a fertility clinic is a s...

I am with Dr. Rahi Victory to discuss his approach to IVF and the challenges he sees within the fertility industry. Dr. Victory is a board-certified Obstetrician, Gynaecologist and Infertility specialist dedicated to helping improve the reproductive health of men and women. Dr Victory champions the importance of personalized treatment and pays particular attention to the role of immunology and mic...

I am with Annabel Tinda le today, a trained breathwork coach, discussing the benefits of breathwork, particularly in relation to stress, anxiety, and fertility. Annabel shares her journey into breathwork, its impact on the nervous system, and various techniques that can be used to enhance wellbeing. We discuss how breathwork is a natural tool for transforming wellbeing. why it helps engage the par...

I'm with Katy this week discussing the benefits of reflexology alongside IVF. We discuss how reflexology works, its historical background, and its calming effects on the nervous system. We discuss: How reflexology is a complementary therapy that maps body parts to reflex areas on the feet. How this helps create a calm, rest-and-digest state, beneficial for reproductive health. How reflexology...

I am joined by the lovely Kristina Parker from Harwood Fertility today, to discuss the benefits and techniques of fertility massage. Kristina is an acupuncturist and fertility massage practitioner and we discuss how fertility massage can aid in various conditions such as endometriosis and PCOS and can support both natural and assisted conception. We discuss: how and why a fertility massage focuses...

Today I am with Josh, the founder of Snowballs , a company that produces organic men's underwear designed to help improve male fertility by cooling the testicles. We discuss the origins of the product, the importance of male fertility awareness, the impact of heat on sperm health, and the role of lifestyle changes in improving fertility. See the website to find out more about Snowballs Underwe...

This week Katy and I are digging into the pros and cons of social media and fertility. We discuss our personal experiences of it and the overwhelming amount of information available around fertility. We discuss ​how social media can provide valuable information for fertility journeys. ​how personal relationships with social media can be both positive and negative. ​the overwhelm from conflicting i...

I am with Nicola Salmon this week. Nicola is a fat positive fertility specialist, who shares her personal journey with fertility and body image. We discuss the systemic discrimination faced by individuals in larger bodies within the medical field, particularly regarding fertility treatment. Nicola debunks myths surrounding weight and miscarriage, emphasizes the importance of respectful care, and o...

I am joined by lovely Marca, Embryologist and Acupuncturist to look egg freezing, what's involved, what you need to know and how you can prepare for it. If you'd like more information join Marca in a live Q&A talk on Sept 23rd at 7.30 - grab a spot here and we'll send round the recording if you can't join the live. In this episode we discuss what the process involves what the c...

We're back for a brand new series 🤩 And to kick off we are delving into the BIG topic of improving fertility- what does this mean and is it actually possible? We look at how various aspects of health, including cycle tracking, sleep, nutrition, and stress management, play crucial roles in enhancing fertility. We are also launching our Autumn campaign- The Big Fertility Walk & Talk- 11th t...

For this last episode in this series I am joined by psychotherapist and author of Brink of Being, Julia Bueno . Julia shares her insights on miscarriage and pregnancy loss, discussing her personal experiences and the evolution of support systems over the years. We discuss: How miscarriage is a deeply personal experience that varies for each individual. How support for pregnancy loss has improved s...

I am joined by Rachel Sherriff, from The Fertility Suite to discuss the complex and sensitive topic of recurrent pregnancy loss. Rachel shares her personal journey and professional insights, offering valuable information on the causes, testing, and support available for those experiencing recurrent loss. We discuss: Definition of Recurrent Miscarriage: Understanding the classification and when to...

***Trigger warning- this episode discusses miscarriage, Termination For Medical Reason and fertility trauma.*** I am joined by the lovely fertility coach Yulia Osoyanu. Yulia shares her deeply personal journey through the challenges of infertility, IVF treatments, and the emotional toll of pregnancy loss. We discuss: How Yulia's journey into fertility coaching was inspired by her personal stru...

I am joined by Dr. Ed Coates to discuss the EMMA and ALICE tests, which analyze the uterine microbiome to assess fertility health. Dr Coates explains the importance of understanding the microbiome's role in implantation and how bacterial imbalances can affect fertility. We discuss: How the EMMA and ALICE tests analyze the uterine microbiome. How bacterial imbalances can affect embryo implantat...

I joined by, Dr. Panagiotis Venieratos from Fertilysis to discuss the complexities of unexplained infertility and the significant role of the microbiome in fertility. We discuss how unexplained infertility is often a result of incomplete investigations. how the uterine microbiome plays a critical role in fertility. why dysbiosis can lead to chronic inflammation and affect embryo implantation. how...