Don't Tell Me To RELAX- A Fertility Podcast Hannah Pearn

This week we are looking at what happens for the man as they go through IVF.

I am joined by Kathryn Hawes,  an embryologist at The Lister, to discuss the process of creating embryos and the importance of healthy semen. We look at what healthy semen looks like, the steps involved in creating embryos, the difference between IVF and ICSI, and the use of additional tests and techniques. Kathryn also provides tips for men and couples going through fertility treatment.

We discuss:


What healthy semen looks like
The process of creating embryos involves timing, with the man providing a sperm sample on the day of egg collection, and the sperm and eggs being mixed together for fertilization.
What is the difference between IVF and ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection)
Additional tests and techniques, such as DNA fragmentation testing and the use of the Zymot test
Lifestyle factors, such as maintaining a healthy diet, staying hydrated, and reducing alcohol consumption, can have a positive impact on sperm quality.
Communication and support between partners are important during the fertility treatment process, and it's essential to manage expectations and be kind to each other.



💛 If you'd like more information from our Men in May please join our (Don't Tell Me To RELAX) fertility support group ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ There are webinars on Nutrition for Men, Testing for Men and general fertility issues relating to male fertility to catch up on.

💛 To find out more about how we can support your fertility either online or in person you can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠book a discovery call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or an ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠appointment directly online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

💛 For more information on men & fertility you can download our ⁠⁠⁠Male Fertility Fact Sheet here

This is the third episode in our Men in May Series.



I am joined by Shaun Greenaway and Ciaran Hannington, hosts of the Male Fertility Podcast.

Shaun Greenaway is a male fertility coach and advocate. Having been diagnosed as infertile in 2018, he experienced the heartache, shame and secrecy attached to being a man with no sperm. 



Shaun found himself navigating this trauma alone, with no support networks in place for men at the time. 



Now the proud father to twins conceived via the use of donor sperm, Shaun shares his story via Instagram to provide that voice that he so desperately needed when experiencing infertility. 

To further expand the help and support he can provide men going through fertility struggles, Shaun trained to become an accredited Transformational Coach.



Kieran is The Male Fertility PT and his mission is to work with as many men as possible, supporting and educate men facing the road of infertility on how to enhance and improve their health to optimise their fertility and help achieve their goal of fatherhood.



We discuss their personal experiences with fertility issues and the lack of support for men in this space.



We discuss:


Why we need better education and testing for men at a younger age to help address potential fertility issues.


The lack of mental health support and communication from healthcare professionals for men going through fertility issues.


Why open communication and seeking support from others who have gone through similar experiences is crucial for couples going through fertility treatment.


How much improvements are needed in the healthcare system to provide better support and education for men dealing with fertility issues.



💛 If you'd like more information from our Men in May please join our (Don't Tell Me To RELAX) fertility support group ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ There are webinars on Nutrition for Men, Testing for Men and general fertility issues relating to male fertility to catch up on.



💛 To find out more about how we can support your fertility either online or in person you can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠book a discovery call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or an ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠appointment directly online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠



💛 For more information on men & fertility you can download our ⁠⁠Male Fertility Fact Sheet here

In our second episode as part of our Men in May mini series I am joined by friend of the show Kirsty Harrison.



Kirsty is a nutritionist who specialises in fertility and supports many men with nutrition advice and information to help improve their sperm health.



In this episode we discuss:




Processed foods, trans fats, high sugar and caffeine intake, and the lack of essential nutrients can harm male fertility.


Why a Mediterranean-style diet with fish, seafood, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and essential fats is recommended for male fertility.


The importance of a good breakfast with protein and vegetables is important for overall health and sperm health.


Moderation is key when it comes to caffeine and alcohol consumption for male fertility.


Staying hydrated and reducing sugar intake are important for sperm health.


Alcohol and how non-alcoholic beers may contain high sugar content, which can have a negative effect on sperm health.


Vaping, even without nicotine, can have harmful effects on hormone levels and sperm count.


A good multivitamin and testing for vitamin D levels are recommended for male fertility.


A balanced diet, including foods rich in antioxidants, is important for sperm health.


Sustainable lifestyle changes are crucial for improving sperm health.





PROTEIN POWDERS: Nuzest. The Organic Protein Company. Pink Sun





💛 Kirsty will be doing a live Q&A on Nutrition for Men in our fertility support group on Wednesday 15th May at 7.30 pm.

You can join us in (Don't Tell Me To RELAX) fertility support group ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠



💛 To find out more about how we can support your fertility either online or in person you can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠book a discovery call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or an ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠appointment directly online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠



💛 For more information on men & fertility you can download our ⁠Male Fertility Fact Sheet here

This month in our community and through the podcast we are focusing in on Men.



This is the first episode in our Men in May mini series I am joined by Claire Mooney from Fertility Solutions.

