Welcome back and Welcome to My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is the UK's leading multi award winning podcast from a non profit UK surrogacy organisation.Michael and Wes are parents themselves through surrogacy to two children (Talulah is 7 and Duke is 4) they continue to advocate, campaign and strive to improve the landscape of surrogacy in the UK and globally. Addressing safety, exploitation and educating those about the real truths about safer surrogacy. You asked and we delivered. One of the most frequently asked questions by intended parents is 'What can we expect from the clinic, and what does treatment look like?' So we decided to create an episode especially for you exactly on this subject. This week your MSJ host is Wes and he is joined by Debbie Evans, our Clinical and Compliance Director. We also have the wonderful Olivia Tindall here with us who is forever helping us out with Insta Lives on MSJ's IG account and explaining processes and procedures within the clinics. Olivia is from Manchester Fertility and joined in 2020 as their surrogacy coordinator. Olivia previously worked in reproductive medicine at Saint Mary's Hospital, in Manchester.Our season 3 sponsorWe have a fabulous sponsor for our Season 3 podcast. Manchester Fertility were founded in 1985 and has an exceptional team of fertility doctors, nurses, embryologists and patient support staff. Manchester Fertility remains one of the leading fertility clinics in the country to this day, delivering more than 8,000 babies. For intended parents seeking surrogacy support, Manchester Fertility is My Surrogacy Journey’s Northern & Midlands Centre for Excellence, offering surrogacy advice and fertility treatment options for gay, bi, queer and trans men and heterosexual singles and couples, helping them to navigate their way through their surrogacy journey. Make sure you check them out.Thanks for listening! Have you subscribed yet?Bios;Olivia TindallOlivia loves being the clinic's dedicated Surrogacy Co-ordinator, helping Intended Parents and surrogates understand what is involved in their treatment and guiding them through the surrogacy process. Olivia is always prepared with expert advice about treatment, timescales, donor gametes and costs.Debbie EvansShe specialised for 20+ years in fertility management and has recently joined My Surrogacy Journey as our Clinical and Compliance Director. Available wherever you get your podcasts. My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is a Talulah and The Duke Production and is recorded in London at Outset Studios Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back and Welcome to My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is the UK's leading multi award winning podcast from a non profit UK surrogacy organisation.Michael and Wes are parents themselves through surrogacy to two children (Talulah is 7 and Duke is 4) they continue to advocate, campaign and strive to improve the landscape of surrogacy in the UK and globally. Addressing safety, exploitation and educating those about the real truths about safer surrogacy. You asked and we delivered. One of the most frequently asked questions by intended parents is 'What can we expect from the clinic, and what does treatment look like?' So we decided to create an episode especially for you exactly on this subject. This week your MSJ host is Wes and he is joined by Debbie Evans, our Clinical and Compliance Director. We also have the wonderful Olivia Tindall here with us who is forever helping us out with Insta Lives on MSJ's IG account and explaining processes and procedures within the clinics. Olivia is from Manchester Fertility and joined in 2020 as their surrogacy coordinator. Olivia previously worked in reproductive medicine at Saint Mary's Hospital, in Manchester.Our season 3 sponsorWe have a fabulous sponsor for our Season 3 podcast. Manchester Fertility were founded in 1985 and has an exceptional team of fertility doctors, nurses, embryologists and patient support staff. Manchester Fertility remains one of the leading fertility clinics in the country to this day, delivering more than 8,000 babies. For intended parents seeking surrogacy support, Manchester Fertility is My Surrogacy Journey’s Northern & Midlands Centre for Excellence, offering surrogacy advice and fertility treatment options for gay, bi, queer and trans men and heterosexual singles and couples, helping them to navigate their way through their surrogacy journey. Make sure you check them out.Thanks for listening! Have you subscribed yet?Bios;Olivia TindallOlivia loves being the clinic's dedicated Surrogacy Co-ordinator, helping Intended Parents and surrogates understand what is involved in their treatment and guiding them through the surrogacy process. Olivia is always prepared with expert advice about treatment, timescales, donor gametes and costs.Debbie EvansShe specialised for 20+ years in fertility management and has recently joined My Surrogacy Journey as our Clinical and Compliance Director. Available wherever you get your podcasts. My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is a Talulah and The Duke Production and is recorded in London at Outset Studios Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back and Welcome to My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is the UK's leading multi award winning podcast from a non profit UK surrogacy organisation.We're back this week talking all about Genetics and the importance of Genetic Counselling and why you may need it. It's a fascinating episode, hosted this week by Wes and two special guests Lizzie and Alyssa from Igenomix UK, who also support all our members as we supply genetic screening to CGT plus, which screens 450 genes for 550 conditions.What are genetic diseases?Genetic diseases are caused by mutations – changes to our genes. Mutations associated with recessive genetic disease can be present in DNA without affecting the individual – they are a carrier of the condition. 