The Home of Fertility with Liz Walton & Helen Zee

We sit down with genetic counsellor Mona Saleh to unpack what genetic counseling really is and why it can be a game changer when you are trying to conceive or navigating IVF. We talk through carrier screening, Fragile X confusion in real-world reports, and how preimplantation genetic testing can support clearer choices and better odds. • what a genetic counselor is and why the role combines educat...

We talk with fertility nutritionist Tammy Shemesh about why disordered eating and food anxiety are far more common in fertility treatment than most people realize, and how that hidden stress can disrupt hormones and cycle health. We share a more compassionate path that blends evidence-based fertility nutrition with nervous system safety, cycle awareness, and real pleasure in eating. • the research...

We sit down with Anita from Growing Families to talk honestly about international surrogacy and donor pathways, from embryo shipping delays to the paperwork, timing, and trust issues that can shape every decision. We share what helps intended parents stay grounded through the long stretches of waiting and the very real emotional swings that show up from matching to birth and beyond. • how Anita su...

Join fertility-focused naturopath Nicole Haak to unpack Australia’s egg freezing estimators and why a single percentage cannot capture your full fertility picture. We break down what the calculators measure, where they fall short, and the practical steps that can improve egg quality, sperm health, and IVF outcomes over time.  • How the federal egg freezing calculators are built from population dat...

In Part One of the series, we unpack why egg freezing estimators can feel definitive while still missing the details that actually drive fertility outcomes. Dr. Sasha Edelstein explains how to use population statistics as a starting point without letting a calculator replace personalised medical advice and real-life planning. We also discuss: • How government and clinic calculators use population...

We talk with fertility naturopath and nutritionist Tasha Jennings about what embryos need to keep growing and why egg and sperm quality matter just as much in IVF as they do when trying naturally. We share practical ways to advocate for better answers after failed cycles or miscarriage and how to stop carrying the whole burden alone. • how embryo growth is fueled by egg energy through day three •...

We talk with applied health specialist Leoni Tilly about why omega-3 deficiency is so common and how an out-of-balance omega-6 to omega-3 ratio can keep the body stuck in low-grade chronic inflammation. We share how at-home testing makes the problem measurable, why this matters for fertility and pregnancy outcomes, and how to shop smarter in a seed-oil world. • what “test-based not guess-based” he...

We sit down with Sam Payne, co-founder and CEO of Pink Elephants, to talk about miscarriage, early pregnancy loss, and why no one should be left to navigate grief alone. We share practical language, workplace rights, and the small acts of care that help people feel seen when the worst happens. • Sam’s story of recurrent pregnancy loss and why she built Pink Elephants • Why miscarriage stays silenc...

We talk with fertility specialist Dr Luke Larmour about what it really takes to build a family with donor sperm in Australia, from choosing the right donor pathway to navigating screening and legal realities. We break down timelines, common roadblocks, and the steps that protect you and your future child while keeping your plan moving forward. • solo mothers by choice as the largest group seeking...

We talk with Sharon Tal, a kinesiologist and “Soul Alchemist,” about how muscle testing and energy mapping can reveal the real roots behind fertility struggles. We explore miscarriage recovery, IVF support, and why safety in the nervous system can matter as much as hormones and timing. • Sharon’s definition of kinesiology and how it blends Chinese medicine meridians with practical assessment • Usi...

We talk with fertility consultant Ella McNamara about why Australians turn to egg donation, sperm donation, and surrogacy and how to weigh local versus overseas options. We focus on practical realities like laws, costs, ethics, and choosing reputable providers so you can move forward with clarity instead of panic. • the three essentials needed to create a baby and why one missing piece changes the...

We sit down with womb and fertility massage teacher Carol Jones to explore the womb space as a portal for wisdom, healing, and real-time feedback about stress, boundaries, and hormones. We leave with a practical way to track your “inner seasons,” plus a clear reminder that yin is powerful and receptive, not passive. • the womb space as access to subconscious healing and natural law • menstruation...

We explore how lymph health shapes hormones, energy, periods, and the path to conception with lymphology expert Michelle Richardson. Practical tools—movement, massage, warmth, and gut-first nutrition—show how to reduce pain, clear bloat, and create a cleaner pelvic environment. • What the lymphatic system is and why it matters • How stress, sugar, and acidity congest lymph • Links between gut heal...

