Real Stories. Real Life.

What does it take to navigate IVF as a couple? 

In this episode of Real Stories. Real Life., Krupa speaks to Sonanya and Nim to discuss their fertility journey as a couple. They share their experience of trying  to conceive, adopting a 3-month holistic protocol, managing the physical and emotional realities of IVF alongside demanding careers and coping with the unexpected setback of delaying their transfer after Sonanya developed OHSS.

Key takeaways

• The Dual Impact: Understanding how fertility struggles affect both partners emotionally and mentally.

• The Male Perspective: We hear from Nim's about his experience of navigating IVF / the fertility journey 

• The 3-Month Reset: How a holistic health transformation tripled Nim’s fertility markers before treatment.

• Self-Advocacy in Healthcare: Advocating for themselves and overcoming frustrating medical consults.

• Protecting the Partnership: Practical ways Nim & Sonanya stayed connected as a team during treatment.

• Work-Life Balance: Managing appointments, stress and career expectations mid-cycle.

• Navigating Setbacks: Coping with the emotional toll of a delayed transfer due to OHSS.

About the guest

Fertility conversations rarely feature both partners talking about their individual experience together. 

In this episode, Sonanya and Nim offer a rare Couples perspective of their IVF journey. They speak openly about the emotional realities of treatment, overcoming cultural pressures and the role workplace and family support played in seeing them through. 

Resources

·       HFEA — Fertility treatment / IVF: https://www.hfea.gov.uk/treatments/explore-all-treatments/in-vitro-fertilisation-ivf/ 

·       HFEA — Fertility trends and figures report: https://www.hfea.gov.uk/about-us/publications/research-and-data/fertility-treatment-2023-trends-and-figures/ 

·       [Nim’s article on IVF: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/nim-chandran-86812272_worldivfday-fertilityaction-ivf-share-7485415067715416065-3E-g/ 

Connect & Share Your Story:

• Follow the Show: Subscribe to Real Stories. Real Life. on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite player.

• Connect with Krupa: Find her on LinkedIn (Krupa Suthar) and Instagram (@insightsthatshine).

• Get in Touch: Have a story or experience to share? Email Krupa directly at [email protected].

What happens when you know you want to become a parent but you're done waiting for the "right" relationship?

Episode summary

In this episode, I sit down with Reema @choicemomcoach, who made the brave decision to pursue motherhood on her own in her 30's.

Key takeaways

In this episode, Reema shares:✨ The factors / decisions behind pursuing single parenthood on her own terms✨ The realities of navigating fertility treatment independently✨ Cultural and family expectations around relationships✨ Handling the assumptions and noise that come with choosing a different path.

🎧 You can listen to the full episode on Apple, Spotify or YouTube (Link in bio)

#SingleParenthood #Fertility #ivf #ModernFamilies #Podcast

Resources

• Reema's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/choicemomcoach/

• Reema's website:  https://www.choicemomcoach.com/

• Donor Conception network: https://dcnetwork.org/

About the guest

Today, Reema openly shares her journey and empowers women 35+ to step into motherhood on their own terms.

Connect & Share Your Story:

• Follow the Show: Subscribe to Real Stories. Real Life. on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.

• Connect with Krupa: Find her on LinkedIn (Krupa Suthar) and Instagram (@insightsthatshine).

• Get in Touch: Have a story or experience to share? Email Krupa directly at [email protected]

How do you know when it’s time to stop the rollercoaster of IVF and move on?

Episode summary

This episode explores Rita’s long term fertility journey & knowing when it was time to move on.

We talk about navigating treatment, hope, expectations and managing devastating negative cycles and heartbreaking miscarriages.

The episode focuses how Rita followed her heart to move onto adoption. We explore: navigating the practicalities of paperwork, processes and the panel interview. 

Key takeaways

• The emotional reality of prolonged fertility treatment
• The pressure that can come with deciding whether to continue
• How hope can change throughout a fertility journey
• How Rita knew when it was time to move on

• Navigating the adoption journey, the practicalities, processes and panel interviews

About the guest

In this deeply touching conversation, Rita shares her personal experience of navigating a long term fertility journey, the impact it had on her, her family and how she knew it was time to step off the IVF rollercoaster and move on. 

