Take control of your fertility. Get answers to your burning fertility questions without waiting until your next appointment by joining one of our series of upcoming events, or watching recordings of our previous sessions.
Hosted by Jennifer Elworthy
Career & Fertility Coach
We’ve partnered with ScreenMe, who are committed to exploring innovative avenues in reproductive health to empower individuals on their fertility journeys. New research highlights the significant impact of reproductive microbiomes on various aspects of reproductive health, from IVF success to addressing issues like unexplained infertility, miscarriage risk, infections, and more.
The vaginal microbiome, shaped by factors such as age, diet, lifestyle, and hormonal balance, is a key player in fertility.
Join us and our panel of experts as they delve into the latest findings, discussing how reproductive microbiome testing can offer valuable insights and support for individuals on their fertility journeys.
Date: 5 December
Time: 7-7.30pm
Host: Jennifer Elworthy, Career & Fertility Coach
Expert: Tracey Sainsbury, Specialist Fertility Counsellor
Our Members Virtual Community Catch-Up sessions are a safe space for members to connect, share stories, ask questions, and gain support from other members of The IVF Network who know exactly what you’re going through. This month we will be looking at navigating mental health over the festive period and are delighted to be joined by Tracey Sainsbury who is a specialist fertility counsellor with over twenty years’ experience providing support to individuals and couples throughout and beyond their fertility journey. Tracey will share her knowledge of how stress affects fertility and will be offering advice on how to cope with infertility during the holiday period.
Research shows that stress can impact your pathway to parenthood whether you are trying to conceive naturally or with assistance, coupled with the holiday season this makes for one of the most challenging times of the year. If you’re currently on a fertility journey and nervous about navigating the holidays, join us and hear some helpful ways to get you through the season with the unique stressors of infertility in mind. Plus, don’t miss out on the opportunity to ask your questions too.
This is a welcoming, confidential, nurturing and judgement free space for women impacted by fertility issues. We hope you can join us to meet other members and gain support from The IVF Network community.
Date: 12 December 2023
Time: 7-7.30pm (30 mins)
Host: Charlotte Gentry, Founder, The IVF Network
Expert: Emma Cannon, Fertility Specialist
In the latest in our Ask the Expert series we will be looking at yow to get through the festive season when you are struggling with your fertility and what emotional support is needed. We are delighted to be joined by leading fertility specialist and IVF Network advisory board member, Emma Cannon.
The festive season can be particularly difficult if you're facing infertility issues or struggling to conceive. Balancing a fertility journey and festive festivities isn’t always easy, and it can feel lonely and isolating - but it can be done! Our Ask the Expert sessions are a fantastic opportunity to ask your questions directly to our leading fertility experts and get coping tips and advice. Emma will share her suggestions on how to get through December while facing fertility challenges and guide you through her pragmatic coping mechanisms for men and women whatever stage you are at in your fertility journey.
The holidays can amplify all of your insecurities and anxiety about struggling to conceive – but help is on hand. The IVF Network has a whole host of information designed to help you navigate every stage of your journey. Ask the Expert is for you to get the answers you need from the experts.
Tuesday 6th June
7:00pm - 7:45pm
Our Members Virtual Community Catch-Up sessions are a safe space for you to connect, share stories, ask questions, and gain support from other members of The IVF Network who know exactly what you’re going through. This month we are delighted to be joined by Jennifer Elworthy, Career and Fertility Coach.
We hope you can join us to meet other members and gain support from The IVF Network community.
Chair: Laura-Rose Thorogood, Founder, LGBT Mummies
Panellist: Carole Gilling-Smith, CEO, Founder & Medical Director, The Agora Clinic
To celebrate Pride month we are delighted to be joined by Laura-Rose Thorogood and Carole Gilling-Smith who will share with us their expert advice on the various pathways available for LGBTQI+ families and what fertility options and treatment processes are available. They will consider what are the barriers & implications that impact your journey to parenthood for LGBTQ+ people and look at legal considerations.
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.
Join our LIVE stream from RSA House as we host our Fertility in the Workplace: ‘JOURNEY’ event. We will show you how to create a fertility policy as well as hear from other experts and influencers who will be sharing their real-life stories.
Our Fertility in the Workplace: ‘JOURNEY’ event will feature two panels including Real-life Stories with host, Laura Capell-Abra, and LGBT Mummies Founder Laura-Rose Thorogood, APLBC CEO Linda Bekoe, and Partner at Burgess Mee Family Law Natalie Sutherland.
Our second panel will explore 'How to Build a Fertility Policy' and will feature host Hannah Vaughan Jones and Senior Associate at Lewis Silkin Lisa Dafydd, Career Fertility Coach Jennifer Elworthy, CPC, Senior Corporate Lawyer and Co-chair of 4Womxn at Channel 4 Pamela Bird and Clinical Director of Lister Fertility Clinic James Nicopoullos.
