Welcome to this episode of The Fertility Podcast, the official podcast of Fertility Action. In this conversation, Natalie is joined by long-time friend of the show and Fertility Action trustee Dr. James Nicopoullos, consultant gynaecologist and medical director at The Lister. They dive into the often frustrating diagnosis of unexplained infertility - what it actually means, how it impacts your treatment options, and what you can do when you feel like you're hitting a wall.

This episode also covers highlights from Fertility Action’s recent campaign in Parliament, new shifts in male fertility awareness, and why conversations around fertility at work still have a long way to go.

What we discuss:

• Parliament updates and raising awareness about cuts to NHS fertility funding
• The Fertility Show and how to handle the overwhelm as a new patient
• James' role as a Fertility Action trustee and why he believes in Katie’s mission
• What unexplained infertility really means (and why it's so common)
• The emotional toll of having no clear answers, especially for people used to being in control
• Questions to ask your doctor when faced with unexplained or subfertility
• What to rule out: hormones, anatomy, sperm DNA, and more
• The reality of add-ons and how to weigh evidence-based versus emerging options
• When it makes sense to seek a second opinion and how clinics typically respond
• The evolving conversation around male infertility and the importance of male involvement
• Fertility in the workplace, what patients are still dealing with, and how employers can do better
• Why infertility still isn’t fully recognized as a legitimate health condition in some policies
• How education, advocacy, and testing are slowly shifting public perception

Quote to remember:

“You should be using your annual leave for a holiday, not to do fertility treatment.”

Listen if you’re:

Dealing with a diagnosis of unexplained infertility, feeling stuck after multiple cycles, or needing a reminder that there are still questions worth asking and answers worth pursuing.

Links & Resources

• Follow Fertility Action: @fertility.action
• DM Natalie: @fertilitypoddy
• Email: [email protected]
• Subscribe to the podcast on your app of choice
• Learn more about Dr. James Nicopoullos: Lister Fertility Clinic
• Explore Fertility Action’s support groups and advocacy work: fertilityaction.org

In this powerful and passionate episode, Natalie is joined once again by Katie Rollings, founder of Fertility Action, the UK's newest fertility charity. As a returning guest, Katie provides an urgent and inspiring update on the charity’s current work, including critical campaigning efforts, growing support groups, and the ever-pressing fight against the fertility funding postcode lottery.

Together, Natalie and Katie discuss:

• The expansion of Fertility Action's support groups and community
• The emotional toll of fertility treatment and the gaps in support post-treatment
• Why peer connection and bespoke support are crucial
• Ongoing parliamentary campaigning for fair fertility treatment access
• How to get involved by writing to your MP
• The need for a male fertility focus in healthcare strategy
• Urgent updates on changes to NHS fertility funding in Sussex and beyond
• Katie also opens up about the emotional challenges of fighting for change while encountering public misunderstanding and resistance and why she refuses to give up.
• Plans for culturally diverse and condition-specific groups (like secondary infertility) are in motion—making sure everyone feels seen and heard.
• Fertility Action is looking for empathetic volunteers to host support groups. Training and supervision will be provided. If you’re 3+ years post-treatment and can commit to a year, they’d love to hear from you.
• Male participation in support groups is still limited, but growing. There’s a need for more male facilitators and attendees—especially to normalize male perspectives on infertility.
• Groups meet on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Join with your mic or camera on or off, even in your PJs! It’s a low-pressure, welcoming environment

Take Action:

Write to Your MP - Encourage them to attend the fertility campaign event in Parliament on Wednesday, 16 July. Use the Fertility Action letter template

Join the Conversation on Male Fertility & Mental Health

Contribute to the ongoing male fertility survey submissions close Wednesday, 17 July. H

Helpful Links:

• Fertility Action Instagram (Linktree)
• Men’s Health Strategy Consultation
• Test Him with Ian Stones
• Fertility Matters at Work
• DM Natalie on Instagram: @fertilitypoddy 
• Email thoughts or guest ideas: [email protected] 
• Subscribe on your podcast app to stay updated

In the final episode of this three-part mini-series, created in partnership with fertilityclinicsabroad.com, Natalie is joined once more by Joanna Jewell, Head of Patient Experience at IVF Media, to demystify the world of egg donation guarantees. 