We challenge the myth of “normal” semen and map out how men can lift sperm quality in 72 days with smarter testing, targeted nutrition, and simple habit shifts. Raul explains DNA fragmentation, real percentile targets, and why both partners need equal work and equal data. • why fifth percentile sperm ranges mislead • healthy targets for count, morphology, DNA fragmentation • semen analysis plus DN...

We bring male fertility to the forefront with dietitian Alex Hardy, breaking down the 12-week window where nutrition, lifestyle, and environment can meaningfully improve sperm health and DNA integrity. Clear steps, simple swaps, and evidence-backed supplements show men how to contribute actively to conception and long-term child health. • Male factor as half the fertility equation • Oxidative stre...

Your body is speaking in clear signals, are you listening? We sit down with Stephanie, a registered fertility nurse and founder of My Fertility Nurse, to decode the menstrual cycle as a true fifth vital sign and map out how small, steady changes can move the needle on conception and IVF success. From the real fertile window to what your flow’s color and consistency say about hormones, inflammation...

In this episode, Helen dives deep into ovulation, body literacy, and self-understanding with Fatima Sampayo, founder of Baby Bloom, Australia’s TGA-approved ovulation testing brand. They explore what your cervical fluid, mood, and energy reveal about your hormonal rhythm — and how learning to “read” your cycle can transform not just conception but your connection to self. From creamy to egg-white...

Today Helen chats with Dr. Caroline Fiddler—medical doctor, IVF mum, and creator of the The Cycle Guide app. After juggling shift work, ad-hoc nurse calls, and fragile paper instructions (hello servos and hospital corridors), Caroline built an easy, portable, and accurate way to manage fertility treatment—for patients and clinics. We cover the lived reality of IVF: timing the trigger to the minute...

In this episode of The Home of Fertility , Helen Zee speaks with Sophia Basietto, fertility specialist, scientist, and trainer at SuperCare, Australia’s leading service for helping families access their superannuation for fertility treatments. Sophia brings over 25 years of experience as an embryologist, biochemist, and fertility coach — and shares how SuperCare lobbied to make IVF eligible for co...

We speak with Alicia Burns about solo motherhood by choice, moving from heartbreak and loss to agency and joy, and how planning, testing, and community transform the journey. A clear roadmap emerges for women weighing timelines, donors, budgets, and support networks. • why more women choose solo motherhood now • practical first steps with GP tests and fertility consult • comparing fears versus rea...

We explore the emotional, practical, and relational realities of choosing donor eggs, from naming grief to building a values-first path to parenthood. Adele O’Connor shares her story, evidence-based tools for nervous system regulation, and how community dissolves isolation. • donor egg conception as a valid, hopeful path • grief, identity, and the imagined child • bonding fears and early, open fam...

We meet Silla, who turned a Graves diagnosis and debilitating symptoms into a healing journey that led to Not Coffee, a caffeine-free ritual for hormone health and fertility support. We explore root-cause choices, social rituals, and practical steps for gentle change. • What Not Coffee is and how it brews • Graves disease, symptoms, and conventional advice • Chinese medicine lens on liver balance...

We share Saara Jamieson’s path from recurrent miscarriage to creating a TGA‑registered testicular cooling device, and how everyday heat undermines sperm DNA, testosterone, sleep, and relationships. Practical steps, timelines, and intimacy advice give couples agency and options beyond a lab report. • testicular heat as an overlooked driver of infertility and miscarriage risk • why standard semen te...

We sit down with fertility nutrition experts Stefanie Valakas and Monique Cormack to explore how targeted food choices, evidence-based supplements, and body literacy support conception. Personal stories of endometriosis, egg freezing, IVF, and twins keep the science honest and practical. • endometriosis diagnosis and advocacy through surgery and nutrition • IVF lessons, system gaps, and identical...

In this episode of The Home of Fertility , Helen Zee is joined by Leonie Tilley, Applied Health & Human Performance Specialist and Zinzino partner, and Rebecca Kunz, Ayurvedic wellness expert, to unpack the missing link between fatty-acid balance, fertility & postnatal well-being. Leonie explains why omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids are essential, how modern diets have shifted ratios from t...