Family building for the LGBTQ+ community - a starting point of what you need to know with Carole Gilling-Smith

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, donor conception, fertility preservation, NHS inequality, and how to make sure you are supported properly by a clinic that understands your needs.

This is about education, empowerment and knowing your options.

What we cover in this episode

1. Why fertility equality on the NHS is still not where it should be
2. The postcode lottery affecting IVF funding
3. Why three full IVF cycles should be the national standard
4. The additional financial barriers faced by same sex couples
5. Why six self funded IUIs before NHS eligibility is deeply problematic
6. The risks of sourcing donor sperm online
7. Choosing between known donors and donor banks
8. How clinics should approach inclusive paperwork and language
9. Why pronouns and preferred names matter in clinical settings
10. Shared motherhood and reciprocal IVF
11. Fertility testing for both partners before deciding who carries
12. Supporting gay male couples through complex pathways involving egg donation and surrogacy
13. Working with the trans community around fertility preservation
14. Preserving sperm or eggs before starting hormone treatment
15. The emotional impact of genetic connection and non biological parenting
16. Why counselling is essential before treatment begins
17. Supporting patients who fear internal examinations or surgical environments
18. Creating clinic spaces that feel safe, calm and inclusive

About Dr Carole Gilling-Smith

Dr Carole Gilling-Smith is the Medical Director of The Agora Clinic, one of the UK’s leading fertility clinics for the LGBTQ+ community, based in Brighton and Hove.

She is also a founding Trustee of Fertility Action, the UK charity campaigning for fertility equality and better access to treatment.

Carole has been a long standing advocate for:

1. Equal NHS funding for fertility treatment
2. Inclusive fertility care for LGBTQ+ patients
3. Fertility education in schools and universities