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For many of us, we’re not here because we want to be. And more often than not we’ve had a painful journey to get here.
The world of IVF can seem like a minefield, but we believe that with the right knowledge and support you will be better equipped to make the right decisions for your fertility journey.
This network has been created for you by IVF & fertility experts to support you on this very special path to parenthood. We’re in this together.
Become a member to unlock over 60 hours of broadcast material from the best brains in the industry, with more coming out every month!
Reproductive Immunology Testing is an area of fertility treatment that is often used when there has been repeat IVF failures, or pregnancy losses despite good quality embryos. It is considered controversial due to lack of evidence; yet despite this it appears to be on the increase. We are extremely privileged to be joined by leading expert Professor Hassan Shehata to discuss the role of the immune system in fertility treatment.
Professor Hassan Shehata is a UK based Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and a subspecialist in Maternal Medicine at Epsom and St. Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust. He is also an Honorary Senior Lecturer in Obstetrics & Gynaecology at St George’s Hospital Medical School, University of London. He is also a Council member at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
During this live broadcast, you will have plenty of opportunity to ask Professor Hassan Shehata any questions you may have.
Chair: Emma Cannon, Fertility Mentor & Advisor
Speaker: Professor Hassan Shehata, Medical Director and Founder, Centre for Reproductive Immunology and Pregnancy Miscarriage Clinic
Reproductive Immunology Testing is an area of fertility treatment that is often used when there has been repeat IVF failures, or pregnancy losses despite good quality embryos. It is considered controversial due to lack of evidence; yet despite this it appears to be on the increase. We are extremely privileged to be joined by leading expert Professor Hassan Shehata to discuss the role of the immune system in fertility treatment.
Professor Hassan Shehata is a UK based Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and a subspecialist in Maternal Medicine at Epsom and St. Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust. He is also an Honorary Senior Lecturer in Obstetrics & Gynaecology at St George’s Hospital Medical School, University of London. He is also a Council member at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
During this live broadcast, you will have plenty of opportunity to ask Professor Hassan Shehata any questions you may have.
Chair: Emma Cannon, Fertility Mentor & Advisor
Speaker: Professor Hassan Shehata, Medical Director and Founder, Centre for Reproductive Immunology and Pregnancy Miscarriage Clinic
We are delighted to be joined by Mel Johnson, The Solo Parenthood Coach ™ and Founder of The Stork and I, to discuss pathways to solo parenthood.
Mel supports women from around the world who are single and keen to ensure they don’t miss out on parenthood, coaching them to feel empowered and in control of their route to parenthood.
Mel shares her own journey with us and offers advice and guidance for those looking at embarking on a solo parenthood journey. We discuss what to consider, the challenges, going through fertility treatment, choosing a sperm donor, and the importance of building your support network.
To celebrate #FertilityAwarenessWeek and our new collaboration with LGBT Mummies, The IVF Network Founder Charlotte Gentry and LGBT Mummies Founder Laura-Rose Thorogood, got together to share their fertility journey, experiences and share their knowledge to help others on their own fertility path.
In January 2022 it was the 30th anniversary of the first birth after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) at Brussels University Hospital. This session will discuss what ICSI is when it should be used, the process involved, and consider if ICIS is increasing.
We are joined by expert Emma Whitney, Laboratory Manager at The Evewell Clinic and @emmatheembryologist on Instagram. Emma believes IVF patients should be able to understand what goes on in an IVF laboratory. Her goal is to help patients alleviate some of the stress and anxiety caused by so many unknowns.
“IVF is as much an emotional journey as it is a scientific one. I endeavour to protect the mental well-being of my patients through education and awareness. So, no matter what science offers, every patient is in a better position to deal with the outcomes.”
Chaired by:
Emma Cannon, Fertility Mentor & Advisor
Speaker: Emma Whitney, Laboratory Manager, The Evewell Clinic and @emmatheembryologist
Chair: Emma Kafton, Founder and Patient Services Director, The Evewell
Speakers include: Jack Gardener, Partner, Phillips Law
Balancing fertility treatment and work is extremely challenging. The IVF Network is proud to present this live broadcast which will consider the challenges and difficulties of balancing fertility treatment and work, the support needed for employees, not just those going through fertility treatment but their partners, and why it is important and beneficial for companies to support their employees as they go through their fertility journey.
