The Fertility Podcast

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 near-fatal ruptured ectopic pregnancy, a diagnosis of severe endometriosis, three rounds of IVF and ultimately a hysterectomy in her early 30s. Throughout all of it, she turned to her garden. And in this conversation she explains why that was not just a coping mechanism but a genuine form of healing.
Whether you have a large garden, a windowsill, a balcony or just a park nearby, this episode will make you want to go outside.
Content note: This episode includes discussion of ectopic pregnancy, pregnancy loss, endometriosis, IVF, hysterectomy and involuntary childlessness.

What we discuss in this episode:
Ellen's decade-long fertility journey: from ectopic pregnancy to endometriosis diagnosis to IVF to hysterectomy
The ruptured ectopic pregnancy that nearly cost Ellen her life and the eight hours of dismissal that preceded emergency surgery
The health anxiety that stayed long after the physical recovery
Why gardening became Ellen's constant throughout all of it, from the very first loss to the weeks recovering from a hysterectomy
What it means to garden for process rather than outcome and why that mindset maps directly onto a fertility journey
The science behind soil: why getting your hands in the dirt genuinely affects your brain chemistry
Why just seeing a flower can momentarily shift your mental state even when you are in deep grief
Forest bathing: what it actually is, what the Japanese have known for centuries, and how 40 minutes among trees can reduce anxiety and increase natural killer cells
How to do forest bathing on your own and why walking slowly with intention is where to start
What Ellen did during the five weeks she could not garden after her hysterectomy and what sitting still in her garden taught her
The anger and the unfairness of watching friends fall pregnant and how Ellen processed that over time
Why you do not need to be a gardener for nature to help you: one plant, a garden centre coffee and a short walk all count
The fertility journey and what it taught Ellen about the miracle of life
Ellen's wellness retreats, forest bathing sessions and what a day or weekend immersed in nature can offer

Ellen's invitation to anyone who feels like this will not work for them
We are not separate from nature. We are part of it. And we have just become so far detached from it that we have forgotten that going outside, even briefly, even reluctantly, is going to make you feel a little better. Start with one plant. Go to the garden centre. Get a coffee and a piece of cake. Buy the one plant you like and try to nurture it. That is enough.

About Ellen Mary Webster
Ellen Mary Webster is a horticulturalist, floral designer, author and wellness retreat host. She is the author of The Joy of Gardening and How to Grow a Garden, and the host of the award-winning Plant Based Podcast. She splits her time between Norfolk in the UK and the United States, lives a plant-based life and runs nature immersion and forest bathing wellness retreats.
Follow Ellen Mary on Instagram: @ellenmaryGardening
The Plant Based Podcast: theplantbasedpodcast.com

A note on Fertility Network UK
At the start of this episode I shared some difficult news: Fertility Network UK, one of the longest-standing patient support charities in the UK, has announced a managed closure. As of 21 May they were no longer accepting new requests for direct support. This is a huge loss for the TTC community and I want to send so much love to everyone affected, both the patients who relied on their support and the brilliant people who built it.
If you are looking for support, please know that Fertility Action is here and their free weekly groups are open to you.

Support and resources
The Fertility Podcast is the official podcast for Fertility Action, a charity providing free peer support groups, education and campaigning for fairer access to fertility treatment. Groups run every week with no sign-up or commitment needed.
Manchester walk and talk meetup: Sunday 31 May, approximately 3pm, Heaton Park, Manchester. I will be there! Check @fertilityaction on Instagram for final details.

This episode is sponsored by Wild Nutrition
I know how overwhelming it can be knowing which supplements to buy when you are trying to conceive. That is exactly why I appreciate what Wild Nutrition offers: free one-to-one consultations with nutritional therapists so you get guidance genuinely tailored to your situation. Their supplements are formulated for optimal absorption, with 31 carefully selected nutrients including folate, zinc and B vitamins, and are trusted by over 50,000 couples.
As a listener of The Fertility Podcast, you can get:
50% off Wild Nutrition supplements for 3 months
A free personal consultation with an expert nutritional therapist

Visit wildnutrition.com/fertilitypodcast to get started. Terms and conditions apply.

