The Fertility Podcast

This is the final episode of the series and it is one that I originally recorded for the F Word at Work podcast, but I am so glad it is finding its home here. As we head into summer and those of you in education start to think about fitting treatment around the school calendar, I wanted to make sure this conversation reached you. I am joined by Caroline Biddle and Devon-Louise Oakley-Hogg, both te...

This episode is a gentle one. It is about grief, about the body, about what happens when the path you imagined does not unfold the way you hoped, and about where you can find peace when words are not enough. I am joined by Ellen Mary Webster, horticulturalist, floral designer, author and host of the award-winning Plant Based Podcast. Ellen navigated a decade-long fertility journey that included a...

In this special episode of The Fertility Podcast, we've gone back into our archives for 2024 to share a conversation Kate Davies (former co-host and fertility nurse consultant) had with Professor Helena Teede all the way from Australia! Helena is one of the authors of the International PCOS Guidelines and is here to talk about the changes to the PCOS guidelines and the proposed PCOS name change, w...

One year in. And what a year it has been. In this episode I am joined by Katie Rollings, founder of Fertility Action, to mark the charity's first birthday. We talk about everything from the support groups that have quietly changed people's lives, to the campaign work happening at the highest levels of government, to what Katie believes the next big push needs to be: a national fertility strategy....

A branded mini series in partnership with Wild Nutrition, celebrating the launch of The Fertility Disconnect report. Secondary infertility does not get the airtime it deserves. And yet, according to The Fertility Disconnect report, 79% of people say they want more children than they currently have. For those with one child, that figure rises to 88%. In this final episode of the Wild Nutrition mini...

A branded mini series in partnership with Wild Nutrition, celebrating the launch of The Fertility Disconnect report. Weight and fertility is one of the most charged, confusing and often poorly handled topics in reproductive health. I have spoken to so many people who have been told to lose weight in order to access funded treatment, sent away with no guidance on how to actually do that. And all th...

A branded mini series in partnership with Wild Nutrition, celebrating the launch of The Fertility Disconnect report. What do over 1,000 women in the UK who have tried to conceive in the past five years actually know about their own fertility? The answer, according to Wild Nutrition's brand new Fertility Disconnect report, might surprise you. In this first episode of our mini series, I sit down wit...

If you have Endometriosis, you will know that the pain and fatigue can feel relentless. In our episode last week, we discussed consideration around egg freezing and IVF for Endo Warriors with Dr Shirin Khanjani. This week, we're bringing it right down to what you're eating day to day as the right approach to food can make a real difference to how your body manages inflammation, metabolises hormone...

If you have endometriosis and you’re thinking about your fertility, this is one of those conversations I really want you to hear. In this episode, I sat down with Dr. Shirin Khanjani , Consultant Gynaecologist and accredited subspecialist in reproductive medicine and surgery, to properly unpack what’s actually going on when endometriosis and fertility collide. This chat comes off the back of the g...

What does it feel like to reach the end of your fertility journey , not with the family you imagined, but with the one you have? In this episode, host Natalie Silverman sits down with patient advocate, writer, and blogger Seetal Savla for an honest, moving conversation about secondary infertility, the decision to stop treatment, and the complicated emotions that don't simply disappear after a hard...

Welcome to a brand new series of The Fertility Podcast where we’re asking - what if artificial intelligence could change the way fertility treatment is delivered… before you even begin a cycle? In this episode, I’m joined by embryologist and clinic founder Dr Cristina Hickman to explore what actually happens when AI enters the fertility clinic. This is not about robots replacing doctors. It is abo...

Hello, it’s Natalie. This is just a short message from me to let you know that The Fertility Podcast is taking a little hiatus for the next couple of weeks while I get a few things organised behind the scenes. We will be back very soon with more episodes. In the meantime, if you have only just discovered the podcast, there is plenty for you to explore in the recent episodes. Since the start of 202...

In this episode of The Fertility Podcast, I’m joined by Ian Stones, co founder of Testhim, to talk about something that should be simple but still too often isn’t. Testing men. We talk a lot in fertility about women’s bodies, women’s hormones, women’s investigations. But male fertility accounts for around a third of infertility cases, and yet men are still frequently an afterthought. Ian and I exp...

