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.

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.

From awkward questions at the dinner table to setting boundaries and finding your tribe, this episode is full of small but powerful ideas to help you protect your wellbeing and find support, whatever your journey looks like.

• Why you don’t need to shrink yourself to make others comfortable
• How to prepare phrases and "outs" for difficult conversations
• The power of setting boundaries and being selfish in the kindest way
• Finding your community and not navigating it alone
• What to say to that nosy aunt (or how to head it off entirely)
• Navigating solo parenthood, donor conception and surrogacy during the holidays
• Coping with involuntary childlessness and sitting in grief without guilt
• Why men need support too, and how to show up for each other
• Embracing joy in small ways, even during a painful season

You’ll hear from:

• Julianne Bouteloup, perinatal psychologist and founder of Parenthood in Mind
• Mel Johnson, solo motherhood coach from The Stork and I
• Aisha Balisaria, patient advocate and founder of Mind Body Revival Coach
• Michael Johnson‑Ellis, co‑founder of My Surrogacy Journey
• Kreena Dhiman podcaster, speaker and donor conception advocate - The Art of Being Brave
• Kev Button, founder of The Man Cave
• Hayley King, from Path to Parent Hub
• Vanessa Haye, writer, speaker and infertility advocate

• Follow me on Instagram: @fertilitypoddy
• Email your thoughts or guest ideas: natalie@thefertilitypodcast.com
• Follow our advocacy work: @fertility.action
• Explore and connect with this episode’s guests via the links in the show notes
• Subscribe to the podcast to stay updated as we plan for 2026

Please know that whatever you’re feeling right now, you’re not alone. Your emotions are valid, and you deserve support. Take what you need from this episode, and share it with someone who might need it too.

Until next time.

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 you or your partner are just starting to explore fertility testing, this is a must‑listen.

What we discuss in this episode:

• What to say (and bring up) during your GP appointment if you’re worried about fertility
• Why most GPs aren’t trained in fertility and what that means for patients
• How to advocate for yourself when you’re not sure what to ask
• The “ICE” model (Ideas, Concerns, Expectations) and how it helps patients get better care
• The critical role of basic examinations that are often skipped
• What conditions and warning signs GPs should be looking for
• Why GP training needs to change and how newer trainees may be more up to date
• Fertility MOTs, NHS limits, and when private care may make more sense
• The emotional impact of male factor diagnoses and how to create more compassionate conversations
• What a decent male fertility assessment should actually include

Special thanks to Examen, sponsor of this episode

Examen offers direct, cutting‑edge sperm DNA fragmentation testing (including both single and double‑strand DNA damage), used by 85% of fertility clinics across the UK and Ireland.

Tests are:

• Non‑invasive
• Available via clinics or partner hubs
• Designed to provide clarity, confidence and actionable insight

You don’t need a referral to get tested. Simply book online, drop off your sample and receive detailed results to discuss with your clinic.

🎧 Learn more at examenlab.com

Let’s keep the conversation going:

• Follow me on Instagram: @fertilitypoddy
• Email your thoughts or guest ideas: natalie@thefertilitypodcast.com
• Follow our advocacy work: @fertility.action
• Learn more about Dr Anand Patel and his work:
• Website / Clinic: Centre for Men’s Health – Anand Patel Centre for Men's Health
• Instagram: @dranand Instagram
• LinkedIn: Dr Anand Patel uk.linkedin.com
• Explore SDF testing with your clinic or directly at examenlab.com

Please subscribe and leave a review if this episode was helpful. And if you know someone who needs this kind of GP‑level support, send it their way.

Until next time.

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 much of male fertility is still ignored, under-tested and underfunded, and what that means for couples trying to conceive. As someone who has experienced male factor infertility personally, this episode means a lot to me, and I know it will to many of you too.

Whether you're going through IVF, facing a male factor diagnosis, or simply wanting to understand the full picture, I hope this episode helps you feel more informed and empowered.

What we discuss in this episode:

• Why it’s still so common for men to be left out of fertility investigations
• What kinds of tests should be done for men and why basic semen analysis isn’t enough
• Why timing, hormones and lifestyle can drastically impact sperm quality
• What conditions might be missed if men aren’t tested properly
• The emotional toll male fertility issues can take, and why support is essential
• What male patients should expect when seeing a urologist or fertility specialist
• Why early and equal testing matters for both partners
• Kevin also explained Kleinfelter Syndrome and how it can go undetected without the right support and investigation

This episode is a call for more inclusive care, not just for women, but for men too. Because fertility is a shared journey, and everyone deserves to be heard.

Special thanks to Examen, sponsor of this episode

Examen offers direct, cutting-edge sperm DNA fragmentation testing (including both single and double-strand DNA damage), used by 85% of fertility clinics across the UK and Ireland.

Tests are:

• Non-invasive
• Available via clinics or partner hubs
• Designed to provide clarity, confidence and actionable insight

You don’t need a referral to get tested. Simply book online, drop off your sample and receive detailed results to discuss with your clinic.

