IN SEARCH OF A HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY  

UNDERSTANDING FERTILITY AND IVF  

from 6PM - 8:00PM (Melbourne time)

Mothers Day is a time to celebrate the woman who brought us into the world. Its supposed to be a happy time but for those couples trying without success to achieve a pregnancy it can be a painful  reminder of their situation. Recent  distasteful remarks made  by a  Parliamentarian  in relation to his opinion of the deputy opposition leader's ability to lead being affected by her having not had children - or as he put it - being barren by choice,  reminds us that  here are  people in our culture who might assess a person's worth on their fertility. 

Undoubtedly, one of the greatest advances in public health, particularly for women, has been the freedom to chose to control fertility by using contraception . However some people find that they do not have this choice. Medical science can help many but not all. 

For a long time historically the inability to conceive as well as  the gender of the child was thought to have been entirely a function of the female. Indeed a most prominent example of how this can be taken to an extreme is King Henry VIII who had several of his wives put to death for not being able to produce a male child. But now we know that it takes two to tango and the issue can lie with either the male or female partner or a combination of both. Also, it now seems  his  Royal highness beheaded the wrong people because indeed a  Y chromosome that determines maleness can only come from the father. Women only have X chromosomes. Males have one X and one Y to pass on . Females have two Xs. 

In the 1970's Australia led the world with in vitro fertilisation techniques. These  amazing advances in the treatment of reduced fertility have allowed many couples to achieve the otherwise impossible goal of having their own children.  

Of course this is fabulous, but often the glossy magazine success stories with bouncing happy bubs and parents overshadow the heart ache of those who don/t have a good outcome and  the rocky emotional road that is trod by practically all couples who embark on the search for a happy mothers day.

I was inspired to choose the topic to broadcast on  this date, which is  usually reserved for roses and chockies and a thank you kiss for mums ,because so many people with fertility issues over the years have told me how they find Mothers Day a difficult day because it reminds them of their issues Most come to terms with this but it is important for us all to remember not to take fertility of granted and more over  remind our friends and family that fertility doesn't  make the person.

 And I am not just talking about women. In fact  when it is the male who has the fertility problems the impact is  often even more devastating as unfortunately some equate virility with fertility. Of course this view , like the notion of the barren woman are entirely cultural and need to be addressed. While these days many people are choosing not to have children the issue is about choice and  as it is for  most issues, when  you  don't have the choice it can be very hard to deal with.

During this program we will be discussing the science and the emotional issues surrounding infertility. Joining me in the studio will be experts in Male and Female fertility as well as a counsellor who works with IVF couples..

MY GUESTS ON THE PROGRAM 

Dr Rob McLachlan -   Infertility Specialist in Male Infertility nd Researcher from Andrology Australia and the Prince Henry's Institute 

Professor  Beverley Vollenhoven -  Female Infertility Specialist in Female Infertility from Monash IVF

Sarah Phillips - A counsellor with Monash IVF

 LINKS AND MORE INFO ON  

MY GUESTS FERTILITY RESEARCH AND IVF 

MONASH IVF  - click HERE - 

ANDROLOGY AUSTRALIA  - Click HERE  

PRINCE HENRY'S INSTITUTE   - Click HERE 

Dr ROB McLAUCHLAN'S RESEARCH   - Click HERE 

PROF BEVERLEY VOLLENHOVEN    - Click HERE