Whether you’re exploring donor eggs, embryo donation, or refund-based pregnancy guarantees, this episode breaks it all down. Joanna explains how these programs work, what they include, who they’re for, and what to ask before you commit. 

What we discuss: 

• What egg donation programs actually are and what’s included 
• The difference between oocyte and blastocyst guarantees 
• What to expect with embryo donation and double donation (egg + sperm) 
• Pregnancy and live birth guarantee programs and the truth behind the fine print 
• Refund guarantees: how they work, what they cost, and how much you could get back  
• Common requirements to qualify for guarantee programs 
• Transparency matters: why it’s essential to ask what’s included and what’s not 
• Additional costs to prepare for: medication, storage fees, testing, and admin 
• Donor availability for different ethnicities and specific features (like red hair) 
• The emotional reality when things don’t work even with a “guarantee” 
• What support clinics do (and don’t) offer after unsuccessful cycles 
• Why support groups, peer connections, and advocacy matter in your journey 
• Embryo shipping after Brexit: is it still possible to bring material back to the UK? 

Links & Resources: 

Let’s Stay Connected 

• Learn more at: fertilityclinicsabroad.com 
• Follow on Instagram @fertility_clinics_abroad
• Visit eggdonationfriends.com for helpful resources 
• Contact Joanna’s team directly for guidance on donor programs and clinics abroad 
• Follow Natalie on Instagram: @fertilitypoddy 
• Don’t forget to listen to Episode 1 (How to Choose a Clinic Abroad) and Episode 2 (IVF Abroad Over 40) if you missed them! 

In this second episode of our special mini-series with fertilityclinicsabroad.com, Natalie is joined once again by Joanna Jewell, Head of Patient Experience at IVF Media, to explore the realities of IVF abroad if you're over 40 and using your own eggs. 

This episode is packed with honest, compassionate, and practical advice for older patients whether you're solo, in a couple, or part of the LGBTQ+ community. Joanna shares what to expect, how to manage your options, and how to emotionally prepare for the challenges and decisions ahead. 

What we discuss: 

• Are there age restrictions for IVF with your own eggs abroad? 
• The difference between clinic policies and country laws 
• The reality of success rates over 40 and why some clinics will say no 
• What PGT-A testing is and why it’s often recommended after age 38 
• Navigating treatment decisions in LGBTQ+ couples, including ROPA treatment 
• Countries that are more inclusive (and those that aren't) for solo women and LGBTQ+ patients 
• The psychological weight of choosing between own eggs and donor eggs 
• How IVF Media handles difficult conversations with honesty, support, and care 
• What happens when partners aren’t on the same page and the role of counseling 
• Why over 40s often go abroad: more treatment options, fewer restrictions, and better support 
• Understanding the risks and clinic policies around multiple embryo transfer 
• Additional tests some clinics require (like cardiac screening and blood work) 
• Planning logistics around school holidays, remote work, and personal comfort 
• Choosing a clinic near the beach? Joanna says yes, whatever lowers stress! 

Links & Resources: 

Let’s Stay Connected 

• Learn more: fertilityclinicsabroad.com 
• Follow on Instagram @fertility_clinics_abroad
• Contact Joanna’s team for guidance and clinic suggestions 
• Follow Natalie on Instagram: @fertilitypoddy 
• Email Natalie: [email protected] 
• Don’t miss Part 3 in this series, where we explore guarantees in egg donation programs abroad! 

In this special mini-series of The Fertility Podcast, created in partnership with fertilityclinicsabroad.com, Natalie is joined by Joanna Jewell, Head of Patient Experience at IVF Media, to explore the ins and outs of going abroad for fertility treatment. 

If you’re considering IVF outside of the UK, this series is here to help you make well-informed, confident decisions. From country-specific options to success rates and cost comparisons, Joanna shares expert insights, practical tips, and emotional support to guide you every step of the way. 

