Dr Cheryl Phua

Dr Cheryl Phua I am Dr Cheryl Phua and I’m an experienced Sydney based reproductive endocrinologist specialising in Fertility, IVF and Gynaecology.

Follow me, I’ll be posting about life, fertility issues, and general reproductive health.

💗 Cervical cancer is often treated with a hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus and cervix), which is highly effe...
28/10/2025

💗 Cervical cancer is often treated with a hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus and cervix), which is highly effective 🩺 However, it also prevents future ability to carry a pregnancy 👶 For younger women diagnosed early, this can be heartbreaking 💔

✨ New research from the Netherlands offers hopeful news: fertility-sparing surgery (FSS) may be a safe alternative for selected patients with early-stage cervical cancer 🧬

🔬 The study followed 1,446 women aged 18–45 (stages IA1–IB2) for nearly nine years:
👩‍⚕️ 482 had fertility-sparing surgery
🩺 964 had a hysterectomy
♻️ Recurrence risk for cancer: 7.1% (FSS) vs 3.6% (hysterectomy)
💫 Overall survival: 96.6% vs 97.4% - nearly identical outcomes

💬 The takeaway? Fertility-sparing surgery can be a viable option for women wishing to preserve fertility, without reducing survival, though careful long-term monitoring is essential due to the slightly higher recurrence risk 🩺

🌸 This research reinforces the importance of personalised cancer care 🧬 Get in touch with me if you need fertility advice on your cancer journey 📞

💵 Recent analysis reveals Australia’s old Baby Bonus effectively cost the government around $86,000 per additional child...
26/10/2025

💵 Recent analysis reveals Australia’s old Baby Bonus effectively cost the government around $86,000 per additional child it generated 👶 The bonus was intended to boost fertility by financially supporting families, but the data suggests its direct impact on birth numbers was modest 📈 As today’s policy debates swirl about whether to reintroduce such incentives, this serves as a cautionary tale: financial incentives alone don’t necessarily spark sustainable fertility growth 🤔

🩺 If we’re serious about supporting families and boosting birthrates, then targeted support (like affordable childcare, paid parental leave, housing access, healthcare, and fertility services) may deliver deeper social value 🏡 The Baby Bonus might be a tempting quick fix, but the real solutions are systemic, long-term investments 🗓️

💵 While Australia doesn't have a Baby Bonus currently, financial support does exist for those wanting to undertake fertility treatment 🧬 If finances are holding you back from your baby dreams, then get in touch with me to see what’s possible 📞

❄️🧊Fertility preservation can safeguard your ability to have biological children in the future. Here are three common fe...
22/10/2025

❄️🧊Fertility preservation can safeguard your ability to have biological children in the future. Here are three common fertility preservation options 👇

🥚1. Egg Freezing (Oocyte Cryopreservation)
Egg freezing involves retrieving and freezing a woman’s eggs for future use. The eggs are collected when a woman’s fertility is at its peak (typically at a younger age) and stored using cryopreservation. Later, the eggs can be thawed, fertilised with s***m, and implanted through IVF. This method is suitable for women delaying pregnancy, undergoing medical treatments like chemotherapy, or planning for future family building.

👼 2. Embryo Freezing (Embryo Cryopreservation)
Embryo freezing involves fertilising a woman’s eggs with s***m (either from a partner or donor) before freezing. This method is generally recommended when couples or individuals wish to preserve embryos rather than unfertilised eggs. The frozen embryos can be thawed and implanted in the uterus when the individual is ready to attempt pregnancy.

🔬3. Ovarian Tissue Freezing (Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation)
Ovarian tissue freezing requires surgical removal of a small portion of ovarian tissue, which is then frozen and stored. When needed, the tissue can be reimplanted to restore hormone production and potentially fertility. This option is particularly useful for patients who need immediate cancer treatment and cannot delay for egg collection.

👩🏻‍⚕️In addition to these major female-focused options, Australian fertility clinics also offer s***m freezing and testicular tissue freezing for men. Get in touch to find out more.📲

💪 Pelvic floor exercises can help to strengthen the muscles around the pelvis and ge****ls, which can prevent or improve...
16/10/2025

💪 Pelvic floor exercises can help to strengthen the muscles around the pelvis and ge****ls, which can prevent or improve issues such as incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and lower back pain 😣 Often, a weak pelvic floor can occur as a result of pregnancy and childbirth 👶 That’s why it’s important to do pelvic floor exercise prior to, during, and after pregnancy 🩺

👶 Because pregnancy stretches the muscles of the pelvic floor, it’s important to strengthen them in order to avoid future issues due to a weak pelvic floor 🤔 Unfortunately, your pelvic floor will not get stronger on its own, so dedicating time to these exercises is the only way to improve your muscle tone ⏰

💪 To strengthen your pelvic floor, you can squeeze and release the muscles around the ge****ls and a**s about 8 to 10 times, 3 times a day 🗓

🩺 If you need other tips on how to prepare for pregnancy, then get in touch with me 📞

🔬 Recent research has uncovered a vital connection between gut health and male fertility 🧬 Under normal (non-disease) co...
15/10/2025

🔬 Recent research has uncovered a vital connection between gut health and male fertility 🧬 Under normal (non-disease) conditions, a well-balanced gut microbiome supports testicular function 🩺 But when the gut microbiome is disrupted by poor diet, antibiotics, or disease, this can trigger a cascade of changes that diminish fertility 📉

