Welcome to Flow! I have chosen to name my fertility practice Flow for a few reasons. First, the name references flow cytometry, a technology that was a major component of my PhD in reproductive immunology and is now used to perform the ‘NK activity’ test. This test identifies candidates for The Bondi Protocol, an immune therapy I established for the treatment of high NK cell activity in women.
Additionally, Flow references my love of the ocean and Bondi, as well as the approach I take to helping my patients.
Over the two decades I’ve been a fertility specialist, I’ve developed a unique philosophy and approach to infertility care. The following four tenets broadly describe my clinical approach and the difference patients can expect when they entrust me with their care.
A researcher’s perspective helps meet every clinical challenge
Each patient or couple comes to me with a unique set of health circumstances, goals and desires. It’s my job as a fertility specialist to listen and observe, ask the right questions and gather the necessary information to create the best possible care plan to meet their needs. In other words, my job is to think like a researcher.
Unusually for a fertility specialist in Australia, I have a PhD in reproductive medicine, so I’m no stranger to this type of thinking. In a way, I approach every patient or couple as a PhD in their own right.
Working with patients raises clinical questions that science is best placed to answer. These answers can then be translated into evidence-based recommendations for patients. In this way, science and reproductive medicine are in an ongoing dialogue.
As a clinician researcher – a practising fertility specialist who also undertakes research – I am one of the facilitators of this dialogue between science and reproductive care. This allows me to both pioneer research in reproductive medicine and provide personalised care to the clinical challenges my patients bring me.
Emotions uncover the heart of the matter
For most of my patients, the fertility journey comes with emotional ups and downs. Creating a space where they can comfortably express their feelings allows them to feel supported, while also helping me understand what’s truly important to them on their journey.
While most of my patients come to me with the same goal – to have a baby – different people require different things to feel satisfied on their fertility journey. For example, some need to feel they’ve tried everything possible to conceive, so they may wish to undergo multiple rounds of IVF. Others feel strongly that they want their egg to be used. It’s my goal to identify what’s important to each individual or couple and take that into account as I develop a care plan.
Honesty is truly the best policy
As a fertility specialist with over 20 years of experience, who is actively involved in fertility research, I have a robust understanding of which treatments are likely to be effective in which circumstances.
Sometimes, there is a low probability that my patients’ preferred approach will meet their goals. In these instances, especially when time is of the essence, I will always gently explain why the approach is unlikely to succeed and suggest an appropriate alternative.
Time is a precious and finite resource
Fertility declines with age; for women, this decline becomes increasingly rapid from age 35. For this reason, it’s always best to seek treatment as soon as you begin to have trouble conceiving.
I have developed a reputation for being able to solve fertility puzzles that other specialists can’t, so patients sometimes view me as a last resort. In fact, many of my patients have seen up to 10 other doctors before me.
I encourage prospective patients to consult me earlier in their journey. As time is not on our side, it’s best to identify the problem and implement the appropriate solution as soon as possible.
To enable patients to see me as quickly as possible, I take care to minimise waiting times in my clinic.
I hope that by reading this article you will now have a good understanding of the approach I take to patient care and what you can expect from working with me. It would be my pleasure to consult with you on your fertility concerns.
To book an appointment, please contact my receptionist at [email protected].