Dr. Alex Polyakov in East Melbourne, Victoria | Medical and health

Dr. Alex Polyakov

Locality: East Melbourne, Victoria

Phone: +61 3 9486 0677

Address: S4/ 320 Victoria Pde 3002 East Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Website: http://www.dralexpolyakov.com.au/

Likes: 6028

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• Medical and health
• Obstetrician-gynaecologist
• Fertility doctor
• Reproductive service

24.01.2022 Some practitioners would advice no exercise at all during IVF. Confusingly, there is also evidence that one hour exercise three times per week improved implantation and pregnancy rates. Considering both sides of the coin, some recommendations for women conceiving through ARTs are: > Regular light to moderate exercises such as jogging, gentle yoga, light weights > Avoid high impact exercises with quick twisting motions > Avid quick changes in body position and inversions (suc...h as in swimming and yoga) > Avoid vigorous acrobatics If you are still unsure about exercising in your unique medical condition, you could contact Melbourne-based fertility specialist, Dr. Alex Polyakov Check www.dralexpolyakov.com.au . . . #dralexpolyakov Photo by: @liza_mallorca

24.01.2022 A developing human embryo at 40-42 days gestation. At this stage he begins to acquire human characteristics. Liver, heart, arm bud, eye and brain are already seen . . . #dralexpolyakov... Photo by: @eobstetricsandgynecology See more

23.01.2022 Mothers who undergo in vitro fertilisation (IVF) experience more anxiety and depressive symptoms than those who conceive naturally. Does this increase the risk for developing anxiety or depression during pregnancy or post-partum? A recent review of the literature investigated whether IVF should be considered a risk factor for these mental health conditions but found no association. Surprisingly , there is even evidence suggesting that women who resorted to IVF could be less a...nxious and depressed compared to other mothers due to the satisfaction of their desire to become mothers. . . Link to paper: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32841828/ . . . #dralexpolyakov Photo By: @jeh.oliiveira

22.01.2022 Great article by Evelyn Lewin in The Age today addressing a common and rarely discussed problem of vaginismus. I was delighted to be interviewed for this article and my comments are in the text.

22.01.2022 The academic fields of sports nutrition, exercise physiology or lifestyle medicine are huge. Study after study has shown that regular exercise can effectively prevent chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, certain types of cancers, and many more. On the other hand, lack of exercise is closely linked to obesity, menstrual irregularities, ovulation dysfunction and poorer pregnancy outcomes. In addition, it’s not just the overweight women who get affected. St...udies have shown that even women with normal weight can experience lower fertility rates when living a sedentary lifestyle. Having said that, too much vigorous exercise is also detrimental as competitive female athletes are more likely to have problems with their menstrual cycle, ovulation and fertility. In a nutshell, too much or too little exercise are both bad for female fertility. Moderate and regular workouts are recommended for women of reproductive age. Check www.dralexpolyakov.com.au/blog to know more . . . #dralexpolyakov Photo by: @gracehurrypilates

20.01.2022 An unfertilised egg will only survive 12 to 24 hours, so that gives you a relatively small window each month to conceive. While many people think that your ovulation period is when you are most fertile, it is actually in the time leading up to ovulation, particularly the 5 days before ovulation, which is called ‘the fertile window’. While healthy sperm can last inside you for about a week, the best time to get pregnant with the highest chance of success would be in the two da...ys leading up to ovulation. But how do you know for sure when you are ovulating? There are a few indicators that your body would give you, and you can also use tools including an ovulation predictor kit. These will help you identify your fertile window, but they won’t necessarily guarantee a pregnancy. They are useful tools if you find that you and your partner work different hours or spend a lot of time away from each other and need to schedule in a time. They are also useful if you have an irregular cycle, which would make it difficult to plan your ovulation. . . . #dralexpolyakov Photo By: @sandrasteve

18.01.2022 We have talked about HPV viruses and how some of them are closely linked to cervical cancers. So how worried should you be if you are diagnosed with HPV? Don’t panic just yet, HPV refers to a group of viruses with more than 100 subtypes, but not all of them cause cancer. In fact, nearly 95% people are infected with HPV, but the majority will clear the virus within 2 years. Your immune system will most likely suppress the virus and it will not be detected again on testing. H...aving said, there are rare cases when the virus is reactivated again when the immune system cannot suppress it. Importantly, persistent, detectable HPV infection with high risk subtypes (HPV 16 and 18) are associated with the development of cancer. In most cases, it will take at least a decade to develop cervical cancer, but please do visit your gynaecologist every year for a regular exam. . . . #dralexpolyakov Photo By: @witherinsilence See more

18.01.2022 Do consumer product chemicals affect fertility? Environmental toxins are well-known risk factors for infertility, but every day, we are also exposed to many more non-persistent chemicals in consumer products. Do they also have an effect on people’s fertility and pregnancy outcomes? The most probably chemicals to cause fertility problems are the endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). These are compounds that can affect hormonal pathways involved in the development of our repro...ductive systems and functions. Endocrine disruptions may occur at multiple places in the body, including the hormonal control centre hypothalamus in the brain, the female ovaries, uterus and the male testis. . . . . #dralexpolyakov