What we discuss: 

• The most popular IVF destinations for UK patients: Spain, Czech Republic, Portugal, Greece, and North Cyprus 
• Key factors to consider when choosing a clinic abroad: distance, cost, treatment options, and personal comfort 
• How donor anonymity laws vary by country and why they matter for future children 
• IVF treatment costs abroad (and why cheapest isn’t always best) 
• Using the IVF cost calculator from Fertility Clinics Abroad to plan your budget 
• Why clinic success rates aren’t always comparable and what to ask instead 
• Common pitfalls: compromising your boundaries or ignoring your gut feeling 
• What to ask a clinic before booking and why personal match matters more than popularity 
• Support for solo women, LGBTQ+ patients, and ethnic background considerations when choosing donor programs 
• The role of IVF Media in providing holistic support from logistics and workplace planning to emotional guidance and post-treatment care 
• Why timing, mindset, and communication (especially as a couple) are so key when choosing treatment abroad 

Links & Resources: 

Let’s Stay Connected 

• Learn more at: fertilityclinicsabroad.com 
• Follow on Instagram @fertility_clinics_abroad
• Try their IVF Cost Calculator 
• Reach out to Joanna’s team via the website for tailored support 
• Follow Natalie on Instagram: @fertilitypoddy 
• Email Natalie: [email protected] 
• Subscribe to The Fertility Podcast for more support, stories, and smart decision-making 

Welcome to this episode of The Fertility Podcast, in conversation with the HFEA and Emma Whitney aka Emma the Embryologist  Director of Embryology and Genetics at The Evewell also a trustee for Fertility Action. You'll hear from both ladies, about the work that is being done to help you make a more informed decision when it comes to choosing a fertility clinic.

What we discussed:

-What the HFEA does, how it is set up to license and inspect all fertility clinics and embryo research centres

-The duty it has to share data, which it has recorded since 1991 and it publishes data on what is happening across the UK

-The increase in IVF cycles has increased to 1 child in every classroom and how the laws are strict anonymity rules in terms of who can access information about who has treatment. 

-Increase in same sex couple and single patients having treatment 

-Increase in number of people freezing their eggs and the usage

-Funded cycles by the NHS and privately funded and how people are getting the money together - from remortgaging their house, doing crowd funding, bike rides for charity

-Plea for GP’s and primary care service providers to refer people as quickly as possible 

-Issues around outcomes in Black women and what more patients can do to get a referral from a primary care provider and how it’s an outrage that there is such discrepancy. 

-Choose a Fertility Clinic service - on the HFEA website, if you’re looking for a clinic and how you can look by postcode / name of clinic and there’s information on what the Inspectors think of the clinic. There’s an ability for other patients to rate it and how the feedback goes directly to inspectors. 

-How one of the most important considerations is location. 

-How the impact of social media and friends and family might affect your decisions and why it’s good to look at more than one clinic and that there are more and more clinics doing online open evenings as what might have been good for your friend, it has to be right for you. 

-How today people talk about it much more on social media 

-Emma shared her personal story and how she became a trustee for Fertility Action.

-Emma gives her insights on the Choose a fertility clinic data and we discuss what else patients need to be mindful of in terms of discrepencies and age consideration.

Links & Resources:

Let’s Stay Connected 

• DM Natalie on Instagram: @fertilitypoddy 
• Follow Fertility Action: @fertility.action
• Email thoughts or guest ideas: [email protected] 
• Subscribe on your podcast app to stay updated 
• Read the HFEA report here 
• Visit the Choose a fertility clinic page here
• Follow Emma here

Welcome to this mini episode of The Fertility Podcast, where Natalie is joined by author, adventurer, and fertility campaigner Jessica Hepburn to explore the powerful role of nature in healing during fertility struggles. Natalie and Jessica recently spent the weekend together at the Love Her Wild North event embracing the power of community in the natural world.

What we discuss:

-The outdoors and your mental health when you are in a fertility hole

-Love her Wild and the benefits of it for the fertility community. Love her Wild is about women who love the outdoors or want to get to love them - there were people talking about massive adventures and those sharing their little adventures. 

-Jessica touches on her fertility journey involving multiple losses, 11 rounds of IVF

-How nature saved her life after Project Baby and at age 43 she made the decision to pursue adventure and nature. 

-How the outdoors merges with the fertility world with Natalie and Jessica 

-Nature is a healer, from looking at the birds in your garden or learning about trees to going on journeys. 

-The importance of living in the wait rather than waiting to live and how nature can be enjoyed for FREE

-Getting into green will shift things - it won’t change what you are going through right now and the hardness or the outcome but it will help you find those pockets of joy.

-How starting a blessing book really helped her during the hardest times of her treatment

-Going for a walk, listening to a podcast, or walking in silence with a friend you can connect with or talk about anything. 

