Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes in fertility treatment? Join Emma, the embryologist, and her husband Simon for a down-to-earth conversation about making dreams of parenthood a reality. Each episode dives into the science of embryology in a way that's easy to understand, empowering you to ask the right questions on your fertility journey.
Hatching a Plan
Claim This Podcastby Emma Whitney, Simon Tomes
5.0(15 reviews)
7 episodes
Updated Bi-weekly
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇬🇧
47
Podcast Authority
BetaFairBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality48
Social0
YouTube66
Engagement51
Podcast Overview
Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes in fertility treatment? Join Emma, the embryologist, and her husband Simon for a down-to-earth conversation about making dreams of parenthood a reality. Each episode dives into the science of embryology in a way that's easy to understand, empowering you to ask the right questions on your fertility journey.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
6/30/2024
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47
Podcast Authority
BetaFairBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality48
Social0
YouTube66
Engagement51
8
Excellent Areas
1
Good Performance
10
Growth Opportunities
excellent
Episode Length
9 minutes
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good
iTunes Tags
7.6/10
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Publishing Consistency
Every 37 days
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Recent Episodes
February 15, 2026
Unspoken outcomes: When IVF doesn’t go to plan
<p>Simon Tomes and Emma the Embryologist discuss what IVF really means, why “just do IVF” is an oversimplification, and how treatment can stop unexpectedly before an embryo transfer. Emma outlines the typical IVF process—stimulation, egg collection, lab fertilisation and embryo culture—and explains that there are multiple biological hurdles before a pregnancy test is even possible.</p><p><br></p><p>They cover common points where cycles can end early, including not being able to stimulate, collecting no eggs, getting eggs that are immature and unusable, having eggs but no sperm on the day, failed fertilisation, embryos failing to divide, embryos not reaching blastocyst stage, PGT-A results showing all embryos are chromosomally abnormal, and rare cases where a frozen embryo doesn’t survive thawing. </p><p><br></p><p>Emma emphasises global relevance, the role of clinic monitoring and policies, the importance of context and asking clinics about their experience, and the reality that clinicians don’t always have answers. The episode ends with a recent success story and an update on Fertility Action, a charity advocating for improved NHS fertility funding and providing free support groups.</p><p>Ask the right questions on your fertility journey. Join Emma the Embryologist and dive into the science of embryology in a way that's easy to understand. Visit her website for more helpful information and sign up to her newsletter for updates: <a href="https://www.emmatheembryologist.com/">https://www.emmatheembryologist.com</a></p>
February 4, 2025
Does the embryo grade tell us everything we need to know?
<p>Is the embryo grade as important as everyone thinks? Join Emma the Embryologist and her husband Simon Tomes as they discuss critical aspects of embryo grading, the importance of school education on infertility, and Emma's informative visit to the UK parliament. </p><p>Discover the intricate details of embryo grading, the common misconceptions, and why clinics might 'cherry-pick' embryos. Learn about Emma’s impactful school visits aimed at educating young women about reproductive health and the surprising truths she shared. Lastly, hear about Emma’s advocacy for fertility treatment and access during her recent trip to the UK parliament. Stick around to find out the fascinating answer to ‘Why do men have nipples?’! Don’t miss this insightful and engaging episode.</p><p>Ask the right questions on your fertility journey. Join Emma the Embryologist and dive into the science of embryology in a way that's easy to understand. Visit her website for more helpful information and sign up to her newsletter for updates: <a href="https://www.emmatheembryologist.com">https://www.emmatheembryologist.com</a></p><p>00:00 Introduction and Welcome</p><p>00:28 Episode Overview</p><p>00:59 Understanding Embryo Grading</p><p>01:32 The Grading Process Explained</p><p>04:33 Blastocyst Stage and Grading</p><p>08:45 Importance of Timing in Embryo Grading</p><p>20:05 Subjectivity and Bias in Grading</p><p>23:05 The Role of AI in Embryo Grading</p><p>24:28 Exploring Embryo Grading and Quality</p><p>24:59 The Hard Truth About Embryo Success Rates</p><p>27:56 Freezing Embryos: Success Rates and Techniques</p><p>29:06 Engaging Students: A Visit to Our Daughter's School</p><p>31:53 Debunking Myths and Educating on Fertility</p><p>36:42 Advocating for Fertility Treatment Access in Parliament</p><p>44:26 Why Do Men Have Nipples?</p><p>47:59 Wrapping Up: Final Thoughts and Farewell</p>
November 12, 2024
Is embryo glue any good? Does AMH impact embryo quality? Plus many more of your questions answered
<p>Join Emma the Embryologist and her husband Simon as Emma shares helpful answers to many important questions:</p><ul><li>What is a biopsy?</li><li>How long have we been implanting biopsied embryos for?</li><li>Would you recommend PGT-A after a TFMR?</li><li>What does aneuploid mean?</li><li>Is embryo glue any good?</li><li>Does the AMH level impact embryo quality?</li><li>How many days could you keep growing an embryo in culture for?</li><li>Can you disturb embryos too much?</li><li>Why is embryo grading so complicated?</li><li>How to make the most of three months prep?</li><li>What's the difference between euploid and mosaic? </li><li>What does newer technology mean for embryology?</li><li>What's next for embryology? </li><li>What's the difference between Day 5 and Day 6?</li><li>Why is it important to consider family building?</li><li>What is a translocation?</li><li>Should I worry about an oval shaped egg?</li><li>Is it possible to reverse the age of an egg?</li><li>What sperm selection methods would you recommend for a patient with high DNA frag?</li><li>How do you know when to stop banking embryos?</li></ul>
7 total episodes available
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This podcast updates bi-weekly.
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