🎧 Learn more at examenlab.com

Let’s keep the conversation going:

• Follow me on Instagram: @fertilitypoddy
• Email your thoughts or guest ideas: natalie@thefertilitypodcast.com
• Follow our advocacy work: @fertility.action
• Learn more about the men’s health campaign with Fertility Action and Test Him
• Explore SDF testing with your clinic or directly at examenlab.com

Please subscribe, leave a review and share this episode if it resonated, especially with someone who may need this conversation.

Until next time.

In this special episode of The Fertility Podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Lalana Songra, medical advisor at Examen Lab, to talk about the urgent need for better understanding and testing around male fertility, particularly sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF).

As someone whose own fertility journey involved a male factor diagnosis, this is a topic close to my heart. And it’s still one that doesn’t get enough attention.

We explore why male fertility plays such a vital role in conception, pregnancy loss, and future child health, and how overlooked it still is in both diagnosis and support.

What we discuss in this episode:

• What sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) actually is and how it’s different from a standard semen analysis
• The difference between single-strand vs double-strand sperm DNA damage and how they impact fertility
• How new research links high SDF levels to recurrent pregnancy loss, even when semen analysis appears normal
• Why it’s problematic that men are only looked at after multiple pregnancy losses
• The lifestyle and health factors that impact sperm quality, and how quickly men can improve it
• What the sperm testing process looks like and where to access it
• The importance of including men in the conversation around fertility and pregnancy loss
• How better male testing can lead to more accurate, personalised treatment decisions (like ICSI vs IVF)
• Why early intervention and equal diagnosis for men matters, not just emotionally but medically

If you’ve had unexplained infertility, failed cycles, or losses with no clear answer, this episode could help you explore new questions and possibilities.

Special thanks to Examen sponsor of this episode

Examine offers direct, cutting-edge sperm DNA fragmentation testing (including single and double-strand damage) used by 85% of fertility clinics across the UK and Ireland.

Tests are:

• Non-invasive
• Available via clinics or partner hubs
• Designed to provide clarity, confidence, and actionable insight

You don’t need a referral to get tested – just book online, drop off your sample, and get detailed results you can discuss with your clinic.

🔍 Learn more at Examen

Let’s keep the conversation going:

• Follow me on Instagram: @fertilitypoddy
• Email your thoughts or guest ideas: natalie@thefertilitypodcast.com
• Follow our advocacy work: @fertility.action
• Learn more about the men’s health campaign with Fertility Action and Test Him
• Find out more about SDF testing via your clinic or directly at Examen Lab

Please subscribe and leave a review if this episode spoke to you – and do share it with someone who may need this conversation.

Until next time.

Hi, it’s Natalie here. This episode is an emotional and important one. I’m joined by Tim Royal, a television director known for his work on Coronation Street, Emmerdale, and EastEnders, who reached out to me to share the story behind his short film "It’s the Hope That Kills You."

If you’ve been listening for a while, you’ll know that male factor infertility was part of my own fertility story. And this month on the podcast, we’re shining the spotlight on male infertility and men’s experiences, which often go unheard. Tim’s story speaks to that silence and the emotional toll that fertility treatment can have on men.

What we talk about:

• How Tim felt marginalised and overlooked throughout the IVF process
• The emotional weight of never being called by name or offered therapy
• The pressure of “sample day” and why language matters in the clinic
• The cumulative trauma of repeated failed transfers and insensitive staff questions
• A powerful idea: colour-coded patient folders to avoid retraumatising questions
• The stark contrast between treatment at St Mary’s Hospital and CARE Fertility
• Tim’s experience of debilitating anxiety and his journey to seek therapy
• The importance of recognising and challenging intrusive thoughts
• How IVF reshaped his relationships, identity, and day-to-day mental health
• Tim’s reflection on IVF as a team effort, and how he supported his wife
• The impact of working on scripts about fertility while living through treatment
• Choosing to use film as a tool for honesty, empathy, and social change
• How hope can both carry and crush us during infertility
• The moment everything changed: a final transfer, a fertility stone, and holding on to the “1 percent”

About the film

It’s the Hope That Kills You is a 13-minute short film written and directed by Tim, based on his and his wife’s seven-year fertility journey. It is raw, authentic, and quietly devastating, capturing the micro-aggressions, emotional weight, and relationship strain of infertility.

Tim self-funded the film and created it to spark conversations and help others feel seen. It’s especially powerful for those trying to support loved ones but unsure how.

The film will be available to watch for free on YouTube on 30 November.

It has a Christmas element and was inspired by their 11th and final transfer, which took place on Christmas Eve.

You can follow the film’s Instagram page for updates: @itsthehopethatkillsyoufilm

Support for Men and Mental Health

As Tim shares, his anxiety became life-altering and the lack of support for men in the fertility space made it worse. If you’re navigating something similar, please know there is help available.

Organisations and initiatives that support men:

• ExamenLab – Sperm DNA Fragmentation Testing
• Fertility for Men
• The Male Fertility Coach
• testhim - Male Fertility Support
• The Male Fertility Podcast
• Fertility Matters at Work
• Fertility Action – Regular support groups and workplace advocacy

Don’t forget to ask your clinic about advanced sperm DNA testing. Many men are told their semen analysis is “normal,” but tests like those...