WEBVTT - The Parent Squad with Dr Simon McDowell: Why is fertility declining worldwide? 0:00:05.801 --> 0:00:09.441 You're listening to the Weekend Collective podcast from News Talks 0:00:09.521 --> 0:00:09.721 ed B. 0:00:10.281 --> 0:00:16.961 You are not ah sax bar sax. You're my sax bomb. 0:00:17.561 --> 0:00:22.201 You can give it to you do. Come along, shack, Sack. 0:00:23.201 --> 0:00:24.681 You're my sax bomb. 0:00:25.881 --> 0:00:30.001 You can turn from here on. Sham me up, Sack Sack, 0:00:31.001 --> 0:00:36.281 You're my sack. You can't give you to do. Come along, 0:00:36.561 --> 0:00:40.321 shack and welcome back to the Weekend Collective. 0:00:40.721 --> 0:00:42.921 I'm Tim Beveridge and you can give us a call 0:00:42.961 --> 0:00:45.601 anytime during this one hundred and eighty ten eighty. And 0:00:45.761 --> 0:00:48.081 we have a new guest for the art Extiosis thinking 0:00:48.081 --> 0:00:50.241 I'm not sure for quite the right selection. But of course, 0:00:50.281 --> 0:00:53.241 if you do want to have children, often the starting 0:00:53.281 --> 0:00:54.801 point is to be a bit of a sex bomb. 0:00:55.121 --> 0:00:57.841 But I can't think of any other way to to 0:00:57.961 --> 0:00:59.881 sick way out of that song. But we have a 0:00:59.921 --> 0:01:01.641 new guest on the show and he is a fertility 0:01:01.761 --> 0:01:05.041 expert and his name is Dr Simon mcdawson. 0:01:05.081 --> 0:01:06.081 Simon good, how are you? 0:01:07.201 --> 0:01:08.761 Yeah, good day, good, how are you? I don't think 0:01:08.761 --> 0:01:11.881 I've ever had that that entrance before, but I'll take it. 0:01:12.321 --> 0:01:14.121 Yes, actually maybe you should take it. It's just like 0:01:14.161 --> 0:01:17.441 here he is he's the man, he's the fertility expert. Anyway, 0:01:17.441 --> 0:01:19.041 maybe we should probably be a little bit more serious 0:01:19.041 --> 0:01:21.601 about that. But Tay, look, just before we get into it, 0:01:21.601 --> 0:01:24.721 we're gonna have a chat about fertility among other things. 0:01:25.041 --> 0:01:27.321 But if you're listening eight hundred eighty t and eighty, 0:01:27.401 --> 0:01:30.081 if you have any questions, here's a chance to talk 0:01:30.081 --> 0:01:32.001 to an expert. If you've just got a simple question 0:01:32.041 --> 0:01:35.081 about whether it's about how you prepare yourself to conceive 0:01:35.601 --> 0:01:38.721 or to help conceive, or whatever, any questions around fertility, 0:01:38.761 --> 0:01:41.281 then we'd love to hear from you on eight hundred 0:01:41.321 --> 0:01:41.961 eighty ten eighty. 0:01:42.001 --> 0:01:44.041 But actually I thought, just because your first. 0:01:43.841 --> 0:01:46.881 Time on the show, Simon, what's your bag baby, tell 0:01:46.921 --> 0:01:48.601 us about what you do and how you got there. 0:01:50.601 --> 0:01:54.721 Yeah, sure, thanks having on the show. So I grew 0:01:54.801 --> 0:01:58.481 up in Hamilton, South Hamilton, went down to went down 0:01:58.521 --> 0:02:01.721 to Icago, did my degree down there, ended up up 0:02:01.721 --> 0:02:04.721 in Wellington when overseas came back. When overseas came back, 0:02:05.121 --> 0:02:08.081 spent some time Ossie and England's doing a bit more 0:02:08.081 --> 0:02:10.521 training and then I've been back in the back in 0:02:10.561 --> 0:02:13.481 Wellington for about a little bit more than a decade now, 0:02:14.281 --> 0:02:14.761 how much. 0:02:14.921 --> 0:02:18.161 Back and forth was was was training from university to 0:02:18.281 --> 0:02:20.081 med school to different expertises. 0:02:21.521 --> 0:02:23.921 Oh, the early stuff was probably more you know, just 0:02:23.961 --> 0:02:26.441 getting out there oe type stuff. So sort of junior doctor, 0:02:26.481 --> 0:02:28.241 went to went to Melbourne and then sort of made 0:02:28.281 --> 0:02:29.961 my way to England and you know, did a bit 0:02:30.001 --> 0:02:32.161 of traveling and stuff and then and then sort of 0:02:32.201 --> 0:02:35.961 came back and got into specialty training and then then 0:02:36.041 --> 0:02:39.081 the travel from there was more more work related. But 0:02:39.601 --> 0:02:41.161 it's nice. You know, it's good to travel. You sort 0:02:41.201 --> 0:02:43.481 of want to take those opportunities and you know, spend 0:02:43.481 --> 0:02:45.761 a year at overseas it's quite quite nice. But you know, 0:02:46.401 --> 0:02:48.401 was going to come home, you know, mchewey. 0:02:48.041 --> 0:02:50.481 And obviously you love Wellington because you're living there. One 0:02:50.481 --> 0:02:51.681 would hope that that's the answer. 0:02:52.081 --> 0:02:54.601 Uh yeah, I do. I do. I spent my first 0:02:54.681 --> 0:02:56.961 year of med school, the second part of my med 0:02:57.001 --> 0:02:58.481 school here and I must have been I fell in 0:02:58.521 --> 0:03:00.281 love with the city and you know where it can 0:03:00.321 --> 0:03:03.401 be amazing and sometimes not so good, but that's it's 0:03:03.401 --> 0:03:04.601 a good city, got character. 0:03:04.801 --> 0:03:08.841 Can't on a good day, you can't beat it. Actually, 0:03:08.881 --> 0:03:10.361 just before we get into how you got into a 0:03:10.441 --> 0:03:15.241 step into fertility, how what was the most enjoyable part 0:03:15.241 --> 0:03:17.601 of the world for you to practice medicine, and what 0:03:17.641 --> 0:03:19.521 did you and I guess from a medical point of view, 0:03:19.561 --> 0:03:23.441 obviously let's forget the party scene in a particular town. Yeah, 0:03:23.681 --> 0:03:25.241 but what was the what was the best place to 0:03:25.241 --> 0:03:28.401 practice medicine for you? Let's leave Wellington out. 0:03:28.801 --> 0:03:33.641 Leave Wellington out. I look London, sort of an East London. 0:03:34.641 --> 0:03:36.761 I worked a little bit the mainy sort of Loking 0:03:37.041 --> 0:03:40.601 locuming and emergency department and stuff. And I remember, I 0:03:40.641 --> 0:03:43.561 remember there was a poster on the wall of the 0:03:43.801 --> 0:03:47.481 ed which was a malaria treatment chart, and I thought 0:03:47.521 --> 0:03:49.321 that was I thought, oh my gosh, you must get 0:03:49.361 --> 0:03:51.401 that like once every decade, and they were like, oh, 0:03:51.441 --> 0:03:53.881 we get you know, one a week. So I think 0:03:53.881 --> 0:03:59.401 probably London was my favorite because you actually got so yeah, yeah, 0:03:59.681 --> 0:04:02.601 you know, it was such a you know, melting pot 0:04:02.601 --> 0:04:06.521 of people, and yeah, it was a really interesting place 0:04:06.521 --> 0:04:08.201 to work. You saw a lot of pathology you wouldn't 0:04:08.201 --> 0:04:10.921 expect to see in London. Yeah, I didn't expect. 0:04:11.041 --> 0:04:13.841 Actually on the malaria things, well, we won't delve on 0:04:14.001 --> 0:04:16.001 dwell on this topic, but that what did that mean? 0:04:16.041 --> 0:04:17.881 You have to be immunized or something, because that is 0:04:17.961 --> 0:04:21.041 kind of contagious. But I don't know it's oh. 0:04:20.921 --> 0:04:26.281 I think it's let's passed on, you know, mosquitoes and stuff. 0:04:26.281 --> 0:04:27.441 So I don't think it's sort of contagious. 0:04:27.521 --> 0:04:29.761 No, but blood to blood. Yeah that's right. 0:04:29.881 --> 0:04:31.361 Yeah that's right. Yeah, you got it. 0:04:31.481 --> 0:04:33.241 Yeah, yeah, Okay, I know how did you get into 0:04:33.721 --> 0:04:37.561 you know, how did you get from East London Eds 0:04:37.641 --> 0:04:38.521 to fertility? 