Virtual Workshop

Addressing age-related decline in fertility:

a MAR perspective on advocacy and best practice 2025

6 March 2025

On Demand Session Scientific Programme
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ON DEMAND WEBINAR

Overview

The online workshop will be of interest to healthcare professionals working in the fields of fertility and medically assisted reproduction (MAR); in particular, those who manage fertility services and/or departments (Clinicians; Nurses; Midwives, Scientists (Andrologists & Embryologists) and the promotion of fertility-awareness education.

Globally, it is widely acknowledged that the total fertility rate (measure of the average number of children a woman is likely to have in her lifetime), is in decline [World Health Organization]. Coupled with this, the average age of a woman at the birth of her first child is now approaching 30yrs [UNECE 2024]. For those working in MAR services, the reality is, that the demand for in-vitro fertilization (IVF) will increase; the majority of women being of advanced reproductive age (ie., over 35 yrs) [CDC; Smeenk 2023], which presents numerous challenges in the context of successful outcomes and desired family size.
The online workshop, which will include interactive sessions will focus on the real-world application of evidence, guidelines and clinical management, to improve the diagnosis, treatment and experience of patients seeking MAR. After reviewing the evidence, delegates will evaluate markers of ‘fertility’ and select responses they perceive important to specific scenarios. Delegates will hear expert opinion and debate scope of practice in relation to current research and evidence-based medicine. Measures of success will be discussed that support patient engagement in decision-making, individualized treatment plans and best practice.

Key Aims

  • For fertility professionals to understand the demographic transition as part of the decline in global birth rates:
    • Higher numbers of women seeking MAR will be of ARA, who are at greater risk of low response or poor outcomes following treatment; these heightened risks may affect the choice and speed of treatment pathway
    • Higher numbers of patients may be single or from nonheteronormative relationships; every individual has a right to build a family
    • MAR is not about achieving one live birth; for the individual it is about completing their desired family size (this impacts treatment choice and speed of treatment)
  • For fertility professionals to raise awareness of fertility and reproductive planning through public education (schools, colleges and universities) in addition to social media and educational websites
    • Controlling the narrative of evidence-based advice and guidance for the general public in all aspects of fertility, infertility and treatment is extremely important
  • For fertility professionals to become advocates and provide ‘best practice’ for inclusivity, educating about fertility awareness and optimizing family building in their MAR practice

Overall Learning Objectives

After participating in the virtual webinars, attendees will be able to:

  • ● Understand the current socio-economic challenges of fertility, and the implications of a falling total fertility rate, globally and regionally
  • ● Characterize the changing nature of individuals who seek medically assisted reproduction
  • ● Provide services that meet the needs of these individuals
  • ● Adapt MAR practices to work efficiently and safely, taking account of the specific desires of the patient - This may mean operating a ‘fewer and finished’ approach to smart optimization of oocyte stimulation, to achieve the desired family size
  • ● Adapt MAR practices to work efficiently and safely, taking account of the specific desires of the patient
    - This may mean operating a ‘fewer and finished’ approach to smart optimization of oocyte stimulation, to achieve the desired family size

Target Audience

Healthcare professionals working in the fields of fertility and medically assisted reproduction (MAR); in particular, those who manage fertility services and/or departments (Clinicians; Nurses; Midwives, Scientists (Andrologists & Embryologists) and promote fertility-awareness education

Accreditation

‘This programme has been accredited by the RCN Centre for Professional Accreditation until 16 February 2026. Accreditation applies only to the educational content of the programme and does not apply to any product.’

The Addressing age-related decline in fertility: a MAR perspective on advocacy and best practice, Milan, Italy, Italy 06/03/2025 – 06/03/2025, has been accredited by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME®) with 2.0 European CME credits (ECMEC®s). Each medical specialist should claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the educational activity.

Through an agreement between the Union Européenne des Médecins Spécialistes and the American Medical Association, physicians may convert EACCME® credits to an equivalent number of AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Information on the process to convert EACCME® credit to AMA credit can be found at https://edhub.ama-assn.org/pages/applications.

