How Many Eggs Do You Actually Need to Freeze? The Complete Guide to Egg Freezing & IVF

How Many Eggs Do You Actually Need to Freeze? The Complete Guide to Egg Freezing & IVF

More babies than ever are being born through assisted reproduction. Women are having children later, environmental factors are increasingly affecting fertility, and the world of egg freezing, IVF and embryology is changing faster than most of us realise. But what actually happens inside the lab — and what does every woman need to know before she makes any decisions about her fertility? In this episode of The Health Review I sit down with Emma Whitney — Director of Embryology and Genetics at The Evewell, one of the UK's leading fertility clinics, and winner of the Claire Gillot Prize, the most prestigious award a UK embryologist can receive. Emma spends her days doing something most of us will never see — working with eggs, sperm and embryos in the lab to help people build the families they want. We cover: Who egg freezing is actually for — and why Emma thinks the conversation should be starting much earlier than most women have it The ideal age to freeze eggs and where the statistics start to shift significantly How many eggs you actually need frozen to have a realistic chance of a live birth — the honest numbers most clinics don't lead with What happens inside the lab on egg collection day — what Emma is looking for and what makes a good collection Vitrification — the flash freezing process that transformed egg freezing success rates and what it's actually doing GERI time-lapse incubators — the technology The Evewell uses and why continuous monitoring of embryo development changes outcomes Embryo grading — what it means, how it works and how much a grade actually predicts success PGT-A — preimplantation genetic testing — when to use it, what it reveals and why it matters for implantation Egg versus embryo freezing — the key differences and how to decide which is right for you How to genuinely optimise egg quality before a freeze cycle — what the evidence says about CoQ10, diet, sleep, alcohol and stress What happens when someone returns years later to use their frozen eggs — and the factors that most affect whether it works The emotional reality of fertility treatment — what Emma sees in the lab and what she wishes more women knew before they started This episode is for you if: You're considering egg freezing and want to understand what actually happens during the process. You're in your twenties or thirties and wondering whether now is the right time to have the conversation. Or you're going through IVF and want to understand what's happening to your embryos in the lab. About Emma Whitney: Emma Whitney is Director of Embryology and Genetics at The Evewell, one of the UK's leading fertility clinics. She is the winner of the Claire Gillot Prize — awarded by the Association of Reproductive and Clinical Scientists for outstanding contribution to embryology education — the most prestigious award a UK embryologist can receive. This episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your own clinician before making changes to your health or fertility treatment. Today's sponsor Totally Derma: Today's episode is supported by Totally Derma, the evidence-based collagen drink supplement recommended by dermatologists and cosmetic clinics across the UK. As mentioned in the episode, The Health Review listeners get 15% off their first subscription with code HEALTHREVIEW15 at checkout: https://totallyderma.com/?ref=115 Find Emma: htps://www.instagram.com/emmatheembryologist/ Follow The Health Review: https://www.instagram.com/the.health.review ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Coaching, Acne Lasers, Women Health & Fertility — A Personal Update

This one is a little different. No guest, just me — with some updates I've been wanting to share for a while and a look ahead at what's coming on The Health Review this summer. This is a solo episode and a personal one. I talk about completing my six-month coaching diploma with Andy Ramage at Coach Business School — what coaching actually is, why it surprised me so much, and how I'm now working with clients. Also, something I haven't mentioned on the show before — a fertility journey I'm on (early days), and the nervous system and lifestyle work I've been doing alongside it. I also share an honest update on my acne journey, including trying AviClear — a laser treatment that was significantly more painful than I expected and whether I think it's worth it so far. I also answer some of your questions from Instagram — on future podcast themes, whether I'm still working in news, non-toxic product swaps and longevity protocols — and run through the health news stories that have caught my attention recently, including the new non-invasive endometriosis tests getting NICE backing, the Bryan Johnson vaginal microbiome moment and what's really going on with GLP-1 drugs beyond weight loss. And I share what's coming this summer — a full women's health series covering: * Egg freezing and fertility with the UK's leading embryologist * Perimenopause and hormones with Dr Rima Shake * The vaginal microbiome with the founder of Pelvic Relief * UTIs, cystitis and intimate health * Women's nutrition and mental health If you have questions for any of these guests — nothing is too personal or too embarrassing — send them to hello@thehealthreview.com [hello@thehealthreview.com] or drop them in the DMs. Topics covered: solo episode | women's health series | fertility journey | nervous system health | acne laser treatment | AviClear review | positive psychology coaching | Coach Business School | Andy Ramage | wellness toolkit | non-toxic swaps | endometriosis diagnosis | vaginal microbiome | GLP-1 drugs | Ozempic news | longevity basics | methylation testing | health news UK | The Health Review summer series This episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your own clinician before making changes to your health. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Oral Microbiome — Why What's Living In Your Mouth Is Affecting Your Whole Body | Dr Daniel Sutcliffe