-Jessica talks bout her 2nd book 21 days and how she found acceptance and found other ways to be happy yet she will always carry a sadness from not being a mother. 

-‘Melonjoy’ - that feeling when someone tells you that they’re pregnant and you are not and it’s what you want more than anything. You feel happy for them but sad for you at the same time.. a fusion of melancholy and joy and it’s a real thing you can feel both at the same time… 

Links & Resources:

Let’s Stay Connected 

• DM Natalie on Instagram: @fertilitypoddy 
• Follow Fertility Action: @fertility.action
• Email thoughts or guest ideas: [email protected] 
• Subscribe on your podcast app to stay updated 

Follow Jessica:

Jessica discusses her newest book 'Save me from the Waves'

Jessica's first ever chat on The Fertility Podcastin 2014

Follow Love Her Wild

Find out more about Jessica's work, her books and her adventures here Connect with Jessica on Instagram

🎧 Subscribe to The Fertility Podcast for more episodes offering support, stories, and real talk about fertility.

In this episode, Natalie is speaking to an amazing fertility advocate who she’s known in this space for almost a decade, yet this is the first conversation the pair of them have had on the podcast. Andrea Syrtash is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Pregnantish.

Pregnantish went live in 2017, and Andrea describes it as “the state you’re in when trying to conceive,” which the pair go on to discuss.

• Andrea’s diagnosis of Endometriosis at 14 years old and how she was put on the pill and could go to school and function, having been really suffering
• Andrea discusses the 18 treatments she had: IUIs, egg retrievals over many years
• How she got pregnant from IUI and why she continued down that route—despite that pregnancy not continuing—as they had access to unlimited IUI and 3 rounds of IVF
• How in Year 5 a Canadian doctor told her: “It should have worked by now. You produce beautiful embryos and should be pregnant by now,” and that she needed to consider gestational surrogacy
• The grief and acceptance of not being able to use her own body—and the relief she felt having had to deal with so many losses anymore
• Her work as an author and relationship coach and the impact it had on her relationship, and how her TV profile impacted her life at that time
• How she launched Pregnantish as a relationship platform
• “This is as much a relationship issue as a physical, financial, mental and emotional journey.”
• How launching the platform was the greatest gift—sharing other people’s stories helped her navigate her own experience, and Natalie talks about how the podcast was also her therapy
• How her cousin Alana was her surrogate and their surrogacy pathway was in Canada, yet two dropped out including one ghosting her just before the transfer
• In 2018, her depression after the second surrogate had dropped out and how her cousin offered to be her surrogate, using Andrea’s frozen embryo which had been in the freezer for 2 years
• Her retrieval was two years to the day before it was transferred into her cousin
• How her cousin sought advice from her Rabbi and how the Jewish press reacted, as it hadn’t been spoken about
• The significance of trying to rebuild their family as so many members of their family were lost in the Second World War, in Hungary
• The selflessness of surrogates and what surrogates have to tell their family and friends—how her cousin talked to her children and how they were scared to see Andrea as they thought her belly was broken and would be bleeding
• Link to previous episodes about Surrogacy, Donation, and Pregnantish
• The World Fertility Awards—happening in New York in December for all patient advocates
• Host committees across around 10 regions worldwide: Europe, Middle East, Africa, Latin America, North America, India, and Australia
• Pregnantish reaches hundreds of thousands of people each month, sometimes over 1 million—it’s a global audience
• Join the pledge for the World Fertility Project—asking people to take a pledge, aiming for 1 million signatures to change the conversation
• How Andrea feels about the fertility conversation in the patient space today
• Regions of the world where people are so scared about saying out loud they are infertile
• Natalie shares a story she had printed in a tabloid
• How more companies are giving people the chance to opt out of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day emails

World Fertility Awards

https://www.worldfertilityawards.com/

https://www.instagram.com/worldfertilityawards

Let’s Stay Connected 

• DM Natalie on Instagram: @fertilitypoddy 
• Follow Fertility Action: @fertility.action
• Email thoughts or guest ideas: [email protected] 
• Subscribe on your podcast app to stay updated 

A Word From Our Sponsor – Proceive 

We’re delighted to be partnering with Proceive this season. Their high-strength fertility supplements for men and women are trusted by healthcare professionals and available in-store at Holland & Barrett or online. 

