IVF abroad: TTC and infertility for those considering conceiving abroad

The Awkward Fertility Questions You are not prepared for(And How to Answer Them)

There is never a good time for these questions, but I feel during any celebratory time like Christmas it can feel more overwhelming when you're TTC or navigating IVF. And while everyone else is talking about food, gifts and plans… you’re bracing for the questions - the ones that cut deeper than people realise and you deserve to protect your peace.

In this episode, Emma shares real, practical scripts you can use when family, friends or colleagues make comments about fertility, IVF, age, your body that are not helpful!

You’ll learn how to set boundaries that suit you, how to protect your emotional energy, and move through Christmas and other occasions like Thanksgiving, without feeling triggered, exposed or blindsided.

This is your toolkit for staying grounded, protecting your peace, and getting through the holidays or any family/friend gatherings - on your terms.

In This Episode You’ll Learn:

• Why seemingly innocent Christmas questions can feel so painful
  
  
  
• How to respond to:
   • “When are you having kids?”
   • “Why don’t you just relax?”
   • “Have you thought about adoption?”
   • “Should you be drinking alcohol if you’re trying?”
   • “Aren’t you getting too old for all this?”

Even if the intention is good and including what to say when the intention is not good!

• Polite, firm and shut-it-down scripts for every situation, plus a one liner that is easy to remember and a great distraction for most situations
  
  
  
• How to protect your emotional energy during the festive season
  
  
  
• Ways to navigate triggering conversations without over-explaining
  
  
  
• Other things to consider to make these situations more about thriving than surviving and on your terms

Want to learn more about going abroad for fertility treatment? Watch this free masterclass: yourivfabroad.co.uk/freemasterclass

FREE 15 minute video call - ready to take the next step and want to discuss the services Emma offers at home or abroad?:  calendly.com/yourivfabroad/15min

Your IVF abroad planner/journal  - Keep everything organised and in one place and document your journey and feelings along the way. Find out more/buy one here:yourivfabroad.co.uk/shop

If you’re struggling to access the fertility medication, supplements, or HRT you’ve been prescribed—whether due to high costs or limited availability - this episode walks you through a safe, reliable way to get what you need privately.

Or maybe you suspect (or know) you are in peri-menopause or menopause but you are not being taken seriously by medical professionals, or you are on a long NHS waiting list to see a Consultant and are struggling with symptoms that are impacting on your daily life. 

For many women in the UK and other countries like the USA the system can feel unpredictable:

• Meds are expensive and frequently out of stock
• HRT shortages happening without warning
• Menopause 'care' is dismissive for many or stuck behind long waiting lists
• Private menopause clinics that are expensive for most people

In this episode, you’ll learn exactly how to source genuine, fertility and HRT medication with availability and sometimes at a more accessible price too, no matter where your prescription was written, as long as it’s in English.

Whether you're trying to conceive, navigating IVF, managing symptoms of peri-menopause/menopause, or simply trying to follow your treatment plan without constant disruption, this is a practical guide to getting your medication safely and stress-free.

🌱 What We Cover in This Episode

• How to legally use a valid prescription from anywhere in the world
• Ordering medication privately even when your local pharmacy is out of stock
• Getting a quote for:
  • IVF meds 
  • HRT (oestrogen patches & gels, progesterone, testosterone)
  • Fertility supplements
• How the process works step-by-step
• How to save money without compromising quality, safety, or regulation
• When it makes sense to book a consultation with a menopause specialist for private support

💊 Want a Price Quote for Fertility Meds, Supplements, or HRT?

Get a free, no-obligation quote from the partner pharmacy I recommend.

👉 Request your personalised price quote here:

https://www.yourivfabroad.co.uk/online-fertility-pharmacy-introduction
 

You’ll receive:

• A direct price comparison
• Confirmation of availability
• Fast turnaround
• Clear instructions for placing an order using your prescription

🌼 Need a Private Menopause Specialist to Review Your Symptoms, Treatment or Prescribe HRT?

Book a call with Emma who can talk you through the process so you can book a private online consultation with a menopause specialist.

👉 Book a call with Emma here:

https://calendly.com/yourivfabroad/15min
 

This is ideal if you need:

• a review of your current symptoms
• HRT for the first time or adjustments to your HRT
• advice on testosterone
• help accessing reliable private prescriptions
• support navigating complex or persistent symptoms

✨ Please follow the podcast, leave a review, or share it with someone who may be struggling to access their medication or get help. It genuinely makes a difference.

