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 teachers, both with their own lived experience of fertility treatment, and both co-founders of One Full Round: a campaign to bring fair, funded fertility leave to schools across the UK. Together they have developed a free model policy that any school can adopt, which has already been taken on by the Avanti Schools Trust, making it the first multi-academy trust in the country to offer full paid fertility treatment leave.
Devon's story is particularly raw and honest. She stopped treatment two years ago at the age of 30, having spent £25,000 and gone through three rounds of egg collection without success. She talks about what it felt like to get devastating embryology phone calls at break time and then walk straight back into a Year 11 classroom. Caroline's story ended with a successful outcome, but the decade it took to get there, including having her pay docked when appointment letters started saying 'fertility' instead of 'gynae', shaped everything that One Full Round is now trying to change.
Content note: This episode includes discussion of male factor infertility, azoospermia, failed IVF cycles, embryo loss and the decision to stop treatment.
What we discuss in this episode:
Caroline's experience of having her pay cut mid-treatment when appointment letters changed from 'gynaecological' to 'fertility' and the headteacher's response when she raised it
Why the line manager relationship in schools works differently: it is the headteacher, not the line manager, who has the final say
Devon's fertility journey: her husband's azoospermia diagnosis, three rounds of egg collection, £25,000 spent, and the decision to stop treatment at 30
The phone calls from the embryologist at break time, and having to walk into a Year 11 class immediately after
Why Devon says she does not yet feel ready to consider parenthood because she has not yet got back to who she was before treatment
The guilt that comes from being a teacher going through fertility treatment: letting down your classes, taking sick leave, going in ill after egg collection
What Caroline's 2022 survey of more than 120 teachers found: guilt was one of the most recurring themes in over 3,200 words of open comments
Why a written fertility policy matters even in schools that 'already let everyone go to appointments'
What the One Full Round model policy actually covers: one full round of treatment from investigations to embryo transfer, paid leave, partner leave, and provisions for a cancelled cycle
How Avanti Schools Trust became the first trust in the country to adopt the policy, offering six weeks of full paid fertility leave
Why some schools resist the policy and why they are short-sighted to do so
The recruitment and retention crisis in teaching and why 9,000 women left between the ages of 30 and 39 in a single year
Gen Z teachers checking for fertility and wellbeing policies before accepting jobs
One Full Round's ambassador programme: free training, resources and templates for teachers who want to take the policy to their school
Devon's PhD in student misogyny towards teachers and how it connects to the wider picture
The Keeping Women in Teaching conference and the issues it set out to address: menstruation, misogyny, menopause and infertility
Caroline's PhD research into line managers and the support they offer women going through fertility treatment
Fertility Matters at Work and why the workplace fertility conversation has shifted significantly in the last decade

Also mentioned in this episode
Follow One Full Round @onefullround
Fertility Matters at Work: fertilitymattersatwork.com
Am I Overreacting? Podcast with Annabel Gurnett and Amber: @amioverreactingpod on Instagram
Alice McDonald's Fertility Pledge: fertilitypledge.co.uk
Dr Krista Wilkinson's research on fertility treatment in the workplace: Dr Krista Wilkinson on LinkedIn

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.

Thank you to our series sponsor Wild Nutrition.
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
By the time you hear this, I will have done it. Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in 24 hours for Fertility Action. If you would like to donate, it is still not too late and every penny goes directly to a grassroots, all-volunteer charity.
Here's how you can donate

Stay connected
Follow me on Instagram: @fertilitypoddy
Follow Fertility Matters at Work: @fertilitymattersatwork
Email: natalie@thefertilitypodcast.com
Please do subscribe so the next series lands directly in your feed. And if you have a story about fertility treatment and work to share, I would love to hear from you.
Thank you, as always, for your ear holes. Until next time

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: natalie@thefertilitypodcast.com
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 💛