Episode 14

full
Published on:

9th Jul 2025

Fertility Treatment is Healthcare so WHY the funding cuts?

In this powerful and passionate episode, Natalie is joined once again by Katie Rollings, founder of Fertility Action, the UK's newest fertility charity. As a returning guest, Katie provides an urgent and inspiring update on the charity’s current work, including critical campaigning efforts, growing support groups, and the ever-pressing fight against the fertility funding postcode lottery.

Together, Natalie and Katie discuss:

  • The expansion of Fertility Action's support groups and community
  • The emotional toll of fertility treatment and the gaps in support post-treatment
  • Why peer connection and bespoke support are crucial
  • Ongoing parliamentary campaigning for fair fertility treatment access
  • How to get involved by writing to your MP
  • The need for a male fertility focus in healthcare strategy
  • Urgent updates on changes to NHS fertility funding in Sussex and beyond
  • Katie also opens up about the emotional challenges of fighting for change while encountering public misunderstanding and resistance and why she refuses to give up.
  • Plans for culturally diverse and condition-specific groups (like secondary infertility) are in motion—making sure everyone feels seen and heard.
  • Fertility Action is looking for empathetic volunteers to host support groups. Training and supervision will be provided. If you’re 3+ years post-treatment and can commit to a year, they’d love to hear from you.
  • Male participation in support groups is still limited, but growing. There’s a need for more male facilitators and attendees—especially to normalize male perspectives on infertility.
  • Groups meet on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Join with your mic or camera on or off, even in your PJs! It’s a low-pressure, welcoming environment

Take Action:

Write to Your MP - Encourage them to attend the fertility campaign event in Parliament on Wednesday, 16 July. Use the Fertility Action letter template

Join the Conversation on Male Fertility & Mental Health

Contribute to the ongoing male fertility survey submissions close Wednesday, 17 July. H

Helpful Links:

All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for The Fertility Podcast

About the Podcast

The Fertility Podcast
The Fertility Podcast|Expert interviews|Women and Men sharing #TTC stories|Wellbeing support
If you’ve found your route to parenthood hasn’t been straightforward, The Fertility Podcast is for you. From how to optimise your fertility to getting pregnant naturally, navigating IVF, understanding donor conception or surrogacy to how to prepare for a life without children. Whatever your situation, you are not alone. Created by Natalie Silverman, a former fertility patient in 2014 Natalie set about speaking to experts and sharing lived experience and expert interviews In 2019 Kate Davies, an independent fertility nurse consultant joined as co-host and from 2023-2024, Kate hosted the podcast solo sharing more of her expert insight and stories from her patients. As The Fertility Podcast reached its 10th anniversary the decision was taken to cease publishing.. until now. The Fertility Podcast is proud to partner with Fertility Action, a new UK charity dedicated to supporting anyone affected by infertility, secondary infertility, or sub-fertility. Together, we aim to amplify our mission of education, empowerment, and support. Fertility Action combines patient advocacy with expert knowledge to offer peer support, therapy, and reliable information. They are also committed to improving fertility care access, raising awareness, and driving research to advance understanding and treatment.

PLEASE NOTE: The Fertility Podcast has an archive of its 300 episodes on new podcast feeds called: Getting Pregnancy Ready, Infertility Support, Male Fertility, Alternative Routes to Parenthood, and Pregnancy Loss.
Just have a look in your podcast search and be sure to subscribe.

About your host

Profile picture for Natalie Silverman

Natalie Silverman