What IVF Nurses Wish Every Patient Knew

What happens behind the scenes during an IVF cycle, and who supports patients through the uncertainty, injections, scans and pregnancy-test results?In this episode of Knocked Up, fertility specialist Dr Raelia Lew sits down with IVF nurse Lucy Elam to explore the essential role fertility nurses play throughout IVF treatment.Lucy shares her journey from paediatric nursing into reproductive medicine, including her experience supporting children and families through fertility preservation before chemotherapy and other gonadotoxic treatments.Together, Raelia and Lucy discuss the emotions patients commonly experience when beginning IVF, why information overload can make treatment feel overwhelming and how fertility nurses help break the process into manageable steps.They also explore one of the hardest realities of IVF: not being able to control every outcome. From the uncertainty of ovarian stimulation to the emotional two-week wait following an embryo transfer, Lucy explains how patients can maintain some normality while staying connected with their clinical team.In this episodeHow Lucy transitioned from paediatric nursing into IVF nursingFertility preservation for children undergoing cancer treatmentWhat an IVF nurse does throughout a treatment cycleWhy IVF can feel overwhelming for new patientsManaging injections, scans, procedures and medical anxietyThe loss of control patients can experience during fertility treatmentCoping with the two-week wait after an embryo transfer or IUIWhy clinics recommend waiting for a pregnancy blood testUnderstanding low or unclear HCG pregnancy resultsDelivering negative and positive pregnancy newsHow fertility nurses manage the emotional weight of their workEgg freezing after a relationship breakdownPlanning ahead for future children through embryo bankingAge-related changes in egg quality and fertilityThe emotional and practical considerations surrounding donor eggsWhy teamwork between doctors, nurses and embryologists mattersEpisode timestamps00:48 Meet IVF nurse Lucy Elam02:13 Fertility preservation for children undergoing cancer treatment05:29 The science behind IVF and fertility preservation06:14 How fertility nurses support patients from beginning to end07:22 Common emotions patients experience before starting IVF10:06 Personality traits, organisation and managing information overload12:13 Patient vulnerabilities during fertility treatment14:37 Coping with the loss of control during IVF15:53 Managing the two-week wait after embryo transfer or IUI18:04 Making positive and negative pregnancy calls21:13 The emotional impact of finally receiving a positive result23:54 Understanding unclear or borderline pregnancy blood tests26:40 How fertility nurses carry the emotional weight of patient care29:13 Memorable patient stories from Lucy’s IVF career30:33 Returning to IVF to grow a family32:30 Why fertility planning should consider future children33:31 Knowing when to consider donor eggs38:27 How Raelia and Lucy work together as an IVF teamAbout the guestsDr Raelia Lew is a CREI-certified fertility specialist, gynaecologist, Founder of Women’s Health Melbourne and Medical Director of Melbourne IVF.Lucy Elam is an experienced IVF nurse who has worked across adult fertility treatment and paediatric fertility preservation.Resources and supportLearn more about fertility treatment, IVF and egg freezing through:Host: CREI Fertility Specialist, Dr Raelia LewGuest: Lucy Elam Knocked Up Producer: Jess Clark  Follow us on Instagram ⁠⁠@knockeduppodcast ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@drraelia lew⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@womenshealthmelbourne⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@knockeduppodcast⁠⁠If you are considering IVF, egg freezing or exploring your fertility options, speak with an appropriately qualified fertility specialist about your individual circumstances.The information shared in this podcast is general in nature and should not replace personalised medical advice.