Support the Three Peaks Challenge
I am climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in 24 hours in June to raise funds for Fertility Action. I have already smashed my initial target of £2,000 thanks to the incredible generosity of so many of you. Thank you Nick, Emma, Charlene, Vic, Ali, Jo, Sarah Banks and Sophie Solaria. The fundraiser is still open and every donation, however small, makes a real difference to a grassroots charity that is all-volunteer and entirely community funded.
Here's how you can donate

Stay connected
Follow me on Instagram: @fertilitypoddy
Email: [email protected]
If you haven't already, please subscribe and leave a review. It really helps more people find the podcast.
Thank you, as always, for your ear holes. Until next time 💛

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, which has now happened.

What is discussed:
PCOS in general, chatting about the symptoms of PCOS, both the common ones and the not so common
Weight stigma and how the new guidelines move away from this and instead why we should be helping women to just be healthy to manage their PCOS proactively
Potential risks around pregnancy and that it is not often identified, as well as the support for pregnant women with PCOS, or sadly the lack of
How Helena supported two men with PCOS, and the steps she takes to help them manage their condition and optimise fertility
Diets and eating right as Helena explains that there is no one diet, or right way to eat when it comes to PCOS, and opinions on the supplement Inositol
The proposed PCOS name change and how PCOS is not an ovarian disease so therefore the name is incorrect

Socials and links:
Follow The Fertility Podcast on Instagram: @TheFertilityPodcast
Have your say on the PCOS name change: pcosnamechange.com
AskPCOS: askpcos.org
International PCOS Guidelines: eshre.eu/PCOS-Guidelines
Listen to our previous episode: Helena Teede – the PCOS name change & guidelines

About Verity: the UK's only PCOS charity
Verity is the UK's only charity dedicated to Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS), formerly known as PCOS. Founded in 1997, Verity is completely self-funded and exists to help everyone living with PMOS understand their condition, manage their symptoms and reduce the risk of long-term health complications. They offer evidence-based information, community support, local support groups and an anonymous online forum.
Visit Verity: verity-pcos.org.uk
Join the Verity community on HealthUnlocked: healthunlocked.com/verity-pcos

About Fertility Action
The Fertility Podcast is the official podcast for Fertility Action, the UK's charity providing education, support and campaigning for fairer access to fertility treatment. They run free peer support groups every week, no sign-up or commitment needed.
Find out more and access support: fertilityaction.org

Support the Three Peaks Challenge
Natalie is climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in 24 hours to raise funds for Fertility Action. If this podcast has helped you in any way, even a small donation would mean a lot and you will get a shout-out on the podcast.
Here's how you can donate

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.
This is a conversation full of hope. There is still so much to do, but the momentum is real, the people are extraordinary, and the case for change has never been stronger.

What we discuss in this episode:
What Fertility Action has achieved in its first year and the stories that have kept Katie going
How the support groups actually work and why showing up with your camera off is completely fine
The Trying to Conceive group, the Positive Test and Beyond group, the Secondary Infertility group and what each one has become
The in-person walk-and-talk meetups in London and Manchester
The woman who found her best friend through a Fertility Action support group
Why the Life After Treatment group has been harder to grow and what Fertility Action is learning from that
The South Asian support group and why in-person connection is what that community really needs
The new NICE guidelines and the change that barely made the headlines: up to six cycles in selected patients
Why campaigning at ICB level has not worked and why Fertility Action is now pushing for central commissioning
How fertility treatment compares across Europe and why the UK is falling behind
Why fertility still sits awkwardly between the Women's Health Strategy and the Men's Health Strategy and gets properly covered in neither
Why Katie believes the UK urgently needs its own national fertility strategy
The education project Fertility Action has launched with colleges and the National Education Union
The moment a 17-year-old student challenged them in a college debate and what happened next
The Three Peaks Challenge: why Katie chose it, who is doing it and how to donate
Fertility Action's birthday celebrations and what the next two years look like
How to get involved as a volunteer

About Katie Rollings and Fertility Action
Katie Rollings is the founder of Fertility Action, the UK's newest fertility charity, now celebrating its first birthday. Fertility Action provides free peer support groups, education and advocacy for the one in six people struggling to conceive. All of the team are volunteers and every penny raised goes directly into building more services for patients.
Find out more and access support: fertilityaction.org
Follow Fertility Action on Instagram: @fertilityaction