In this episode of The Fertility Podcast , I’m joined by Dr Carole Gilling-Smith , Medical Director of The Agora Clinic and Trustee of Fertility Action, to talk about family building within the LGBTQ+ community. If you are part of the LGBTQ+ community and thinking about becoming a parent, or you love someone who is, this episode is a practical starting point. We talk about treatment pathways, dono...

In this deeply emotional episode of The Fertility Podcast , I’m joined by Catherine Cousins , author of Just One Child , to talk honestly about secondary infertility, failed IVF cycles, mental health, grief, and what it means to come to terms with building a family with one child when that was not the plan. This conversation was not an easy one to prepare for or to record. Catherine shares her sto...

Sex and intimacy can change dramatically when you are trying to conceive, especially when fertility treatment, loss or ongoing uncertainty is part of your life. In this episode of The Fertility Podcast, I’m joined by Kate Moyle , psychosexual therapist, podcaster and author of The Science of Sex , to talk about how sex, desire, relationships and connection can evolve in ways we never expected when...

Trying to conceive can be incredibly isolating, especially when your friends and family just do not get it. That is why I loved this conversation with Sarah Banks, fertility coach, speaker, author, and creator of the Positivity Planner. Sarah’s work is all about helping you feel more emotionally supported through treatment. She also has years of experience working with clinics on patient support s...

In this episode of The Fertility Podcast, I’m joined by Jen Elworthy , fertility career coach and Director of Engagement at Fertility Matters at Work , to explore how career coaching can support you while going through fertility treatment. Jen joined our team in July 2025, and since then I’ve had the joy of learning from her insight, empathy and real-world experience. She has lived through the imp...

In this episode of The Fertility Podcast, I’m joined by Catherine Lightfoot, ADHD coach and founder of Rewired Circles , to talk about her experience of navigating IVF as a neurodivergent person. Catherine was working in a senior HR role while undergoing fertility treatment and dealing with the mental load of a delayed ADHD diagnosis. She joins me to talk about the emotional toll of masking, the c...

In this episode of The Fertility Podcast, I’m joined by Hayley King , donor-conceived adult, mum of donor-conceived twins, and Operations Manager at Path to Parenthub . We’re talking about the story that made headlines last December, a sperm donor with a genetic mutation linked to cancer being used in nearly 200 conceptions across 14 countries. This episode unpacks how this could happen, the gaps...

Happy New Year - hope you're enjoying the bright sunshine we have in Manchester as we wait to see if it snows! You've survived the festive season and hopefully you're starting the new year in a peaceful place, despite the possibilityof there being a lot to consider in your year ahead. I hope the podcast continues to stay in your earholes and supports you along the way. If you're yet to subscribe,...

As we wrap up 2025, this final episode of The Fertility Podcast is a heartfelt reflection on the year we’ve had and a look ahead to what’s coming. I’m joined by Katie Rollings, founder of Fertility Action, for a candid chat about the emotional toll of trying to conceive at this time of year, what has changed in the support landscape, and why we need more trust, better information, and continued co...

Tips from the TTC community In this penultimate episode of 2025, I wanted to share something a little different. This time of year can be incredibly difficult if you’re trying to conceive, dealing with loss, or navigating life after fertility treatment. So I gathered a brilliant group of patient advocates and professionals to offer their heartfelt, practical advice for getting through the holidays...

In this episode of The Fertility Podcast , I’m joined by Dr Anand Patel, a GP and specialist in men’s health, for an honest and incredibly practical conversation about how male fertility is handled in general practice. Anand shares the exact questions men should be prepared to ask their GP, why basic investigations are often missed, and how a simple examination could reveal more than you think. If...

In this episode of The Fertility Podcast, we've gone back to the archive to share a chat I had a little while back with Kevin McEleny, Consultant Urologist at Newcastle Fertility Centre and Nuffield Health. Kevin is a specialist in male fertility and urology and has worked for years to raise awareness around the crucial but often overlooked role of male health in fertility care. We talk about how...