0:04:39.881 --> 0:04:42.481 So I decided sort of quite early on that I 0:04:42.481 --> 0:04:44.521 wanted to do O G. I kind of I really 0:04:44.641 --> 0:04:46.481 liked the you know, sort. 0:04:46.281 --> 0:04:49.201 Of ecology by the way, isn't it. 0:04:49.241 --> 0:04:51.961 Yeah that's right. Yeah, Yeah, that's right. And I think 0:04:51.961 --> 0:04:53.761 a lot of R doctors we we sort of get 0:04:53.761 --> 0:04:55.641 into it through eb cterrics, you know, that's kind of 0:04:55.681 --> 0:04:59.841 the exciting part of it. I was always keen to subspecialize, 0:05:00.001 --> 0:05:03.801 and there's a few different subspecialties, and fertility just kind 0:05:03.801 --> 0:05:06.081 of made sense. It had a mixed sure of physiology 0:05:06.161 --> 0:05:10.681 and surgery, you know, and it it just sort of 0:05:10.681 --> 0:05:13.721 ticked all the boxes, I suppose, And you know, I'm 0:05:13.721 --> 0:05:16.521 dealing with, you know, people that are really intelligent and 0:05:16.521 --> 0:05:19.081 they know a lot about what's happening, and and you know, 0:05:19.121 --> 0:05:21.121 you can really sort of make a difference. It's it's 0:05:21.281 --> 0:05:24.881 it's a you know, it's a part of medicine where 0:05:25.161 --> 0:05:27.521 you know, you you get these outcomes. You know, people 0:05:27.561 --> 0:05:29.921 have a family that which they may not have got 0:05:29.961 --> 0:05:32.361 if you went there and or if our team wasn't there, 0:05:32.401 --> 0:05:34.681 And you know, that's a it's a pretty satisfying area. 0:05:34.721 --> 0:05:38.361 We can be bloody said as well, but it's you know, 0:05:38.401 --> 0:05:41.561 it's a really good, fascinating area and a really you. 0:05:41.521 --> 0:05:45.521 Know, medicine of course must have it's amazingly uplifting moments. 0:05:45.561 --> 0:05:48.881 But also medicine sometimes you know, there isn't the answer 0:05:48.881 --> 0:05:49.561 for people, isn't it. 0:05:49.601 --> 0:05:51.001 So you you're. 0:05:50.801 --> 0:05:53.001 Really at the you're really at the call face of 0:05:53.161 --> 0:05:54.841 disappointment as well sometimes. 0:05:54.481 --> 0:05:57.601 Of course, Yeah, I think that's right, and I think 0:05:57.641 --> 0:06:00.481 that's something you learn as you become older. Certainly I 0:06:00.521 --> 0:06:04.241 have in medicine, you you know, having a sort of 0:06:04.321 --> 0:06:06.121 being at peace with you don't know and what you 0:06:06.161 --> 0:06:09.041 can't fix it. Certainly as a more junior doctor, I 0:06:09.201 --> 0:06:12.321 probably struggled over that, but now I'm sort of you 0:06:12.601 --> 0:06:14.401 brave enough to say I don't know and I'm not 0:06:14.401 --> 0:06:18.121 sure what's going on, and you know, humans a complicated. 0:06:17.481 --> 0:06:18.281 It's a funny sense. 0:06:18.721 --> 0:06:21.681 The thing with fertility and we had my wife and 0:06:21.721 --> 0:06:26.361 I went through three miscarriages I think before we had 0:06:26.401 --> 0:06:29.001 our family, and then all of a sudden, I mean, 0:06:29.721 --> 0:06:33.121 second child came along far too early, but anyway, which 0:06:33.161 --> 0:06:38.801 is great, but it's funny. As a guy, I didn't 0:06:38.841 --> 0:06:42.681 actually I remember when we had the second loss because 0:06:42.721 --> 0:06:45.241 it was early on and I didn't feel anything. 0:06:45.281 --> 0:06:45.921 It was weird. 0:06:46.561 --> 0:06:48.961 And then I called my mom up from the hospital 0:06:49.681 --> 0:06:52.081 and I told her what had happened, and I completely 0:06:52.081 --> 0:06:55.281 broke down, and it came from nowhere, and. 0:06:55.241 --> 0:06:55.881 It was a funny. 0:06:56.601 --> 0:06:59.401 It's a weird thing to for people haven't been through 0:06:59.441 --> 0:07:00.081 it to understand. 0:07:00.201 --> 0:07:03.761 I don't even know why, isn't it funny? 0:07:03.961 --> 0:07:07.681 It's literally I was calm and let's get we better 0:07:07.721 --> 0:07:09.001 go to the hospital and all that sort of stuff. 0:07:09.041 --> 0:07:10.441 And then I call up mum and say hey, by 0:07:10.481 --> 0:07:13.081 the way, and I couldn't complete my sentence, and it's 0:07:13.961 --> 0:07:17.081 it's a it's a strange grief that you can't understand, 0:07:17.161 --> 0:07:18.601 isn't it. 0:07:18.601 --> 0:07:20.321 It is? And I think you know the triggers, you 0:07:20.361 --> 0:07:22.401 can the sort of triggering things, and it might be 0:07:22.601 --> 0:07:25.721 you know, just talking about it and and you know guys, 0:07:25.881 --> 0:07:29.441 you know, perhaps more than woman probably just avoid those 0:07:29.441 --> 0:07:32.041 conversations and you know they come at a cost, you know, 0:07:32.121 --> 0:07:36.401 where it all comes out in a mad rush. You know, 0:07:36.441 --> 0:07:40.521 I think talking about experiences and and you know guys 0:07:40.561 --> 0:07:42.601 as well, and I think I think it is fair 0:07:42.641 --> 0:07:46.521 to say guys to probably you know, don't vocalize it 0:07:46.561 --> 0:07:51.121 as much as we should. Yeah, so no, it's I mean, 0:07:51.121 --> 0:07:52.921 it's sometimes you need something close you don't have a 0:07:52.961 --> 0:07:53.721 chat to really. 0:07:53.561 --> 0:07:55.601 And it's quite you know. 0:07:55.641 --> 0:07:57.921 I mean, now I mentioned now I still get emotional 0:07:57.921 --> 0:07:59.841 thinking about it, but you know we've had a happy 0:07:59.921 --> 0:08:02.401 ending with a couple of wonder lovely girls. But now 0:08:02.641 --> 0:08:04.921 just tell us, because you are one of your specialties 0:08:04.921 --> 0:08:05.521 you do. 0:08:07.441 --> 0:08:10.921 Somebody to do with sub it's a type of. 0:08:11.281 --> 0:08:15.401 Laparoscopic surgery that you also do as well. Does that 0:08:15.481 --> 0:08:19.641 mean that is that in connection with fertility and increased 0:08:21.881 --> 0:08:25.081 the ability to create better outcomes through surgery as well 0:08:25.161 --> 0:08:25.921 or what tell us. 0:08:25.841 --> 0:08:26.401 About that question? 0:08:27.121 --> 0:08:27.361 Question? 0:08:27.641 --> 0:08:28.441 Tell us about. 0:08:28.201 --> 0:08:34.961 That I got there. It does. I mean fertility. We've 0:08:35.001 --> 0:08:38.361 got this amazing treatment which is IVF and it's and 0:08:38.401 --> 0:08:41.121 it's very good, not not you know, not a full 0:08:41.161 --> 0:08:43.361 proof treatment, but it's a very good treatment for all 0:08:43.401 --> 0:08:47.961 types of fertility issues. But you know, fertility surgery still 0:08:48.041 --> 0:08:49.441 is a big part of what we do if we 0:08:49.441 --> 0:08:51.761 can restore fertility, if we can if we can get 0:08:51.801 --> 0:08:54.481 someone fertile for all of their children, not just sort 0:08:54.521 --> 0:08:57.921 of you know, I V each time, that's always a 0:08:58.001 --> 0:09:00.841 more desirable goal. You need to take into the counter 0:09:01.201 --> 0:09:03.961 age and other aspects. So now I do you're quite 0:09:03.961 --> 0:09:05.681 a bit of surgery and to be trust, very common 0:09:05.721 --> 0:09:08.721 cause of infertility. It doesn't always cause infertility, but it 0:09:08.761 --> 0:09:10.961 is a common cause of infertility. So a lot of 0:09:10.961 --> 0:09:13.441 the surgery do is around that serve. 0:09:13.361 --> 0:09:18.401 Involved broadly speaking, because what is endomor indoms. 0:09:17.961 --> 0:09:20.601 Where the it's where the inside lining of the uteriss 0:09:20.641 --> 0:09:24.801 grows on the outside, and it can cause inflammation, scarring, pain, 0:09:25.241 --> 0:09:27.921 It can distort the anatomy, you know, it's like glue. 0:09:27.961 --> 0:09:30.881 Everything gets stuck together, and those power organs that the 0:09:30.921 --> 0:09:33.561 ovaries and tubes shouldn't be sort of moving gently in 0:09:33.641 --> 0:09:35.801 the know, the wash of the ocean, you know, like 0:09:35.881 --> 0:09:40.841 sort of seaweed, and also can create a very inflammatory environment. 0:09:40.841 --> 0:09:44.161 And so enderbitrisis is incredibly inflammatory and affects all part 0:09:44.201 --> 0:09:47.081 of the fertility process. That the egg getting to the tube, 0:09:47.521 --> 0:09:50.561 the tube getting the egg getting fertilized by the sperm, 0:09:50.601 --> 0:09:52.321 the sperm getting to the egg, and then the ember 0:09:52.361 --> 0:09:55.641 are getting down the tube. So you know, depending on 0:09:55.681 --> 0:09:59.561 how bad it is, it may affect it in different ways. Yeah, 0:09:59.561 --> 0:10:02.001 but it's you know, it's a very common problem, and 0:10:02.041 --> 0:10:04.161 it may be you know, there may be co problems, 0:10:04.201 --> 0:10:06.161 there may be other issues, but for many patients, that 0:10:06.281 --> 0:10:07.561 is their only issue. 