The IVF Journey with Dr Michael Chapman

An Interesting Scottish IVF Study A study from Scotland indicated that when you follow-up women who’ve been thru from IVF, 25% of them will have a baby naturally within the next five years. Prof doesn’t find this statistic particularly surprising. In this episode, he explains why. Tune in to learn more. If you find this episode useful and know someone else who would benefit, please do share it wit...

The Potential Hazards of Donor Conception If you’re considering using donor sperm there are some things you need to think about. There are various legal and verbal issues that need to be considered. How will the donor be involved? Will their anonymity be protected? What other issues could potentially arise? In this episode, Prof discusses the pros and cons of donor sperm and how to navigate the ch...

Sperm Donation For thousands of years, couples have had challenges conceiving. In Roman times there are documented stories of infertile females enlisting ‘help’ and achieving pregnancies. Donor sperm is different in today’s world. IVF clinics follow certain proven protocols that are tried and tested. Going to the pub on Saturday night might be one option but not always a great one. In this episode...

One Of The Worst Accidents That Can Happen In IVF In this episode, Prof discusses an article from the US which talks about a couple who experienced a distressing situation related to their IVF cycle. The situation was eventually resolved. However, this raises the issue of what the IVF community believes to be one of the worst accidents that can happen. He then explains the importance of the multip...

Pre-Implantation Genetic Testing In IVF (PGT), Its Benefits And Drawbacks The world has made incredible strides in terms of IVF in general and Pre-Implantation Genetic Testing in particular. In this episode, Prof explains how PGT works and how it can be used to improve IVF outcomes. However, there are some problems with PGT. The biopsy technique in PGT could potentially damage the embryo. Tune in...

What Are Your Options After A Failed IVF Cycle? In this episode, Prof discusses your options as a couple after a failed IVF cycle. Should you try again? Should you move on and explore other options? Tune into this episode to learn more about how to approach this situation. If you find this episode useful and know someone else who would benefit, please do share it with them.

A New Study Regarding Declining Male Infertility In this episode, Prof discusses yet another study in male infertility. The study claims (yet again) that male fertility has declined over the last thirty-five years. Prof was recently interviewed on a radio station which asked him if we’re headed to extinction. In this episode, Prof addresses this question and lots more. Tune in to learn more. If yo...

The Medications Used In An IVF Cycle Before discussing the various medications involved, Prof explains what’s required in an IVF cycle. He then goes on to explain the drugs used in an IVF cycle in that broader context. Prof explains what are the functions and effects of these medications and how they fulfil the various objectives of a cycle. If you find this episode useful and know someone else wh...

IVF Clinics — Are They Different? Or Are They All The Same? Are the various IVF clinics different? Or are they all the same? It’s a difficult question to answer. In this episode, Prof discusses the variables that come into play when it comes to success rates in a clinic. The average age of patients in clinics vary from area to area because demographics differ. In this episode, Prof dives into the...

Your IVF Journey – The First Visit Maybe you haven’t taken the first step in terms of seeing a fertility specialist. Maybe you’re wondering what’s involved? Couples often reach a point in their journey when they need to decide to see a fertility specialist. This decision raises certain questions. Questions like: How do you choose the right fertility specialist? How do you know which fertility spec...

The Use of Artificial Intelligence In Selecting An IVF Embryo Recently the premier journal for infertility research in the world published a paper from IVF Australia on Artificial Intelligence in the selection of embryos. Computing has come of age in the IVF laboratory and the results are impressive. In this episode, Prof shares a story of a young medical student from the University of NSW who hap...

Artificial Insemination And Its Role In Treating Infertility What is artificial insemination? When should it be used? How’s it done? What are the results like? Should you have it? In this episode, Prof discusses all these issues and more. If you find this episode useful, and know someone else who would benefit, please do share it with them.

Surrogacy — A Way Forward For Some Infertile Couples What is surrogacy? Is surrogate pregnancy something you should consider? There’s been quite a lot of controversy around surrogate pregnancies. It’s not uncommon for a surrogate parent to want to keep the child at the end of her pregnancy rather than adhere to the surrogate arrangement that was initially in place. In this episode, Prof discusses...