82% of individuals are carriers of at least one condition.Michael and Wes are parents themselves through surrogacy to two children (Talulah is 7 and Duke is 4) they continue to advocate, campaign and strive to improve the landscape of surrogacy in the UK and globally. Addressing safety, exploitation and educating those about the real truths about safer surrogacy. Our season sponsorWe have a fabulous sponsor for our Season 3 podcast. Manchester Fertility were founded in 1985 and has an exceptional team of fertility doctors, nurses, embryologists and patient support staff. Manchester Fertility remains one of the leading fertility clinics in the country to this day, delivering more than 8,000 babies. For intended parents seeking surrogacy support, Manchester Fertility is My Surrogacy Journey’s Northern & Midlands Centre for Excellence, offering surrogacy advice and fertility treatment options for gay, bi, queer and trans men and heterosexual singles and couples, helping them to navigate their way through their surrogacy journey. Make sure you check them out.Thanks for listening! Have you subscribed yet?Bios;LizzieLizzie is an experienced genetic counsellor with Igenomix UK, specialising in reproductive genetics services. Lizzie worked previously in the NHS, covering a broad range of cases including prenatal, cancer and general genetics. Prior to her career as a genetic counsellor, Lizzie undertook a degree in Biochemistry and Genetics at The University of Nottingham and then worked in Medical publishing as an Editor and Medical Writer, before undertaking an MSc in Genetic Counselling at Cardiff University. She lives in Cranleigh, Surrey, with her husband and two young children.AlyssaAlyssa is originally from Canada and studied Biology at McGill University in Montreal before obtaining her MSc in Human Genetics and Genetic Counselling from Stanford University in California, USA. She previously worked for the NHS in Oxford as a Principal Genetic Counsellor specialising in inherited heart conditions. She joined Igenomix UK in 2021 where she focuses on reproductive genetic services. In her spare time, Alyssa enjoys exploring the Cotswolds where she lives with her partner and two whippets.Available wherever you get your podcasts. My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is a Talulah and The Duke Production and is recorded in London at Outset Studios Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back and Welcome to My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is the UK's leading multi award winning podcast from a non profit UK surrogacy organisation.We're back this week talking all about Genetics and the importance of Genetic Counselling and why you may need it. It's a fascinating episode, hosted this week by Wes and two special guests Lizzie and Alyssa from Igenomix UK, who also support all our members as we supply genetic screening to CGT plus, which screens 450 genes for 550 conditions. What are genetic diseases?Genetic diseases are caused by mutations – changes to our genes. Mutations associated with recessive genetic disease can be present in DNA without affecting the individual – they are a carrier of the condition. 82% of individuals are carriers of at least one condition.Michael and Wes are parents themselves through surrogacy to two children (Talulah is 7 and Duke is 4) they continue to advocate, campaign and strive to improve the landscape of surrogacy in the UK and globally. Addressing safety, exploitation and educating those about the real truths about safer surrogacy. Our season sponsorWe have a fabulous sponsor for our Season 3 podcast. Manchester Fertility were founded in 1985 and has an exceptional team of fertility doctors, nurses, embryologists and patient support staff. Manchester Fertility remains one of the leading fertility clinics in the country to this day, delivering more than 8,000 babies. For intended parents seeking surrogacy support, Manchester Fertility is My Surrogacy Journey’s Northern & Midlands Centre for Excellence, offering surrogacy advice and fertility treatment options for gay, bi, queer and trans men and heterosexual singles and couples, helping them to navigate their way through their surrogacy journey. Make sure you check them out.Thanks for listening! Have you subscribed yet?Bios;LizzieLizzie is an experienced genetic counsellor with Igenomix UK, specialising in reproductive genetics services. Lizzie worked previously in the NHS, covering a broad range of cases including prenatal, cancer and general genetics. Prior to her career as a genetic counsellor, Lizzie undertook a degree in Biochemistry and Genetics at The University of Nottingham and then worked in Medical publishing as an Editor and Medical Writer, before undertaking an MSc in Genetic Counselling at Cardiff University. She lives in Cranleigh, Surrey, with her husband and two young children. AlyssaAlyssa is originally from Canada and studied Biology at McGill University in Montreal before obtaining her MSc in Human Genetics and Genetic Counselling from