0:10:07.881 --> 0:10:10.601 So I have a suspicion that the answer to this 0:10:10.681 --> 0:10:13.641 question is what's more more straightforward than I want to suggest, 0:10:13.641 --> 0:10:19.041 But we are having declining fertility rates. Is that, broadly speaking, 0:10:19.121 --> 0:10:21.201 just because we're all having kids later or there are 0:10:21.241 --> 0:10:24.281 there many other issues that you can paid a broader 0:10:24.321 --> 0:10:28.361 picture with that. When it comes to fertility, I. 0:10:28.281 --> 0:10:31.121 Think it's a I think you know, there's lots of 0:10:31.121 --> 0:10:33.601 different reasons for it. It's a big issue. I was 0:10:33.641 --> 0:10:37.521 at a conference conference recently in the Philippines and this 0:10:37.681 --> 0:10:39.081 was a big part of the talk there, and a 0:10:39.121 --> 0:10:41.241 lot of a lot of the Southeast Asian countries have 0:10:41.321 --> 0:10:44.641 got incredibly low fertility rates. So you know, we all 0:10:44.641 --> 0:10:46.401 need to be having two point one or two point 0:10:46.401 --> 0:10:50.241 two children to maintain the population, and in countries like 0:10:50.601 --> 0:10:53.361 South Korea they're down at point point eight to eight, 0:10:53.521 --> 0:10:56.801 you know, really, you know, I think tai one was 0:10:56.841 --> 0:10:59.641 the lowest at point eight seven. Japan's been low for 0:10:59.681 --> 0:11:02.841 a long time, one point one point three. So yeah, 0:11:03.201 --> 0:11:05.961 it is a big issue. And you know, always reflect 0:11:06.001 --> 0:11:08.001 on sort of movies in the seventies eighties, and it 0:11:08.121 --> 0:11:11.401 was always like overpopulation and you know, not enough resources, 0:11:11.441 --> 0:11:13.801 and it seems like the opposite has happened. We're actually 0:11:13.841 --> 0:11:18.281 you know, struggling to maintain our economies by lack of populations. 0:11:19.401 --> 0:11:21.801 So yeah, I mean, yeah, I carry on, no, carry on. 0:11:22.761 --> 0:11:24.521 So I think there's lots of factors. I think it's 0:11:25.441 --> 0:11:28.801 you know, people are having kids later, people are more educated, 0:11:29.401 --> 0:11:31.961 you know, gender imbalances, they don't want to you know, 0:11:32.401 --> 0:11:34.921 you know, woman taking time out to have children put 0:11:35.041 --> 0:11:37.841 them lower down the you know that sort of chain 0:11:38.601 --> 0:11:41.441 or sort of you know hierarchy of going up that 0:11:41.601 --> 0:11:46.121 chain cost you know, having kids as expensive, fertility treatments 0:11:46.161 --> 0:11:50.201 expensive and reduce family size. You know. I think I 0:11:50.241 --> 0:11:52.841 always remember I'm the I'm the youngest of three and 0:11:52.881 --> 0:11:55.361 my mum was twenty nine when she had me, and 0:11:55.561 --> 0:11:58.081 she was like the oldest one in the hospital in Hamilton. 0:11:57.881 --> 0:11:59.921 And pretty chicken. 0:12:00.641 --> 0:12:02.921 Yeah, I know. And I've got three kids and my 0:12:02.961 --> 0:12:05.241 wife was thirty when we had our first, so you know, 0:12:05.241 --> 0:12:06.441 it's a total reversal. 0:12:06.601 --> 0:12:10.961 Yeah, what about the basics sperm counts. I remember when 0:12:10.961 --> 0:12:13.041 we were going through we had fertility treatment for our 0:12:13.081 --> 0:12:17.321 first and one of the facts that came out forgetting 0:12:17.321 --> 0:12:19.001 my own sperm count and all that sort of stuff. 0:12:19.481 --> 0:12:19.961 No want to. 0:12:19.921 --> 0:12:25.481 Overshare, but historically speaking, I think I read somewhere that 0:12:25.561 --> 0:12:28.321 sperm counts on average are way way down. 0:12:29.561 --> 0:12:32.521 Is that actually right compared to like post. 0:12:32.201 --> 0:12:36.241 War Yeah, I think there is. There's been quite a 0:12:36.281 --> 0:12:39.361 lot of reports out about that, and you know, it's 0:12:39.401 --> 0:12:41.561 probably a bunch of things. I think there's a lot 0:12:41.601 --> 0:12:44.921 more testing done than I've come back, So I think 0:12:45.001 --> 0:12:47.841 I do wonder. I do sort of wonder if that 0:12:47.881 --> 0:12:49.521 sort of plays into it. I've got a lot more information, 0:12:49.681 --> 0:12:51.681 but you know, it's probably to do with, you know, 0:12:51.721 --> 0:12:55.001 stuff in our environment. There's something called indign denstructors like 0:12:55.041 --> 0:12:58.121 plastics that can affect all different parts of health, and 0:12:58.161 --> 0:13:01.521 they probably affect our fertility health as well. So I 0:13:01.561 --> 0:13:04.401 don't know a lot about why, but I think that 0:13:04.521 --> 0:13:06.961 is a common area of concern. Yeah. 0:13:07.121 --> 0:13:10.241 Yeah, I had a layman under thinking that after a 0:13:10.321 --> 0:13:14.001 war there's this sort of biological need to reproduce or something, 0:13:14.001 --> 0:13:15.441 and maybe that played a part of it. But I'm 0:13:15.481 --> 0:13:17.561 making that completely up just as my own. 0:13:18.921 --> 0:13:21.241 I mean, it's interesting, you know why there was such 0:13:21.281 --> 0:13:23.241 a baby boom in the fifties and stuff, you know, 0:13:24.201 --> 0:13:25.441 box of shorts. 0:13:26.921 --> 0:13:29.601 I mean, that is part of it, isn't it. You 0:13:29.881 --> 0:13:33.921 If guys, if you, if you're talking to the mail 0:13:34.641 --> 0:13:38.321 in the in the equation, is that still the advice? 0:13:38.361 --> 0:13:40.681 It's like, what do you wear? Boxes or briefs? Get 0:13:40.761 --> 0:13:43.281 rid of the briefs, get into the boxes, give the boy. 0:13:44.681 --> 0:13:47.681 I don't. I don't. Some of those things become a 0:13:47.721 --> 0:13:49.761 little bit of eban myth, I say, I think, and 0:13:50.081 --> 0:13:53.161 I must have better. I don't inquire about people's underwear. 0:13:54.281 --> 0:14:00.041 I was given some advice to actually the person I 0:14:00.081 --> 0:14:03.161 won't say who it was, but she was fantastic. But 0:14:03.241 --> 0:14:05.601 she she said, look, we don't know too much about this, 0:14:05.681 --> 0:14:06.641 but probably wouldn't hurt. 0:14:06.681 --> 0:14:08.201 It wouldn't hurt. 0:14:09.881 --> 0:14:11.561 Yeah, I mean, I think that's right. A lot of 0:14:11.561 --> 0:14:13.681 this stuff is around that that it wouldn't hurt, you know, 0:14:13.801 --> 0:14:17.641 sort of removing potential barriers rather than us having extremely 0:14:17.681 --> 0:14:22.441 strong evidence of benefits. I don't. I always think about cyclists, 0:14:22.441 --> 0:14:24.241 you know, people that come in cycling, and you think, well, 0:14:24.241 --> 0:14:26.281 they're sitting on their testicles and they must get pretty 0:14:26.321 --> 0:14:29.081 pretty pretty hot. But I don't know of any studies 0:14:29.161 --> 0:14:34.921 to show cyclists have more infertility really that I'm aware of. Yeah, 0:14:35.081 --> 0:14:37.161 I not. There may be, but not that I'm aware of. 0:14:37.201 --> 0:14:39.441 But it'd be a very difficult study to run, wouldn't it. 0:14:39.481 --> 0:14:43.281 But I think it's about those things are small, and 0:14:43.321 --> 0:14:45.481 when you're looking at having a baby, you just, I 0:14:45.481 --> 0:14:47.361 guess you just want to do every little thing thing 0:14:47.441 --> 0:14:50.481 you can do which doesn't have a huge impact on 0:14:50.561 --> 0:14:52.961 the way you're managing your life. So you know, maybe 0:14:53.041 --> 0:14:54.721 trying to keep the testicles a bit cooler is not 0:14:54.761 --> 0:14:58.001 a bad idea. We know that some people, some men 0:14:58.041 --> 0:15:01.121 can have varicacials, which are sort of dilated veins at 0:15:01.121 --> 0:15:03.441 the top of the testicle, and we think that may 0:15:03.481 --> 0:15:06.721 impact on on the testacles and the sperm in terms 0:15:06.761 --> 0:15:09.161 of heat. You know, therese more hot blood beer, so 0:15:09.241 --> 0:15:11.521 that you know, does lead into that same sort of 0:15:11.601 --> 0:15:14.921 discussion around you know, underwear boxes versus briefs. 0:15:14.921 --> 0:15:20.401 But boxes now because they look better. I think we've 0:15:20.401 --> 0:15:22.921 got used to saying, you know, because we've seen Granddad 0:15:23.001 --> 0:15:26.041 and the briefs and it's like, no whatever, whatever avoids that. Look, 0:15:26.081 --> 0:15:27.241 I'm going with the boxes. 0:15:27.801 --> 0:15:31.241 I don't know. I'm with you you, okay. 0:15:31.241 --> 0:15:35.641 Well, are there things that in New Zealand we because 0:15:35.681 --> 0:15:37.641 I think we might be short of a few vital 0:15:37.721 --> 0:15:42.521 sort of minerals from what I understand, do the supplements 0:15:43.761 --> 0:15:44.481 make a difference? 