Live educational activities, occurring outside of Canada, recognised by the UEMS-EACCME® for ECMEC®s are deemed to be Accredited Group Learning Activities (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

uems-eaccme-logo

The programme has been developed in partnership with

Addressing male Patients with Hypogonadism and/or infeRtility Owing to altereD Idiopathic TEsticular function (APHRODITE)

Patient Oriented Strategies Encompassing IndividualizeD Oocyte Number (POSEIDON)

Med.E.A. is in partnership with

Algerian Society of Reproductive Medicine (SAMERE)

Association of Reproductive Medicine and Surgery (ARMS)

British Fertility Society (BFS)

Brazilian Society of Human Reproduction (SBRH)

Italian Society of Embryology, Reproduction and Research (SIERR)

Italian Society of Fertility and Sterility (SIFES)

Italian Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics (SIGO Federation)

Portuguese Society of Reproductive Medicine (SPMR)

Turkish Society of Reproductive Medicine (TSRM)

Addressing age-related decline in fertility: a MAR perspective on advocacy and best practice

6 March 2025

Agenda 6 March

Chairs

Helen Kendrew

Helen Kendrew

Independent Nurse Specialist
Bath, UK
Biography
Valerie Peddie

Valerie Peddie

Honorary Research Fellow
University of Aberdeen
Aberdeen, Scotland
Biography
Sesh Sunkara

Sesh Sunkara

Division of Women's Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine
King's College London
King's Fertility
London, UK
Biography

Faculty

Tamara Hunter

Tamara Hunter

Medical Director, Monash IVF, WA, Australia
Medical Director, WOOM Women’s Health, Perth, Australia
Biography
Helen Kendrew

Helen Kendrew

Independent Nurse Specialist
Bath, UK
Biography
Valerie Peddie

Valerie Peddie

Honorary Research Fellow
University of Aberdeen
Aberdeen, Scotland
Biography
Sesh Sunkara

Sesh Sunkara

Division of Women's Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine
King's College London
King's Fertility
London, UK
Biography
Matheus Roque

Matheus Roque

MATER PRIME – Reproductive Medicine São Paulo, Brazil
Biography
Christos Venetis

Christos Venetis

Unit for Human Reproduction
1st Dept of OB/Gyn, Medical School
Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki,
Greece
Centre for Big Data Research in Health, Faculty of Medicine & Health
University of New South Wales
Sydney, Australia
Biography

International Committee

Paola Anserini

Paola Anserini

UOS Fisiopatologia della Riproduzione Umana (FRU)
Ospedale Policlinico San Martino
Genova, Italy
Biography
Baris Ata

Baris Ata

ART Fertility Center
Koc University Istanbul
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Biography
Luís F. Vicente

Luís F. Vicente

Portuguese Society of Reproductive Medicine
Portugal
Biography
Kevin McEleny

Kevin McEleny

Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Gateshead and the Freeman Hospital
Newcastle, UK
Biography
Paula Navarro

Paula Navarro

Ribeirão Preto Medical School
University of Sao Paulo,
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Biography
Amina Oumeziane

Amina Oumeziane

Tiziri IVF Center
Algiers, Algeria
Biography
Emre Pabuçcu

Emre Pabuçcu

Ufuk University School of Medicine
Ankara, Turkey
Biography
Valerio Pisaturo

Valerio Pisaturo

Laboratory Director at Policlinico Umberto I
Rome, Italy
Biography

Scientific Programme

Download Programme

Agenda

· Martin O. Savage ·

Martin Savage is Emeritus Professor of Paediatric Endocrinology at William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary, University of London. He was head of the Paediatric Endocrine Unit at Barts and the London School of Medicine from 1982 to 2007. He has interests in growth disorders, specifically those with abnormalities in the GH-IGF-1 axis and in phenotype-genotype relationships of GH-IGF-1 axis defects, notably GH resistance. He published the first human case of an IGF-1 gene defect in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1996.  His other interests are Cushing’s syndrome and growth in chronic inflammatory diseases. He was General Secretary of the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) from 1997 to 2004. He has lectured in 60 countries and has published 482 original articles, reviews, textbook chapters and books. In 2007, he was awarded the ESPE Andrea Prader Prize for contributions to paediatric endocrinology and in 2018 he received a Visionary Award from the American Human Growth Foundation. In 2022, he received a Research Excellence Award from the Dr Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Journal in Riyadh, and the British Society of Paediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes James M. Tanner Lifetime Achievement Award. He continues to lecture nationally and internationally.

· Helen Kendrew ·

Helen Kendrew has retired from clinical practice her most recent role being Clinic Director at CARE Fertility Bath. She worked at the clinic in for over 20 years and is a registered nurse with wide experience in the field of fertility. As well as supporting and caring for patients going through treatment she has held a number of professional committee posts including the British Fertility Society, the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and the NICE Fertility Guideline Development Group.