Chair: Emma Cannon, Fertility Mentor & Advisor
Speakers: Mr James Nicopoullos - Clinical Director and “Person Responsible”, The Lister Clinic and Dr Lynne Chapman, Medical Director and Founder LCRH Ltd
The IVF Network is proud to present this live broadcast on ‘Understanding IVF Add-Ons’ with leading fertility experts Mr James Nicopoullos and Dr Lynne Chapman. The session will explain the add-ons that may be offered to you, such as an endometrial scratch, time lapse imaging of embryos, and the prescription of steroids, testosterone and growth hormones.
Our experts will discuss what you need to consider when looking at add-ons to decide which may be beneficial. The session will also explain the HFEA’s traffic light system designed to help patients make informed decisions.
This live broadcast focuses on how complementary therapy programmes can support you on your IVF journey. Emma Cannon has experience in working with many different therapies in particular acupuncture & putting together multidisciplinary programmes
Maxine Hamilton Stubber is an osteopath who & for many years has worked with mainstream medicine. She now incorporates many different techniques in her work.
Andrew Wallas has many years experience of working with couples with relationship problems. As well as writing a book called Intention. Between them, they have around 90 years of experience.
Chaired by:
Emma Cannon, Fertility Expert & Mentor
Speakers:
Andrew Wallas, An Alternative Strategy for Life & Work
Maxine Hamilton Stubber, Founder, We Own Wellbeing
Pathways to parenthood for LGBTQI + families
The IVF Network are proud to present this live broadcast exploring pathways for LGBTQI+ families, to support you on your journey to parenthood.
We are delighted to be joined by Laura-Rose Thorogood, Founder, LGBT Mummies and Michael Johnson-Ellis, Founder, TwoDadsUK® & My Surrogacy Journey® who will be sharing their own personal journeys to parenthood. They will also explore the various pathways for LGBTQI+ families, fertility options, choosing your fertility path and the barriers and implications that may impact your journey.
During this live broadcast, you will also have the opportunity to ask our speakers any questions you may have.
Laura-Rose Thorogood is a married lesbian of fifteen years & mother of three children by IUI & IVF treatment spanning over a decade. She is Founder of LGBT Mummies & Proud Foundations, a global organisation that provides a community, guidance & support to LGBT+ women & people on the path to parenthood along with LGBT+ education to the NHS, medical, corporate & charity organisations through their educational arm Proud Foundations.
Michael Johnson-Ellis is Dad to Talulah and Duke. Talulah and Duke were born with the help of their amazing Surrogate Caroline (and their incredible egg donors). Mike is also step-Dad to Wes’ 17 year old daughter, Katie. Mike and his husband Wes are founders of TwoDadsUK® & My Surrogacy Journey®, offering practical and emotional advice to support those on a journey to become parents via Surrogacy.
Amber Wilde fell in love with partner Kirsty as a teenager and half a lifetime later, the pair are more-in love than ever, raising five gorgeous children by the seaside. In her award-winning 'modern love story' blog, Meet the Wildes, she talks honestly about parenting challenges and motherhood in a two-mum family.
Chair:
Dr Amy Barrie, Head of Laboratories, Care Fertility UK
Speakers:
Amber Wilde, Meet the Wildes
Laura-Rose Thorogood, Founder, LGBT Mummies
Michael Johnson-Ellis, Founder, TwoDadsUK® & My Surrogacy Journey®
Giving you the opportunity to ask top fertility experts your burning questions.
Become a member to join next session.
Chair: Charlotte Gentry, Founder, The IVF Network
Leading Expert: Dr Irfana Kiota FRCOG, Fertility Consultant & Director, IVF Matters
In the latest in our Ask the Expert series we are delighted to be joined by leading fertility expert, Dr Irfana Kiota. Our Ask the Expert sessions are a fantastic opportunity to ask your questions directly to our leading fertility specialists.
Irfana will share her expertise on preserving your fertility through egg freezing. She will dispel the misconceptions about women who want to freeze their eggs and talk through the process and what is involved. It is a lot easier than many think and as awareness is growing about this procedure as a real option for all women, this is a great opportunity to understand where to start and how it can improve your chances in having a baby.
There will then be plenty of time for you to ask your questions to Irfana not just on accessing the right experts to support your journey but any fertility questions you have for her on this important topic.
Ask the Expert: Emma Cannon, Fertility & women’s health expert & Founder of the Emma Cannon Clinic Thursday 17th August 7:00pm – 7:45pm Virtual Live Session
Chair: Charlotte Gentry, CEO & Founder, The IVF Network
Leading Expert: Emma Cannon, Fertility & women’s health expert & Founder of the Emma Cannon Clinic.