0:15:44.521 --> 0:15:45.121 And if so? 0:15:45.921 --> 0:15:48.401 And actually we can talk about Obviously I'm a bloke, 0:15:48.401 --> 0:15:50.321 so I'm focused on blokes things. But let's face it, 0:15:50.361 --> 0:15:52.641 as the women who have the babies, what are the 0:15:52.721 --> 0:15:57.881 things that couples can do diet wise or supplement wise 0:15:57.961 --> 0:15:59.841 or anything that can you know, they want to have 0:15:59.841 --> 0:16:02.241 a want to have a child. Is there are there 0:16:02.241 --> 0:16:04.401 things they can be doing which are going to smooth 0:16:04.401 --> 0:16:04.801 the path. 0:16:06.321 --> 0:16:09.681 Yeah, it's a good question. Look, I think that I'm 0:16:09.761 --> 0:16:13.201 quite pragmatic about this, and you know, you couldn't sort 0:16:13.241 --> 0:16:16.121 of take the approach of no alcohol, no this, no, 0:16:16.281 --> 0:16:19.841 that cut it all out. And perhaps that is, you know, 0:16:20.121 --> 0:16:23.201 the safest thing to do. But I don't think we 0:16:23.241 --> 0:16:24.761 need to take all of those fun things out of 0:16:24.761 --> 0:16:27.241 our lives, you know, having a glass of wine, you know, 0:16:27.401 --> 0:16:29.241 having a cup of coffee. Just go for it. You know, 0:16:29.281 --> 0:16:33.121 there's no evidence that that sensible intake of things like 0:16:33.241 --> 0:16:36.761 you know, alcohol and coffee is going to you know, 0:16:37.361 --> 0:16:40.281 mental toe of fertility. I think, you know, don't smoke. 0:16:40.401 --> 0:16:44.561 That's an easy one, you know, smoking and vaping as well. 0:16:44.681 --> 0:16:47.641 Vaping seems to be the new smoking. We'll certainly that 0:16:47.681 --> 0:16:49.921 sort we see and and we know that that we'll 0:16:49.921 --> 0:16:52.281 have an impact on fertility. You know when we take 0:16:52.881 --> 0:16:55.081 when there's been studies to show that the eggs are 0:16:55.081 --> 0:16:57.001 within a follicle on the ovary, and when they take 0:16:57.041 --> 0:16:59.721 out the fluid from the from the follicle, we can 0:16:59.761 --> 0:17:02.321 actually encounter, you know, see some of those smoking toxins 0:17:02.361 --> 0:17:04.241 in there, which is kind of when you think about it. 0:17:04.281 --> 0:17:06.441 That which what'd say that again. 0:17:07.041 --> 0:17:08.921 So follicles a little cyst on the ovary and that's 0:17:08.961 --> 0:17:12.241 where the where the egg resides. So when when it ovulates, 0:17:12.521 --> 0:17:15.201 the follicle bursts and the egg comes out. So when 0:17:15.201 --> 0:17:17.761 we're doing IVF and we stimulate the ovaries, we have 0:17:17.801 --> 0:17:20.921 a whole bunch of follicles come about so we actually 0:17:21.001 --> 0:17:23.281 suck the fluid out of the out of those little cysts, 0:17:23.281 --> 0:17:25.241 out of those little follicles, and hopefully get the egg. 0:17:25.361 --> 0:17:27.201 But you can actually sort of analyze the fluid and 0:17:27.681 --> 0:17:29.481 and sort of see what's there. And there's been studies 0:17:29.681 --> 0:17:33.081 shown that you know, cigarette toxins are in that, so 0:17:33.121 --> 0:17:35.561 it's you know, it's. 0:17:35.441 --> 0:17:37.881 Well if actually that would instantly put me off vaping, 0:17:37.921 --> 0:17:40.801 if I was a woman and thinking of because I mean, 0:17:40.801 --> 0:17:43.561 you've just given such I mean it sounds almost makes 0:17:43.561 --> 0:17:45.641 me cross my legs, isn't it. But we're talking about 0:17:45.681 --> 0:17:46.921 a tiny microscopic level. 0:17:46.921 --> 0:17:49.201 But it's there. You go, there's science for you. 0:17:50.401 --> 0:17:52.921 Yeah, no, it's exactly. It's kind of it's kind of 0:17:52.921 --> 0:17:56.201 crazy when you think about it that way. Supplements, I 0:17:56.401 --> 0:17:58.801 again take a very pragmatic approach there. I think there 0:17:58.841 --> 0:18:01.721 are no fertility superfoods. I mean, I think for millennia 0:18:01.761 --> 0:18:03.841 people have said you should eat this, you shouldn't eat that. 0:18:04.441 --> 0:18:06.641 I think if you've got a vaguely healthy, balanced diet, 0:18:06.881 --> 0:18:10.921 then that is fine. I don't think that a multi 0:18:11.001 --> 0:18:14.041 vitamin there's no evidence that it's helpful for fertility. Lots 0:18:14.041 --> 0:18:15.361 of people do it. I don't never want to make 0:18:15.401 --> 0:18:18.081 anyone feel silly about what they're doing. They go crazy, 0:18:18.121 --> 0:18:21.641 go for it, but I think, you know, just eating 0:18:21.761 --> 0:18:26.681 a sensible, healthy diet is enough for men. There is 0:18:26.721 --> 0:18:29.681 some evidence that antioxidants for them and it and easin 0:18:29.921 --> 0:18:31.601 is helpful if men. 0:18:32.041 --> 0:18:33.161 Is selenium one of them. 0:18:34.041 --> 0:18:37.801 I don't know much about that. I'm afraid I couldn't. 0:18:38.641 --> 0:18:40.201 I was told about that we had a we had 0:18:40.721 --> 0:18:43.801 an insufficiency of selenium in our soils or something. 0:18:43.881 --> 0:18:49.801 So yeah, well I think maybe, I mean, yeah, I 0:18:49.841 --> 0:18:51.801 think that's right. But you know, to sort of connect 0:18:51.881 --> 0:18:55.281 that to improving someone's fertility is it's there's a lot between, 0:18:55.601 --> 0:18:58.881 you know, those two points to actually make a strong connection. 0:18:59.801 --> 0:19:01.841 We know that for men having IVF, where they have 0:19:01.881 --> 0:19:03.961 a sort of low spim counc or low motility, then 0:19:04.041 --> 0:19:07.361 antioxidants may be helpful. And I think people have extrapolated 0:19:07.361 --> 0:19:09.521 from that, well it might help us get pregnant at home, 0:19:10.641 --> 0:19:14.761 and there isn't evidence to support that. But again, go 0:19:14.881 --> 0:19:18.481 for it, you know, Okay, yeah, no harm. 0:19:18.121 --> 0:19:19.881 Okay, we're going to take a break now. If you've 0:19:19.881 --> 0:19:22.481 got any questions for Simon McDowell, Doctor Som McDonell, he's 0:19:22.481 --> 0:19:23.401 a fertility expert. 0:19:24.041 --> 0:19:24.881 And you've got any. 0:19:24.801 --> 0:19:28.041 Questions, even if you're asking for a friend, then we'd 0:19:28.041 --> 0:19:29.921 love to hear from you. On eight hundred eighty ten eighty, 0:19:29.921 --> 0:19:31.601 we're going to continue having a chat about the best 0:19:31.601 --> 0:19:34.601 way you can prepare yourself for having a baby, getting 0:19:34.601 --> 0:19:37.321 pregnant being the first stage of it. Give us a 0:19:37.321 --> 0:19:39.321 call eight hundred eighty ten eighty And as I say, 0:19:39.401 --> 0:19:41.521 the text is nine two nine two, The lines are open. 0:19:41.561 --> 0:19:59.001 It's twenty six past five News Talks d B. 0:20:10.601 --> 0:20:11.921 Well, yes, there we go. 0:20:12.081 --> 0:20:13.961 I think that is I think this is sexual Healing 0:20:13.961 --> 0:20:17.201 by Marvin Gay, isn't it, Joseph, Yes, that's correct. We're 0:20:17.241 --> 0:20:21.001 talking to fertility and yes, that is possibly the most 0:20:21.001 --> 0:20:24.641 common way of conceiving these days, but we are if 0:20:24.681 --> 0:20:26.841 you don't if it's not necessarily the only way, And 0:20:26.881 --> 0:20:29.161 that's why we're having a chat with Simon mcdoal, fertility expert. 0:20:29.361 --> 0:20:30.881 I think we're gonna have to next time you're on 0:20:30.921 --> 0:20:32.721 the show, Simon, we're gonna just to keep on rolling 0:20:32.761 --> 0:20:34.641 out the sort of smooth you know, let's get it 0:20:34.681 --> 0:20:40.481 on sort of tunes. I think, hey, how much does 0:20:41.161 --> 0:20:47.001 stress pay pay a negative or non part in conceiving. 