Egg Collection – Is It A Numbers Game? “How many eggs?” That’s one of the first questions Prof often gets asked as his patient is recovering from the sedation or waking up from the anesthetic. Egg numbers are not the only factor when it comes to IVF success but it is a significant factor. In this episode, Prof discusses “how many eggs it takes” and how important that number is when it comes to IVF...

Are The ICSI Rates In Australia Justified? The ABC in Australia recently did some ‘investigative journalism’ around the use of the word ICSI by doctors in Australia. There were some suggestions that the term ICSI is overused. So is ICSI necessary or is it not? Are the rates of ICSI justified? In this episode, Prof explains what ICSI is and then explores the controversy around ICSI. If you find thi...

Why Doctors Recommend IVF Treatment Why would your doctor have recommended IVF as a treatment option? Making the decision to embark on the IVF journey needs to based on a proper assessment of all the factors and shouldn’t be taken lightly. In this episode, Prof discusses why a doctor might have recommended IVF treatment for you. Tune in to this podcast episode, to learn more about the factors that...

How To Maximise Your Chances Of Success Beyond The Age of 40 In this episode, Prof talks about your realistic chances of success when embarking on the IVF Journey at the age of 40 and beyond Tune in to this podcast episode, to learn the most important things you need to do to give yourself the best chances of success with IVF treatment at 40 and beyond. If you know someone else who would benefit b...

The Luteal Phase Explained The luteal phase is the second half of the menstrual cycle and is an important window when it comes to fertility treatment. There are a number of factors that produce a good luteal phase which is what Prof explains in this episode. Tune in to this podcast episode, to learn more about how to make the best of your luteal phase and maximise your chances of a successful IVF...

The Endometrium And It’s Role In Producing A Successful IVF Pregnancy The endometrium needs to improve your chances of success with IVF. Multiple studies show that endometrial thickness has to be within a specific range to give you the maximum chances of success. Tune in to this podcast episode, to learn what that specific range is, and lots more! If you find this episode useful and know someone e...

How To Prepare For An IVF Cycle What should you expect in the early days of an IVF cycle? How do you prepare for an IVF cycle? How do you educate yourself so you’re best prepared for your cycle? In this episode, Prof discusses what you need to do leading up to an IVF cycle and how to best prepare for it. If you find this episode useful and know someone else who would benefit, please do share it wi...

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) And How It Almost Came To Be Known As DISCO! In this episode, Prof discusses the Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection also referred to as ICSI. Prof also explains how it nearly came to be known as DISCO. Yes, you read that right! Tune in to listen to how it all played out! Tune in to this episode to learn all about ICSI, how it works it’s applications and the sp...

FAQs Answered: Prof Responds To Commonly Asked Questions By You — The Listeners Of The IVF Journey In this episode, Prof answers questions from you — the listeners of The IVF Journey podcast. Thank you for your questions! Tune in to this podcast episode, to listen to challenges other listeners are facing and how Prof suggests they are best handled. He answers questions related to low AMH, success...

A day in the life at Prof Chapman’s IVF Clinic In this episode, Prof talks about his day in the clinic. Prof discusses some specific issues couples seek his advice on and he then shares how he deals with each of those specific issues. Tune in to this podcast episode, to learn how to improve sperm count in males, fertility in older couples, and lots more. If you find this episode useful and know so...

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: Typical Symptoms And How They’re Treated   In this episode, Prof discusses the different kind of symptoms that come along with the hormonal imbalance which is the polycystic ovary syndrome. Tune in to this podcast episode, to learn about the differences kinds of symptoms the can be observe to women that have polycystic ovary syndrome. If you find this episode useful, a...

The Differences Between IVF Babies And ‘Naturally Conceived’ Babies IVF babies are probably the most studied babies of all. There are regular studies and detailed reports around IVF babies which has led to the development of a comprehensive database both in Australia and overseas. So, is there a discernible difference between IVF babies and non-IVF babies? What do the findings show? In this episod...