Advertise on podcast: Big Fat Negative: TTC, fertility, infertility and IVF

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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/B092H9TMT8 No Prof Tim this week! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

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-motherhood Swears throughout. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

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 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.

The poet Harry Baker went viral this summer for his poem Trying, a heart-rending description of the anguish of infertility (/ode to German linguistic precision). He joins us today to talk about his creative process and why putting into words what you are going through is so important. Meanwhile Prof (or is it Dr?) Tim talks about antibiotics: can you have them during pregnancy? Find Harry merch (and his books) at www.harrybaker.co. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you make it past the unusually rambly intro, this episode we talk to Marea Goodman, a midwife who specialises in helping queer couples to conceive. We discuss at-home IUIs and the dangers of buying sperm online. Meanwhile, Professor Tim is talking about sex: should you do it after an embryo transfer? Swears, probably. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Poppy Child isn't our usual guest: she's a doula whose social media feeds are stuffed with advice on giving birth. But she has also experienced pregnancy loss, and that's what we're talking about today. TRIGGER WARNING: This episode covers pregnancy loss and miscarriage in detail. Please don't listen if you can't. Meanwhile, Professor Tim is talking about recurrent implantation failure: what tests should you do? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we're joined by Leah Hazard, the author of Womb: The Inside Story of Where We All Began. We talk about the things we don't know about the womb - like sperm crypts! - and current research which gives those suffering infertility just the tiniest glimmer of hope. Meanwhile, Professor Tim is talking about sugar - should we avoid it when we're TTC? Swears throughout. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.