Fertility Myths Every Woman Needs to Stop Believing | Science-Backed TTC Advice
Her Discussions with Dr Faye BateShow Notes
⚠️ Trigger warning: This episode contains discussions of miscarriage, pregnancy loss and IVF. How do you know what's actually true when it comes to fertility? This week, Dr Zeynep Gurtin, Associate Professor of Reproductive Sociology and Women's Health, UCL, joins us to unpack the realities of egg freezing, IVF, miscarriage, fertility testing and the growing pressure women face when it comes to family planning.
This is one of our most nuanced conversations yet, cutting through the myths, misinformation and fear surrounding fertility. What you’ll learn: 💔 How 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage 🧬 The biggest fertility myth women are sold 🤍 How to support a friend through infertility 📉 Why IVF succeeds only ~30% of the time ⚠️ Why egg freezing isn't the guarantee women think it is Dr Zeynep Gurtin is an Associate Professor of Reproductive Sociology and Women's Health, UCL, and a Board Member at the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. She regularly writes and speaks about the social, cultural and emotional aspects of reproduction, fertility and family life in the media and to a wide range of audiences. You can read her article about Tahlequah the Orca here: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/oct/30/moment-changed-me-miscarriages-devastating-orcas-grief-try-again Zeynep is currently conducting research on the experiences of women who have thawed their frozen eggs, and on women who have chosen freebirth. If you are interested to find out more about being involved with these research projects, or in booking Zeynep for consultancy, you can contact her at [email protected] https://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/67708-zeynep-gurtin/grants
P.S. We've also been nominated for ITV Podcast Creator of the Year (!!!) 🏆 If you've learnt something from our podcast this year, I'd be so grateful if you could take a minute to vote for us. It genuinely means the world: https://bit.ly/4ynqe45 Select ‘Creator Shortlist’ Scroll down to ‘Podcast bCreator of the Year - Her Discussions with Dr Faye Bate’ THANK YOU 🤍 🔔 Join the HERd* broadcast channel here: https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbY4liwxlLnewx4H/?igsh=MWhuaXFweGtucTB3cA== 📱 Find us on socials: Instagram & Tiktok - @drfayebate Podcast Instagram & Tiktok: @herdiscussionspod 📩 Want to reach out? Email: [email protected] 🛑 Disclaimers: Opinions are my own. This content is for educational / entertainment purposes and not medical or financial advice.
More from Her Discussions with Dr Faye Bate
Another Thursday, another mini episode!
How are we supposed to make informed decisions about our fertility when there's so much conflicting information? In this episode, I'm joined by Dr Pavan Minhas, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, to unpack some of the biggest misconceptions surrounding fertility, from the biological clock and fertility testing, to male infertility and the advice we're seeing all over social media. Together, we explore what the science actually tells us and how we can make more informed decisions about our reproductive health, without unnecessary fear. We also talk about: 🧬 Why men contribute to up to 50% of infertility cases 💊 Does being on the pill for 10 years affect your fertility? ⏰ What actually happens to your fertility after 35 🥚 Why AMH testing can’t tell you how likely you are to get pregnant 📱 Which viral fertility hacks actually have scientific evidence? Resources & links mentioned: -Dr Pavan’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctorpavan/?hl=en -Faye’s fertility clinic video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lt0xEoT3QPc&t=997s -Study on fertility awareness among university students: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21281094/ 💌 Subscribe to our newsletter: https://bit.ly/herdiscussions 🔔 Join the HERd* broadcast channel here: https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbY4liwxlLnewx4H/?igsh=MWhuaXFweGtucTB3cA== 📱 Find us on socials: Instagram & Tiktok - @drfayebate Podcast Instagram & Tiktok: @herdiscussionspod 📩 Want to reach out? Email: [email protected] 🛑 Disclaimers: Opinions are my own. This content is for educational / entertainment purposes and not medical or financial advice. NOTE: The average age of women freezing their eggs in the UK is about 35 (HFEA, 2023). It is important to discuss what’s included in the cost with your provider, if you are looking at freezing your eggs. AMH - The figures mentioned are a hypothetical example. AMH falls with age, but the rate varies between individuals and can’t be predicted from one test. Speak to a doctor about your results.
Another Thursday, another mini episode!
What if the reason you’re struggling isn’t you, but the systems around you? This week, I sat down with Jenny Okolo, a mental health occupational therapist and TEDx speaker, who has worked across forensic mental health and the prison system, to talk about ADHD, autism and what happens when neurodivergent people are expected to fit into environments that weren’t designed with them in mind. We also talk about: ⚡ The 70% rule that can make life with ADHD easier 🏫 How schools, healthcare & prisons can fail neurodivergent people 💼 What your workplace can actually do to support ADHD 📱 When self diagnosis helps VS when it can become harmful 👀 Why someone’s worst behaviour doesn’t tell you their whole story Resources & links mentioned: -Jenny’s TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMg_s4mGjVY -Jenny’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenokolo/?hl=en -Faye’s ADHD book recommendation: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0971460973?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1
Another Thursday, another mini episode!