Fertility Action support groups
All groups are free, online and run every week. There is no expectation to keep showing up. You can come with your camera off. You can just sit in the chat. It is as low-pressure as it gets.
Trying to Conceive (Tuesdays and Thursdays)
Positive Test and Beyond
Secondary Infertility
Life After Treatment
South Asian Fertility Support (developing)

Sign up at fertilityaction.org

Birthday celebrations
Fertility Action is holding two celebrations for its first birthday:
A formal event with clinical partners and supporters
Quiz and Fizz at Fisher's Farm on 23 May, open to the wider community

Get involved
Fertility Action is a grassroots, all-volunteer charity and they need help across everything from research and communications to events and policy. If you have skills and a bit of time to offer, they would love to hear from you.
Get in touch at fertilityaction.org

This episode is sponsored by Wild Nutrition
I know how overwhelming it can be knowing which supplements to buy when you are trying to conceive. That is exactly why I appreciate what Wild Nutrition offers: free one-to-one consultations with nutritional therapists so you get guidance that is genuinely tailored to your situation. Their supplements are formulated for optimal absorption, with 31 carefully selected nutrients including folate, zinc and B vitamins, and are trusted by over 50,000 couples.
As a listener of The Fertility Podcast, you can get:
50% off Wild Nutrition supplements for 3 months
A free personal consultation with an expert nutritional therapist

Visit wildnutrition.com/fertilitypodcast to get started. Terms and conditions apply.

Support the Three Peaks Challenge
I am joining Katie and a brilliant group of people from across the fertility sector to climb Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in 24 hours in June, raising funds for Fertility Action. Every donation, however small, goes directly towards building more support services for people going through this. And yes, I will be giving you a shout-out on the podcast if you donate.
Here's how you can donate

Stay connected
Follow me on Instagram: @fertilitypoddy
If you haven't already, please subscribe and leave a review. It really helps more people find the podcast.
Thank you, as always, for your ear holes. Until next time 💛

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 series, Gail and I go deep on one of the most underserved conversations in the fertility space. Gail shares her own ongoing experience of secondary infertility, including her adenomyosis diagnosis, the emotional weight of wanting to grow her family while already being a parent, and why the medical system often leaves people with one child to fend for themselves.
This is also a conversation about recovery. About what pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and parenthood actually do to the body nutritionally, and why so many of us enter a second conception journey already depleted without realising it. Secondary infertility is where I find myself too, and it is a topic I have been asked to talk about more. I am so glad we finally did.

What we discuss in this episode:
What secondary infertility actually is and why it gets so little attention
Gail's own experience: breastfeeding, cycles returning, a new adenomyosis diagnosis and the emotional complexity of wanting a second child
Why having one child often means you fall outside the criteria for NHS fertility support
The injustice of not qualifying for IVF if your partner already has a child from a previous relationship
Key stats from The Fertility Disconnect: 79% of respondents want more children than they have; 88% among those with one child
Why people delay growing their family and how biological timelines do not always align with life circumstances
What pregnancy, birth, postpartum and breastfeeding do to nutrient stores and why recovery is so often skipped
The specific tests and checks Gail recommends for anyone struggling to conceive a second time
Why thyroid health and iron are the two most common deficiencies she sees in postpartum women
The increased likelihood of endometriosis, fibroids and adenomyosis diagnoses after childbirth
How to start preparing your body again: the foundations of a recovery and preconception plan
Why blood sugar balance, three solid meals a day and sleep are not optional
The relationship strain that comes with secondary infertility and why therapy can be a real part of the toolkit
How to navigate the language around having one child and find the words that work for you
Fertility in the workplace: what support is increasingly available and why it matters
What Gail would want anyone feeling alone in this to hear

Key stats from The Fertility Disconnect report
79% of respondents said they want more children than they currently have
88% of those with one child said they want more
26% cited career progression as a reason for delaying growing their family
25% pointed to housing constraints and affordability as barriers

Links mentioned in this episode
The Fertility Disconnect report by Wild Nutrition:
Download the full report at wildnutrition.com/fertilitypodcast

Free fertility consultation with Wild Nutrition:
Book your free one-to-one with a nutritional therapist at wildnutrition.com/fertilitypodcast

Exclusive listener offer:
50% off Wild Nutrition supplements for 3 months
A free personal consultation with an expert nutritional therapist

Visit wildnutrition.com/fertilitypodcast to get started. Terms and conditions apply.

