In/Fertility In The City cover art

In/Fertility In The City

In/Fertility In The City

Written by: Infertility In The City
Listen for free

LIMITED TIME OFFER | Get 2 Months for ₹5/month

About this listen

 In/Fertility in the City is a podcast dedicated to exploring the complex relationship between in/fertility and work and how to manage this effectively.

It is hosted by Natalie Sutherland and Somaya Ouazzani (and Emma Menzies for Seasons 1-3), who have had to navigate their own fertility challenges alongside professional life, and are united in their passion for ensuring that better quality information and support is made available to others doing the same.

Together they interview incredible guests, from a variety of industries, who generously share powerful stories and valuable insights into in/fertility at work issues.

Their moving and thought-provoking discussions are intended to break the silence around this taboo topic, and inspire new attitudes and behaviours that will improve and normalise the management of fertility challenges in professional contexts.

If you’re a professional managing in/fertility, baby loss, fertility treatment or other paths to parenthood, or you have an interest in understanding and supporting those who are, then this is a ‘must listen’ for you.

TRIGGER WARNING: This podcast deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

You can also engage with your hosts and the growing In/Fertility in the City community by:



  • emailing us: info@infertilityinthecity.com
  • following us on LinkedIn ( www.linkedin.com/company/infertilityinthecity ), Instagram ( https://instagram.com/infertilityinthecity ), or X ( https://twitter.com/InFertilityCity ).


Music created by Jon Nicoll.In/fertility in the City Hygiene & Healthy Living Parenting Relationships
Episodes
  • The Debrief: What Season Six Taught Us About Grief, Pressure & Parenthood

    The Debrief: What Season Six Taught Us About Grief, Pressure & Parenthood
    Jan 19 2026
    Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, pregnancy loss, medical trauma/bleeding, secondary infertility, PTSD, and childlessness-not-by-choice.


    In the final episode of Season 6, Natalie and Somaya sit down for a reflective, no-guest conversation — pulling together the themes, lessons, and emotional threads that ran through the season.

    They revisit standout topics and guests (including racial disparities in fertility and maternity care, solo motherhood by choice, surrogacy, early pregnancy loss, addiction/exercise impacts on fertility, and the effect of conflict zones on maternal health).

    But at the heart of this finale is something more personal: the tension between strategy and surrender in fertility — the reality that you can do “everything right” and still not get the outcome you planned, while others conceive unexpectedly. Somaya reflects on her own journey: fear-filled conception, pregnancy anxiety, how mindset and pressure shaped her experience, and the complicated role of “luck,” faith, and letting go.

    Natalie shares her journey through miscarriage, prolonged bleeding, and the trauma that can remain dormant until something reactivates it — plus the grief of secondary infertility and the eventual acceptance (and joy) of being a family of three.

    They also talk about language in fertility care (and the harm of blunt statistics), the need for earlier education around pregnancy complications, and how profoundly isolating infertility can feel — even when you’re surrounded by people.

    Finally, Natalie announces a new community initiative: “Infertility Anonymous” — a private space (WhatsApp, Zoom calls, and potential in-person events) for people who want support and connection without having to share publicly.

    Topics Covered
    • Season 6 reflections: what surprised them, what changed their perspectives
    • Fertility as both intentional and sometimes painfully unpredictable
    • Fear-filled conception → fear-filled pregnancy/labour (and the nervous system’s memory)
    • Secondary infertility, grief, and the pressure of age gaps
    • Choosing not to pursue IVF as a valid, thoughtful decision
    • The underrated joy — and stigma — of being “one and done”
    • Trauma-informed language: why words and percentages can land like a blow
    • Community: why “loneliness” is one of infertility’s sharpest edges
    • Infertility Anonymous: private support beyond social media
    • Looking ahead to Season 7 + listener call-outs, reviews, and sharing stories
    --

    About King’s Fertility (Sponsor):

    One of London’s most respected IVF clinics, working with King’s College Hospital and King’s College London. King’s Fertility offers NHS and private patients world-leading research, advanced treatment, and compassionate care. Learn more at kingsfertility.co.uk

    Connect With Us
    • Email: info@infertilityinthecity.com
    • Instagram / LinkedIn / X: @infertilityinthecity
    • TikTok: @infertility.in.the.city
    • YouTube: @InFertilityintheCity
    • Website: www.infertilityinthecity.com
    If this episode resonated with you, please leave a 5-star review and hit follow.
    Show More Show Less
    36 mins
  • Women's Bodies as Battlegrounds: War, Fertility & Early Pregnancy Loss the Globe Over - with Dr. Nadia Amokrane

    Women's Bodies as Battlegrounds: War, Fertility & Early Pregnancy Loss the Globe Over - with Dr. Nadia Amokrane
    Jan 12 2026
    Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, bleeding/haemorrhage, pregnancy trauma, conflict zones, maternal and neonatal death, and sexual violence in war.