“We always strive to offer our patients the best chance of creating their family”

· Valerie Peddie ·

I have been involved in Fertility Nursing since 1993 and currently hold the post of Consultant Midwife and Fertility Specialist at Roc Private Health Aberdeen and Honorary Research Fellow, University of Aberdeen. I am also Coordinator of ESHRE Nurses & Midwives Certification Committee and in the process of collaborating with ASRM in developing KPI’s in Specialist Fertility Nursing practice. I am a member of the Human Fertility Journal Editorial Board, and peer reviewer for several fertility, psychology and oncology journals. I previously Chaired the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Midwifery & Fertility Nurses Forum from 2008-2011. I was appointed Nurse Consultant (Fertility Preservation) in Scotland from Nov 2020 – Aug 2023, and responsibilities included receiving direct referrals for fertility preservation (oncology, haematology, medical and trans-gender), developing patient pathways and education and training of health care professionals and student midwives in this regard. From 2012-2023, I was Senior Charge Nurse at Aberdeen Centre for Reproductive Medicine, and Research Midwife (University of Aberdeen) from 2007-2012. I have always been perceptive to the development of a specialist training and educational frameworks for fertility nurses that provide the basis for standardised job titles and role definition, whilst providing quality of care. I was therefore delighted to have the opportunity to work with a dynamic, enthusiastic and dedicated team in developing the ‘Training & Educational Framework for Fertility Nursing’ (RCN, 2013). Jointly, with the RCN Committee, I was also involved in developing the Fertility Nurse Competences – and review, (RCN, 2011) – whilst aligning them with the Knowledge & Skills Framework (e-KSF) and National Occupational Standards (NOS) – in addition to supporting the RCN vision for advanced nursing practice. In addition, I support the Physician Associate Programme (University of Aberdeen) and 3rd year Midwifery teaching (Robert Gordon University) in reproductive healthcare, ethics of reproduction and transgender care.
Research Interests: Overall, I have a specialist interest in exploring reproductive potential and decision-making within a variety of settings and have designed analysed and reported, applied qualitative studies in reproductive health care. My more recent interest has been in the field of Fertility Preservation for young people diagnosed with cancer.
Educational Background: I completed both my general nurse training (1986) and midwifery (1991) in Edinburgh and have been involved in the field of fertility and reproductive medicine since 1993. I gained my BA (Hons) degree from Southbank University, London in 1997 and master’s in medical sciences from the University of Aberdeen in 2003. My thesis entitled ‘Decision Making in IVF’ led to an increased interest in Decision Making in Reproductive Medicine and have since published widely in this area.

· Sesh K. Sunkara ·

Sesh Sunkara is a Consultant Gynaecologist and Subspecialist in Reproductive Medicine and Senior Clinical Lecturer in Reproductive Medicine at King’s College London, UK. Dr Sunkara is ranked in the TOP 0.18% of published authors worldwide on infertility by expertscape in 2022. She is an RCOG accredited Subspecialist in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery having initially specialised in general Obstetrics and Gynaecology. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (FRCOG). Her research work on poor responders undergoing IVF formed the basis for her Doctoral Thesis leading to her Research degree in Reproductive Medicine; Doctor of Medicine (MD) awarded by King’s College London.

In addition to her vast clinical expertise, Dr Sunkara is a highly cited author in the field of Reproductive Medicine and Infertility with several PubMed indexed peer reviewed scientific papers. She has authored of several other articles, book chapters, delivered lectures at several national and international conferences, symposia and workshops.

She is currently Associate Editor for Human Reproduction Update Journal, the highest impact factor journal in the field of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. She was previously Associate Editor of the Human Reproduction Journal from 2014 to 2018. She is on the Editorial Board of Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology Journal, Associate Editor of Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation Journal and an expert reviewer for several other journals. She is a member of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) Guideline Development Group (GDG) for Ovarian Stimulation in IVF and the ESHRE Guideline on Unexplained Infertility.

Dr Sunkara is the lead for research at King’s Fertility, London.

· Tamara Hunter ·

Dr Tamara Hunter is a Perth-based Gynaecologist and Fertility Specialist with subspecialty training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. Dr Hunter is also the Medical Director of Monash IVF WA. A dedicated public advocate for women’s health, Dr Hunter is passionate about holistic, evidence-based reproductive care. This led her to found WOOM, a multi-disciplinary women’s health hub in West Perth that provides specialist healthcare to women throughout their reproductive years.