About Gail Madalena
Gail Madalena is a fertility and cycle health specialist and registered nutritional therapist with deep expertise in IVF, recurrent miscarriage and unexplained infertility. She supports women through conception, pregnancy and postpartum with tailored, evidence-based guidance and works with Wild Nutrition to offer personalised consultations for those trying to conceive.

Missed the other episodes in this mini series?
Episode 1: Understanding Your Fertility Health
Episode 2: Weight, Nutrition & the Road to Conception

Thank you, as always, for your ear holes. Until next time 💛

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 the while, the internet is full of conflicting advice, fad diets and quick fixes that can make the whole thing feel completely overwhelming.
In this second episode of the Wild Nutrition mini series, I am joined again by Gail Madalena, fertility and cycle health specialist and registered nutritional therapist, to cut through the noise. They cover everything from ultra-processed foods and GLP-1 medications to mitochondrial health, exercise, rest, and how to actually rebuild your body between cycles.
This is not about restriction or guilt. It is about understanding what your body actually needs and finding an approach you can sustain. I hope it helps.
What we discuss in this episode:
Why the weight and fertility conversation is so often handled badly by medical professionals
The stigma around weight and why so many people feel they are not being taken seriously
Why BMI is such a divisive and limited measure of health
What metabolic health actually means and why it matters so much for fertility
The problem with fad diets and starvation mode when trying to conceive
Ultra-processed foods: what the research actually says about their impact on fertility
The stat from The Fertility Disconnect report: over 60% of the average UK diet is made up of ultra-processed foods
How UPFs drive inflammation, oxidative stress and poor sperm and egg quality
Practical strategies for reducing ultra-processed foods without overhauling your whole life
What mitochondria are and why they are central to egg quality and early embryo development
Why the egg is the largest cell in the body and demands an enormous amount of energy to ovulate
How blood sugar balance, antioxidants and healthy fats support mitochondrial health
GLP-1 medications: what people trying to conceive really need to understand
When GLP-1s can be a useful preconception tool and when to stop taking them
How to protect nutrient status and hormone health while using GLP-1s
Exercise and fertility: why high intensity training can elevate cortisol and affect progesterone
Why strength training and daily walking may serve you better than five gym sessions a week
The vagal nerve and why switching on your parasympathetic nervous system matters for conception
Mindfulness, rest and recovery: finding what actually works for you
Environmental and lifestyle factors: starting small rather than overhauling everything at once
Rebuilding nutrient stores between cycles and why recovery time is often overlooked
Why being kind to yourself is not soft advice, it is clinical advice

A note on GLP-1 medications
GLP-1s came up in consultations with Wild Nutrition clients frequently enough that Gail wanted to address them directly. The key things to know if you are trying to conceive:
You cannot take GLP-1 medications while actively trying to conceive
In the preconception window, they can be a useful tool for shifting weight, reducing inflammation and supporting metabolic health, particularly for those with PCOS, endometriosis or fibroids
Aim for gradual, micro-dosed weight loss rather than rapid loss
Prioritise protein intake, movement and nutrient density while taking them
Coming off them requires a plan to maintain the healthy habits built during that period

Links mentioned in this episode
The Fertility Disconnect report by Wild Nutrition:
Download the full report at wildnutrition.com/fertilitypodcast

Free fertility consultation with Wild Nutrition:
Book your free one-to-one with a nutritional therapist at wildnutrition.com/fertilitypodcast

Exclusive listener offer:
50% off Wild Nutrition supplements for 3 months
A free personal consultation with an expert nutritional therapist

Visit wildnutrition.com/fertilitypodcast to get started. Terms and conditions apply.
About Gail Madalena
Gail Madalena is a fertility and cycle health specialist and registered nutritional therapist with deep expertise in IVF, recurrent miscarriage and unexplained infertility. She combines advanced functional medicine training with her own lived experience of a three-year conception journey and works with Wild Nutrition to offer personalised consultations for those trying to conceive.
About this mini series
This is a three-part branded mini series in partnership with Wild Nutrition. If you missed the first episode, go back and listen:
Episode 1: Understanding Your Fertility Health
Episode 3: Secondary Infertility: The Hidden Struggle (coming next)

Thank you, as always, for your ear holes. Until next time 💛