The IVF Investigator: Why asking one more question has shaped the way I practise fertility medicine
People often ask me why I chose fertility medicine.
There isn’t one simple answer. Like many doctors, my career has evolved over time, but when I discovered fertility medicine I realised I had found the area where I truly belonged. It combines science, problem solving and one of the greatest privileges a doctor can experience – helping people build the family they have dreamed of.
What continues to inspire me every day is not just the science. It is the people.
Every patient who walks through my door has a story. Some are just beginning to think about starting a family, while others have experienced years of infertility, miscarriage or unsuccessful IVF treatment. Although many patients arrive with similar diagnoses, I have learnt that no two journeys are ever truly the same. Every person brings their own experiences, their own questions and their own hopes for the future.
Many years ago I described myself as an IVF Investigator.
The description was never intended to become a title, but over the years I realised it perfectly describes the way I think.
I have always been curious. I enjoy understanding why things happen. I enjoy asking questions, reviewing previous treatment and looking at every piece of information before recommending what comes next. I don’t believe fertility medicine is about finding one magic answer. More often, it is about carefully putting together many small pieces that eventually reveal a much clearer picture.
Patients don’t come to me expecting miracles.
They come looking for someone who will listen carefully, review everything thoughtfully and help them understand what the next step should be. That is a responsibility I never take lightly.
Some patients arrive after several unsuccessful IVF cycles. Others have experienced recurrent miscarriage or years of unexplained infertility. They are often tired, frustrated and wondering whether anyone has really looked at the whole picture. Those consultations are some of the most rewarding parts of my work because they allow us to pause, start again if necessary and ask an important question:
Have we learnt everything we can from what has happened so far?
Sometimes the answer changes the direction of treatment. Sometimes it confirms that the current path remains the right one. Either way, patients deserve the confidence of knowing that every reasonable avenue has been explored before moving forward.
That is what being an IVF Investigator means to me. It is not about always finding another answer. It is about always being prepared to ask another question.
Medicine continues to evolve, and fertility medicine evolves perhaps faster than almost any other specialty. New research, improved laboratory techniques and a growing understanding of reproductive science continue to change the way we care for patients. I believe it is our responsibility as fertility specialists to continue learning throughout our careers, because every advancement has the potential to improve someone’s chance of becoming a parent.
One of the greatest pleasures of my career has also been helping people understand fertility, not just treating it.
That is one of the reasons I have loved recording our upcoming Mother & Daughter Conversations podcast with my daughter, Helena.
Sharing those conversations has been incredibly rewarding, both professionally and personally. As a mother, there is something very special about sitting beside your daughter and talking openly about women’s health, fertility and the questions that shape so many lives. Helena isn’t a doctor, and that is exactly what makes our conversations meaningful. She asks the questions that so many young women are thinking but may never ask in a consultation. She challenges me to explain things simply, honestly and without medical jargon.
As her mum, I couldn’t be prouder. Watching Helena grow into a thoughtful, compassionate and confident young woman has been one of life’s greatest privileges. Being able to combine that relationship with something that may help educate and support other women has been an unexpected joy. If our conversations encourage someone to understand their health a little better, seek advice a little earlier or simply feel more comfortable talking about fertility, then I think we will have achieved something worthwhile.
When people ask what I love most about my work, my answer has remained remarkably consistent.
I love helping people understand their fertility.
I love solving complex problems.
I love working alongside extraordinary nurses, embryologists and scientists who care as deeply about our patients as I do.
Most of all, I love seeing people leave my consultation feeling more informed, more confident and more hopeful than when they arrived.
Success in fertility medicine is, of course, about helping people achieve a pregnancy. But for me it is also about something much simpler. It is about making sure every patient feels listened to, respected and confident that their story has truly been understood before any decisions are made.
Perhaps that is why I still smile when I hear the phrase IVF Investigator.
It reminds me that behind every scan, every blood test and every treatment cycle is a person whose story deserves to be understood.
If I can help patients feel that someone has taken the time to understand that story, then I know I have done my job well.
— Dr Vicki Nott
Fertility Specialist, No.1 Fertility