Claire is a consultant embryologist with over 24 years experience in assisted conception. She has worked and trained in some of the most successful IVF units in the world. Claire specialises in Male fertility and believes that in an assisted conception industry that focuses heavily on the female partner it is now essential to turn our attention to the male partner.



This is Claire's second time on the show (she's that good!) and in this episode we discuss how to have healthy sperm, what lifestyle factors can improve sperm quality and how proper testing is important for everyone who is TTC.



We cover:




Why male fertility should be considered and tested before assuming infertility is solely a female issue.


Comprehensive testing for male fertility, including semen analysis, semen culture, and DNA fragmentation testing.


How lifestyle factors such as diet, smoking, alcohol, and temperature can impact sperm health.


How improving sperm quality through lifestyle changes and addressing any issues can increase the chances of successful fertility treatment.


How the decline in sexual frequency may be attributed to busy lives and excessive phone use.


Why regular intercourse between days 7 and 21 of the menstrual cycle is important for maximizing fertility.


Why considering fertility options early on can help individuals make informed choices about their reproductive future.



💛 This is the link for Fertility Solutions. and if you have specific questions for Claire, she will doing a live Q&A in our fertility support group on Friday May 17th at 12 pm.

You can join our (Don't Tell Me To RELAX) fertility support group ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠



💛 To find out more about how we can support your fertility either online or in person you can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠book a discovery call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or an ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠appointment directly online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠



💛 For more information on men & fertility you can download our Male Fertility Fact Sheet here

In this episode, I am joined by Alejandra, from Fertility Support.

Alejandra is an integrative psychotherapist, and we discuss the impact of mental health on fertility. We also look at the differences between counseling, psychotherapy, psychology, and coaching, because quite frankly it's all a bit confusing!

Alejandra explains that fertility issues can have a profound impact on mental health, leading to depression, anxiety, and feelings of isolation. Alejandra shares how psychotherapy can help individuals navigate the emotional challenges of the fertility journey, providing tools, insight, and a supportive therapeutic relationship.



We discuss:


Counselling, psychotherapy, psychology, and coaching and how they differ.


How fertility struggles can have a profound impact on mental health, leading to depression, anxiety, and feelings of isolation.


The relationship between stress and fertility. It is complex and not fully understood, but it is important to avoid oversimplifying the issue by telling individuals to 'just relax'.


How psychotherapy can help individuals navigate the emotional challenges of the fertility journey by providing tools, insight, and a supportive therapeutic relationship.


How finding a psychotherapist who specializes in fertility can offer additional understanding and knowledge of the unique experiences and challenges faced by individuals going through fertility treatments.



💛 For more Fertility Information, Connection and Community,  Join our (Don't Tell Me To RELAX) fertility support group ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠



💛 To find out more about how we can support your fertility either online or in person you can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠book a discovery call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or an ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠appointment directly online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠



💛 Want to track your cycle? Download our Cycle Symptom Tracker and/or BBT chart here.

Today I am joined by lovely Bella, an acupuncturist who specialises in fertility and works in our team.

Bella shares her journey into acupuncture and her passion for women's health and fertility. We explore why acupuncture is popular during IVF, the best times to start acupuncture treatment, and the key times during IVF to go for acupuncture.



We discuss


Why acupuncture is a popular complementary therapy used alongside IVF, recommended by many IVF clinics.
Why the best time to start acupuncture treatment for IVF is ideally three months before the treatment cycle to allow for lifestyle changes and hormone regulation.
What key times during IVF to go for acupuncture including follicular development, after the trigger injection, and before and after embryo transfer.
How acupuncture can help regulate the nervous system, improve blood flow to the reproductive system, regulate hormones, and provide emotional support during the two-week wait.
How acupuncture can also be beneficial in early pregnancy to address symptoms such as morning sickness and constipation and provide support and care.
How acupuncture can provide support and guidance after failed IVF cycles, offering a safe space to process emotions and explore next steps.

If you'd like more information on Acupuncture and IVF please see my Blog with links to the research discussed in this episode.



If you're looking for an acupuncturist who specialises in fertility you're in good hands with anyone who is Fertility Support Trained.



There is also The Acupuncture Fertility Network for a register of Fertility Acupuncturists.



You can also see the British Acupuncture Council for more information on acupuncture and who works in your local area.



💛 Want to LEARN more about your fertility? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for Foundations for Fertility: our Free 5 step Masterclass on Understanding, Optimising and Empowering your Fertility

💛 Looking for CONNECTION & COMMUNITY join our (DTMTR-Don't Tell Me To RELAX) fertility support group ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

💛 To WORK WITH US  in clinic or online you can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠book a discovery call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or an ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠appointment directly online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

💛 For some EMOTIONAL support we have The Pocket Hug: a little guide to help you through. Available for free ⁠here.