The IVF Journey with Dr Michael Chapman

The Laboratory Extras And Add-ons In IVF – Do They Make A Difference? Do extras and add-ons in the IVF laboratory make a significant difference when it comes to IVF success rates? In this episode, Prof discusses the variety of extras and add-ons and whether or not they make a difference to the outcomes in IVF. Listen to this podcast episode to learn all about the different extras and add-ons that...

IVF Medications (Such As FSH) And The Important Role They Play In Your IVF Cycle In this episode, Prof discusses the different drugs used in IVF. Prof also explains how new medications and the related processes have evolved over the years, and how they’ve resulted in more effective cycles. Tune in to this podcast episode, to learn all the ins and outs around IVF medications and how they impact suc...

Social Stigma Some Couples Encounter When Going Through IVF Did you know that the Obamas recently shared their experience around IVF in the media? In this episode, Prof discusses some high profile couples who have shared their experiences around IVF. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for couples to experience anxiety and fear when discussing their fertility issues in society. In some respects, IVF...

Egg Creation And Development During The IVF Journey   Did you know that a female foetus starts with a few million eggs, and by the time she’s at puberty she’s down to a couple of hundred thousand eggs? Tune in to this podcast episode to listen to Prof explain the intricacies of follicle development and egg creation. In this episode, Prof explains how eggs are laid down in the first trimester of pr...

Male Infertility Part 3 – Treatment For Low Sperm Count Did you know that until recently most infertility was associated with the woman. More recently over 40% of infertility issues are believed to be male related. Tune in to this third part of a series on Male Infertility with Prof as he explains the solutions to male infertility. Be sure to tune into the previous episode to get an understanding...

Male Infertility Part 2 – The Causes Of Low Sperm Count   In the last episode, Prof talked about how sperm is produced, how we test and what a test should be. In this episode, Prof talks about the causes of low sperm count. If you find this episode useful, please share this with someone else you think would benefit.

[Listener question Answered] Male Infertility, Testing and Sperm Production Explained Prof recently received a question via email from a listener about male infertility. In this episode, Prof explains male infertility right from the process of where the sperm is formed through to conception. He even talks about the possibility of sperm being produced independently of males, which would make male i...

Tubal Blockages And How They Affect IVF Success Rates Tubal blockages can impact your tubal patency. What causes blockages in tubes and how does it affect your IVF success rates? In this episode, Prof talks about why tubes get blocked and how the mechanics around how these blockages impact fertility. Prof explains why tubal surgery is done rarely these days and talks about the few instances where...

Ovarian Reserve: A Question From Listener Who Happens To Be A General Physician GP What does ovarian reserve mean exactly? How does it figure in terms of your IVF journey? One of the listeners of this podcast happens to be a General Physician (GP) and had a question about ovarian reserve. Prof answers her question in the context of the IVF journey and what it means in terms of your chances of succ...

Listener Question Answered: Terminology Around IVF Cycles And Success A listener of the IVF journey podcast asked Prof this question: What is the definition of a “cycle”? What is the definition of “success”? Terminology in the IVF field can be quite confusing. Prof explains some common terms used by doctors in IVF and what they mean. Tune in to learn more. Please share this episode with someone yo...

Ovarian Reserve And How It Affects Your IVF Cycle What is ovarian reserve? Why does it matter? How does your ovarian reserve affect your chances of success with IVF? Prof explains all this and more in this episode. Please do share this episode if you find it useful.

Fertility Preservation Explained And Whether Or Not You Should Preserve Your Eggs What is fertility preservation? Should you try to preserve your fertility beyond the point nature ‘allows’? Recent improvements in technology enable us to ‘push back time’ by preserving (younger and high quality) eggs. In this episode, Prof discusses whether or not eggs should be preserved beyond the point nature int...

When Should You Give Up On Your IVF treatment? How Do You Know When To Stop Treatment?   When should you give up on IVF? How do you know when to stop trying? Asking yourself one question will help you come up with an answer. In this episode, Prof Chapman explains what exactly that question is, and explains why this question is a good one to ask yourself to help you decide if you should stop IVF tr...

