Integrated Team Care for Superior Outcomes

We are scientists, but we are also practitioners. This gives us the best combination of knowing how to source all the scientific evidence on fertility, how to interpret the evidence and weed out the fact from fiction.

We have spent years understanding how nutrition, psychology and exercise impact every aspect of the body including our muscles which help regulate energy metabolism, our hormones which are crucial communicators to promote reproductive health and our immune system which is like the commander in chief enabling fertile ground or calling all-out war on our body.

We also know what our resident microbiota, or gut friends as we like to call them, can do for fertility. Our gut microbiota are CENTRAL to fertility and we would love to share with you everything we have learnt and applied to help clients get pregnant by making sure they have a Fertile Gut.

Meet our fertility experts who deliver strategies YOU can adopt to make your gut fertile ground to promote conception.
We LOVE what we do!

Dr Cecilia Kitic
Exercise Physiologist
BAppSc. (hons), PhD (Exercise Immunology), ESSAM, AEP, AES

Exercise Physiology

Dr Cecilia Kitic has spent over 20 years researching how exercise affects the body. You can check out her publications here. With a special research interest in gut health and inflammation Cecilia provides scientific, evidence based exercise prescription to improve fertility and the chance of conception.

As an Accredited Exercise Physiologist, Cecilia is equipped with the knowledge, skills and competencies to design, deliver and evaluate safe and effective exercise interventions for enhancing fertility.

Exercise is one of the most potent ways to dampen inflammation and oxidative stress that underlie PCOS, endometriosis, male factor infertility and unexplained infertility.

Exercise can also improve your gut health, balancing out your gut bugs for a happy community to create a Fertile Gut.

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Fertility Nutrition

Dr Sue Read is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian specialising in enhancing fertility with food. With a PhD in Microbiology and a Masters in Nutrition and Dietetics Sue can combine her two loves: food and gut bugs!

Focusing on creating a Fertile Gut, Sue provides simple and realistic guidance so you can boost your fertility, giving you the best chance of conception.

Dr Sue Read
Dietitian and Microbiologist
BAppSc. (hons), PhD (Microbiology), MNutDiet, APD

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Alisha Polsen
Psychologist
B.A.Psych, G.D.Psych, MAPS

Fertility Psychology

Alisha Polsen is an AHPRA registered psychologist and member of the Australian Psychological Society and has provided psychotherapy for fertility clients for ten years.

Her interest in working with individuals and couples facing fertility challenges stemmed from appreciating the need for a safe and confidential space to address the many impacts of this challenging life experience with an experienced professional.

Alisha provides psychotherapy for clients throughout all stages of experiencing fertility challenges including establishment of optimum health and wellbeing prior to conception, IVF, PGD/PGS, gamete donation, post treatment adjustment and pre-natal stages.

Her practice employs principles of evidence based frameworks including Acceptance and Commitment therapy, Neuropsychotherapy and Hakomi with an emphasis on physiological regulation to address experiences of anxiety, grief and stress.

Alisha works with clients in building resilience in achievable steps as early as possible to offer the best preparation to effectively manage stressful life experiences including fertility challenges and treatment. She also addresses social, relational and many more impacts of facing fertility challenges.

Our gut is connected to our brain so regulating stress is a great way to promote a healthy gut. Adopting strategies that reduce activation of the sympathetic nervous system will promote a healthy microbiota and a Fertile Gut.

Alisha is recognised by Medicare to provide psychotherapy under the Mental Health Scheme and Perinatal Scheme.

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Exercise Physiology

Meghan Achilles is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP). In combination with her extensive academic achievements (Meg has completed a Bachelors in Psychological Science, Bachelors in Exercise and Sport Science, and Masters in Clinical Exercise Physiology) Meg has over 20 years experience in the health and fitness industry.

Exercise has been a love for Meg during this time, and she has enjoyed being able to help others find an exercise routine that is enjoyable, realistic and tailored to them.

Meg has had her own infertility challenges, and has completed many rounds of IVF to achieve her two beautiful girls. She understands the value of exercise, in conjunction with nutrition and psychological support,  for health and as a stress management strategy.

As an Exercise Physiologist on her own fertility journey, she was confused by the conflicting advice from her treating team in relation to exercise, and it didn't align with what she had learned during her university education. This pushed her to seek evidence-based information and advice that was specific to fertility, and she came across The IVF Project.

It was a rare gem in the myriad of inconsistent internet blogs and online articles about IVF and exercise. Meghan has continued to specialise in the area of exercise and infertility and is thrilled to now be working at The IVF Project!

Meghan Achilles
Exercise Physiologist
B.Psyc.Sc, B.Ex.Sport.Sci., ESSAM, AEP, AES