Join here: https://vimeo.com/event/3401983
Thursday 11th May 7:00pm - 7:45pm
Our Members Virtual Community Catch-Up sessions are a safe space for you to connect, share stories, ask questions, and gain support from other members of The IVF Network who know exactly what you’re going through. This month we are delighted to be joined by Laura Barnett, author of This Beating Heart, who will share her own experience of undergoing IVF.
We hope you can join us to meet other members and gain support from The IVF Network community.
Laura Barnett is an author, journalist and teacher of creative writing. Her fourth novel, This Beating Heart, is rooted in her own experience of undergoing IVF. The lead character’s story is not her own, but an exploration of the physical and emotional impact of fertility treatment lies at the heart of the novel.
Laura is also the author of The Versions of Us, Greatest Hits and Gifts. As an arts journalist and theatre critic, she has written regularly for The Guardian, The Observer, The Daily Telegraph and Time Out London.
Laura lives with her husband Andy, son Caleb and cat Eno in rural Kent.
Donor Conception Awareness: Truth and Transparency
Chair: Charlotte Gentry, Founder, The IVF Network
Panellist: Laura-Rose Thorogood, Founder, LGBT Mummies
To celebrate Donor Conception Awareness Day we are delighted to be joined by Laura-Rose Thorogood, Founder, LGBT Mummies. Laura-Rose will share her own donor conception journey with us and discuss key considerations before embarking on donor conception including; Why it is important to talk about donor conception before trying to conceive as a person/couple/co parent; Legal implications to consider; Choosing a donor; Talking to your children about donor conception.
Our Members Virtual Community Catch-up sessions are a safe space for you to connect, share stories, ask questions, and gain support from other members of The IVF Network who know exactly what you’re going through. This month we are delighted to be joined by Liz Whitehead and Debbie Sutherland, who will share their experiences of undergoing IVF as part of National Infertility Awareness Week #UseYourVoice
Our Members Virtual Community Catch-Up sessions are a safe space for you to connect, share stories, ask questions, and gain support from other members of The IVF Network who know exactly what you’re going through. This month we are delighted to be joined by Seetal Savla of www.instagram.com/savlafaire/ who will share her journey with us.
We hope you can join us to meet other members and gain support from The IVF Network community.
After six years of battling infertility, which included an early miscarriage and four failed IVF cycles using her own eggs, Seetal Savla was delighted to be pregnant following her first donor egg IVF round, however she sadly devastatingly lost the baby. A few months later out of the blue she conceived her daughter naturally.
She understands the pain and heartache people go through on their fertility journey and shares her own journey to support and help others, and open the conversation around IVF, donor conception and miscarriage, especially within the South Asian community.
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.
DATE: Wednesday 22nd March
Chair: Charlotte Gentry, Founder, The IVF Network
Panellist: Carole Gilling-Smith, CEO, Founder & Medical Director, The Agora Clinic
Panellist: Vanessa Tucker, Nutritional Consultant, Wild Nutrition
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a very common condition affecting the function of a woman’s ovaries and can lead to difficulty getting pregnant, but the good news is that it's treatable. Our leading experts will discuss what PCOS is, the symptoms and causes, and what treatment there is for PCOS if you are trying to conceive. We will also discuss the nutrients, supplements and herbs that can support PCOS and fertility.
We are delighted to be joined by leading experts Carole Gilling-Smith, CEO, Founder & Medical Director, The Agora Clinic and Vanessa Tucker of Wild Nutrition.
Carole Gilling-Smith graduated in Medicine from Cambridge in 1984 and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (FRCOG). Over her career she has acquired extensive knowledge and experience in the field of reproductive medicine and infertility.
Carole was awarded a Medical Research Council Training Fellowship in Reproductive Medicine in 1990 and completed her PhD thesis on the genetics of polycystic ovary syndrome whilst working as a Clinical Fellow in Reproductive Medicine at St Mary’s Hospital in London. She pursued further research there on pelvic pain and recurrent miscarriage as a Clinical Lecturer and Senior Registrar before being appointed Director of the Chelsea & Westminster Assisted Conception Unit in 2000. There she developed the UK’s first fertility programme for HIV infected patients and remains a national and international expert on the management of patients with viral illness who are trying to conceive safely.
With more than 14 years experience in women’s health, Vanessa Tucker is a registered naturopathic nutrition consultant, with a BSc (Hons) in Health Science in Complementary Medicine, and diplomas in Naturopathy and Herbal Medicine. Vanessa has particular expertise in PCOS, reproductive health, metabolic and glycemic control and thyroid health. Vanessa’s herbal medicine training has provided her with a deep understanding of plant biochemistry and the clinical benefits for PCOS and reproductive health. Vanessa is a nutrition consultant for Wild Nutrition’s online consultation services and frequently asked to comment on PCOS and reproductive health in the press.