Resources

https://www.gov.uk/child-adoption

Connect & Share Your Story:

• Follow the Show: Subscribe to Real Stories. Real Life. on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.

• Connect with Krupa: Find her on LinkedIn (Krupa Suthar) and Instagram (@insightsthatshine).

• Get in Touch: Have a story or experience to share? Email Krupa directly at [email protected].

What happens when years of fertility treatment in the UK didn't work out?

Episode Summary:

In this deeply personal opening episode, Krupa shares her experience of exploring IVF treatment abroad after years of navigating fertility treatment in the UK.

She talks openly about researching her options, choosing a clinic in Greece, the practical logistics of travelling for treatment, financial considerations and the emotional reality of making such a significant decision.

Key Takeaways:

• What to consider when researching fertility treatment abroad

• How to approach choosing an overseas clinic

• The practical realities of travelling for treatment

• Financial considerations and budget planning

• The emotional experience of making a major fertility decision

About the Guest:

Krupa Suthar is the founder of Insights That Shine, a senior qualitative researcher and Women's Health Insights Leader with more than 20 years' experience. She shares her own 12-year fertility journey, including treatment in the UK and abroad.

Resources:

• HFEA — Fertility treatment and choosing a clinic

• HFEA — Fertility treatment abroad

If this episode resonates with you:

Follow Real Stories. Real Life. on your podcast platform, and follow @insightsthatshine on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Have a story or experience you'd like to share? Get in touch with Insights That Shine at: [email protected]

Disclaimer: This show is based purely on individual experience and should not be seen to replace medical advice

Real Stories. Real Life. A limited series which shines a light on South Asian paths to parenthood

Show information

Behind every fertility statistic is a person, a family and a story. Not all paths to parenthood are linear and for the South Asian community,  their voices are seldom heard and can also be filled with cultural expectations, taboos and shame.

This limited podcast series focuses on four different paths to parenthood, all of which have undergone fertility treatment.

Episode summary

In this introduction to Real Stories. Real Life., host and Insights That Shine founder Krupa Suthar shares the personal and professional story behind the series.

After spending more than 12 years navigating fertility treatment in the UK and abroad, Krupa explains whyshe wanted to create a space for honest conversations about fertility, parenthood and the experiences of South Asian communities.

Drawing on more than 20 years of experience in research and listening to people’s stories, she explores why lived experience matters and introduces the conversations to come: IVF, treatment abroad, adoption, single parenthood by choice and the couple’s perspective, including the rarely heard male point of view.

Key takeaways

• Why Real Stories. Real Life was created
• The personal experience that inspired the series
• Why South Asian voices need greater visibility in healthcare
• The importance of lived experience alongside research and statistics
• A preview of the stories and perspectives explored throughout the series

About the host

Krupa Suthar is the founder of Insights That Shine and a Senior Research Leader with more than 20 years’ experience in research, user research and Women’s Health.

Her work includes advising FemTech companies, leading user research for NHS Test & Trace during the pandemic and serving as a Trustee for Bliss, the charity supporting babies born premature or sick.

Krupa draws on her own 12-year fertility journey alongside her professional experience of listening to people’s stories to create conversations designed to bring lived experience to the forefront.

Resources

Human Fertilisation andEmbryology Authority (HFEA): Choosing a fertility clinic: https://www.hfea.gov.uk/choose-a-fertility-clinic/

HFEA: National Patient Survey 2024: https://www.hfea.gov.uk/about-us/publications/research-and-data/national-patient-survey-2024/
Living Hellth with Jo Doyle: Krupa’s conversationabout her fertility journey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Jo1LcDYEVM

If this episode resonates with you

Follow Real Stories. Real Life. wherever you listen to podcasts and follow @insightsthatshine on Instagram.

If you have a fertility, parenthood or Women’s Health story you’d like to share or something in this series resonates with you, get in touch with Krupa: [email protected]