We're spending billions on supplements, gut health, longevity tracking and biological age testing. And yet one of the most powerful windows into our overall health — one that's been right there the whole time — is something most of us think about for a few minutes a day. The mouth. In this episode of The Health Review I sit down with Dr Daniel Sutcliffe — founder of The Bespoke Dentist, one of London's leading holistic and biological dental practices, and one of a growing number of clinicians making the case that the mouth and the body are not separate systems. The oral microbiome, gum disease, how we breathe, the position of our jaw, whether our wisdom teeth are impacted — all of it connects to our cardiovascular health, our gut, our sleep, our cognitive function and potentially even our future risk of dementia. As Daniel puts it — medicine and dentistry used to be married. Now they're divorced. We cover: * What biological and holistic dentistry actually means — and why every dentist could be practising it * The mouth as the front door to the gut — why 45% of gut bacteria is fed from the mouth * The oral microbiome — the second largest biome in the body and what we're doing to it every day without realising * Why aggressive mouthwashes are the oral equivalent of spraying weed killer on your garden * The dementia link — P. gingivalis DNA found in 90% of Alzheimer's brains in one study and what that means * The two-way relationship between gum disease and diabetes — and why treating one affects the other * Fluoride — why Daniel doesn't use it and what hydroxyapatite toothpaste actually does instead * Amalgam fillings — the safe removal protocol and why most dentists are still drilling straight through * Sleep apnoea and snoring — how what's happening in your mouth and airway connects to cardiovascular health, cognitive function and energy levels * Wisdom teeth — when to remove them, when to leave them and the nerve damage risk nobody tells you about * Mouth breathing versus nasal breathing — and the wonder molecule nitric oxide that nasal breathing delivers * Tongue scraping — why Daniel is massively for it and what it's doing for your oral microbiome * Why looking after your mouth could be the single most effective thing you do for the rest of your body About Dr Daniel Sutcliffe: Dr Daniel Sutcliffe is the founder of The Bespoke Dentist on Harley Street and UK mentor for the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology. He specialises in biological dentistry, safe amalgam removal, sleep apnoea treatment and the oral-systemic health connection. His book Heal Your Mouth, Heal Your Body is due for publication in February 2027. This episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your own clinician before making changes to your health. Topics: biological dentistry | holistic dentistry | oral microbiome | gum disease and dementia | oral health and gut health | fluoride alternatives | hydroxyapatite toothpaste | amalgam removal | safe amalgam removal | sleep apnoea treatment | snoring and health | mouth breathing | nasal breathing | nitric oxide | wisdom teeth | tongue scraping | oral health and diabetes | oral health and heart disease | P gingivalis | Dr Daniel Sutcliffe | Bespoke Dentist | IAOMT | mouth body connection | dental health UK | oral probiotics | waterpik | flossing This week's sponsor, vagus nerve stimulator SONA has offered The Health Review listeners 15% off SONA. Use code THR at checkout or access the discount automatically here: https://sona.help/?im_ref=SkfXugw-kxyZWz0TwYRUY2%3AdUkuReuR-SzLO0Q0&sharedid&irpid=7022575&irgwc=1&afsrc=1 Dr Daniel's website: https://thebespokedentist.co.uk/ Follow The Health Review: https://www.instagram.com/the.health.review/ ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Wheelchair-Bound at 18 to Holistic Health Expert — Lauren Vaknine's Extraordinary Healing Journey