Use code FP20 for 20 percent off your order at www.proceive.com 

In this episode of The Fertility Podcast, Natalie sits down with Sian Louise, founder of OBVS Skincare, to explore how one woman turned personal loss, infertility, and cervical cancer into a mission to create safe, effective, and hormone-friendly skincare. 

Sian opens up about her fertility journey, including multiple miscarriages, the emotional impact of IVF, her cancer diagnosis, and how hormonal acne during treatment became the catalyst for OBVS Skincare. She also shares evidence-based insights into harmful skincare ingredients, like microplastics and endocrine disruptors, and how they may impact fertility. 

This conversation is part of the Meet the Makers series, celebrating founders whose lived experience with fertility has inspired impactful, purpose-driven businesses. 

What We Talk About 

• Sian’s IVF journey, miscarriages, and cancer diagnosis 
• How hormonal acne during IVF led to creating OBVS Skincare 
• The lack of awareness around skincare ingredients and fertility 
• What endocrine disruptors are and how they affect hormones 
• How Sian built her certified organic, vegan skincare line from scratch 
• Her passion for educating people on safe alternatives 
• The impact of OBVS products on real families and babies 
• Why advocating for yourself in medical settings is essential 
• Sian’s advice for managing skin health during fertility treatment 

Resources & Links 

• OBVS Skincare website: obvs-skincare.co.uk 
• OBVS on Instagram: @obvs_skincare 
• Sian’s ingredient call-outs on Instagram: @sian_louise_obvs 
• Beat the Microbead App: beatthemicrobead.org 
• Studies on skincare ingredients and fertility, including: 
• Parabens in breast tumors (Darbre et al., 2004) 
• Endocrine disruption from butylparaben (Boberg et al., 2010) 
• Prenatal phthalate exposure (Swan et al., 2005) 
• Benzophenone’s thyroid effects (Schmutzler et al., 2007) 
• Microplastics in cosmetics (TAUW & ECHA reports) 
• Campaign for Safe Cosmetics report: Not So Sexy 

Let’s Stay Connected 

• DM Natalie on Instagram: @fertilitypoddy 
• Follow Fertility Action: @fertility.action
• Email thoughts or guest ideas: [email protected] 
• Subscribe on your podcast app to stay updated 

A Word From Our Sponsor – Proceive 

We’re delighted to be partnering with Proceive this season. Their high-strength fertility supplements for men and women are trusted by healthcare professionals and available in-store at Holland & Barrett or online. 

Use code FP20 for 20 percent off your order at www.proceive.com 

In this powerful Pride Month episode of The Fertility Podcast, Natalie is joined by the inspiring Laura-Rose Thorogood, founder of LGBT Mummies, CEO of Make Births Better, and proud mother of four donor-conceived children. 

Laura-Rose shares her raw and deeply personal fertility journey, from IUI and IVF to pregnancy loss, secondary infertility, and birth trauma. But this episode is about more than just personal experience. It’s about advocacy, equity, and making space for every type of family. 

You’ll also hear why she joined Fertility Action as a Trustee, her take on what’s missing in fertility funding for the LGBTQ+ community, and what real inclusion should look like in the workplace and beyond. 

What We Talk About 

• Laura-Rose’s decade-long fertility journey, loss, trauma, and family joy 
• Why she founded LGBT Mummies and how it grew into a global community 
• The impact of systemic discrimination, lack of inclusive funding, and workplace inequality 
• Fertility justice, policy change, and recent campaign work in Parliament 
• How co-production, safe spaces, and queer representation are key to lasting change 
• Practical advice for anyone feeling overwhelmed or unsupported in their journey 
• Why emotional safety and peer support are essential for LGBTQ+ people navigating fertility 

Links and Resources 

• LGBT Mummies website
• LGBT Mummies on LinkedIn
• Facebook
• TikTok
• Threads
• Fertility Action

Let’s Stay Connected 

• DM Natalie on Instagram: @fertilitypoddy 
• Follow Fertility Action: @fertility.action
• Email thoughts or guest ideas: [email protected] 
• Subscribe on your podcast app to stay updated 

A Word From Our Sponsor – Proceive 

We’re delighted to be partnering with Proceive this season. Their high-strength fertility supplements for men and women are trusted by healthcare professionals and available in-store at Holland & Barrett or online. 

Use code FP20 for 20 percent off your order at www.proceive.com