18.01.2022 Pregnancy complications such as miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, diabetes in pregnancy (gestational diabetes) and pre-term birth are linked to a heightened risk of heart disease in later life, according to UK scientists. And several other factors related to fertility and pregnancy also seem to be associated with subsequent cardiovascular disease, say the researchers, including starting periods early, use of combined oral contraceptives, polycystic ovary syndrome, and early menopause. They brought together the data from 32 previous reviews that looked at pregnancy complications and heart health later in life. This type of study cannot show pregnancy complications actually caused the increased risk of heart problems later. Journal/conference: The BMJ Link to research (DOI): 10.1136/bmj.m3502 image source: Photo by Dragos Gontariu on Unsplash

16.01.2022 Looking into COVID-19 virus ‘survivability’ Researchers at CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, have found that SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, can survive for up to 28 days on common surfaces including banknotes, glass such as that found on mobile phone screens - and stainless steel. Journal/conference: Virology Link to research (DOI): 10.1186/s12985-020-01418-7... Image Credit: Photo by Kevin Grieve on Unsplash See more

15.01.2022 Dad’s health can affect pregnancy too! Poor health in men is linked to higher risk of pregnancy loss in their partners. A review of nearly one million US medical insurance records found that if the father-to-be has three or more medical conditions such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels, then around a quarter of pregnancies might be ectopic, or end in miscarriage or stillbirth. The research shows correlation, not causation, but the authors su...ggest that unhealthy men may have a greater proportion of sperm with genetic damage that can affect pregnancy. They recommend that men’s health is also considered in pre-conception counselling. Journal/conference: Human Reproduction Link to research (DOI): 10.1093/humrep/332 Image Credit: Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

14.01.2022 An intrauterine device (IUD) is a small contraceptive device, often T-shaped birth control device that is put into the uterus to prevent pregnancy. The two types of IUD in Australia are the copper IUD and the hormonal IUD. Both of them have less than 1% failure rates, as compared to the ~15% for male condoms. Like contraceptive implants, IUDs are long-acting reversible birth control methods with some of the greatest satisfaction among users. Once an IUD is removed, fertilit...y usually returns to normal rapidly. IUDs are safe and effective in adolescents and those who have not previously had children. . . . #dralexpolyakov Photo By: @yesmama.blog See more

13.01.2022 Fertility preservation is a rapidly growing area in reproductive medicine. Egg freezing is becoming a standard care for women facing the imminent loss of fertility. However, there are challenges when patients are not suitable or respond poorly to ovarian stimulation such as those needing urgent cancer treatment. In recent years, in vitro maturation (IVM) is proposed to help women with fertility preservation without the lengthy and costly hormonal stimulation. This method coll...ects follicles that are too small for immediate freezing, but could be matured in the lab until they are ready to be preserved. To date, IVM is considered experimental as researchers continue to optimise the culture conditions, but more and more positive outcomes have been reported. . . Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dez060 . . . #dralexpolyakov Photo By: @nedcknoxtn See more

12.01.2022 For those who may need to hear this today: your ability - or struggles - to get pregnant do not define you. . . . #dralexpolyakov ... Photo by:@writefullysobrittany See more

12.01.2022 Pooping during labour is not something that people like to talk about, but does occur more often than we’d like. It happens because the same muscles required for bowel movement are used when pushing out a baby. The sheer weight of a term baby also exerts pressure on the colon and rectum. In addition, the secretion of prostaglandins before labour can increase bowel movement and make women more susceptible to pooping during delivery. So don’t feel bad about it! Acknowledge it a...s part of the process of bringing a new life to the world. Rest assured that the health workers around you have seen it before and their priority is helping you have a safe delivery. . . . #dralexpolyakov Photo By: @2lifedoula See more

12.01.2022 It’s not your fault. None of this is your fault. . Beautiful girl, take this heavy weight off your shoulders and know you didn’t cause infertility. You didn’t cause poor egg quality. Be kind to yourself because this stuff is hard. . .... . . #dralexpolyakov Photo by: @maybe_baybe_bax See more

12.01.2022 What’s needed for good fertility isn’t just lots of sperm, it needs to be good quality also. So what can be done to improve your sperm ? Reduce your alcohol intake the odd glass of wine with a meal is okay Stop smoking (tobacco and other substances) Check your BMI (body mass index) and try and get to an optimum weight level... Cut down on sugar and fatty foods Get lots of rest and sleep, but exercise too (walking and swimming are great things you can do with your partner) Switch to wearing boxer shorts if you don’t already Take supplements specifically designed to improve sperm quality, such as Menovit . . . #dralexpolyakov Photo By: @itsjustjulz See more

10.01.2022 Cannabis during pregnancy linked to mental health problems in kids. Being exposed to cannabis in the womb may negatively affect kids' mental health later in childhood, according to US researchers. They looked at data from 11,489 children, 655 of whom had been exposed to cannabis prenatally, and found cannabis exposure was linked to mental health issues such as attention, thought, and social problems during middle childhood, even after other risk factors were accounted for. Al...though this type of study cannot show cause and effect, pregnant women should probably avoid cannabis, they conclude. Journal/conference: JAMA Psychiatry Link to research (DOI): 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.2902 Image Credit: Photo by Rick Proctor on Unsplash

