Finding your People: Why fertility support groups matter

Hello and welcome to another episode of The Fertility Podcast. I’m Natalie Silverman, your host, and I’m so glad you’re here. This week’s episode is a bit different as I’m handing the mic over to Katie Rollings, founder of Fertility Action and a familiar voice on the pod.

Katie’s chatting with Sarah, one of the original members of the Fertility Action support groups, about her IVF experience, her partner’s diagnosis, and the ups and downs of navigating treatment. Sarah generously opens up about the emotional and physical toll of fertility treatment, and how support groups, nutrition, acupuncture, and speaking to others have helped her find strength through it all.

What we talk about:

• Sarah’s fertility journey, starting with an unexpected male factor diagnosis just before Christmas
• The impact of delays and lack of communication within the NHS
• Why they went private, and how they made early decisions to pursue IVF and microtese
• The emotional toll of IVF failures, and the support that helped her feel less alone
• Sarah’s experience navigating fertility in the workplace and opening up to colleagues
• The effect of infertility on relationships, and how she and her husband learnt to support each other in different ways
• Discovering the importance of nutrition and thyroid health with a fertility nutritionist
• Switching to mild IVF and learning to advocate for herself at every step
• What she found in the Fertility Action support group: community, routine, understanding
• Talking therapy, nutrition, acupuncture and peer support as part of her toolkit
• Sarah’s brilliant injection tip and her #IVFninja moment
• Male mental health and how her partner processed his diagnosis
• Sarah’s call to action for more fertility education and support in schools and primary care

This conversation is raw, real, and a beautiful reminder of how much power there is in being seen and heard by people who get it. Thank you, Sarah, for sharing your story and showing us that it's okay to find your own way through.

Let’s keep the conversation going

• What do you wish you’d known before starting treatment?
• Who’s helped you feel seen on this journey?
• Have you joined a support group before? What was your experience?
• What’s been the most unexpected part of your fertility experience?
• Have you tried acupuncture or nutrition support? Did it help?

Huge thank you to our sponsor One Day Tests - use the code TFP10 at checkout for a discount

Links and Resources:

• Sarah mentioned the amazing Rosie Tadman who you can find out more about here
• Follow Fertility Action on Instagram: @fertility.action
• Join a support group: details on fertilityaction.org
• Message me on Instagram: @fertilitypoddy
• Thank you to our sponsors One Day Tests - use the code TFP10 at checkout for a discount

We also mention fertility acupuncturist Hannah Pearn

PLEASE do subscribe or leave a review. It really helps others find the podcast, and I’d love to know what’s resonating with you xx