Dr Rashi Kalra

CREI CERTIFIED
FERTILITY and IVF SPECIALIST
GYNAECOLOGIST

24/07/2025

Do fertility supplements actually work? 🤔

It’s one of the most common questions I hear and the short answer is: some do.

When used correctly and with medical guidance, supplements can support egg quality, s***m health, and hormonal balance. But not all are created equal.
Here are a few with the most research-backed benefits:

✨ Folate (not just folic acid) – crucial before and during early pregnancy

🧬 CoQ10 – may support egg and s***m mitochondrial function

🧠 Vitamin D – often low in Australians and linked to reproductive health

🧪 Zinc, Omega-3s, Myo-Inositol – helpful in specific cases like PCOS or male factor

BUT: more isn’t always better. Over-supplementing or self-prescribing can do more harm than good.

If you’re on a fertility journey, speak to a specialist before starting anything new and especially if you’re already undergoing treatment. Make every supplement count, not confuse.

21/07/2025

Cancer treatment doesn’t have to mean closing the door on future fertility. 🤍

Thanks to medical advances, patients now have more options than ever to preserve their reproductive potential before starting treatment.

Here’s what’s new and important in fertility preservation:

🧬 Ovarian Tissue Freezing
With over a 100 live births worldwide , this option is life-changing for young girls or patients who can’t delay chemotherapy.

🥚 Egg & Embryo Freezing
With careful coordination, we can often complete a full stimulation cycle and retrieval in as little as 2 weeks… even after a cancer diagnosis. There are also other options available as clinical trials that show promise such as IVM (in vitro maturation) ⏱️ Time is Critical
The window between diagnosis and treatment is short. A referral to a fertility specialist as early as possible can make all the difference.

16/07/2025

Fresh or Frozen? Let’s talk about embryo transfers. ❄️🧫
One of the most common questions I’m asked is: “Is a fresh embryo transfer better than a frozen one?”
WELL, the answer? It depends on you, your cycle, and your overall health.

✨ Fresh transfers can be ideal when hormone levels are optimal and the uterine lining is ready.

❄️ Frozen transfers allow time for your body to recover, can reduce risk of OHSS, and let us prepare the uterus more precisely.

At my practice, every decision is personalised and based on evidence, not assumptions. If you’re navigating IVF and unsure what’s right for you, we’re here to guide you with clarity and care.

15/07/2025

IVF is more than just science. It’s hope, heartbreak, waiting, and resilience… often all at once.

Behind every injection, scan, and result is a deeply human experience. The emotional toll of fertility treatment is real, and it’s okay to feel overwhelmed, anxious, or exhausted at times.

I see the strength in those who come see me, but I also see tears, your questions & quiet courage.

🧠 It’s normal to grieve the process you imagined.
❤️ It’s okay to take breaks but also to keep going when you’re ready again
🗣 And it’s important to seek support whether from a partner, a psychologist, or your care team.

10/07/2025

While fertility is often seen as a “woman’s issue,” male factors contribute to nearly half of all infertility cases. 👩‍⚕️

🧬 S***m health matters — and it is influenced by lifestyle, age, environment, and underlying health conditions. These include maintaining a healthy weight, a healthy diet, exercise, avoiding smoking and va**ng and binge drinking, avoiding prolonged heat exposure.

👉 Unhealthy lifestyle behaviours can lead to DNA fragmentation in s***m which can affect embryo quality, miscarriage rates and health issues.

The good news is s***m health can improve, s***m production takes 3 months, and positive changes in lifestyle and health can then be reflected in improved semen parameters.

📍Based in Melbourne and CREI-certified, I’m here to help guide both partners with compassion, evidence, and clarity.
Let’s give male fertility the spotlight it deserves.

08/07/2025

Androgens such as testosterone and DHEA are not just male hormones. 👉 They actually are crucial in the development of estrogen in the ovaries.

Estrogen is important for the menstrual cycle and development of the endometrium (lining of the uterus).

👩‍⚕️ Some studies show androgens such as DHEA or testosterone can be used in IVF in women who are ‘low responders’, i.e. those with low egg reserve to improve birth rates and success rates of IVF cycles! Talk to an accredited CREI specialist for more information.

27/06/2025

Ovarian reserve is measured by a blood test called an AMH (anti mullerian hormone) or by assessing Antral follicle count (small follicles 2-10mm size containing immature eggs) on transvaginal ultrasound.

🥚 It measures egg number, not egg quality.
Some healthy women will have a low egg count, but this may not impact their fertility.
In other cases there are risk factors that may predispose to a lower egg count such as
👉Genetics (Turners syndrome, Fragile X premutation, strong family history of premature menopause)
👉Endometriosis
👉Previous ovarian surgery
👉Chemotherapy
To name a few…

Address

East Melbourne, VIC

Website

http://drrashikalra.com.au/

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