Podcast: All Things Male Infertility

Sperm

FGHG Naturopath Rhiannon Hardingham was a recent guest speaker on the Love & Guts podcast with host and naturopath Lynda Griparic.

In this episode Rhiannon shares her wealth of knowledge on all things male infertility including:

  • Why there has been a progressive decline in sperm count
  • What impacts sperm quality and count
  • If hydrotherapy, ice baths and coffee impact sperm health
  • Why semen quality is known as a biomarker of male health
  • Semen analysis testing – what to look out for
  • How thyroid function affects sperm health
  • Rhiannon’s strategies for improving male fertility

And so much more

Listen to the podcast here: Love & Guts Podcast – Male Infertility

How to Improve Endometrial Health

Endometrial Health
By Jo Sharkey, FGHG Acupuncturist and Gina Fox, FGHG Naturopath

The big fertility discussion is often about enhancing egg quality to improve pregnancy rates, however, there is much less said about the other major aspect of being able to conceive and that’s the health of the endometrium and getting the embryo to stick. If the soil isn’t right the seed won’t grow and in this podcast we’re going to discuss things you can take control of to create a health endometrium and improve implantation success. Take heart in knowing that the endometrium regenerates every four weeks so by making some small changes today you’ll have an impact on your next menstrual cycle.

As usual the discussion is with acupuncturist Joanne Sharkey and naturopath Gina Fox and today to bring her knowledge to this topic is another Fertile Ground naturopath, Rhiannon Hardingham.

Listen to the podcast… How to Improve Endometrial Health

Counselling for Fertility, IVF support and Beyond

Why have counselling around IVF treatment and fertility issues?

It’s a paradox that although IVF treatment can feel so overwhelming with appointments and the ups and downs of the emotional roller-coaster, it can also be an opportunity for personal growth rather than emotional shut down.

This idea links in with the studies of well known research professor Brene Brown around courage, vulnerability and empathy; but how can we be encouraged to embrace feelings like vulnerability and not break down when we’re going through fertility issues or undergoing IVF treatment?

FGHG Perinatal and Fertility Counsellor, Suzanne Hurley discusses these issues with Naturopath Gina Fox and looks at how women and men can endure the IVF process and life’s other reproductive challenges and still keep a healthy perspective.  Listen to the Finding Fertility podcast below for more:

Counselling for Fertility, IVF Support and Beyond

Is it all about the egg? Your guide to improving egg quality

You probably knew that you were born with your eggs and that you naturally loose a number as you age. However the follicles sit in hibernation until around 100 days prior to ovulation. That means that the 100 days before the month you conceive is critical in the quality of your eggs.This is because most chromosomal abnormalities happen just before ovulation. Chromosomal abnormalities don’t accumulate slowly over the many years waiting, but happen when they’re exposed to the blood stream and beginning to mature.  


In the latest “Finding Fertility” podcast, FGHG naturopath Gina Fox and acupuncturist Joanne Sharkey discuss the crucial keys to improving egg quality and boosting your chance of conception. Listen to the podcast here…

 

Finding Fertility podcastThe Finding Fertility Podcast is a collaboration between Fertile Ground Health Group practitioners Gina Fox and Joanne Sharkey. In the series they interview leading experts and discuss topics crucial to improving chances of conceiving, and staying healthy through pregnancy and birth.

Choosing Your Obstetrician

Gina Fox (FGHG Naturopath) talks with Dr Sushen Naidoo (Obstetrician)

Want some help with deciding which Obstetrician to choose and how to go about getting an appointment?

What qualities do you want in your Obstetrician? What does a good relationship with your Obstetrician look like?

Have a listen to this podcast for a short discussion and get some questions answered before you decide.

Listen to the podcast here: Choosing Your Obstetrician

IVF 2 Week Wait

By Gina Fox (FGHG naturopath) and Charmaine Dennis (FGHG naturopath and director)

Are you feeling anxious, worried and wondering what you can do for support while you wait for your pregnancy test after embryo transfer? No more appointments now and feeling a bit lost and second guessing whether or not you’re pregnant? Confused with the amount of conflicting information on the internet about what’s safe or helpful and what’s not? What should you eat? How much exercise should you do? Is bed rest best? Should you take time off work? How do you cope with the waiting and the not knowing? What can you do to ease the tension? Common sense and informed answers to these questions (and more) are discussed in this episode of Finding Fertility Podcast by Fertile Ground Health Group naturopaths Gina Fox and Charmaine Dennis.

