ESHRE 2025 – Reflections from a Very Hot Paris.

Attending the 2025 ESHRE (European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology) conference in Paris was, professionally, one of the most inspiring experiences I've had in recent years —though it's impossible to talk about it without first mentioning the relentless heat. Paris was sweltering, and the conference centre struggled to cope.

Despite this, the venue itself was well laid out—compact and easy to navigate, with all the rooms on one floor. That made it much easier than many other conferences to move fluidly between sessions, tailoring the day based on relevance and interest rather than being trapped in one room due to geography or poor signage.

Water availability was an ongoing issue—sorely lacking during the packed and overheated first two days, then suddenly abundant on the final, cooler day. Similarly, lunch provision on day one was chaotic. The food setup involved dense crowds, and I ultimately chose to skip it rather than endure ten minutes wedged between strangers in sauna-like conditions.

That said, the quality of the scientific programme more than made up for these logistical hiccups. The sessions felt more clinically grounded than in previous years. Many presenters avoided the usual vague conclusions and instead offered clear, practice-changing takeaways. Several were refreshingly bold in stating when interventions had no benefit— and shouldn’t be pursued. This honest, evidence-first messaging helped reinforce my own counselling strategies, especially in discouraging the use of tests and treatments that offer little value and can sometimes be costly or even harmful.

Among the standout sessions, the Monday morning slot (Session 5) on randomised controlled trials in reproductive medicine set a high bar. Professor Siobhan Quenby’s powerful presentation on the role of doxycycline in recurrent miscarriage and chronic endometritis was especially impressive—cutting through the noise with sharp data and taking no prisoners during the Q+A session.

On Tuesday, Session 36 on recurrent pregnancy loss was equally valuable. The discussion helped clarify the evolving role of thyroid function assessment in this setting, aligning well with updated guidelines and helping to consolidate our approach in clinic.

The live surgery session also deserves mention—not just for the technical content, but for the sheer feat of coordination. Watching the real-time robotic myomectomy reinforced the value of minimally invasive surgery for complex cases and inspires me to expand my horizon for what is achievable with robot assisted surgery. Challenge accepted.

Session 59 (“Paris on Ice”), although held in an ironically overheated room, offered some fascinating insights on FET protocols and luteal phase support. The ASRM exchange session on challenging cases was perfectly timed as I have a regular back and forth with my embryology colleagues about the role of DNA fragmentation testing in modern fertility practice. Finally, the Wednesday morning debate—Session 73 on how best to monitor ovarian stimulation—was a real treat. I always enjoy these structured debates, where two seasoned experts present opposing perspectives grounded in the same body of evidence. It sharpened my thinking, challenged some cycle management dogma that I held slightly uncritically and highlights the nuance sometimes missing in day-to-day clinical decision- making.

As always, one of the main joys of ESHRE is the informal learning: catching up with old colleagues, sharing ideas with international peers, and challenging one another’s approaches. These conversations—whether in queues, cafes, or evening dinners—often yield more practical insight than any one talk. There’s something uniquely valuable about these in-person exchanges that simply can’t be replicated online.

From a team perspective, attending as a group really enhanced the experience. It allowed us to divide and conquer the programme, compare notes in the evenings, and reflect on what changes might translate back to our own service. We’ve already booked a post-conference debrief to distil the key learning points into a small number of actionable changes to bring forward.

There are still several sessions I missed that I’m especially keen to revisit on-demand. Session 67 on Tuesday, titled “Old Topics and New Approaches in Implantation and Early Pregnancy,” looked particularly intriguing. I’m especially interested in the presentation on adenomyosis and whether there is a correlation of euploid embryo loss.

Despite the heat, a few organisational hiccups, and the post-conference exhaustion that comes with diving straight back into full clinics, ESHRE 2025 was an energising, thought- provoking and enjoyable event. I’ve come home buzzing with ideas, grateful for the connections, and determined to implement several changes that will ultimately benefit our patients.