0:20:47.961 --> 0:20:50.441 Yeah, it's a good it's a common question we get asked, 0:20:50.481 --> 0:20:52.641 and and it's and it's quite a I mean, we 0:20:52.641 --> 0:20:55.881 can't measure stress, and and I can't if I say, hey, 0:20:56.001 --> 0:20:58.681 just stop stressing, that's kind of the most un helpful 0:20:58.721 --> 0:21:01.881 comment you can make. So I think that, you know, 0:21:01.921 --> 0:21:03.641 I think stress is not good for us for lots 0:21:03.681 --> 0:21:06.721 of different reasons. But it's very difficult to manage. You know, 0:21:06.721 --> 0:21:09.201 if someone's you know, worried they're not getting pregnant because 0:21:09.201 --> 0:21:11.921 of their stressful job, well stop working, and then you 0:21:11.961 --> 0:21:14.081 don't have money to pay the bills, so then it 0:21:14.161 --> 0:21:17.401 becomes stressful. So I think that we just have to 0:21:17.401 --> 0:21:20.841 manage those things as much as we can. I certainly 0:21:21.121 --> 0:21:24.361 would never say to someone I think you're having miscarriage 0:21:24.761 --> 0:21:27.601 or struggling because of stress. You know, I had one 0:21:27.641 --> 0:21:31.121 patient once tell me. If one more person tells me 0:21:31.521 --> 0:21:34.081 just go on holiday, that's what worked for us, I'm 0:21:34.121 --> 0:21:37.801 going to stab them. And you know, sometimes I think 0:21:37.841 --> 0:21:40.121 we you know, even when we try and hop out 0:21:40.121 --> 0:21:42.121 our friends and family that are struggling to say, look, 0:21:42.121 --> 0:21:43.641 you just got to stop worrying about it. You know, 0:21:43.681 --> 0:21:46.681 when we stop thinking about it that's when it happened. Look, 0:21:46.721 --> 0:21:49.001 I think there's people and war zones around the world 0:21:49.001 --> 0:21:52.801 getting pregnant every day, you know, And I think stress 0:21:52.841 --> 0:21:55.481 is something we just have to manage and avoid. But 0:21:55.881 --> 0:22:00.361 I would resist putting an element of blame to it, 0:22:00.481 --> 0:22:01.441 if that makes sense. 0:22:01.801 --> 0:22:04.321 I think actually I've got a text here just saying 0:22:04.401 --> 0:22:07.721 does And I wonder if this ties into who knows? 0:22:08.401 --> 0:22:11.641 But it seems that here's the question, does having your 0:22:11.721 --> 0:22:16.761 first baby make it easier to conceive the second? Because 0:22:16.801 --> 0:22:18.441 I mean, I mean I can only go from our 0:22:18.481 --> 0:22:22.561 example is that first child was you know, a journey. 0:22:23.121 --> 0:22:27.201 Second child was upon us before we knew it, And 0:22:27.281 --> 0:22:29.841 I just I just wondered if there is any biological, 0:22:29.881 --> 0:22:31.841 physiological reason that once you had a child. 0:22:31.921 --> 0:22:35.681 Yeah, it's a question I've been asked a number of times, 0:22:35.681 --> 0:22:38.641 and I don't know of any sort of scientific answer 0:22:38.721 --> 0:22:42.561 for that. I think that you know, if you've been 0:22:42.601 --> 0:22:46.321 trying to get pregnant for twelve months, you know, compared 0:22:46.361 --> 0:22:49.361 to thirty six months, well the person that's been having 0:22:49.441 --> 0:22:52.281 unprotected six for thirty six months will have more pregnancies 0:22:52.281 --> 0:22:54.561 than the person here has twelve. So I think the 0:22:54.601 --> 0:22:56.521 more and more and more people try, I think, the 0:22:56.561 --> 0:22:59.961 more the chances are that they may become pregnant. But yeah, 0:22:59.961 --> 0:23:02.401 I don't know if having a baby loosens the lid, 0:23:02.521 --> 0:23:04.681 if that makes sense. But it's a very very common 0:23:05.881 --> 0:23:11.481 sort of question out there. Yeah, any scientific plausibility. 0:23:11.121 --> 0:23:13.681 Okay, because I'm going to ask some dumb lay questions 0:23:13.681 --> 0:23:15.601 because I can, because if I have something silly, it 0:23:15.641 --> 0:23:18.641 doesn't matter because I don't know. So here's something I'm 0:23:18.681 --> 0:23:20.841 just building on what you said that you talk about 0:23:20.841 --> 0:23:24.401 people having sex for thirty six months rather than just twelve. 0:23:25.201 --> 0:23:28.681 Is there anything and that when you are in your twenties, 0:23:29.961 --> 0:23:32.961 your sex driver is higher and you actually are probably 0:23:32.961 --> 0:23:34.881 doing it to have a lot more than people who 0:23:34.881 --> 0:23:37.401 are trying to conceive a little later, and so they 0:23:37.441 --> 0:23:39.761 have the numbers game on their side as well because 0:23:39.801 --> 0:23:40.801 simply they're doing it more. 0:23:44.001 --> 0:23:47.921 Perhaps, I mean, that is a theory idea I can't 0:23:48.201 --> 0:23:49.641 I can't confier will deny it. 0:23:49.801 --> 0:23:51.881 I mean, I guess you're talking about thirty six months 0:23:51.881 --> 0:23:56.841 of having sex. Yeah, if you're I don't know frequency. 0:23:56.321 --> 0:23:59.001 Younger people get pregnant more readily than older people. You know, 0:23:59.081 --> 0:24:02.041 it is harder to get pregnant as you become older, 0:24:02.081 --> 0:24:05.721 and that impact is far more apparent woman than men. 0:24:07.081 --> 0:24:09.361 You know, so I think you know, you know, a 0:24:09.361 --> 0:24:11.121 couple of twenty year olds trying to get pregnant, even 0:24:11.161 --> 0:24:12.281 if the guy has got a bit of a low 0:24:12.321 --> 0:24:14.921 spem count, you know, probably there's some high quality sperm 0:24:14.961 --> 0:24:17.921 there and some high quality eggs, and then faly is 0:24:18.041 --> 0:24:19.441 likely to meet me. 0:24:19.921 --> 0:24:23.841 Yeah, okay, I mean, of course, any question I asked 0:24:23.841 --> 0:24:25.401 could be the sort of question you've been asked by 0:24:25.401 --> 0:24:27.521 a client as well. Anyway, I like a patient, should 0:24:27.521 --> 0:24:28.161 I say. 0:24:28.881 --> 0:24:29.441 Not that one? 0:24:29.521 --> 0:24:31.121 But really? Oh? 0:24:31.321 --> 0:24:34.841 Okay, no, no, that's it's a good theory. I haven't 0:24:34.841 --> 0:24:35.321 thought about it. 0:24:35.361 --> 0:24:40.401 So come back to me next time. Next time you're 0:24:40.441 --> 0:24:41.801 on what are the birth rates? 0:24:41.921 --> 0:24:42.361 These are? 0:24:42.361 --> 0:24:46.561 We're getting through quite a few texts on this one. 0:24:48.081 --> 0:24:49.721 How a second, I'm just going through because we've got 0:24:49.721 --> 0:24:52.361 a lot of got Okay, Simon, is there a best 0:24:52.361 --> 0:24:55.601 time to get pregnant? And also is there an age 0:24:55.641 --> 0:24:58.961 where being an age that would be bad for getting pregnant? Well, 0:24:58.961 --> 0:25:01.961 I would imagine as you get older, but the best 0:25:02.001 --> 0:25:05.721 time to get pregnant so we want. 0:25:06.281 --> 0:25:08.721 Yeah, So for a fertility specialist, the only answer I 0:25:08.721 --> 0:25:10.841 can give is the best time to get pregnant was yesterday, 0:25:11.801 --> 0:25:14.521 you know, given those eight related factors as we talked about. 0:25:14.641 --> 0:25:16.921 So I mean a concept I'd like people, you know, 0:25:17.241 --> 0:25:20.081 really to think about as planning for their last child. 0:25:20.121 --> 0:25:22.721 We see a lot of couples where, you know, they 0:25:23.161 --> 0:25:25.361 got their first child, you know, no worries, sort of 0:25:25.361 --> 0:25:27.601 thirty five, thirty six, but by the time they're trained 0:25:27.601 --> 0:25:30.201 for their second or perhaps their thirds, you know, the 0:25:30.321 --> 0:25:32.641 thirty eighth, thirty nine, and they've just reached a tipping 0:25:32.641 --> 0:25:36.841 point where it's very, very difficult. So flipping it around 0:25:36.921 --> 0:25:39.121 and thinking all right, hey we might want two kids, 0:25:39.201 --> 0:25:41.121 or we hey we might even want three, so we 0:25:41.241 --> 0:25:42.761 really have to think about or how old are we 0:25:42.801 --> 0:25:45.121 going to be, if that makes sense. I think if 0:25:45.161 --> 0:25:49.241 people want two kids and even the possibility of a third, 0:25:49.841 --> 0:25:53.081 I think trying for your first by your early thirties ideally, 0:25:53.801 --> 0:25:56.681 you know, would be what the recommendation I would give. 0:25:56.801 --> 0:26:02.041 Yeah, if you're thinking about it, start having a go yeah, okay, look, 0:26:02.081 --> 0:26:04.561 don't listen to me. People will listen to listen. Assignment 0:26:04.601 --> 0:26:07.761 on this one. Okay, what are the birth rates in 0:26:07.761 --> 0:26:09.441 comparison first world to third world? 