Feel calmer around the IVF 2 week wait, knowing a few of the dos and don’ts. Enjoy a short guided relaxation in the mix too.

Listen to the podcast here

See all Finding Fertility podcast links here. 

Are all natal multivitamins created equal?

Natal Multivitamins By Gina Fox (FGHG naturopath) and Joanne Sharkey (FGHG acupuncturist)

Surely all preconception and pregnancy natal multivitamins are the same right? If not how do I choose the right one? Do I even need a natal multivitamin if I eat a healthy diet? You might be surprised at the answers to these and many more questions raised in this episode of the Finding Fertility Podcast by Fertile Ground Health Group, naturopath Gina Fox and acupuncturist Jo Sharkey.

You’ll learn how to navigate the world of natal multivitamins, why they are crucial for preconception care and pregnancy and exactly what needs to be considered when choosing one. Navigating the world of multvitamins can be a confusing and expensive exercise if you choose the wrong one.  The right advice from an experienced naturopath can ensure the effectiveness of your supplementation and ultimately save you time, money and peace of mind.

Listen to the podcast here Are all multivitamins created equal?

How to be smart about stress and your fertility

By Gina Fox, Naturopath

Listen now to Gina’s Podcast “How to be smart about stress and your fertility”

The effect of stress can be different for each of us and just because you don’t feel stressed doesn’t mean that you may not be affected. The very busyness of our daily routines can result in constantly raised stress hormones such as cortisol. The effects of stress on the regulation of hormones, blood sugar and adrenal functions are well established and this means that reproduction is compromised, especially when experienced long term.

In the podcast Tasha Jennings ND of Conceive Baby website talks with Naturopath and Natural Fertility Specialist Gina Fox about the impact of stress on fertility and what you can do to improve your chances of falling pregnant.Gina has over 15 years clinical experience with a Masters in Reproductive Medicine. As well consulting at Fertile Ground Health Group, she is also a writer, speaker, naturopathic lecturer, student clinic supervisor and co-founder of the Be Fertile Series of Guided Meditations to support people through the struggles of trying to conceive.

Click here to hear the podcast. “How to be smart about stress and your fertility” Interview by Tasha Jennings from Conceive baby with Naturopath Gina Fox.

Natural Induction. Could it really help?

Natural induction for labour podcast

We hope you enjoy this Finding Fertility podcast interview by Naturopath Gina Fox with Acupuncturist Jo Sharkey and Massage Therapist & Birth Attendant Fiona Harrison on everything you wanted to know about natural induction and birth preparation techniques.

At Fertile Ground we’re receiving more and more referrals from midwives and obstetricians to encourage going into labour naturally, using acupuncture, massage and other techniques that have become increasingly popular.  With more questions than ever being asked, we thought it was time to share everything you needed to know to prepare your body and mind for labour and birth.

Listen here to learn more about how acupuncture, massage and naturopathy can help to prepare your body for spontaneous labour.

Acupuncture for IVF support

Research shows that acupuncture can be used to enhance IVF outcomes. Did you know that acupuncturists can help with preconception care, support around egg collection, pre- and post-transfer treatments and miscarriage prevention? Listen as Gina Fox (FGHG naturopath) interviews Joanne Sharkey (FGHG acupuncturist) about the how’s and why’s of acupuncture to support IVF.  What do you want to know? It’s all covered here!

We are so excited to share this podcast from Fertile Ground Health Group practitioners! Podcasts are such a convenient way to learn, as you can tune in anytime you are able to listen – in the car, on the train, out for a walk in the sunshine, in the bath… you don’t have to be pinned to your desk for yet another session of research on what might help your chances of conceiving.

Listen to the podcast!

We would love to hear your thoughts, as well as answer any questions you may have about the discussion between Jo and Gina.

Feel free to reply directly onto the podcast itself, or send us a message any time. We are always happy to hear from you!

Thanks for listening, and for sharing this information with anyone you know who is struggling with their fertility or embarking on IVF. There are so many benefits of acupuncture (along with scientific confirmation that chances of conceiving are increased up up to 65%!), it may be the thing that makes the difference for success with the next cycle. Given the difficulties and stress of undertaking IVF to conceive, let alone the out-of-pocket costs, why wouldn’t you do this?

Acupuncture is available Monday to Saturday at Fertile Ground Health Group, including daily sessions in our much-loved Multi-bed project.

For more information on all the ways we can support your fertility, please see our website. We will love to help you create your healthy family.