Dr Sarah Lensen is a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Newborn Health at the University of Melbourne. She has a background and interest in women's health, particularly infertility and IVF. Dr Lensen is particularly interested in improving evidence-based healthcare of women. She has been involved in a number of large clinical trials evaluating infertility treatment options, including intrauterine insemination and endometrial scratching for IVF, and she has a keen interest in clinical trial and research methodology. She is the lead researcher behind the Evidence-based IVF website, making scientific evidence about IVF options accessible to IVF patients and is Co-lead of the Cochrane Gynaecology and Fertility Group, and has published many systematic reviews and meta-analyses. She also leads the (In)fertility Research Panel, supporting the involvement of patients and people with lived experience of infertility and IVF in research. Her current research aims to understand why unproven treatments options are used in reproductive medicine, and to develop evidence-based resources to assist decision making.

https://www.unimelb.edu.au/ivf
Instagram: @evidence_based_ivf

Sarah explains the principles of evidence-based medicine, the role of randomised controlled trials and systematic reviews, and why high-quality evidence matters when making fertility treatment decisions.

Together Joyce and Sarah explore some of the most widely used IVF add-ons, including PGT-A and embryo glue, discussing what the evidence shows, how these treatments are marketed, and the challenges patients face when navigating often complex and conflicting information. They also discuss the growing influence of social media on fertility knowledge and misinformation, and why helping patients make informed, evidence-based choices has never been more important. A fascinating conversation about science, hope, uncertainty, and the future of fertility care.

Date of episode recording: 2026-08-19
Presenter: Professor Joyce Harper
Guests: Dr Sarah Lensen
Producer: Joyce Harper
Podcast Owner: Joyce Harper