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 in donor regulation that allow it, and what this means for families. We also talk about the emotional, ethical, and logistical challenges of donor conception in a globalised industry, where the same donor can be used across borders with no international limits in place.

Hayley brings both personal and professional insight into how families can make informed choices, why early disclosure matters, and what changes are urgently needed to protect the next generation.

If you’re on a donor conception path or supporting someone who is, this conversation is essential listening.

1. Hayley’s experience growing up as a donor-conceived person, and what shifted when she became a parent herself
2. Why early disclosure matters and how secrecy shaped the mental health of donor-conceived people in the past
3. The UK’s 10-family donor limit and why it does not apply outside the UK
4. How one donor can be used in multiple countries with no tracking or shared system
5. The story of one donor linked to a BRCA1 cancer gene being used in nearly 200 conceptions
6. What “family limits” really mean and why they are difficult to enforce globally
7. The emotional weight of discovering you have 50 or even 100 donor siblings
8. How sperm banks and clinics are often driven by profit rather than transparency
9. What questions prospective parents can ask their clinic or sperm bank
10. Why Path to Parent Hub was created as a safe space for donor conception families
11. Hayley’s advice for parents, donors, and donor-conceived adults navigating identity and connection

While advances in genetic screening are helpful, they are not foolproof. The issue is not just medical, it is ethical. Donors should not be used to create hundreds of families across continents.

Without international family limits or shared tracking systems, donor-conceived people may unknowingly share genetics with a vast number of people worldwide. This impacts their sense of self, their safety in relationships, and their ability to connect the dots in their identity.

As Hayley says, transparency matters. Families deserve accurate information and regulated systems that put people over profit.

1. Follow me on Instagram: @fertilitypoddy
2. Email your thoughts or guest ideas: natalie@thefertilitypodcast.com

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, please do so, wherever you have found this episode as it makes a real difference. Plus, feel free to leave a review each time you listen as I love hearing your thoughts.

Natalie x

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 compassion in the fertility space.

If this time of year feels like a gut punch, you are not alone. Whether you are grieving a loss, recovering from a failed cycle, or quietly carrying the weight of infertility, I hope this episode reminds you that your experience matters and that support is out there.

• Why it is okay to feel conflicted or overwhelmed during the festive season
• Creating your own boundaries, traditions, and safe spaces during the holidays
• What Fertility Action’s support groups are hearing most including pregnancy announcements, TTC burnout, relationship issues and intimacy questions
• How the groups are structured (TTC versus positive test and beyond) and why that matters
• The rise in patients feeling confused by medical advice, conflicting information online and social media rabbit holes
• Fertility as both emotional and transactional and how clinics need to do better at meeting patients with empathy and psychological safety
• The importance of honest, regulated medical guidance and why peer support should not replace professional advice
• Progress on fertility education and policy change and why 2026 is shaping up to be a big year for advocacy
• Katie’s hopes for empowering patients and reaching earlier stages in the fertility journey through GP education and access

If you have found yourself thinking “I really thought this would be our year”, you are not alone. That sense of grief, reflection, and uncertainty can be especially heavy during the holidays. But you are allowed to set limits. To say no. To opt out of conversations or events. You are not selfish for protecting your peace.

Whether it is preparing a few phrases for difficult family questions, giving yourself permission to decline invites, or joining a support group for the first time, do whatever helps you feel grounded.

And if you need a glimmer of hope, plan something just for you. Something small, comforting, or creative such as making a Christmas bauble while you chat with others who get it.

• Follow me on Instagram: @fertilitypoddy
• Email your thoughts or guest ideas: natalie@thefertilitypodcast.com
• Learn more about support groups and resources at fertilityaction.org
• Subscribe on your podcast app to stay updated for 2026
• Leave a review or share this with someone who might need it

Thank you again for listening this year. However you are ending 2025, I wish you peace, space to breathe, and a gentle start to whatever comes next.

Until next time.