Want to learn more about going abroad for fertility treatment? Watch this free masterclass: yourivfabroad.co.uk/freemasterclass

FREE 15 minute video call - ready to take the next step and want to discuss the services Emma offers at home or abroad?:  calendly.com/yourivfabroad/15min

Your IVF abroad planner/journal  - Keep everything organised and in one place and document your journey and feelings along the way. Find out more/buy one here:yourivfabroad.co.uk/shop

You’ve been trying to get pregnant for what feels like forever… and you’re exhausted and don't know what to do next or what options you may even have.

This episode is here to help you work out what to do next, without spiralling, Googling at midnight, or feeling like you’re somehow 'behind' everyone else.

Inside, I walk you through:

• Why trying is not failure or your fault

• When to consider changing things and what options might be available and why IVF isn't always the next step

• When to push for answers and when to look beyond the UK system 

• How to finally get clarity on your next step so you don't feel stuck in limbo wasting time when you are ready for answers and a plan

If you’re stuck in limbo and the ‘just relax and keep trying’ advice is wearing thin, or you are not getting the help you need then this episode will give you a clearer, calmer path forward

🌟 Want personalised guidance on your situation?

Book a free no obligation call with me and let’s talk about what’s going on for you and whether working together is the right next step.

https://calendly.com/yourivfabroad/15min

🎧 Curious about fertility treatment abroad and how it actually works?

Watch my free training to understand the process, costs, safety, timelines, and how to choose the right clinic abroad with confidence.

https://www.yourivfabroad.co.uk/freemasterclass

Want to learn more about going abroad for fertility treatment? Watch this free masterclass: yourivfabroad.co.uk/freemasterclass

FREE 15 minute video call - ready to take the next step and want to discuss the services Emma offers at home or abroad?:  calendly.com/yourivfabroad/15min

Your IVF abroad planner/journal  - Keep everything organised and in one place and document your journey and feelings along the way. Find out more/buy one here:yourivfabroad.co.uk/shop

When it comes to fertility care in the UK and other countries like the USA most people only think about the financial cost. But the real 'hidden costs' go far beyond money. In this episode, I break down the biggest obstacles people face, from long NHS and private delays to limited choice in clinics and egg donation options. I also discuss the emotional and time costs that aren’t talked about and how understanding these hidden factors can help you make informed decisions and feel more confident in your journey.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How time and delays in both NHS and private care impact your fertility journey
• The limitations of fertility treatment options in the UK, including egg donation shortages
• Why lack of choice can affect your chances of success and your peace of mind

Your next step:

 If you’re considering fertility treatment abroad, want to work out if it's right for you, or want a clearer path through the confusion, I’ve created a free training that walks you step-by-step through the process. Save yourself time, stress, and frustration!

Free Training: https://www.yourivfabroad.co.uk/freemasterclass

Connect with me:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/Yourivfabroad

Want to learn more about going abroad for fertility treatment? Watch this free masterclass: yourivfabroad.co.uk/freemasterclass

FREE 15 minute video call - ready to take the next step and want to discuss the services Emma offers at home or abroad?:  calendly.com/yourivfabroad/15min

Your IVF abroad planner/journal  - Keep everything organised and in one place and document your journey and feelings along the way. Find out more/buy one here:yourivfabroad.co.uk/shop

In this encore episode Emma explores if fertility testing and/or abroad could be right for you and who may need to give this more consideration and why. May contain swearing.

Download Emma's free checklist for more help to decide if fertility testing and/or treatment abroad could be right for you.

www.yourivfabroad.co.uk/whoisivfabroadfor

Want to learn more about going abroad for fertility treatment? Watch this free masterclass: yourivfabroad.co.uk/freemasterclass

FREE 15 minute video call - ready to take the next step and want to discuss the services Emma offers at home or abroad?:  calendly.com/yourivfabroad/15min

Your IVF abroad planner/journal  - Keep everything organised and in one place and document your journey and feelings along the way. Find out more/buy one here:yourivfabroad.co.uk/shop

You've been doing everything right, but you feel stuck on your fertility journey and nothing is happening, or not quickly enough.

