What is the mental health impact of trying to conceive, navigating pregnancy and becoming a parent? And why are the emotional challenges of the fertility journey so often overlooked?

In this episode of Fertility Untamed, the team sit down with Dr Edna Lekgabe, a Melbourne-based perinatal reproductive psychiatrist and co-founder and clinical director of WARM Health Collective, to explore the connection between fertility, pregnancy and mental health.

They unpack the psychological toll of fertility treatment, the impact of pregnancy and birth trauma, and why preparing your mental health is just as important as preparing your physical health when trying to conceive.

From the grief and uncertainty of infertility to the complicated emotions surrounding motherhood, medication and pregnancy loss, this episode explores the feelings women often struggle to acknowledge and why having the right support throughout the journey matters.

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IN THIS EPISODE:
- What is perinatal psychiatry and how do hormones influence mental health?
- Why is mental health preparation important before trying to conceive?
- How can fertility treatment impact your psychological wellbeing?
- What is the connection between infertility, grief and post-traumatic stress?
- Why should you never stop psychiatric medication without medical advice when trying to fall pregnant?
- How can birth trauma affect mental health after pregnancy?
- Why can women experience regret, guilt or a loss of identity after becoming mothers?
- What happens emotionally when fertility treatment comes to an end?
- How can envy, anger and resentment affect relationships during the fertility journey?
- Why is mental health support important for both partners?

If you're navigating fertility challenges, preparing for pregnancy or adjusting to life as a parent, understanding the emotional side of the journey is just as important as understanding the physical side.

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#FertilityUntamed #MentalHealth #Fertility #Pregnancy #PerinatalMentalHealth #WomensHealth

Could a short menstrual cycle or low progesterone be affecting your chances of getting pregnant? And does luteal phase deficiency actually exist?

In this episode of Fertility Untamed, Dr Sylvia Ross and Dr Rebecca Mackenzie Proctor unpack the science behind luteal phase deficiency, exploring what happens during the luteal phase of your menstrual cycle, how progesterone influences fertility, and what it really means to have a shortened cycle.

They explore the latest clinical guidelines, why diagnosing luteal phase deficiency isn't straightforward, and why a single progesterone blood test may not tell you the whole story.

From understanding the relationship between ovulation, progesterone and egg quality to exploring treatment options, this episode separates fertility facts from common misconceptions.

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IN THIS EPISODE:
- What is luteal phase deficiency and how does it affect your menstrual cycle?

- What is considered a normal luteal phase length?

- Can a short menstrual cycle affect your ability to conceive?

- What role does progesterone play in fertility and implantation?

- Why can't a single blood test reliably diagnose progesterone deficiency?

- How is egg quality connected to the corpus luteum?

- Can ovulation induction and progesterone supplementation help?

- Why timing intercourse correctly matters when trying to conceive.


If you're experiencing short cycles, premenstrual spotting or concerns about your progesterone levels, understanding what's happening throughout your cycle is an important first step.

Join Dr Sylvia Ross and Dr Rebecca Mackenzie Proctor as they break down the evidence, challenge common assumptions and explain why fertility treatment should always be tailored to the individual.

Subscribe to Fertility Untamed for more expert conversations about reproductive health, hormones, fertility and getting pregnant.

#FertilityUntamed #Progesterone #LutealPhaseDeficiency #Fertility #WomensHealth #MenstrualCycle

If you're trying to conceive, undergoing IVF or navigating recurrent pregnancy loss, understanding progesterone could help you make sense of your fertility journey.

In this episode of Fertility Untamed Dr Sylvia Ross and Dr Rebecca Mackenzie-Proctor break down one of the most talked-about hormones in fertility treatment: progesterone. From embryo implantation and IVF success to early pregnancy and miscarriage, they explain what progesterone does, when it's used and what the evidence actually tells us.

Progesterone plays a vital role in preparing the uterine lining for implantation and supporting early pregnancy. But when should it be taken? Can taking more improve your chances of getting pregnant? And what does a low progesterone blood test really mean?

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Episode Topics Include:
• What is progesterone?: Understand how this essential hormone works during ovulation, implantation and early pregnancy.

• Progesterone and IVF: How progesterone is used during ovarian stimulation, fresh embryo transfers and frozen embryo transfers.

• The implantation window: Why timing matters when preparing the uterine lining for an embryo.

• Low progesterone levels: Why progesterone blood tests can be difficult to interpret and why a single result may not tell the whole story.

• When should you take progesterone? Why starting progesterone at the wrong time may affect your chances of conception.