0:26:09.441 --> 0:26:10.921 Do we have any data on that. 0:26:11.921 --> 0:26:14.281 Yeah, I think they. You know, the third world is 0:26:14.281 --> 0:26:17.921 definitely higher. I don't. You know. All of the sets 0:26:17.921 --> 0:26:20.561 I've got around the replacement rates are really from those 0:26:20.561 --> 0:26:24.521 first world countries, you know, Australia, Taiwan, Singapore, stuff like that, 0:26:24.521 --> 0:26:28.121 that are are very low. I think that there are 0:26:28.121 --> 0:26:31.801 still challenges in some of those other other countries, but 0:26:33.041 --> 0:26:35.961 it's certainly the sort of propping up the world population probably. 0:26:37.121 --> 0:26:40.081 I know from the study from some of the stuff 0:26:40.121 --> 0:26:42.441 I've got Vietnam has one of the sort of high 0:26:42.521 --> 0:26:45.161 high batility rates compared to many of the other southeastising countries. 0:26:45.761 --> 0:26:47.041 And why that is I don't know. 0:26:47.201 --> 0:26:51.361 But data on how old people are when they're having 0:26:51.361 --> 0:26:52.961 babies in those countries. 0:26:55.001 --> 0:26:57.721 There is, but I don't have it. You don't have 0:26:57.721 --> 0:27:03.561 to younger, but it's young absolutely, yeah, yeah, absolutely. 0:27:03.721 --> 0:27:06.081 And in first world countries, we're people have careers they 0:27:06.081 --> 0:27:08.281 want to pursue. I mean, logically, there are some logical 0:27:08.281 --> 0:27:10.081 deductions you can sort of make. I guess, can't you that? 0:27:10.201 --> 0:27:13.681 And OECD countries where women have careers they want to 0:27:13.681 --> 0:27:15.201 pursue and they might put it off a bit, it 0:27:15.241 --> 0:27:17.761 would make sense. I guess that there might be that 0:27:17.761 --> 0:27:19.441 would be reflected in birth statistics. 0:27:19.601 --> 0:27:20.361 Is that right? Or no? 0:27:20.761 --> 0:27:24.121 Oh? Absolutely? I think you know the you know, it 0:27:24.161 --> 0:27:26.521 wasn't that long ago. You kind of got married, you 0:27:26.561 --> 0:27:28.361 bought a house, and then you had a kid and 0:27:28.641 --> 0:27:32.161 you started your family, and you know that's how hard 0:27:32.241 --> 0:27:34.441 is that now? You know? Really difficult? 0:27:34.441 --> 0:27:36.841 Oh well, the house thing, I mean we blame the 0:27:36.881 --> 0:27:40.281 housing market for Actually that sounds a ridiculous thing to say, 0:27:40.281 --> 0:27:42.201 but if we were doing a more broader talk back topic, 0:27:42.241 --> 0:27:44.041 you could say, how much is you know, put your 0:27:44.081 --> 0:27:46.881 ambitions to buy a house affecting on your chances of 0:27:46.921 --> 0:27:49.681 having a baby when you want it? 0:27:49.681 --> 0:27:52.721 It is? It's huge. I mean, I think, you know, 0:27:52.721 --> 0:27:54.881 having kids is expensive, and I think if we want 0:27:54.881 --> 0:27:58.001 to really try and improve utility rates, it's you know, 0:27:58.041 --> 0:28:00.601 there are sort of financial factors and encomic factors we 0:28:00.641 --> 0:28:02.841 need to look at. I mean, an interesting thing to 0:28:02.881 --> 0:28:05.721 think about is as people have less kids and the 0:28:05.761 --> 0:28:09.161 average age of the population increases, we have more people 0:28:09.161 --> 0:28:12.241 not paying taxes, and you know that will have economic 0:28:12.281 --> 0:28:15.041 consequences which really can be quite quite substantial. 0:28:15.321 --> 0:28:17.081 Okay, I put a few I want to put a 0:28:17.081 --> 0:28:18.561 few urban myths to rest. 0:28:18.561 --> 0:28:20.001 If in fact, they are urban myths. 0:28:20.321 --> 0:28:25.601 So for guys, does saving up abstaining help you with 0:28:27.441 --> 0:28:32.601 having yeah, you know, delivering a high number of sperm? 0:28:33.001 --> 0:28:38.161 Yep? So men, So the less you ejaculate, lest you ejaculate, 0:28:38.201 --> 0:28:42.081 the volume increases, but the volume also includes more dead 0:28:42.121 --> 0:28:46.641 and dying sperm. Okay, So the more you ejaculate, the 0:28:46.761 --> 0:28:49.201 lower the volume of the ejaculate, but the better the 0:28:49.241 --> 0:28:51.721 quality of the sperm. So we actually have no data 0:28:51.801 --> 0:28:56.441 to show that having you know, sex bloody three times 0:28:56.481 --> 0:29:00.681 a day versus you know, every day is so sort 0:29:00.681 --> 0:29:03.641 of once once or twice a week is potentially any different. 0:29:04.041 --> 0:29:06.121 A good rule of thumb should be ejaculating two or 0:29:06.121 --> 0:29:07.881 three times a week, you know, so they should be 0:29:08.161 --> 0:29:10.521 over that sperm. So saving it up as something we 0:29:10.561 --> 0:29:11.641 would recommend avoiding. 0:29:11.841 --> 0:29:13.921 Okay, good, I mean that was actually the advice I 0:29:13.961 --> 0:29:16.001 got was to get cracking. 0:29:17.241 --> 0:29:17.961 Yeah, that's right. 0:29:19.281 --> 0:29:21.201 I'm sorry. If people are having your dinner early, and 0:29:21.641 --> 0:29:23.641 you know, somebody sent me a text same ham having 0:29:23.721 --> 0:29:26.521 my dinner right now, it's like we're only talking biology here, people, 0:29:26.521 --> 0:29:27.401 We're not talking. 0:29:27.161 --> 0:29:30.481 Explicit stuff anyway, Just to deal with it. 0:29:30.561 --> 0:29:33.801 But that that's that was the advice that. In fact, Yeah, 0:29:33.921 --> 0:29:35.321 I just thought I put that out there because I 0:29:35.361 --> 0:29:37.681 have spoken to a lot of guys who think, oh, 0:29:37.721 --> 0:29:42.161 you know, and their first question, which was dispelled by 0:29:42.201 --> 0:29:44.561 the expert they spoke to, was no, no, no, it's 0:29:44.641 --> 0:29:46.601 not a case of saving up for a rainy day. 0:29:46.961 --> 0:29:51.881 Let's get into it. That's right, Okay, got lots of 0:29:51.961 --> 0:29:58.561 questions here. I guess the is I'm fleshing out this 0:29:58.641 --> 0:30:01.441 question from Sally. It's saying, talk about the emotional stress 0:30:01.481 --> 0:30:03.561 on couples, struggling and all that. 0:30:05.081 --> 0:30:06.641 Yeah, and I. 0:30:08.961 --> 0:30:12.481 Does the emotional it's tied into the stress thing, simon. 0:30:13.001 --> 0:30:16.881 I guess about if you are getting really emotional about things, Okay, 0:30:16.881 --> 0:30:20.321 that's a mental health issue. But does that impact on fertility? 0:30:20.321 --> 0:30:21.361 And I'm guessing we don't know. 0:30:22.521 --> 0:30:25.001 Look, I think in terms of the impact on fertility, 0:30:25.201 --> 0:30:28.041 you know, from a stats point of view, would probably 0:30:28.081 --> 0:30:31.681 be quite difficult. But the emotional burden, the burden of treatment, 0:30:31.721 --> 0:30:35.241 the burden of failure, the burden of miscarriages is absolutely huge. 0:30:35.361 --> 0:30:40.121 And and those things can you know, become cumulative. I 0:30:40.161 --> 0:30:42.721 think you know the rate of people splitting up through 0:30:42.721 --> 0:30:44.881 fertility treatment, you know, it's much higher than those not 0:30:44.921 --> 0:30:47.921 having fertility treatment. So you know, it takes its toll 0:30:48.001 --> 0:30:50.441 on people in lots of different ways. And I think, 0:30:50.521 --> 0:30:52.641 you know, the wider friends and family as well. I mean, 0:30:52.721 --> 0:30:55.681 you know, the more we talk about it, it's great, 0:30:56.561 --> 0:30:58.361 you know, but also it can be very hard for 0:30:58.401 --> 0:31:01.521 the for our closest you know, the closest people to us, 0:31:01.561 --> 0:31:03.401 because they really want us to have that, you know, 0:31:03.401 --> 0:31:05.321 that that thing we want, which is a t older 0:31:05.321 --> 0:31:09.081 a family, and so it's hard to measure, but it's 0:31:09.641 --> 0:31:11.161 it's significant. 