Dr Alon Talmor

05/09/2022

A tiny bundle of joy.

12/08/2022

‘A weight was lifted’: Why it helps to talk about IVF at work

Yesterday I was quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald regarding how patients feel about disclosing their IVF treatment at work. While we still have a long way to go in the workplace, I think we are moving in the right direction.

Most people undergoing fertility treatment aren’t comfortable talking about it at work, fearing it would harm their career, but the stigma is shifting.

11/08/2022

Preparing s***m for insemination is part of the day-to-day for Monash IVF embryologists. Raw s***m samples contain lots of things such as non-motile, abnormal s***m and seminal fluid, so embryologists need to clean the sample to isolate highly motile, mature, normal s***m as soon as possible. Depending on your treatment, the embryologists will then either introduce thousands of these s***m to an egg for IVF standard insemination or introduce one s***m into an egg using microinjection technology (ICSI).

26/07/2022

This week we celebrated a very special Birthday - Monash IVF turned 50 years old!

As one of the oldest and most established IVF units in the world , it was pretty special being surrounded by so many friends who make up this incredible unit. It was even more special to meet so many past and present patients of Monash and meet some of their babies.

It was so special meeting Carla Polson, the worlds 5th IVF baby and Australia’s 3rd IVF baby.

It truly has been a remarkable 50 years and I feel so proud of being a part of a unit that was and still is, at the forefront of our amazing field of medicine.

Happy Birthday Monash IVF!

25/07/2022

Today we celebrate World Embryology Day.

Thank you for the amazing work all our incredible scientist do everyday. The hard work, dedication, devotion that they all put into their work is awe inspiring and what fun is it to be working with such good friends.

Thank you so much, you are all incredible

20/07/2022

Each day of Women's Health Week (5 - 11 Sept), Jean Hailes for Women's Health will be sharing free articles, podcasts, webinars, education kits and expert information on the following topics:

• Check me out – health checks at every age
• Menopause matters – menopause and perimenopause
• Pelvic power – pelvic floor health and pelvic pain
• Mind health – mental wellbeing and brain health
• Move and improve – physical activity and your health.

Sign up for free access: www.womenshealthweek.com.au

24/06/2022

Did you now that people with testicles create 10-20 million s***m per day. That’s about 1000 per heartbeat!​

S***m then sits in the epididymis for approximately 5 days while they mature. Professor Robert McLachlan, who has been a Consulting Andrologist with Monash IVF since 1991, coined this s***m maturation stage as the “finishing school for s***m."

Did you now that people with testicles create 10-20 million s***m per day. That’s about 1000 per heartbeat!​

S***m then sits in the epididymis for approximately 5 days while they mature. Professor Robert McLachlan, who has been a Consulting Andrologist with Monash IVF since 1991, coined this s***m maturation stage as the “finishing school for s***m."

[Image description: Dark green text and graphics graphic on a cream background, in the top right corner are dark green illustrations of s***m. In the bottom left corner text reads: Did you know? Approximately 1000 s***m are created per heartbeat!]

20/06/2022

I attended an incredibly inspiring talk on Friday night given by Kylie Moore-Gilbert describing her journey to Iran as part of her academic research and the events that led to her incarceration for over 800 days and subsequent release.

It had taken me a couple of days to digest her terrifying journey, her incredible strength, determination and resilience are nothing short of inspiring. I was struck by her incredibly funny sense of humour, even during some really dark moments; and importantly also the friendships that bind us, strengthen and nourish us as people.

I was also deeply touched by the efforts of so many incredible people who tirelessly worked behind the scenes to negotiate and support Kylie in her successful release.

Kylie has written a book and if you want to be inspired by an incredible person I would highly recommend this as a read.

Falsely accused of being a spy in Iran, the Australian academic resisted attempts to "break" her during her 804 days in prison.

14/06/2022

June is Pride Month, a month that both commemorates and celebrates LGBTQ activism and is dedicated to the uplifting of LGBTQ voices, celebration of LGBTQ culture and the support of LGBTQ rights.

We must celebrate how far we have come as a society, while also being fully aware that there is still a long way to go.

We at Monash IVF and me as your doctor are proud and passionate to always provide a safe, supportive and caring environment to all of our patients.

Throughout June let’s all embrace Pride Month, recognizing the incredible work of LGBTQ activists since the Gay Liberation Movement began in 1969, and surround members of the LGBTQ community with love and support and embrace and celebrate them for who they are.

Love, care and compassion
Alon

15/05/2022

On a cold and rainy winters day I came across this article on the BBC’s news website; something I obsessively read every morning when I wake up, to keep in touch with news and politics from the UK.

This article really stirred an emotion in me. As a doctor seeing multiple patients on a daily basis who are desperate to start a family, I am acutely aware of how stressful this journey can be.

People don’t realise how difficult it can be for patients seeking fertility help. These challenges are compounded by numerous other extrinsic stressors. Other members of the family getting pregnant, peer group, work colleagues and friends doing the same. There are constant adverts showing babies and pregnant women. The main thought that was triggered in my mind when I read this article, is the pressure people feel from loved ones asking about fertility. I have seen this in my own family and I am fully aware that these questions, sometimes asked in a public forum does not come from a bad place, quite the opposite, but the effect of these questions, even if its unintentional can be really hurtful and exacerbate an already distressing situation.

It is obvious that people would want to keep their medical histories confidential. Discussing any relevant details of investigation outcomes, treatments and so on is not something anyone should feel obliged to share with others. I can’t think of any other medical field, where people feel the pressure to discuss very private details.

So, addressing the question of “when are you going to have a baby?” … I think the best approach is to just never ask this question. Let your loved ones discuss things when and if they feel ready to do so. You may have no idea of the distress some people go through in the hope of getting pregnant. People experience multiple pregnancy losses, multiple unsuccessful fertility treatments, endure complex operative procedures, and this is just to mention a few. These very challenging experiences are often too painful to talk about.

I hope you all had a restful and happy weekend

A son is duty-bound to look after parents but must he deliver grandchildren too?

12/05/2022

Happy International Nurses Day!

A huge thank you to the amazing nurses I work with. Your care and dedication is truly inspiring, and your friendship makes it a joy to come into work every day.