• Progesterone supplements and side effects: The different formulations available and what patients may experience.

• Can progesterone prevent miscarriage? What the PROMISE and PRISM trials found about progesterone treatment and pregnancy loss.

• Progesterone in early pregnancy: When treatment may be continued and what the evidence says about supporting an ongoing pregnancy.

• Personalised fertility treatment: Why progesterone treatment isn't one-size-fits-all and how clinicians approach individual patient needs.

Whether you're trying to conceive naturally, preparing for IVF, considering a frozen embryo transfer or looking for answers after pregnancy loss, this conversation will help you better understand the role of progesterone in fertility.

#Progesterone #Fertility #IVF #TryingToConceive #FertilityUntamed

When IVF transfers fail, it can be difficult to know what to investigate next and which treatments might actually help. So what happens when an embryo doesn't implant, and what does the evidence tell us?

In this episode of Fertility Untamed, Dr Sylvia Ross, Dr Rebecca Mackenzie Proctor and Dr Devini Ameratunga discuss recurrent implantation failure, exploring why IVF doesn't always result in pregnancy and how to approach the next steps.

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Episode topics include:
- What recurrent implantation failure means
- How age and embryo quality affect pregnancy chances
- When further fertility investigations are appropriate
- The evidence behind endometrial receptivity testing (ERA)
- The role of the uterine microbiome, chronic endometritis and PRP
- Natural killer cells and immune-related fertility treatments
- The importance of weighing treatment benefits against risks
- How progesterone levels may influence IVF outcomes

What happens after a failed embryo transfer?
The doctors explore the emotional, physical and financial challenges of repeated unsuccessful transfers, why more testing isn't always better, and how to make informed decisions based on individual circumstances and the available evidence.

Fertility Untamed is hosted by three reproductive endocrinologists discussing fertility, reproductive health and the questions that come up when you're trying to build a family.

#IVF #Infertility #Fertility #EmbryoTransfer #FertilityUntamed

Being diagnosed with adenomyosis can be confronting, especially when you're already navigating fertility challenges. But what does an adenomyosis diagnosis actually mean for your chances of getting pregnant?

In this episode of Fertility Untamed, Dr Rebecca Mackenzie Proctor, Dr Sylvia Ross and Dr Devini Ameratunga discuss adenomyosis, sometimes described as the “evil sister” of endometriosis, and what we currently know about its relationship with fertility.

Episode Topics include:

• What adenomyosis is and how it's diagnosed
• Symptoms of adenomyosis
• The connection between adenomyosis and endometriosis
• Whether adenomyosis can affect natural fertility
• What adenomyosis means for IVF and embryo implantation
• Current treatment options and why the evidence is still evolving
• Whether treatments such as hormonal suppression can improve fertility outcomes
• When surgery may or may not be considered
• Why the severity of adenomyosis matters
• The most important thing to remember after receiving a diagnosis

Most importantly, an adenomyosis diagnosis does not mean you can't get pregnant. The doctors discuss why the condition needs to be considered as part of the bigger fertility picture, rather than something to automatically catastrophise

Fertility Untamed is hosted by three reproductive endocrinologists discussing fertility, reproductive health and the questions that come up when you're trying to build a family.

#Adenomyosis #Fertility #Infertility #IVF #Endometriosis #FertilityUntamed

You've probably heard of gut microbiome, but did you know that your vagina has its own microbiome, and that it contains almost 10% of your body's total bacteria? I this ep, we're talking about how an imbalance of that bacteria can negatively impact your fertility, how we might test for that, and what steps you might take to restore balance. Naturally, we'll be talking probiotics, and ending with Rebecca's entertaining detour into, drumroll...vaginal microbiome transfers. Who wants to go first?

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Egg freezing is no longer experimental—it's an empowering option for people planning for the future. In this episode, we unpack the science behind egg freezing, who it's right for, and the social and emotional realities behind the growing trend. From survival rates to societal expectations, we offer clinical insight with compassion and clarity. Whether you're considering egg preservation or simply curious, this conversation brings facts and perspective to the forefront.

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We have a treat in store for you this episode, with our first special guest. Suellen Peak is an accredited mental health, social work and integrative practitioner with over 15 years experience supporting people through the emotional rollercoaster of fertility treatment. Mental health is incredibly important to us — not just as doctors, but as women who have had our own struggles around fertility and pregnancy. In this episode, we share our own experiences, as well as expert strategies and advice for coping during your fertility journey.

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