Throughout my career, I have often found myself working at the intersection of two worlds. One is the world of science: laboratory tests, ultrasound scans, immune markers, treatment protocols, clinical trials and the constant search for better answers for couples experiencing recurrent miscarriage or unsuccessful assisted conception, including in-vitro fertilisation (IVF). The other is the world of advocacy: standing up for women’s rights, challenging inequalities, improving maternity safety, and speaking out on issues such as female genital mutilation (FGM), language barriers and access to dignified care.
At first glance, these may seem like very different areas of work. But to me, they are deeply connected.
Recurrent miscarriage and unsuccessful IVF are not only medical problems. They are also emotional, psychological and often silent experiences.
Many women and couples arrive at the clinic having been told to “just try again”, or that nothing can be done until they have experienced several losses or failed attempts. Others feel that their grief has been minimised because the pregnancy was early, or because fertility treatment is sometimes seen only through the lens of success rates and cycles. Some have spent years searching for answers, moving repeatedly between hope and disappointment.
This is where science matters. At CRP Clinic, our work is built around careful assessment, evidence-informed investigation and personalised treatment. We look at possible contributing factors, including anatomical, hormonal, genetic, immune and male-related issues. We also recognise that medicine is constantly evolving. Being at the cutting edge does not mean offering every new test or treatment uncritically; it means remaining curious, rigorous and honest about what we know, what we are still learning, and how best to support each individual patient.
But science alone is not enough.
Women’s health has too often been shaped by silence, stigma and inequality. Whether we are talking about miscarriage, stillbirth, infertility, menstrual health, menopause, gender-based violence or FGM, the common thread is that women’s experiences have not always been heard, believed or prioritised. Advocacy is therefore not separate from clinical care. It is part of it.
My work with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) including global women’s health, maternity safety, language barriers and the prevention of the medicalisation of FGM, artificial intelligence (AI) has reinforced one important principle: every woman deserves to be listened to, respected and cared for as a whole person. That same principle guides my work in recurrent miscarriage and assisted conception.
A woman who has experienced repeated pregnancy loss or unsuccessful IVF attempts does not need only a list of investigations. She needs time, clarity, compassion and a plan. She needs her story to be taken seriously. She needs a clinician who understands both the science and the human cost of uncertainty.
For me, balancing advocacy and science is not a challenge; it is a privilege.
Science pushes us to ask better questions and improve outcomes. Advocacy reminds us why those outcomes matter.
At the CRP Clinic in Epsom, our aim is to bring these two worlds together: advanced, personalised care delivered with humanity, honesty and respect. Because behind every test result is a person, behind every pregnancy loss is a story, behind every unsuccessful fertility treatment is courage, and behind every treatment plan is hope.
