From Patient to Host: My Four Years at The Fertility Show

This year was my fourth time at The Fertility Show. My first visit was in 2018 as an IVF patient looking for a new clinic and considering donor conception after three failed cycles. Since then, I’ve been invited to host seminars with a wide range of experts, both virtually and in person. The latter is better of course, but the former is beneficial, especially if you don’t live in London, or missed some sessions because you were in others! If you couldn’t attend the Show or want to catch up on the seminars, all the keynotes, expert Q&A’s and panel discussions are now available online (buy your ticket here; free access for Show ticket holders).

Having attended the Show several times, I love seeing how it has evolved. In previous years, most of the exhibitors were clinics, which created a formal, slightly intimidating atmosphere. The talks were more expert-led, so hearing medical terms all day long might have been overwhelming for attendees, particularly those at the start of their fertility journey.

The introduction of the Let’s all Talk Fertility Lounge in 2022 – where ambassadors and special guests share their personal stories and how they’re using their experiences to help others – shifted the focus from the Show being strictly medical. This informal space acknowledges the mental and emotional challenges of undergoing fertility treatment alongside the physical and financial ones, making people feel validated and less alone. Seeing how others have overcome the obstacles they’ve faced, or are currently facing, can give them much-needed hope and strength.

Last year, the Show leaned further into recognising the importance of providing care and comfort by setting up Wellbeing Workshops. Covering subjects such as coping with pregnancy loss, navigating male factor infertility and nurturing relationships during fertility struggles, these workshops are a chance for participants to step back from the noise and reconnect with themselves. Like the Lounge, it’s an important addition, although I feel that some of the intimacy was lost this year due to the larger, open area.

Speaking of new additions, I was pleased to see the Fertility Support Hub. This stand was among the first you came across and therefore provided a gentle welcome. Throughout the weekend, fertility nurses, counsellors and workplace support consultants listened to and advised attendees on a one-to-one basis. While guests can chat to the speakers after the Lounge talks, seminars and workshops, some may wish for more privacy. The Show has now met that need by creating this safe space for them to confide in someone who’s qualified to support them.

As for the seminars I hosted, one of my favourite conversations was with Dr Lynae Brayboy and Dr Cristina Hickman of Ovom Care. They explained how they use AI to develop personalised treatment plans with such enthusiasm that I felt excited for their patients, and the future of the industry.

Another thing I appreciated about the 2024 schedule was hearing more people advocating a holistic approach to conceiving, e.g. incorporating Ayurvedic practices and optimising diet and lifestyle. Unlike before, it seemed as though clinicians are more inclined to recommend multidisciplinary plans to achieve success instead of simply sticking to scientific ones.

My last two sessions were also very special. Questions from the audience moved me to tears during my chat with fertility counsellor Tracey Sainsbury. Their pain was palpable, stirring memories of my time on the IVF emotional rollercoaster. Similarly, in my discussion with author, grief expert and campaigner Zoe Adelle, speaking to her about her five losses and how her grief returned after her daughters were born reminded me of how I struggled with pregnancy after loss, and still struggle with the complexities of parenting after loss.

Year after year, the Show strengthens its offering. Clinical information is now given equal billing together with holistic care and community. As a former patient, I know how overwhelming these events can be, but the overall message is that while our individual journeys are unique, we share a common experience that unites us.