For this month’s Ask the Expert we are delighted to be joined by Emma Cannon, Fertility & women’s health expert & Founder of the Emma Cannon Clinic. Our Ask the Expert sessions are a fantastic opportunity to ask your questions directly to our leading fertility specialists. Emma Cannon is a fertility mentor, advisor, acupuncturist and author of 5 books on Fertility. Emma has been supporting individuals and couples on the path to becoming parents for over 25 years; her aim is to help people to become parents from a place of health and balance. Emma works in a unique integrated way that combines the best of modern research, treatments and diagnostics with complementary therapies and traditional practices. She also has a special interest in immunology and the role the immune system has on fertility and also the impact of trauma, past and present. Emma holds a bachelor of Science Degree and is a member of The British Acupuncturist Council.
For this months Talk to the Expert we are delighted to be joined by Phoebe Babbington, Deputy Laboratory Manager at Care Fertility.
Our Talk to the Expert sessions are a fantastic opportunity to ask your questions directly to our leading fertility specialists.
Phoebe Babbington completed her embryology training in the NHS in Manchester. Here she graduated from the Scientist Training Programme as Registered Clinical Embryologist in 2015. Since then she has worked for CARE Fertility, in both their Tunbridge Wells and London clinics. After a few years in the London clinic Phoebe become a biopsy practitioner, and more recently promoted to the Deputy Lab manager in 2021. The lab she works in does approximatley 800 cycles per year, of which a large proportion of patients have PGT-A cycles.
Tuesday 20th June 7:00pm – 7:45pm
Virtual Live Session
Chair: Charlotte Gentry, Founder, The IVF Network
Leading Expert: Sara J Matthews, Gynaecology and Fertility Consultant
For this months Talk to the Expert we are delighted to be joined by leading fertility expert Sara J Matthews. Our Talk to the Expert sessions are a fantastic opportunity to ask your questions directly to our leading fertility specialists.
Sara J Matthews has one of the broadest experiences of all consultants in the UK in the field of Fertility Medicine, having worked in a number of the largest, most established and highly regarded fertility units in the country.
Miss Matthews trained with Sir Robert Winston at the Hammersmith hospital in London, then in Leeds at the General infirmary and St James University teaching hospitals, where she did her Masters degree. RCOG subspecialty training in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery followed at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge, in conjunction with the University of Cambridge. Miss Matthews was an undergraduate tutor for several Cambridge colleges, and continued her IVF training at the famous Bourn hall clinic.
Subsequent consultant positions include clinics in both the NHS and private sectors: ISIS fertility clinic (now Bourn Hall) in Colchester, The Bridge Centre in London, The London Fertility Clinic, and CRM London (now CARE London).
Miss Matthews became the youngest Medical Director of an IVF unit in the UK when she was appointed at the Homerton Foundation University NHS Hospital Trust in London in 2005.
She is now based solely at the Portland Hospital for Women and Children in London, where she has had her own very successful independent practice since 2008.
Miss Matthews is a senior gynaecologist as well as a fertility specialist. She trained in psychiatry and genitourinary medicine, holds the MSSVD certificate for the management of STIs, and is a qualified Forensic Medical Officer (trained in the assessment and care of victims of sexual assault). She is an advanced laparoscopic surgeon (MAS level 2), and certified aesthetic gynaecologist.
A number of TV and radio programmes, and national women’s magazine articles have included Miss Matthews over the years, and she made headline news worldwide last year as the doctor responsible for the first woman to have a baby using transplanted ovarian tissue that had been frozen before puberty. She continues to be involved in cutting edge research in this exciting area of fertility preservation.
Ongoing research projects at the clinic include the use of poppy seed oil infusions (lipiodal) to improve implantation for women having IVF, and the efficacy of radio frequency treatment (ThermiVa) to treat vaginal dryness in women with breast cancer on Tamoxifen.
For this months Talk to the Expert we are delighted to be joined by leading fertility expert Ed Coats. Our Talk to the Expert sessions are a fantastic opportunity to ask your questions directly to our leading fertility specialists. Ed Coats will share his advice on Fertility over 40.
There will then be plenty of time for you to ask your questions to Ed Coats.
Friday 31st March
Chair: Emma Cannon, Fertility Mentor & Advisor
Leading Specialist: Andrew Flower PhD, Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine, Teacher at White Crane Academy
We are delighted to be joined by leading Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine expert, Andrew Flower who will share his expertise on how Chinese Herbal Medicine can support those with Endometriosis.