07.01.2022 During in vitro fertilisation, every day in the lab matters. Once an egg is fertilised, it is typically cultured for 5 or 6 days, during which cell divisions occur until reaching the blastocyst stage. But is there a better choice between day 5 or day 6 for embryo transfer? A new study found that although there is no difference in the birth weight, preterm birth and congenital malformations, the implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate and the live birth rate were all signif...icantly lower in day 6 transfers. Therefore, transfer of day 5 blastocysts should be prioritised. . . Link to paper: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32849288/ . . . #dralexpolyakov Photo By: @thejennahassell

05.01.2022 Can radiation from microwaves, mobile phones and tablets be bad for your pregnancy? The short answer is no. In science, a presence of an effect can be demonstrated, while its absence can never be categorically proven. Therefore, some minimal precautions are probably wise. I was interviewed by BabyGaga on the topic of non-ionising radiation emitted by common household appliances and its possible effects on pregnancy. https://www.babygaga.com/kitchen-nightmares-safe-appliance/

05.01.2022 Prior to embarking on any fertility treatment, it is invaluable to be able to predict an outcome. This heavily depends on the woman’s ovarian reserve, which is most reliably determined by the female age. At age 20, only approximately 2.4% of sexually active women cannot achieve a live birth. However, by age 40, 35% of women have troubles falling pregnant. This increases sharply to 50% at the age of 41 and 90% at the age of 45. The impact of age is two-fold: there is a progres...sive depletion of the number of fertilisable eggs, which is also accompanied by an age-related decrease in quality. . . . #dralexpolyakov Photo by: @staceychadbourne See more

05.01.2022 Recieved yesterday from the The University of Melbourne. No graduation ceremony this year. Can’t wait for the framers to reopen

04.01.2022 When more than one good quality embryo is available on the transfer day, double-embryo transfer may be performed in some clinics. But what would happen if one good and one poor quality embryo are transferred during this process? A new study involving more than 2000 IVF/ICSI cycles found that the clinical pregnancy and live birth rates using blastocyst stage embryo transfers were significantly higher in double embryo transfer with two good quality embryos as opposed to one goo...d and one poor. Multiple pregnancy rates were higher in both scenarios. Nowadays, double transfers are mostly avoided to minimise multiple pregnancy and associated complications. . . Link to paper: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32817991/ . . . #dralexpolyakov Photo By: @channonrose

04.01.2022 Fingers crossed for all those waiting on news! . . . #dralexpolyakov ... : @jamienotis See more

03.01.2022 Assisted reproductive technology (ART)- powered conception and natural conception are quite different, and some practitioners would advice no exercise at all during IVF. This warning is mainly due to the rare but real risk of ovarian torsion, a condition in which the ovary twists and cuts its own blood supply. During ovarian stimulation, a step commonly involved in ART, ovaries are enlarged with more than usual developing follicles, which could increase the risk of ovarian to...rsion. Nonetheless, the risk is still extremely low, at about 0.03% of IVF cycles. Confusingly, there is also evidence that one hour exercise three times per week improved implantation and pregnancy rates, while reducing the risk of miscarriage in a study of 436 women using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to conceive. Another study involving 131 women undergoing ART also showed that low to moderate exercise was associated with better live birth rates. . . . #dralexpolyakov Photo by: @esteryoga

03.01.2022 Metformin is a common medication among women with PCOS. A recent meta-analysis involving 12 randomised controlled trials concluded that metformin treatment is also associated with decreased risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) among PCOS women undergoing IVF. In addition, metformin is linked to improved clinical pregnancy rate in a subset of PCOS patients whose BMI is greater than 26. . . Link to paper: https://jamanetwork.com//jamanetworkop/fullarticle/27689...41 . . . #dralexpolyakov Photo By: @samantha.joy.v See more

02.01.2022 How to report IVF results and what do all the numbers thrown around mean? A great article by very talented Dr Violet Kieu with some small contribution from me. It was recently published in the O&G Magazine. Great job Dr Kieu!

01.01.2022 It can be easy to become discouraged about your ability to get pregnant, especially when you hear other people’s good news. While this is understandable, it’s essential to remember that fertility is complex. Many factors can affect your ability to conceive and these factors affect many people. In fact, 1 in 6 couples have reported difficulties when trying to conceive. Remember that you are not alone on your journey and that getting to know yourself and your situation can gre...atly enhance your chance of getting pregnant. To take the first step, talk to your partner anddiscuss your fertility options with an expert. Read more visit the link in our BIO Photo by: @dra.kamillacamara #dralexpolyakov

01.01.2022 "Never thought I’d be the one taking a pregnancy test every month, holding my breath and praying as I waited to see if it was going to be positive. Not pregnant words that make me feel a gut punch right to the stomach every time I read them. Hopeful that the day will come when I read pregnant. This month isn’t our month. But we will keep trying. " . .... . #dralexpolyakov Photo by:@lifeoflucy See more