0:31:10.921 --> 0:31:14.081 Yeah, because I think that advice you talked about when 0:31:14.121 --> 0:31:16.561 you talked about the best time to get pregnant is 0:31:16.641 --> 0:31:19.681 yesterday is and I have spoken to you know, we're 0:31:19.721 --> 0:31:23.481 given the battle that we had at firstly I was 0:31:23.521 --> 0:31:26.161 talking to other people about when when suddenly you were 0:31:26.241 --> 0:31:31.081 under almost under prescription too try hard for a baby, 0:31:31.121 --> 0:31:32.481 and that can put a lot of pressure on a 0:31:32.521 --> 0:31:35.321 relationship because it's, you know, something that felt like it 0:31:35.321 --> 0:31:37.321 should be just in the moment of you know, in 0:31:37.321 --> 0:31:40.161 a relationship suddenly became something like we've you know, it's 0:31:40.201 --> 0:31:42.681 Wednesday night, We've got all it's. 0:31:42.641 --> 0:31:44.481 You know, And that that is a. 0:31:44.441 --> 0:31:47.361 Tough one, isn't it, Because you still want people to 0:31:47.361 --> 0:31:48.881 try and conceive naturally if they can. 0:31:49.881 --> 0:31:52.441 That's right, And I guess it's the cruel reality, isn't it, 0:31:53.081 --> 0:31:57.601 you know, of the situation. And I guess you know, 0:31:57.641 --> 0:32:02.041 people taking time to you know, to remember the stuff 0:32:02.041 --> 0:32:05.001 outside of fertility, and it is really important. But you know, 0:32:05.041 --> 0:32:07.521 we're a living, busy lives, and you know, I guess 0:32:07.521 --> 0:32:09.441 things can sometimes end up on a bit of a schedule 0:32:09.481 --> 0:32:11.001 for many many of our patients. 0:32:11.361 --> 0:32:15.481 How easy is it to work out because when a 0:32:15.561 --> 0:32:17.801 woman's ovulating. 0:32:18.281 --> 0:32:20.201 Yeah, it's a good question. And look, I think there's 0:32:20.241 --> 0:32:22.761 lots of apps out there and people use urine cats 0:32:22.801 --> 0:32:25.121 and stuff and go for it. People go crazy. But 0:32:25.721 --> 0:32:29.041 we would recommend people just to have regular, unprotected sex. 0:32:29.081 --> 0:32:33.201 You know, I think trying to time it carefully is 0:32:34.041 --> 0:32:35.561 not you know, in a way, it doesn't make sense. 0:32:35.561 --> 0:32:37.641 You know, we also get told when we're teenagers, hey, 0:32:37.841 --> 0:32:40.601 we're a condom. You know you'll get pregnant. And some 0:32:40.641 --> 0:32:42.561 of our mates, did you know they didn't get pregnant 0:32:42.561 --> 0:32:44.161 when the condo brookes once or they're just a bit 0:32:44.241 --> 0:32:46.641 useless once. So to go from that you have to 0:32:46.681 --> 0:32:49.361 sort of really carefully time it. You know, those are 0:32:49.441 --> 0:32:52.801 so very different ends of the spectrum. So some people 0:32:52.881 --> 0:32:55.081 are some woman a lot of ovulator ratically as well, 0:32:55.121 --> 0:32:57.561 their cycle won't be consistent. It may range, you know, 0:32:57.721 --> 0:33:01.361 seventeen days even more. So, you know, trying to pinpoint 0:33:01.401 --> 0:33:04.841 ovulation in some situations, I think people may actually, you know, 0:33:04.881 --> 0:33:07.041 they only they really sort of focus on having sex 0:33:07.081 --> 0:33:08.961 in this period and maybe they do actually miss the 0:33:08.961 --> 0:33:12.121 boat because it's a later ovulation. So if you haven't 0:33:12.161 --> 0:33:14.481 sex two or three times a week, you know, regardless 0:33:14.481 --> 0:33:16.561 where you're at in the cycle, you will get the 0:33:16.601 --> 0:33:19.001 timing right. Okay, So I think you know that's a 0:33:19.081 --> 0:33:21.681 general thumb. You know, you use your apps, look at 0:33:21.681 --> 0:33:23.321 all that kind of stuff, but you still want to 0:33:23.321 --> 0:33:26.281 be having sex broadly at least twill three times a week. 0:33:27.281 --> 0:33:31.081 What about I remember this advert years ago. It ended 0:33:31.161 --> 0:33:34.001 up with the line and folic acid for reproduction, and 0:33:34.041 --> 0:33:37.361 somebody's texted me about folic acid. What what's the role 0:33:37.401 --> 0:33:38.481 of follic acid for? 0:33:39.921 --> 0:33:43.161 Just to prevent spina bifitter so spina bist an narsty 0:33:43.201 --> 0:33:45.721 or neuritube defect, quite an narsty spinal condition. It doesn't 0:33:45.761 --> 0:33:49.081 help people become pregnant, but it's really more of a 0:33:49.121 --> 0:33:52.361 public health measure. Those who are taking folic acid preconceptually 0:33:52.441 --> 0:33:55.681 will have lower rates of spina bifida. I believe in 0:33:55.681 --> 0:33:59.441 New Zealand we don't fortify our breed with fol eight. 0:33:59.521 --> 0:34:02.521 So I think that's that's part of I don't know 0:34:02.521 --> 0:34:06.081 too much about that, but yeah, it's it's purely to 0:34:06.121 --> 0:34:08.081 reduce that id and when you are pregnant. A lot 0:34:08.081 --> 0:34:10.001 of people take it beforehand, but it's really when you 0:34:10.041 --> 0:34:13.001 are pregnant for sort of help development of the fetal brain. 0:34:13.121 --> 0:34:16.961 But well, these about but these are I mean, these 0:34:16.961 --> 0:34:18.601 are important things to know because a lot of people, 0:34:18.641 --> 0:34:21.681 you know, they love the pink Himalayan sort of sultan things. 0:34:21.681 --> 0:34:24.841 It's like, well, that's not I dosed. I mean salts 0:34:24.841 --> 0:34:27.361 where we get iding from generally? Isn't it all vitamins? 0:34:27.441 --> 0:34:29.921 That's exactly right, Yeah, no, exactly. Yeah. 0:34:30.001 --> 0:34:33.441 That's just just one last question, because time has flown. 0:34:34.241 --> 0:34:37.481 What are the treatments that are available now? Are there 0:34:37.521 --> 0:34:39.521 any specific things that stand out to you that have 0:34:39.601 --> 0:34:41.841 changed that changed the game for people who might twenty 0:34:41.961 --> 0:34:45.321 years ago have struggled to conceive in terms of YE 0:34:46.041 --> 0:34:47.121 fertility associates. 0:34:48.081 --> 0:34:51.161 Yeah, so, I mean, our standout performer in terms of 0:34:51.201 --> 0:34:54.361 treatment has been IVF. You know, IVF has continued to 0:34:55.641 --> 0:35:00.601 increase in success rates and become more refined. You know, 0:35:00.681 --> 0:35:04.161 it is our kind of you know itsel that's our 0:35:04.721 --> 0:35:08.041 higher paid player on the team, if that makes sense. 0:35:09.441 --> 0:35:14.321 So things like insemination remain very simple, if anything, probably 0:35:15.441 --> 0:35:18.281 you know, we've found that early recourse to IVF treatment 0:35:18.281 --> 0:35:21.641 and many situations is he so actually sort of being 0:35:21.641 --> 0:35:24.601 brave enough to talk to our patients and actually say, hey, look, IVF. 0:35:25.161 --> 0:35:28.281 You know it is your best your best step. You 0:35:28.281 --> 0:35:30.241 know there are other options or you know this all that, 0:35:30.321 --> 0:35:34.601 but this, this will be people's best best option. So 0:35:34.801 --> 0:35:36.721 you know, I think it's forty years since we're the 0:35:36.761 --> 0:35:39.841 first child born in New Zealand with IVF. I think 0:35:39.841 --> 0:35:42.241 that was not too long ago, and forty five the 0:35:42.241 --> 0:35:46.241 first child born in England. So you know, it's it's 0:35:46.281 --> 0:35:51.121 been a massive, amazing colesion of technology and knowledge. 0:35:51.641 --> 0:35:53.841 Yeah, hey, Simon, thanks so much for joining us. 0:35:53.921 --> 0:35:56.081 And people can reach you in Wellington and I think 0:35:56.081 --> 0:35:59.601 you wake for Field Clinic as part of Fertility Associates, right, 0:35:59.641 --> 0:36:00.441 and I think. 0:36:00.961 --> 0:36:03.081 We're on the we're on the TIRA, so Fertility Associates 0:36:03.121 --> 0:36:03.961 Wellington on the tear. 0:36:04.561 --> 0:36:05.841 The wrong wrong address there. 0:36:05.841 --> 0:36:07.521 Sorry, I do some work there as well. 0:36:07.881 --> 0:36:08.401 Good stuff. 0:36:08.961 --> 0:36:12.361 So yeah, ready music probably shouldn't said that. 0:36:13.841 --> 0:36:19.921 I think you can mention so much for thanks so 0:36:20.001 --> 0:36:21.721 much for coming on the show. I really appreciate it. 0:36:22.721 --> 0:36:24.601 No worries. Thanks very dumb. 0:36:25.201 --> 0:36:26.761 Yeah, good, we'll catch you again. 0:36:27.041 --> 0:36:30.561 That's something from Fertility Associates and you know, if you 0:36:30.721 --> 0:36:32.601 if you wanted to speak to a doctor, then give 0:36:32.641 --> 0:36:35.281 them a call. And anyway, we'll be back in just 0:36:35.321 --> 0:36:51.361 a moment to wrap sport with Elliot Smith, who is next. Yes, 0:36:51.401 --> 0:36:55.761 that wraps up the parents squad actually, because now it 0:36:55.961 --> 0:36:58.881 is that time of day at eleven minutes to six. 0:37:00.961 --> 0:37:03.561 Good weekend, collective sports. 