Andrew Flower has been practising acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) since 1992. On graduating he gained a wide range of experience working in private practice, and within the UK National Health Service and voluntary sector working with people with HIV/AIDS and with drug and alcohol addictions.
He is a past President of the UK Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine and has advised the European Herbal Traditional Practitioners Association on developing research strategies in Europe.
In 2009 Andrew completed his PhD at The University of Southampton exploring the role of Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of endometriosis.
He has published a number of peer-reviewed papers relating to Chinese medicine research, including two Cochrane systematic reviews.
He co-ordinated an EU project that prepared guidelines to improve the quality of clinical trials into Chinese medicine.
In 2011 he was awarded a 5 year NIHR Post doctoral Fellowship to investigate Chinese herbs for the treatment of recurrent urinary tract infections (RUTIs) that has resulted in the RUTI trial that started recruiting in Feb 2016.
He has a special interest in providing supportive treatment for people with cancer.
He is a Founding member of the White Crane Academy of CHM and is passionate about the therapeutic potential of herbal medicines and the importance of rigorous training to ensure this potential is realised.
Monday 20th March 7:00pm – 7:45pm
Virtual Live Session
Chair: Emma Cannon, Fertility Mentor & Advisor
Leading Specialist: Dr Simone Rofena, Medical Director, Zita West
For this months Talk to the Expert we are delighted to be joined by leading fertility expert, Dr Simone Rofena. Our Talk to the Expert sessions are a fantastic opportunity to ask your questions directly to our leading fertility specialists. Dr Rofena will share his expertise on implantation failure. There will then be plenty of time for you to ask your questions to Dr Rofena not just on implantation failure but any questions you have for him on your fertility journey.
''Working in medicine, you can live a life focused on the sadder side of human existence, such as death and illness. I’ve always felt incredibly lucky that I chose, some 20 years ago, to focus on fertility and IVF, as I work in the side of medicine that is about life.
Since I started working in IVF, there haven’t been that many major breakthroughs scientifically. Drugs and techniques have improved but there hasn’t been anything radical that has shaken up the industry.'' - Dr Simone Rofena
Wednesday 15th March 7:00pm – 7:45pm
Virtual Live Session
Chair: Charlotte Gentry, Founder, The IVF Network
Leading Specialist: Professor Charles Kingsland, Clinical Director, CARE Fertility
For this months Talk to the Expert we are delighted to be joined by leading fertility expert, Professor Charles Kingsland. Our Talk to the Expert sessions are a fantastic opportunity to ask your questions directly to our leading fertility specialists. Professor Charles Kingsland will share advice and support from his 40 years experience in fertility. There will be plenty of time for you to ask your questions to Professor Charles Kingsland.
After fertility training in Cambridge and London in the late 1980s, Charles Kingsland founded the Hewitt Fertility Centre in Liverpool with the aim of providing the highest quality NHS service within the United Kingdom.
Charles has become one of the world’s outstanding fertility specialists. As media spokesman for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Charles appears regularly on Television and Radio programmes and is in high demand as a public speaker. A BBC documentary of his work in Liverpool was broadcast in 2014.
Wednesday 1st March, 7:00pm – 7:45pm
Virtual Live Session
Leading Specialist: Stuart Lavery MBBCh MSc MRCOG, Consultant in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery, Honorary Associate Professor UCLH, Aria Women’s Health
Chair: Charlotte Gentry, Founder, The IVF Network
For this weeks Talk to the Expert we are delighted to be joined by leading fertility expert, Mr Stuart Lavery. Our Talk to the Expert sessions are a fantastic opportunity to ask your questions directly to our leading fertility specialists. Stuart Lavery will share his expertise on preimplantation genetic testing. There will then be plenty of time for you to ask your questions to Mr Lavery not just on preimplantation genetic testing but any questions you have for him on your fertility journey.
Stuart Lavery is a leading London-based consultant in gynaecology, reproductive medicine, and surgery at the Hammersmith and Queen Charlotte’s Hospitals in London. Stuart Lavery leads the Preimplantation Genetic Testing team and the Fertility Preservation Service.
Stuart was a founding partner of The Fertility Partnership, the largest provider of assisted conception services in the UK, with eleven clinics.