Most of us approach our health the same way. We get a symptom, we find a treatment, we manage the condition. What we rarely ask is why — why is the body doing this, what is it trying to tell us, and what would it mean to actually heal rather than just cope? In this episode of The Health Review I sit down with Lauren Vaknine — holistic health expert, author and chronic illness advocate whose own healing journey is one of the most extraordinary I've encountered. Diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis just before her second birthday, Lauren spent her childhood navigating the medical system, and by the age of 18 was completely wheelchair-bound — unable to grip cutlery, bend her elbows or sit up straight — after while being on a chemo-based drug, her arthritis spread to every joint in her body within ten months. It was in that moment, at 18, sitting in the rheumatologist's office, that she made a decision that changed everything. Disability wasn't going to be her story. Wellness was. What followed was a decade-long healing journey — through nutrition, meditation, somatic work, inner child healing and nervous system regulation — that not only transformed her own health but became the foundation for the work she now does with thousands of women through her Rise membership. We cover: Lauren's extraordinary personal story — from diagnosis at two years old to wheelchair-bound at 18 to holistic health expert Her mother's instinct to reject conventional steroids in 1986 The moment in the rheumatologist's office that changed everything — and the decision she made at 18 that set the course of her life Why nervous system regulation has to come before everything else — supplements, protocols, nutrition — everything What chronic stress is actually doing to your body — the predator response explained in a way that will change how you think about your gut health, your immune system and your sleep Food as medicine — where to start and what Lauren changed first on her healing journey What somatic healing actually is and how to begin — breathwork, movement and processing emotions through the body The difference between existing in trauma and processing it Meditation and the corpus callosum — the neuroscience behind why meditation is the only practice shown to strengthen the bridge between the two sides of the brain Identity work — why shifting out of the identity of your illness or your problem is the missing piece most people never address Why you can't hear guidance through the noise — and what sitting in silence every day actually does Intuition as a health tool — how Lauren now makes decisions about food, movement and her body without any tracking or testing This episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your own clinician before making changes to your health. Lauren has kindly offered The Health Review audience a discount on her Rise membership: Just use the code RISEIS45 to get it for £45 instead of £75. https://www.laurenvaknine.co.uk/risemembership This week's sponsor, vagus nerve stimulator SONA has offered The Health Review listeners 15% off SONA. Use code THR at checkout or access the discount automatically here: https://sona.help/?im_ref=SkfXugw-kxyZWz0TwYRUY2%3AdUkuReuR-SzLO0Q0&sharedid&irpid=7022575&irgwc=1&afsrc=1 Lauren's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenvaknine Follow The Health Review: https://www.instagram.com/the.health.review ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Longevity, Biological Age & How to Live to 114 in Great Health | Dr Alka Patel

We've all heard of the super agers — centenarians living well into their hundreds in the villages of Sardinia, the islands of Okinawa, regions of the world where reaching 100 in great health is almost the norm. Increasingly, longevity scientists believe that kind of lifespan could be within reach for many more of us — if we can fend off the age-related diseases that currently cut lives short. Nearly half of all UK adults already have at least one longstanding health condition. So the question is — how much of that is inevitable, and how much is actually within our control? In this episode of The Health Review I sit down with Dr Alka Patel — GP, longevity doctor, TEDx speaker and founder of the Million Hour Club, whose mission is to help one million people live a one million hour life. With over 25 years of clinical experience and a quarter of a million patients, Dr Alka works at the fascinating intersection of cutting-edge biohacking and lifestyle medicine — and she brings a perspective on longevity that is both rigorously evidence-based and deeply personal. The conversation that stayed with me most was a patient she described — a 29-year-old whose biological age tested at 78. Not because of genetics or illness, but because of stress. The grind, the hustle, the pressure of doing it all. And the fact that nobody had told them what it was doing to their body. We cover: Why Dr Alka went from being a GP in conventional medicine to pioneering longevity care Her own health crisis — the birthday that ended with multiple organ failure and the question it forced her to ask Health is a verb not a noun — what that TEDx talk with over half a million views actually means in practice How much of our health is really down to genetics — and why the answer is more hopeful than most people think The hierarchy of health — why mastering the basics has to come before peptides, IV drips and biological age testing What biological age testing actually measures and why it's one of the most motivating tests Dr Alka does The 29-year-old with a biological age of 78 — and what stress is really doing to the body over time The cortisol curve — why most of her high-performing patients don't have one, and what that means for sleep, energy and burnout Biohacking for women — why we are not little men and what a female-specific approach to optimisation actually looks like Biosynchrony — aligning your lifestyle with your biology, your hormones and your circadian rhythm Perimenopause, cycle tracking and why variety might matter more than routine for women at this life stage The Blue Zones debate — what the research actually shows even if the specific data is being questioned Why beauty begins in your biology — and the coffin line that stopped me in my tracks Cautious curiosity — how to approach peptides, rapamycin and novel longevity interventions safely What longevity medicine will look like in ten years This episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your own clinician before making changes to your health. Topics: longevity medicine | biological age testing | biohacking for women | Dr Alka Patel | million hour club | female biohacking | perimenopause health | cortisol testing | stress and ageing | epigenetics | Blue Zones | health is a verb | continuous glucose monitor | Oura Ring | HRV | biosynchrony | circadian rhythm | longevity supplements | peptides | rapamycin | NAD longevity | lifestyle medicine | functional medicine UK | how to live longer | healthy ageing women | burnout and ageing | superagers | centenarians | biological clock Dr Alka's website: https://www.dralkapatel.com/ Follow The Health Review: https://www.instagram.com/the.health.review ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.