💡 In essence: your gut ecosystem doesn’t just affect digestion, it also communicates with reproductive organs 💬 Nurturing gut health through diverse diet, prebiotics, probiotics, and lifestyle habits may play a key role in safeguarding fertility 💪 Get in touch with me if you need further support on your fertility journey 📞

🔬 Scientists have achieved a groundbreaking fertility milestone: for the first time, human skin cells have been transfor...
09/10/2025

🔬 Scientists have achieved a groundbreaking fertility milestone: for the first time, human skin cells have been transformed into egg-like cells in the lab 🧬

👶 While these lab-grown eggs can’t yet develop into embryos, this breakthrough offers incredible potential for the future of fertility treatments 🥚 This treatment will be an amazing option for people who can’t produce eggs naturally due to age, medical conditions, or treatment like chemotherapy 🩺

🤔 It’s early days, with many hurdles before this could be used in clinics 🩺 But this research marks an exciting step towards expanding options and hope for those facing infertility 💕 Curious about what options are available to you now? Get in touch with me 📞

🗓 This October, spare a thought for those who have:💔 experienced a stillbirth💔 suffered a miscarriage💔 lost their child ...
09/10/2025

🗓 This October, spare a thought for those who have:
💔 experienced a stillbirth
💔 suffered a miscarriage
💔 lost their child too early

💕 If you know someone in your life that has lost a pregnancy or child, let them know you’re always there for support 💬

🧬 If you’ve experienced child loss, make sure you have a good support network that will listen without judgement to your thoughts and feelings 💬

🩺 If all hope seems lost, I’m always here to help with your miscarriage or infertility struggles 📞

📚 Many individuals, especially women, wish they had received more comprehensive education about fertility during their s...
03/10/2025

📚 Many individuals, especially women, wish they had received more comprehensive education about fertility during their school years 👶 Traditional s*x education often focuses on preventing pregnancy rather than understanding reproductive health 🧬 This lack of information can lead to misconceptions and delayed family planning decisions 🩺 Here are some key things that women wish they’d known earlier about fertility 👇

🎂 Age and Fertility: Many women are unaware of how significantly fertility declines with age 📉

🍷 Lifestyle Factors: Factors such as being underweight or overweight, untreated s*xually transmitted infections, and lifestyle choices like alcohol and to***co use can impact fertility 🦠

🗓 Monthly Fertility Window: Understanding the brief window each month when conception is possible is crucial for those trying to conceive 👶

🔬 Misconceptions About IVF: Some individuals have overly optimistic views about the success rates of treatments like IVF, leading to unmet expectations 😔

🤔 Interested in expanding your fertility knowledge? I’m happy to chat through any questions you have 📞

❤️ Heart health and fertility are deeply connected 👶 A strong cardiovascular system supports hormone balance, egg and s*...
30/09/2025

❤️ Heart health and fertility are deeply connected 👶 A strong cardiovascular system supports hormone balance, egg and s***m quality, and healthy pregnancies 💪 Movement, balanced nutrition, stress management, and quality sleep all nurture both heart and fertility 🏃‍♀️ This World Heart Day, remember: protecting your heart also protects your future fertility 💕

🤔 Wondering how else you can support your fertility? Get in touch with me to discuss your health 📞

🤔 There are a few things to consider before attending your first appointment or consultation with a fertility specialist...
26/09/2025

🤔 There are a few things to consider before attending your first appointment or consultation with a fertility specialist 🩺

🧬 It’s best to come prepared with knowledge of your personal and family medical history 📝 It’s also great to track your cycle in the lead up to your appointment 🗓️

🥚 Tracking your cycle will help your fertility doctor understand your ovulation regularity and menstrual health better, which is important information in your fertility journey 👶

💡To begin your fertility journey today, give me a call 📞

👶 Your best chance of pregnancy comes from timing s*x in your fertile window ⏰ For most women, this window is the 5 days...
24/09/2025

👶 Your best chance of pregnancy comes from timing s*x in your fertile window ⏰ For most women, this window is the 5 days before ovulation, plus ovulation day itself 🗓

⚖️ The likelihood of conceiving is different for each day of this window:
📌 5 days before ovulation: ~10% chance of pregnancy
📌 2 days before ovulation: ~25–28% chance (highest)
📌 Ovulation day: ~20% chance
📌 Day after ovulation: very low chance, as the egg only lives 12–24 hours

🌡️ Tracking cervical mucus, basal body temperature, or using ovulation predictor kits and progesterone tests can help you pinpoint ovulation and maximise your chances 👶 If you need some help knowing when your fertile window occurs, make an appointment with me 📞

🍀 In a recent study published in Nature, researchers from Canada have looked at how THC (also known as Delta-9-tetrahydr...
19/09/2025

🍀 In a recent study published in Nature, researchers from Canada have looked at how THC (also known as Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol from cannabis) affects women’s eggs using IVF and lab tests (Duval et al., 2025) 🔬

🧬 They found THC (and its by-products) in the fluid surrounding eggs 🥚 Those with higher THC had lower rates of euploid embryos: this means they had more embryos with chromosomal abnormalities 👶

🩺 In lab tests, exposure to THC altered the genes in eggs, interfered with chromosome separation, and resulted in abnormal spindle structure (which is important for healthy egg division) 🥚

📌 Ultimately, cannabis seems connected to more errors in embryo genetics, which could reduce chances of healthy pregnancy 👶 Therefore, if you’re wanting to get pregnant, it’s important to reduce your cannabis intake 📉 If you need more help on your fertility journey, get in touch with me 📞

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