Sometimes, what’s keeping you from moving forward isn’t medical at all. It’s fear. Or it’s about clarity - not knowing what step to take next, or feeling paralysed by too many options.

In this solo episode, Emma talks about:

✨ The two main reasons people get stuck on their fertility journey

✨ Why staying still often feels safer than taking the next step (and how that can quietly cost you time and hope)

✨ How to recognise what kind of “stuck” you’re in — and how to get unstuck

✨ Practical ways to start moving forward again, with more confidence and less overwhelm

If you’ve been feeling like you’re losing time, direction, or faith in what to do next, this episode will help you reconnect to hope — and remind you that it’s not too late, you just need a plan.

Because you can’t think your way out of stuckness you have to plan your way out of it.

Listen now to feel clearer, calmer, and ready to take the next step in your fertility journey.

If you need help to plan your next steps please contact Emma on [email protected] to find out more about the services she offers.

If you would like to watch the free training Emma mentioned then you can grab that link below.

Want to learn more about going abroad for fertility treatment? Watch this free masterclass: yourivfabroad.co.uk/freemasterclass

FREE 15 minute video call - ready to take the next step and want to discuss the services Emma offers at home or abroad?:  calendly.com/yourivfabroad/15min

Your IVF abroad planner/journal  - Keep everything organised and in one place and document your journey and feelings along the way. Find out more/buy one here:yourivfabroad.co.uk/shop

Male factor infertility is far more common than most people realise yet it’s still surrounded by silence, stigma, shame and lack of representation. In this powerful and emotional episode, I’m joined by Shaun Greenaway, a dad of twins through donor sperm IVF, who’s now using his story to raise awareness and support others going through similar experiences.

Shaun Greenaway is a male fertility advocate and co-founder of NeXYs Fertility. After being diagnosed with azoospermia, he experienced first-hand the silence and stigma surrounding male infertility. Now a proud father to donor-conceived twins, Shaun shares his journey through @Knackered_Knackers, using honesty and humour to break the taboo and support others navigating similar paths.

He also co-hosts The Male Fertility Podcast, listened to worldwide, and leads NeXYs Fertility - a platform transforming how men access fertility support. By combining a strong peer-to-peer community with expert-led guidance alongside it, Shaun is helping to ensure no man faces infertility alone or uninformed again.

Together, we dive deep into his journey to becoming a Father, what it’s really like to face male factor infertility -the shock of diagnosis, the emotional impact, how it affects identity and relationships, and what it means to build a family through donor conception.

We also explore the lack of support for men navigating infertility, why the conversation needs to change, and how Shaun is now helping others through his advocacy work and male infertility support groups.

This episode is raw, honest, and full of hope - a must-listen for anyone affected by infertility, whether directly or as a partner.

We talk about:

✨ The moment Shaun and his partner discovered they were facing male factor infertility

✨ The emotional impact of diagnosis and the lack of support for men

✨ How they made the decision to use donor sperm for IVF and what that process was really like

✨ The importance of communication and navigating infertility as a couple

✨ Turning pain into purpose Shaun's journey into advocacy and running male infertility support groups

✨ How to talk about donor conception and support men’s mental health in fertility spaces

Why you need to listen:

If you’ve ever felt isolated or unseen in your fertility journey, this conversation will remind you that you are not alone.

Male infertility isn’t a reflection of worth or masculinity and breaking the silence is how we begin to change the culture around it.

Connect with Shaun:

📲 Instagram: @knackered_knackers and @nexysfertility

🌐 Website: www.nexysfertility.com

Want to learn more about going abroad for fertility treatment? Watch this free masterclass: yourivfabroad.co.uk/freemasterclass

FREE 15 minute video call - ready to take the next step and want to discuss the services Emma offers at home or abroad?:  calendly.com/yourivfabroad/15min

Your IVF abroad planner/journal  - Keep everything organised and in one place and document your journey and feelings along the way. Find out more/buy one here:yourivfabroad.co.uk/shop

Eating for Success: When it comes to IVF and fertility treatment, most of the focus is on the medical side - tests, clinics, and protocols. But what you eat and how you nourish your body can play a huge role too, both for men and women.n

In this episode, I’m joined by Melanie Brown, a registered nutritionist who specialises in fertility and helping people prepare their bodies for pregnancy through natural conception or assisted reproduction like IVF.