0:37:03.241 --> 0:37:06.081 Rat and look he's in the studio. I wish we 0:37:06.121 --> 0:37:08.281 had the cameras on because he's pretty in pink today 0:37:09.921 --> 0:37:11.961 Elliot Smith and now Elliott I just need you to 0:37:12.961 --> 0:37:15.641 acknowledge that I did predict. It's not over yet, but 0:37:15.761 --> 0:37:17.441 I did predict the Warriors would come back and beat 0:37:17.441 --> 0:37:17.881 the Broncos. 0:37:17.921 --> 0:37:21.241 Yeah, it is half time and they lead sixteen six 0:37:21.321 --> 0:37:24.241 over the Broncos this afternoon at Mount Smart Stadium. You 0:37:24.321 --> 0:37:27.361 did predict it. Yeah, congratulations, there are still forty minutes 0:37:27.401 --> 0:37:27.561 to go. 0:37:27.761 --> 0:37:29.481 I did call the Chiefs and the Blues at the 0:37:29.521 --> 0:37:29.841 other week. 0:37:29.961 --> 0:37:32.081 You said the Blues would win comfortably in the final. 0:37:31.881 --> 0:37:34.001 If I recall right, And I also predicted that the 0:37:34.081 --> 0:37:35.201 Titans would beat the Warriors. 0:37:35.601 --> 0:37:38.441 You did, and so you're on track for three from three. 0:37:38.521 --> 0:37:40.041 I just wish I had the money on it. 0:37:40.321 --> 0:37:42.681 Yeah, you should have. You should have look id caution 0:37:42.841 --> 0:37:44.561 to say there are still forty minutes to go, and 0:37:45.841 --> 0:37:48.161 in a Warriors game, there is plenty of time for 0:37:48.241 --> 0:37:50.761 the game to go one of two directions. So we 0:37:50.841 --> 0:37:52.961 wait and see. But a very good start from the Warriors. 0:37:53.641 --> 0:37:55.681 A couple of tries from Chanelle Harris Tavita could have 0:37:55.721 --> 0:37:58.361 been a third. I just had one ruled out before halftime. 0:37:58.441 --> 0:38:00.521 But sixteen six at the break, you'd take that from 0:38:00.521 --> 0:38:04.321 the Warriors' perspective against the Broncos. So, yes, they're missing 0:38:04.801 --> 0:38:07.001 some their State of origin players who are being rested 0:38:07.041 --> 0:38:08.801 this week coming off the game on Wednesday night, but 0:38:08.881 --> 0:38:10.761 buying large, a pretty good start from the Warriors. 0:38:10.801 --> 0:38:12.921 Actually, I guess who cares who they're resting. What matters 0:38:12.961 --> 0:38:13.761 is on the pitches. 0:38:13.881 --> 0:38:16.961 Two points is up for grabs, so that's what you 0:38:17.041 --> 0:38:19.681 need to do, and these are the games to the 0:38:19.721 --> 0:38:22.321 Warriors perspective that you need to win. Coming off the 0:38:22.361 --> 0:38:24.881 back of that humiliation last week on the Gold Coast, 0:38:25.241 --> 0:38:27.401 they need to balance back and all the signs are 0:38:27.401 --> 0:38:29.081 pretty positive so far this afternoon. 0:38:29.721 --> 0:38:29.921 Yeah. 0:38:29.921 --> 0:38:32.121 I always find it one of the more fatuous sort 0:38:32.161 --> 0:38:34.881 of discussions that you hear about who's missing from the 0:38:35.001 --> 0:38:37.881 field in sport, because it's like, Okay, you do it 0:38:38.001 --> 0:38:39.841 briefly and let's move on to who's on the pitch. 0:38:40.001 --> 0:38:42.121 Yeah, that's right. Although I think in the NL it 0:38:42.281 --> 0:38:45.041 is important because you've got the state of origin period 0:38:45.081 --> 0:38:47.681 where some teams do get weakened by things, and this 0:38:47.801 --> 0:38:49.841 traditionally has been a very strong period for the Warriors, 0:38:49.841 --> 0:38:53.241 where they go through last week obviously belted by the 0:38:53.521 --> 0:38:55.921 and they're playing a Broncos, you know, a team dominated 0:38:55.961 --> 0:38:57.841 by state of origin players. There are a few players out. 0:38:57.881 --> 0:39:00.121 But having said that, you know it's the same as 0:39:00.281 --> 0:39:02.161 week one of the competition. There are still two points 0:39:02.201 --> 0:39:04.361 for a win, so do you take those if you 0:39:04.441 --> 0:39:05.361 get in the saft Now. 0:39:05.321 --> 0:39:07.081 We've had the all blacks named and the captain all 0:39:07.121 --> 0:39:09.441 that sort of thing, when it's actually the when's the 0:39:09.481 --> 0:39:10.761 first game for the All Blacks. 0:39:10.681 --> 0:39:12.361 This time next week, well not exactly this time next 0:39:12.401 --> 0:39:15.201 week sevenar five, next Saturday night against England in Dunedin. 0:39:15.801 --> 0:39:18.401 That is actually hitting the ground running, isn't it. 0:39:19.481 --> 0:39:20.441 How are England looking? 0:39:20.881 --> 0:39:22.881 England have had a game under their belts. They played 0:39:23.161 --> 0:39:27.001 Japan last week relatively comfortable. Then obviously they've had the 0:39:27.081 --> 0:39:29.441 Six Nations a bit earlier on in the years, So 0:39:29.841 --> 0:39:31.681 if you're comparing the two, you know, new slate for 0:39:31.721 --> 0:39:34.641 the All Blacks versus England coming in with a bit 0:39:34.721 --> 0:39:38.281 more time under their belts, then that's obviously a benefit 0:39:38.401 --> 0:39:41.361 for England. They're in the country at the moment, training 0:39:41.401 --> 0:39:44.921 away and so you know, I guess it's we'll find 0:39:44.961 --> 0:39:45.841 out next Saturday night. 0:39:45.921 --> 0:39:46.761 Won't be very much. 0:39:46.681 --> 0:39:47.241 Looking forward to it. 0:39:47.561 --> 0:39:50.641 And of course the Mario Blacks they're playing. 0:39:50.481 --> 0:39:53.281 Japan tonight, so that's at ten o'clock over in Japan, 0:39:53.481 --> 0:39:55.361 so that's another one with a lot of those players. 0:39:56.401 --> 0:39:58.601 And that Mex just coming off the Super Roggy playoffs 0:39:58.921 --> 0:40:01.521 and now into multi All Blacks mode. They haven't had 0:40:01.561 --> 0:40:03.081 a lot of time together. I mean that squad was 0:40:03.121 --> 0:40:06.281 only selected on Tuesday. They're now playing it game on 0:40:06.441 --> 0:40:09.441 Saturday night, which is quite remarkable, isn't it So the quivery, 0:40:10.121 --> 0:40:12.561 quick turnaround for the moldy All Blacks. 0:40:12.601 --> 0:40:13.921 But they're looking as a team. 0:40:13.921 --> 0:40:15.241 What's the selections looking strike? 0:40:15.401 --> 0:40:16.961 Yeah, I mean there's got the strong base of a 0:40:16.961 --> 0:40:18.921 few players that missed out on All Black selection, a 0:40:19.001 --> 0:40:22.521 few players that perhaps you know, you don't know too 0:40:22.601 --> 0:40:24.841 much about. Is the case sometimes of the moldy All 0:40:24.881 --> 0:40:26.801 Blacks that you have to dig a little bit deeper 0:40:26.881 --> 0:40:30.281 to find moldy heritage in certain positions. But really looking 0:40:30.321 --> 0:40:34.881 forward to watching that game tonight. All Blacks played Japans 0:40:34.881 --> 0:40:36.641 that later on in the year, so interesting to get 0:40:36.641 --> 0:40:38.241 a prac on on how things are tracking. But yeah, 0:40:38.281 --> 0:40:40.001 the big game for the All Blacks next Saturday night 0:40:40.081 --> 0:40:41.521 seven or five. Life here on News Talks. 0:40:41.681 --> 0:40:44.121 Absolutely I'm looking forward to hearing your call on that, Elliott, 0:40:44.761 --> 0:40:46.761 And good to see you mate, Thanks for coming home, 0:40:46.881 --> 0:40:47.121 Thank you. 0:40:47.241 --> 0:40:48.841 There we go, Elliott Smith, the voice of. 0:40:48.841 --> 0:40:51.961 Rugby and Carago Chicken before get. 0:40:54.841 --> 0:40:57.561 And thanks so much for listening and stay tuned for 0:40:57.641 --> 0:40:58.281 Roman Travers. 0:40:58.321 --> 0:41:01.001 He's got a special, very special guest joining him to 0:41:01.121 --> 0:41:05.761 take calls about his stories and incredible career. Barry Holland 0:41:05.801 --> 0:41:08.321 will be in with from seven to eight with Roman 0:41:08.401 --> 0:41:13.281 Travers and join us again tomorrow. We've got Davis similar O'Connors. 0:41:13.321 --> 0:41:13.921 Or what was I saying? 0:41:13.961 --> 0:41:16.401 It was about to give the wrong Samin Brown? What 0:41:16.481 --> 0:41:18.041 has I had the wrong name for singing? The Ministry 0:41:18.041 --> 0:41:20.921 of Minister of Transports joining us. Enjoy your night, We'll 0:41:20.961 --> 0:41:22.681 catch you soon and have a great evening. 0:41:29.521 --> 0:41:32.241 For more from the Weekend Collective, listen live to news 0:41:32.321 --> 0:41:35.361 Talks it'd be weekends from three pm, or follow the 0:41:35.441 --> 0:41:36.961 podcast on iHeartRadio.