Big Fat Negative: TTC, fertility, infertility and IVF

How to prevent 10,000 miscarriages a year 02.06.2026 53min

Oonagh Pickering is one of the research nurses at Tommy's whose study on graduated miscarriage care has already changed how the Scottish NHS approaches care after pregnancy losses -- and now they want England to make a change, too. Oonagh joins us to talk about how offering extra care following first and second miscarriages, including progesterone for threatened miscarriages, extra scans and mental health care, could help to prevent up to 10,000 miscarriages a year in the UK. Meanwhile, Ed Coats, medical director at The Evewell, West London, joins us to talk about rest after embryo transfers -- do you need to?--Hi, we're Emma and Gabby from BFN, the UK's biggest podcast about infertility and IVF. We're on our eighth series now, but at the beginning we shared our own IVF journeys. If you'd like to hear about them, go back to the first series of the podcast. You'll get to know us better that way, too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Martha de Lacey: 'You give yourself this story of why things happened' 19.05.2026 49min

The sourdough baker Martha de Lacey joins us this week: she has run the full gamut of infertility experiences, from going solo to recurrent miscarriage to secondary infertility. "It's so difficult when you give yourself this story of why things happened and the meaning behind it," she says. "Actually it's just nonsense. It's all just luck."Emma Whitney from The Evewell also joins us to explain why some embryos survive and others don't. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sheyi Martins-Allen on the pain of secondary infertility 12.05.2026 54min

She's a performer, musician and wickedly funny creator: Sheyi Martins-Allen joins us to talk about her experience of secondary infertility, and how her faith played into it. We also hear her gorgeous song, Stronger, which you can find on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/track/4cqnVteEnJmuttnOJ6wXFk?si=ar63ecyLTgyKOdTxuGx2Vw&nd=1&dlsi=2bdd768cd3fd4dc5 (or search for 'Sheyi').Mr Ed Coats, medical director of The Evewell, West London, joins us to explain whether IVF can help with recurrent miscarriage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Fertility Disconnect: A Wild Nutrition special 11.05.2026 53min

SPECIAL EPISODE SPONSORED BY WILD NUTRITION.Gabby and Emma swanned off to London last week to attend the launch of a new report by Wild Nutrition called The Fertility Disconnect, which shows that 79% of people want more children than they have. The BFN girls were joined by Julianne Boutaleb, a perinatal psychologist; Gail Madelena, a nutritional therapist at Wild Nutrition, Ian Stones, the  director and co founder of Testhim and Izzy Judd, an author, podcaster and musician, to discuss what we're getting wrong about fertility -- including education, lifestyle, and asking whether it's a hidden health crisis.You can download your own copy of the Fertility Disconnect report, and book a session with a Wild Nutrition nutritional therapist, at https://www.wildnutrition.com/pages/the-fertility-disconnect.See you tomorrow! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Helen O'Neill: The woman who is changing what we know about hormones 06.05.2026 45min

Dr Helen O'Neill is many things: a mirror twin, an associate professor in reproductive and molecular genetics at UCL, and also the co-founder and chief executive of Hertility, the at-home hormone testing company which is changing what we know about infertility: the company has built up a database of 700,000 people whose responses to its health survey may shed new light on its causes. Meanwhile, O'Neill's research is giving us new information about why, for example, male embryos develop slightly faster than female embryos. Meanwhile, Emma Whitney, director of embryology and genetics at The Evewell, explains PGT-A to us. Is it worth it?Swears throughout (probably). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kate-Lois Elliott: TTC, but still laughing 28.04.2026 1h

The comedian Kate-Lois Elliott joins us today to talk about how she's balancing the demands of a comedy career with TTC and infertility - and what the books don't tell you about how it affects your ambition.Meanwhile, The Evewell's Emma Whitney explains whether it's possible to rejuvenate older eggs.Swears throughout. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Improving male fertility: 'I even went commando' 21.04.2026 56min

Jacky Maughan had been an international DJ before he and his wife, Eleanor, started trying for a baby. "His lifestyle was party, party, drinking, poor food choices... everything you shouldn't be doing when you're trying to conceive," says Eleanor. When they had trouble conceiving, they took a radical approach to finding out what was wrong, paying for add-ons and tests that weren't available on the NHS. Now they're launching Aloomah, a support platform for people going through infertility. Check it out at https://www.aloomah.com/. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Solo, queer and trying for a baby 14.04.2026 58min

The actor and writer Natalie Walmsley tells us their story of IUI, ectopics and queer conception - and how they are turning their story into a sitcom. Swears throughout. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Shanna Swan from The Plastic Detox 16.03.2026 47min

We're back! (Sort of). Today we're interviewing Dr. Shanna Swan, the presenter of The Plastic Detox, a new Netflix documentary examining the effect of plastics on our fertility. Dr. Swan explains how plastics affect our bodies -- and the small things we can do to limit our exposure. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bonus: Dr. Jessica Zucker on miscarriage 02.05.2025 45min