    Nat and Somaya are joined by Dr Nadia Amokrane for a wide-ranging and essential conversation about early pregnancy loss and global maternal health.

    The conversation starts with the devastating impact conflict has on women’s health. Dr Amokrane describes how maternal healthcare systems can collapse rapidly during war: antenatal care becomes inaccessible, staff and theatres are diverted to trauma, and shortages of food, water, medicine, and equipment drive worsening outcomes for mothers and newborns.

    She also discusses longer-term health consequences for babies exposed to severe stress and malnutrition in utero, and why advocacy for maternal health cannot be separated from advocacy for children.

    The conversation then expands to early pregnancy complications. Dr Amokrane explains how common miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy are, what “recurrent miscarriage” means, and why NHS pathways for investigation and follow-up can vary by area — even as services begin to shift toward earlier support after two losses.

    She also breaks down miscarriage management options (expectant, medical, surgical), and why bleeding can sometimes become dangerous even in early pregnancy. This episode is both a practical guide to early pregnancy care and a call to pay attention to the global realities facing mothers.

    Topics Covered
    • Maternal health in conflict zones: collapse of services, malnutrition, neonatal impact
    • Why maternal health advocacy can’t be optional
    • How common miscarriage is (and what “early miscarriage” means)
    • Ectopic pregnancy: frequency, risk factors, why diagnosis matters
    • When losses suggest “bad luck” vs an underlying issue
    • Recurrent miscarriage definitions and why NHS pathways vary
    • Miscarriage management options: expectant, medical, surgical
    • Why early pregnancy units matter and what good care looks like
    • Pre-conception steps that can reduce miscarriage risk (where evidence exists)
    Resources Mentioned (Signposting)
    • The Miscarriage Association (support + information) https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/
    • The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust (support + information) https://ectopic.org.uk/

    --

    About King’s Fertility (Sponsor):

    One of London’s most respected IVF clinics, working with King’s College Hospital and King’s College London. King’s Fertility offers NHS and private patients world-leading research, advanced treatment, and compassionate care. Learn more at kingsfertility.co.uk


    Connect With Us
    • Email: info@infertilityinthecity.com
    • Instagram / LinkedIn / X: @infertilityinthecity
    • TikTok: @infertility.in.the.city
    • YouTube: @InFertilityintheCity
    • Website: www.infertilityinthecity.com
    If this episode resonated with you, please leave a 5-star review and hit follow.
    Show More Show Less
    57 mins
  • From IVF to Surrogacy: A 10-Year Journey to Parenthood - with Stuart O'Donnell

    From IVF to Surrogacy: A 10-Year Journey to Parenthood - with Stuart O'Donnell
    Jan 5 2026
    TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of in/fertility and/or baby loss.

    In this deeply moving episode of In/Fertility in the City, Natalie and Somaya are joined by Stuart O’Donnell, who shares his and his wife’s ten-year journey through unexplained infertility, multiple rounds of IVF, pregnancy loss, and ultimately parenthood through UK surrogacy.

    Stuart speaks candidly about the emotional and physical toll of fertility treatment, including ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, and a rare and distressing IVF lab accident. He also offers a powerful male perspective on infertility, grief, hope, and resilience — a voice that is still too often missing from these conversations.

    The episode explores the realities of UK surrogacy law, the fears intended parents face, the generosity of altruistic surrogates, and why legal reform is urgently needed. Stuart also reflects on workplace support, praising Lloyds Banking Group for their progressive surrogacy and fertility policies, and shares what employers can do better to support staff navigating infertility.

    This is a hopeful, honest, and necessary conversation about family-building, regulation, and the extraordinary power of compassion.

    Topics Covered
    • Ten years of trying to conceive with unexplained infertility
    • IVF, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, and treatment trauma
    • A rare IVF lab incident and the emotional impact
    • Discovering surrogacy after infertility “end points”
    • Altruistic surrogacy in the UK and legal realities
    • Fear vs reality: can a surrogate “keep the baby”?
    • Talking to children about surrogacy from birth
    • Workplace policies, fertility leave & male mental health
    • Why UK surrogacy law urgently needs reform
    Key Takeaway

    Surrogacy, when done ethically and supported properly, can be one of the most profound acts of altruism — but outdated laws and workplace policies still fail families at critical moments.

    --

    About King’s Fertility (Sponsor):

    One of London’s most respected IVF clinics, working with King’s College Hospital and King’s College London. King’s Fertility offers NHS and private patients world-leading research, advanced treatment, and compassionate care. Learn more at kingsfertility.co.uk

    Connect With Us
    • Email: info@infertilityinthecity.com
    • Instagram / LinkedIn / X: @infertilityinthecity
    • TikTok: @infertility.in.the.city
    • YouTube: @InFertilityintheCity
    • Website: www.infertilityinthecity.com
    If this episode resonated with you, please leave a 5-star review and hit follow.
    Show More Show Less
    37 mins
No reviews yet