The Risks Of Double Embryo Transfers And Why The Costs Often Outweigh The Benefits Australia has become renowned for single embryo transfers. Why? Because the chances of a twin pregnancy resulting in brain damage is 4 times higher than a single pregnancy. This is one of the many reasons Australia has become known for only transferring single embryos during IVF. Listen in to discover all the other...

How Artificial Intelligence Will Likely Impact IVF In The Future   Artificial Intelligence is all the rage these days and for good reason. AI is starting to infiltrate most areas of our lives and IVF is no exception.  One of the areas where AI will likely have a positive impact is the capacity to process huge amounts of data and come up with a reflection of your individual factors that contribute...

One Of The Most Unusual Requests Prof Has Encountered In His Entire Career In IVF … There are some requests made by patients that are extremely rare. In this episode, Prof talks about one of the most unusual requests that he’s had in his entire career. This request is so unusual that he’s only encountered it 2 or 3 times in his whole career in IVF. Tune in to find out more.

“Do I really Need IVF?” This is a question being asked at various levels of government, amongst specialists and amongst patient groups. In this episode, Prof talks about different levels of need and specific situations in which IVF makes sense. Tune in to listen to where you fit into the picture and whether or not IVF is something you should embark on. As always, please do share this episode with...

What Is “Elective Egg Freezing” And Why You Might Want To Consider It In this episode, Prof explains what elective egg freezing is and why an increasing proportion of women are choosing to freeze their eggs (for future use). Tune in now and listen to this episode to find out if elective egg freezing is something that makes sense for you (or someone you know). Please share this episode with anyone...

Announcing the ‘Balancing Hormones Holistically’ Workshop on 1st Nov 2018 In this episode, Prof interviews one of his previous patients — Kalli Fardoulis — who discusses her journey using alternative therapies. Have a listen to the episode to find out more about how you can access details about the workshop she will be facilitating on the 1st Nov 2018 at 56 Montgomery St, Kogarah 2217 at 7pm. ‘Bal...

Different Kinds of Ovarian Cysts In this episode, Prof Chapman responds to a question he received from a listener in Sweeden. The question was about ovarian cysts. Prof explains ovarian cysts comprehensively. He starts by describing what an ovarian cyst is and how cysts behave at various stages of their development. Do you have a question you’d like answered? Why not send prof an email?

Back To The Basics … of Fertilization — The Entire Process Of The IVF Cycle Revisited Sometimes, it’s useful to go back to the basics. In this episode, Prof. does just that. He explains the whole process of conception from the release of the egg all the way through to the birth of the baby. If you found this episode useful, please do share it with someone you believe will benefit from listening. Y...

Hypothalamic Amenorrhea, Its Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment Options In this episode, Prof talks about an unusual hormone imbalance which causes women to be infertile. He explains the various causes and symptoms and discusses current treatments.

History of IVF And The Current Issues This episode was recorded in late July 2018 but was published in early September 2018. In this episode, Prof talks about current issues in the media. He walks through a brief history of IVF and controversies before it was widely embraced. Prof talks about the resistance from the church and even from within the profession. When Prof first got into IVF it was 19...

Louise Brown — The First IVF Baby Recently Turned 40, And Other Miraculous (Sometimes Bizzare) Outcomes Of Technology   In this episode, Prof Chapman discusses a major milestone in the world of IVF. Louise Brown — the first IVF baby recently turned 40. Prof also discusses some amazing (and occasionally bizarre) outcomes that this amazing technology can create. Tune in for another fascinating episo...

Why A High Proportion Of “IVF Breakthrough” Media Announcements Tend To Be Misleading To Patients Unfortunately, the system (which includes the media, the universities that fund researchers and individuals who seek public recognition media) is set up to be biased towards announcing “breakthroughs” and “new discoveries” in the field of IVF. Sadly, a high proportion of these breakthroughs are based...