Together, we’re breaking down what really matters when it comes to nutrition and where you can make realistic, small changes to support egg/sperm health.

We talk about:

✨ How and what foods can support egg and sperm quality, hormone balance, assisted reproduction, birth and beyond

✨ Supplements - what you really need and what brands you can rely on

✨ Simple, realistic changes through food that make a difference (even on a budget)

✨ Tools you can use to help implement changes (even if you're busy)

✨How to advocate for yourself and what questions to ask a clinic and yourself after multiple failed cycles of IVF

✨New exciting test available for male factor infertility

Whether you’re trying to conceive naturally, preparing for your first IVF cycle or you’ve been through several already, this conversation will give you practical tools and reassurance to help you feel more confident about your next steps.

Because fertility isn’t just about medication and a clinic - it’s about your whole self, and nourishing your body is one of the most empowering things you can do to support the process and to take back some control.

Connect with Melanie Brown:

Instagram: @melaniebrownnutritionist

Website: melaniebrownnutrition.com

To grab a copy of Melanie's shopping list, example meal plan and meal planning template please contact Melanie on Instagram via DM.

Medichecks affiliate link

https://medichecks.sjv.io/5bBBZL

Want to learn more about going abroad for fertility treatment? Watch this free masterclass: yourivfabroad.co.uk/freemasterclass

FREE 15 minute video call - ready to take the next step and want to discuss the services Emma offers at home or abroad?:  calendly.com/yourivfabroad/15min

Your IVF abroad planner/journal  - Keep everything organised and in one place and document your journey and feelings along the way. Find out more/buy one here:yourivfabroad.co.uk/shop

Ever looked at the price of IVF in your home country and thought how on earth can I/we afford this? You're not alone. 

That's why cost is one of the biggest reasons people first consider going abroad. 

In this popular encore episode of the IVF abroad podcast I dig into the numbers home and away and why going abroad can stretch budgets further in order to change everything, just like it did for us.

To find out more about how having fertility treatment abroad works visit the shownotes below to find links to my free resources and how to find out more about my services.

Want to learn more about going abroad for fertility treatment? Watch this free masterclass: yourivfabroad.co.uk/freemasterclass

FREE 15 minute video call - ready to take the next step and want to discuss the services Emma offers at home or abroad?:  calendly.com/yourivfabroad/15min

Your IVF abroad planner/journal  - Keep everything organised and in one place and document your journey and feelings along the way. Find out more/buy one here:yourivfabroad.co.uk/shop

Inside The Conceive Abroad Course: Your Step-by-Step Plan for IVF Abroad

Shownotes:
Thinking about going abroad for fertility treatment but don’t know where to start? Maybe you are undecided about going abroad and want more knowledge to make the right decision? Or maybe you have decided but want to do things properly, make informed decisions and to give yourself the best chances of success and without regrets! 

In this episode, I’m giving you a sneak peek inside The Conceive Abroad Course - my step-by-step roadmap for planning IVF abroad safely, confidently and calmly, without undue stress, wasted time, or costly mistakes.

✨ The waitlist opens tomorrow — last chance to join!

https://www.yourivfabroad.co.uk/the-conceive-abroad-course-waitlist

When you join you will get the full details, early instant access, bonuses and save £100 if you buy the course.

👉 Join here with no obligation and to get £100 off + bonuses: 

https://www.yourivfabroad.co.uk/the-conceive-abroad-course-waitlist

If you are not listening to this episode in real time and miss this offer, don't worry the course will still be available until the end of September 2025 and you can buy it via this link. 

https://www.yourivfabroad.co.uk/the-conceive-abroad-course-

If you are listening after this after the end of September 2025 and are interested the next time doors open then be sure to add your name to the waitlist.

https://www.yourivfabroad.co.uk/the-conceive-abroad-course-waitlist

Want to learn more about going abroad for fertility treatment? Watch this free masterclass: yourivfabroad.co.uk/freemasterclass

FREE 15 minute video call - ready to take the next step and want to discuss the services Emma offers at home or abroad?:  calendly.com/yourivfabroad/15min

Your IVF abroad planner/journal  - Keep everything organised and in one place and document your journey and feelings along the way. Find out more/buy one here:yourivfabroad.co.uk/shop