On Monday 7th February at 12pm, I’ll be speaking at Fertifa’s webinar about Fertility in the Public Sector workplace. In the hour long discussion, myself and the other panelists, who will represent NHS, MET police and Manchester University will be discussing the practical and effective ways in which public sector employers can supportive the reproductive …
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. Many female teachers from around the UK (and abroad) who are either in …
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, …
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 …
Guest blog: The top 5 Fertility Books you need on your shelf, by Sheila Lamb 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 …
Pregnancy test adverts show the happy heterosexual couples hugging over the ‘pregnant’ message that appears on the tiny screen they hold in their hands. They fail to show a diverse range of realities: the lesbian couple distraught after another failed self insemination, or those grieving after their 8th failed round of IVF. The message …
The misleading messages of fertility in the media and in our schools 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 …
Fertility treatment: your employees’ rights at work 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 …
Fertility Coaching: the alternative therapy for staff? Read More »
Lucy (not her real name) is a teacher in a private school, who needed assisted conception to become pregnant, as she is in a same sex relationship. The road to their baby was both literally and metaphorically long, with an 8 hour road-trip to the fertility clinic and 6 years of unsuccessful attempts. What were …
‘Do you want children’, is an old fashioned question that is a bad fit in the modern world. It’s a question that women have been asked more times than Kate Flemming has called Steve Arnott ‘mate’ in all 6 seasons of Line of Duty. It’s personal and invasive and one of the most inappropriate talking …
Why we need to stop asking female colleagues if they want children Read More »