Join us here: https://www.theivfnetwork.com/ivf-network-members/live
Tuesday 21st February, 7:00pm – 7:45pm
Virtual Live Session
Leading Specialist: Carole Gilling-Smith, CEO, Founder & Medical Director, The Agora Clinic
Chair: Michael Johnson-Ellis, Founder, Two Dads UK
For this months Talk to the Expert we are delighted to be joined by leading fertility expert, Carole Gilling-Smith, CEO, Founder & Medical Director, The Agora Clinic. Our Talk to the Expert sessions are a fantastic opportunity to ask your questions directly to our leading fertility specialists. Carole Gilling-Smith will discuss The journey to parenthood for LGBTQ+ people. There will then be plenty of time for you to ask your questions to Carole Gilling-Smith on your fertility journey.
For this months Talk to the Expert we are delighted to be joined by leading fertility expert, James Nicopoullos. Our Talk to the Expert sessions are a fantastic opportunity to ask your questions directly to our leading fertility specialists. James Nicopoullos will share his expertise on Male Infertility. There will then be plenty of time for you to ask your questions to Mr Nicopoullos not just on male infertility but any questions you have for him on your fertility journey.
James Nicopoullos joined The Lister Fertility clinic in 2008. He graduated from Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals in 1996, before training predominantly in London. Through this time, he trained under a number of eminent consultants specialising in reproductive medicine that fuelled his interest in the field. He undertook an MD research thesis in “the effect of sperm aneuploidy and DNA fragmentation on ICSI outcome” at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, where he also completed his subspecialist training in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery.
Talk to the Expert with Dr Lynne Chapman
Wednesday 11th January
Chair: Charlotte Gentry, Founder, The IVF Network
Leading Specialist: Dr Lynne Chapman, Reproductive Medicine Consultant
For the first of our Talk to the Expert series for 2023 we were delighted to be joined by leading fertility expert, Dr Lynne Chapman. Our Talk to the Expert sessions are a fantastic opportunity to ask your questions directly to our leading fertility specialists.
Dr Chapman will share her expertise on a wide range of fertility topics including IUI, previously failed IVF cycles, low ovarian reserves and recurrent pregnancy loss. There will then be plenty of time for you to ask your questions to Dr Chapman on your fertility journey.
Throughout her career, Reproductive Medicine Consultant Dr Lynne Chapman, MBBS BSc (Neuro) MRCOG, has been at the forefront of assisted conception and fertility science.
During that time, she has guided thousands of couples and families on their journey to conception with IVF, egg freezing, sperm and egg donor services, and fertility therapies.
She works in collaboration with leading laboratories and multidisciplinary teams including andrology, surgery, medical and obstetrics experts to provide outstanding personal and clinical care at every step of the journey.
Lynne is also proud to work with some of the UK’s foremost providers of complementary fertility therapies including dieticians, acupuncturists, counsellors and more.
Our Talk to the Expert sessions are a fantastic opportunity to ask your questions directly to our leading fertility specialists.
Expert Emma Roberts will share her expertise on EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) and how it can support you on your fertility journey. There will then be plenty of time for you to ask your questions to Emma.
EXPERT : Emma Roberts, EFT Founding Master and Master Trainer, Clinical Hypnotherapist and NLP Master Practitioner, co-founder of The EFT Centre
CHAIR : Emma Cannon, Fertility Mentor & Advisor
Talk to the Expert: Implantation with James Nicopoullos, Clinical Director and “Person Responsible”, The Lister Clinic Thursday 22nd September
Chair: Charlotte Gentry, Founder, The IVF Network
Leading Specialist: James Nicopoullos - Clinical Director and “Person Responsible”, The Lister Clinic
In the first of our Talk to the Expert series we are delighted to be joined by leading fertility expert, Mr James Nicopoullos, Clinical Director and “Person Responsible”, The Lister Clinic.
Our Talk to the Expert sessions are a fantastic opportunity to ask your questions directly to our leading fertility specialists.
James Nicopoullos will share his expertise on Implantation, what the process involves and how to improve your chances of implantation. There will then be plenty of time for you to ask your questions to James not just on implantation but any questions you have for him on your fertility journey.
"The content The IVF Network produces for anyone going through a fertility journey is exceptional. It has really helped me make some stronger choices about my next steps."
"I was attracted to the IVF network because of the high-quality content of the broadcasts. I feel this is content that I can trust, which is a relief in the world of IVF where there is so much out there if you google it, so the IVF network has helped me to cut through some of that and find resources I can rely on (and then not waste time in rounds of obsessive googling!)."
