We need to destigmatise reproductive health in the workplace, otherwise, as a consequence women suffer. The stigma around reproductive health applies to, but is not limited to: menstruation, menopause and fertility treatment.  When women menstruate they are to do so quietly. Come to work, take paracetamol and bring a hot water bottle if you must, but don’t talk about it. If you go to the toilet to change a tampon or pad then be sure to tuck it away out of sight to avoid embarrassing anyone. This is what society has told you. Things are slightly progressing. Tampon tax is due to end fol ..read more

Social Infertility A recent HFEA report shows that the use of sperm donor with patient eggs has increased hugely over the last 15 years. This is down to the rise in single women and women in same sex relationships using donor sperm. This is known as social infertility.   Many female teachers from around the UK (and abroad) who are either in the process of the sperm donor route on their path to solo parenthood, or who have already made their dreams come true to be a solo mother with a biological child of their own.  Why women take the sperm donor route alone They haven’t met a ..read more

‘Anyway in which women are made to feel bad about an aspect of their bodies which only females have, reproduces the female-based shame on which the patriarchy has been built. And thus keeps women down’. Dr Lara Owen, author of Her Blood is Gold. We need to normalise women’s reproductive health in the workplace because by not doing this women are struggling and suffering as a consequence. This applies to, but is not limited to: menstruation, menopause and fertility treatment.    In the UK sanitary products are classed as a ‘luxury item’, whilst crocodile meat is essential— luxur ..read more

I was invited to talk to Shuaib Khan of Teacher Hug Radio. Shuaib, who admittedly knew little about infertility said he felt ‘inspired’ after the conversation.  We discussed: 1)National Fertility Awareness  2) What school leaders could be doing to better support their staff going through fertility treatment 3) The best way for teachers to prepare for the meeting with their Head/ HR to discuss time off for upcoming treatment 4) Teachers experiences of fertility treatment in the classroom and why it is tricky to juggle. Supporting staff through fertility treatment means st ..read more

I was delighted to be invited onto the biggest fertility podcast to talk about fertility in the workplace. It was a surreal experience for me to talk to Natalie and Kate, as when I was going through fertility treatment back in 2017 and 2018 I would go out for long walks after work listening to The Fertility Podcast. At this time in my life podcast made me feel so much less alone as I navigated fertility treatment and tried to come to terms with a very uncertain future as to whether I’d be one of the privileged ones who were able to have a biological child of their own. I wanted to share this ..read more

Author Sheila Lamb, the friendliest woman in the fertility community, has written a guest blog to mark the start of National Fertility Awareness Week.   In this post, she recommends her top 5 infertility books. Sheila Lamb had a six-year infertility journey that involved a diagnosis of unexplained infertility, two unsuccessful fertility treatment cycles, an early pregnancy loss after a donor egg cycle, investigations into natural killer cells and thrombophilia, and a successful second donor egg cycle. Her rainbow baby was born in 2011, a week after her forty-seventh birthday. This ..read more

Pregnancy test adverts show happy heterosexual couples hugging over the ‘pregnant’ message that appears on the tiny screen they hold in their hands. They fail to show the lesbian couple distraught after another failed self insemination, or those grieving after their 8th failed round of IVF.  As we know only too well, the media often portray an unrealistic angle of ‘real life’, and the lack of diverse fertility education is included in this category.   The message that having children is easy could be damaging to the futures of many children in school who don’t yet realise infertil ..read more

World Childless Week was founded in 2017. Since then, on the second week of every September, the community raise awareness around those who find themselves unexpectedly leading lives without children. They work towards helping those childless not by choice (cnbc) find support groups and tackle their grief. 5 ways you can make a difference at work Direct colleagues towards the World Childless Week website Discuss the possibility of a childless not by choice network in your school Consider a more discreet way going forwards to celebrate pregnancy announcements and collections for staff goi ..read more

Employees going through fertility treatment have no rights at work. They are not entitled to paid or even unpaid leave for fertility appointments. Acas provide guidelines for employers to follow. None of which are helpful. Acas encourage employers to treat IVF appointments like any other medical appointment 86% of teachers said that their Headteacher would treat IVF appointment like any other medical appointment. This is supportive as long as medical appointments aren’t capped.   One teacher told us that she is allowed 1 medical appointment per term, which really doesn’t cut the ..read more

Fertility coaching is becoming popular with those trying to conceive. But what is it exactly? We spoke to the lovely fertility coach and former midwife Nicola Headley who answered all of our questions . What is fertility coaching? Fertility coaching can vary depending on the coach and programme.  I trained with the Freedom Fertility Formula which is a unique mix of coaching, counselling and mind/body techniques, used to improve the mental health and emotional well-being of people struggling with infertility. Trying for a baby and pregnancy loss have such a massive impact on me ..read more