You might know Dr Jessica Zucker better as @IHadAMiscarriage, the campaigner who helped thousands of women to tell their stories of loss. She joins us to tell us about her new book Normalize It: Upending the Silence, Stigma and Shame That Shapes Women's Lives. She discusses pregnancy loss and how it can change your life. Sorry about the strange hum - that's a recording issue. See you soon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS: Emily Oster 31.01.2025 42min

We're back for one night only and we're joined by economist, author, data scientist and all-round HERO Emily Oster, who tells us what the data says about everything from Just Relaxing to acupuncture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Merry Christmas! 17.12.2024 50min

Well, that's a wrap for series 7. To celebrate, Gabby and Emma are raising a festive glass and answering questions from listeners. They're also exchanging gifts - you be the judge of who's the winner.Lots of hugs for your jourrrrney in 2025 - and see you soon! You can sign up to our substack at https://bigfatnegative.substack.com/. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amber Izzo and Katie Rollings on ending the IVF postcode lottery 10.12.2024 45min

We've heard some heart-breaking stories about the IVF postcode lottery - people who've aged out of their ICB's limit as they tried to lose weight to start IVF, couples who aren't allowed NHS-funded IVF because one person has a child from a former relationship. Amber Izzo and Katie Rollings want to do something about that.Today we talk to them about their campaign to end the postcode lottery, and how you can get involved.Prof Tim is talking about Ayurvedic medicine.Dov Fox has an audiobook! It's called Donor 9623, and it's about a reproductive hoax. You can find it at https://www.audible.com/podcast/Donor-9623-Part-One/B08GC5KWW8, and part two at https://www.audible.com/podcast/Donor-9623-Part-Two/B0C62FFNL4. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Louise Brown!!!! 03.12.2024 37min

This week we are lucky enough to be joined by THE Louise Joy Brown, the first IVF baby. She talks about how her mum felt about going through IVF, her relationship with Bob Edwards, Patrick Steptoe and Jean Purdy, and why the science is now more important than ever.No Prof T again this week.To sign up to our Substack, you can go to https://bigfatnegative.substack.com/. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aisha Balesaria on childlessness not by choice 26.11.2024 48min

This week we're talking to Aisha Balesaria, aka Mind Body Revival Coach, about childlessness not by choice. She discusses her chronic endometriosis and adenomyosis, and explains why having a strong idea of why you want a baby in the first place can be a great first step to deciding when to give up IVF treatment. You can find Aisha's book, We Are One in Eight, at Amazon here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/We-Are-One-Eight-infertility/dp/B092H9TMT8No Prof Tim this week! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'Joy' creators Rachel Mason and Jack Thorne 22.11.2024 34min

Surprise! We're here on a Friday to give you a little something extra: an interview with the screenwriters of the new Netflix movie Joy, which comes out today, starring Thomasin McKenzie, James Norton and Bill Nighy, about Jean Purdy, Robert Edwards and Patrick Steptoe, the creators of IVF. Rachel Mason and Jack Thorne tell us about how their own experiences of IVF informed the narrative of the movie, why it was important to centre the story on Purdy, and which of the stars is the most beautiful cryer.No Prof Tim this week - see you on Tuesday! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jessica Hepburn returns 19.11.2024 53min

Last time we spoke to the author, adventurer and arts producer Jessica Hepburn was way back in 2019, when we talked about how she swam the English channel. Now she's back, to talk about her climb up Mount Everest - and why she listened to the entire back catalogue of Desert Island Discs while she did it.Meanwhile, Professor Tim is talking sperm cups: do they work?The link to the Guardian piece Emma read is here: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/nov/16/friendship-after-motherhoodSwears throughout. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maxine Peake and Hayley Jayne Standing 12.11.2024 1h 11min

Bafta-nominated actor and director Maxine Peake and the actor and writer Hayley Standing discuss their new short, Incompatible, which tells the story of a pregnant woman who is told her baby is incompatible with life, and their experiences of infertility. You can watch the film at https://vimeo.com/713200159, or see the trailer on its Instagram account: @incompatibleshortfilm.Meanwhile, Professor Tim addresses natural killer (NK) cells: should you be tested? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ariel Taylor on surrogacy 05.11.2024 57min

In the second of our duo of episodes on surrogacy, Ariel Taylor, the founder of fertility and surrogacy organisation Carried With Love, talks about being a gestational carrier five times - and how it felt when she lost one of those pregnancies.Meanwhile, Prof T talks beta tests - why do some clinics do them and others don't?Scroll to 53:21 to hear Gabby's absolute banger. And if you want to check out Emma's interview with Jessica Valenti, you can read it here: https://www.thepersistent.com/us-presidential-election-abortion-voter-issues-jessica-valenti-interview/.Swears throughout. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ginanne Brownell on surrogacy 29.10.2024 40min

Ginanne Brownell is a journalist whose jourrrrney took her to surrogacy via failed rounds of IVF and a very snazzy tattoo. Her new book, ‘Elusive Mommyhood: An Investigative Reporter's Personal Journey Into IVF and Surrogacy’ explores the history and politics of surrogacy in detail.And if you also want an Aku'aba tattoo, here it is.Meanwhile, Prof Tim talks about sex (baby): how often should you be Doing It? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.