Before embarking on her medical career, Dr Hunter completed a degree in Exercise Science, working as an Exercise Physiologist and Corporate Health Consultant in Sydney. After achieving her dreams of becoming a doctor, she returned to Perth and specialised in Gynaecology and Obstetrics.

Dr Hunter’s dedication to women’s health drove her to further specialise in fertility. In 2011, she obtained a Certificate of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, the highest qualification available to a fertility specialist in Australia. She was the first female doctor in Western Australia to achieve this.

Dr Hunter has an empathetic approach to patient care. She strives to empower you with information about your options, providing treatment tailored to you. She offers a full range of fertility services. As part of her commitment to women’s health, Dr Hunter works as a Paediatric Gynaecologist at Perth Children’s Hospital and as a Senior Lecturer at the School of Women’s and Infant’s Health at the University of Western Australia.

· Matheus Roque ·

Matheus Roque is the Scientific Director at Origen – Center for Reproductive Medicine, Brazil. Dr. Roque obtained his degree in Medicine in 2003 at the Marilia Medical School, Mar lia, Brazil and he is currently working towards his PhD in Women’s Health at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. He obtained his Masters in Reproductive Medicine in 2012 at the Universitat Aut noma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain, and completed a Fellowship in Human Reproduction during 2009 –2010 at the Universidade Federal de S o Paulo, S o Paulo, Brazil. Dr. Roque has authored many scientific articles and book chapters, and has served as a reviewer for several indexed medical journals. He has been an active participant in many international and national congresses in reproductive medicine and urology, presenting abstracts and lectures. Dr. Roque has participated in the 2015 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) Annual Meeting as an Invited Speaker delivering the lecture Towards a “freeze-all” policy. Fertility and Sterility has recently acknowledged Dr. Roque in recognition of his contribution to the quality of the journal. Moreover, one of his papers featured in the top 5 most highly cited papers published in Fertility and Sterility during 2014 and 2015. He has been recently awarded with the GFI – Grant for Fertility Innovation, with the project entitled “Pharmacogenetic algorithm for individualized Controlled Ovarian Stimulation (iCOS)”. He is currently a member of ESHRE, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the Brazilian Society for Assisted Reproduction, and the Brazilian Society of Urology.

· Christos Venetis ·

Christos is a Senior Consultant Gynaecologist and Fertility Specialist, an Assistant Professor at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece and a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at University of New South Wales, Australia. Prof. Venetis is also the Global Head of Clinical Research for Virtus Health, one of the largest organizations of ART services globally. His research has attracted more than 1.5 million dollars in funding in the last 5 years. He has been named in the top 1% of most cited researchers worldwide in Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine for 2021. He is an author of >115 publications in international scientific journals (h-index: 42, >7800 citations, Google Scholar), of several chapters in books and has been an invited speaker in >200 international scientific meetings. He has co-edited a textbook on the evidence-based management of Recurrent Implantation Failure. For many years he has been a passionate advocate of evidence-based medicine in his field and has been serving as a member of the editorial board of Human Reproduction since 2008. He is also currently a Section Editor for RBM Online, for Reproductive Biology & Endocrinology, an Associate Editor for F&S Reviews, Reproductive Sciences and for Fertility & Reproduction. He regularly lectures in national and international postgraduate (MSc) courses, and he is currently a course coordinator for the MSc in Human Reproduction (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) and a convenor for the MSc in Reproductive Medicine (University of New South Wales). He has also held several leadership positions, including being a Director for the Board of the Fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand (2019-2023) and the Deputy Chair of the Research Grants Committee of the Royal Australia and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG). His research interests include ovarian stimulation, endometrial receptivity, reproductive epidemiology and the health of mothers and babies after ART. He is currently leading a number of research projects in these fields both nationally and internationally and is mentoring junior colleagues.

· Kevin McEleny ·

Mr Kevin McEleny is a Consultant Urologist working both in Newcastle and at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead since 2009.

He is also Consultant Andrologist and Clinical Lead for the male factor clinic at the Newcastle Fertility Centre, located at the International Centre for Life, Times Square, Newcastle upon Tyne.

After completing his medical training and PhD at University College, Dublin, he continued his urological training in the Northern Region prior to his consultant appointment.

His main clinical interests include treating and diagnosing men with fertility problems. He organised and delivers the supra-regional Male Fertility service.

His research interests are in the field of male fertility and he is actively involved in male fertility training nationally.

· Paula Andrea Navarro ·

Associate Professor at FMRP-USP (Human Reproduction Sector, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics), President of the Scientific Integrity and Good Practices in Research Committee at FMRP-USP, Director of the Assisted Reproduction Laboratory, Deputy Coordinator of the Human Reproduction Center , Coordinator of the Postgraduate Program in Gynecology and Obstetrics at FMRP-USP, President of the Brazilian Society of Human Reproduction (SBRH, biennium 2023 to 2025), Member of the Technical Chamber of Assisted Reproduction of the Federal Council of Medicine and Member of the National Commission Specialist (CNE) of Assisted Reproduction of the Brazilian Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FEBRASGO). Researcher at the National Institute of Sciences and Technology/CNPq – Hormones and Women’s Health, Ad Hoc consultant for FAPESP, CNPq and CAPES. Chief Editor of the Human Reproduction Archives, Associate Editor of Reproductive Sciences and the Brazilian Journal of Ginecology and Obstetrics, Member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics and Ad Hoc reviewer for several high-impact scientific journals. Graduated in Medicine from the Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto at the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP; 1995), medical residency in Gynecology and Obstetrics at the Hospital das Clínicas de Ribeirão Preto (HCRP-USP; 1999); master’s degree (2000), Research Fellow in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Women and Infants Hospital, Brown University and Laboratory for Reproductive Medicine, Marine Biological Laboratory (2001-2002) and PhD (2003) in Health Sciences, Gynecology and Obstetrics, FMRP -USP. Post-doctorate at New York University (2016-2017). His main research interests include: Understanding the etiopathogenic mechanisms of endometriosis-related infertility and other infertility factors; Improving the efficiency of assisted reproduction techniques; Evaluate the efficiency and safety of new strategies (adds on) in assisted reproduction procedures; Improvement of fertility preservation strategies, especially oocyte freezing; Improving access to infertility treatment

· Amina Oumeziane ·

Dr Oumeziane has a Medical Degree from Medicine’s Faculty, Algiers in 1989 and Post Graduate Degree-Specialty in gynecology obstetrics from medicine’s faculty, Algiers in 1994.
Completed her training in reproductive medicine at Cochin hospital Assistance Publique Hôpitaux , Paris.
In 2000, received Academic Diploma of Investigation and Management of Infertility from Medicine’s Faculty Rene Descartes Paris, France in 2007 and Diploma in Basic of Reproductive Medicine and Embryology from International School of Medicine Kiel, Munich in 2012.
Head of Tiziri ivf center in Algiers since 2004.
Founder of of subspeciality certificate in infertility in 2019.
Amina Oumeziane is the founder of the Algerian Society of Reproductive Medicine (SAMERE), served as its First president from 2013 to 2016 and Scientific Director from 2016-until now.

Member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and European Society of Human reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), Reviewer in global reproductive health IFFS journal, RBMO and MEFS journals Amina’s major interest areas: Luteal phase, Agonist triggering, Frozen strategy, poor responders .

· Emre Pabuçcu ·

Emre Göksan Pabuçcu was born in Ankara in 1981. After graduating from TED Ankara Private High School, he started his medical education in Ankara University Faculty of Medicine. He completed his residency program in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine. He has been working at Ufuk University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology since 2013 where he received his Associated Professorship in 2017. He has worked at Houston Fertility Specialists Clinic and Texas Woman’s Hospital, Texas (2016) as an observer in the field of preimplantation genetic testing and minimal invasive surgery. He has also been working at Centrum Clinic Private IVF Center, Ankara/Turkey since 2012. He is actively interested in Reproductive Endocrinology and Reproductive Endoscopic procedures.  He is a former board member of International Society of Gynecologic Endoscopy (ISGE). Dr. Pabuçcu is currently a reviewer of several local and international journals about Reproductive Medicine, Endocrinology and Endoscopy. He has published more than 70 papers in peer reviewed journals. 

· Valerio Pisaturo ·

Valerio Pisaturo is a senior clinical embryologist with a Master’s degree in Reproductive Biology and specialization in Clinical Genetics. He is currently the Laboratory Director of the IVF Center at Policlinico Umberto I Hospital in Rome, Italy. Additionally, he holds the position of Adjunct Professor of Clinical Embryology and Genetics and serves as President of the Italian Society of Embryology, Reproduction, and Research (SIERR).

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