Stanford University in California, USA. She previously worked for the NHS in Oxford as a Principal Genetic Counsellor specialising in inherited heart conditions. She joined Igenomix UK in 2021 where she focuses on reproductive genetic services. In her spare time, Alyssa enjoys exploring the Cotswolds where she lives with her partner and two whippets.Available wherever you get your podcasts. My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is a Talulah and The Duke Production and is recorded in London at Outset Studios Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Season 3 Episode 1! And we're starting strong! The C word; Christmas!Welcome to My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is the UK's leading multi award winning podcast from a non profit UK surrogacy organisation. We're back with our friend, regular face to our members, the fabulous Tracey Sainsbury, renowned BICA accredited counsellor. For many Christmas is another painful point in the calendar, especially if not everyone is aware of your particular fertility struggle or surrogacy journey. We've all got them, that annoying Aunty who all of a sudden is a Consultant Gynaecologist and is offering fertility advice. 'If you stop trying it will just happen, just relax!' Yep - that one. So how can you swerve some of these annoying and unwelcoming pieces of advice? How can you take care of you, and own the situation? What should you say, what shouldn't you say? What could you put in the family WhatsApp group to send a clear message about what YOU don't want to discuss? Check it out. Tell us what you think.Michael and Wes are parents themselves through surrogacy to two children (Talulah is 7 and Duke is 4) they continue to advocate, campaign and strive to improve the landscape of surrogacy in the UK and globally. Addressing safety, exploitation and educating those about the real truths about safer surrogacy. We have a fabulous sponsor for our Season 3 podcast. Manchester Fertility were founded in 1985 and has an exceptional team of fertility doctors, nurses, embryologists and patient support staff. Manchester Fertility remains one of the leading fertility clinics in the country to this day, delivering more than 8,000 babies. For intended parents seeking surrogacy support, Manchester Fertility is My Surrogacy Journey’s Northern & Midlands Centre for Excellence, offering surrogacy advice and fertility treatment options for gay, bi, queer and trans men and heterosexual singles and couples, helping them to navigate their way through their surrogacy journey. Make sure you check them out.Thanks for listening! Have you subscribed yet?Bios;Tracey SainsburySpecialist fertility counsellor supporting people trying to conceive, naturally or with assistance, experiencing primary or secondary infertility and people who have experienced pregnancy loss. Tracey also provides implications counselling around donor conception and/or surrogacy and for people exploring their fertility options including egg freezing or embracing being involuntarily childless or a childless step parent, or where eggs, sperm or embryos remain after a treatment journey ends. Fertility counselling can also be useful for those supporting a friend or family members experiencing fertility issues.Available wherever you get your podcasts. My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is a Talulah and The Duke Production and is recorded in London at Outset Studios Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back for Season 3! Welcome to My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is the UK's leading multi award winning podcast from a non profit UK surrogacy organisation. What a season we have for you, 15 wonderful episodes starting with our ever popular Coping at Christmas special.Michael and Wes are parents themselves through surrogacy to two children (Talulah is 7 and Duke is 4) they continue to advocate, campaign and strive to improve the landscape of surrogacy in the UK and globally. Addressing safety, exploitation and educating those about the real truths about safer surrogacy. We have a fabulous sponsor for our Season 3 podcast. Manchester Fertility were founded in 1985 and has an exceptional team of fertility doctors, nurses, embryologists and patient support staff. Manchester Fertility remains one of the leading fertility clinics in the country to this day, delivering more than 8,000 babies. For intended parents seeking surrogacy support, Manchester Fertility is My Surrogacy Journey’s Northern & Midlands Centre for Excellence, offering surrogacy advice and fertility treatment options for gay, bi, queer and trans men and heterosexual singles and couples, helping them to navigate their way through their surrogacy journey. Make sure you check them out.So for now, check out what's coming up in this cram packed season!Thanks for listening! Have you subscribed yet?Available wherever you get your podcasts. My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is a Talulah and The Duke Production and is recorded in London at Outset Studios Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back for Season 3! Welcome to My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is the UK's leading multi award winning podcast from a non profit UK surrogacy organisation. What a season we have for you, 15 wonderful episodes starting with our ever popular Coping at Christmas special.Michael and Wes are parents themselves through surrogacy to two children (Talulah is 7 and Duke is 4) they continue to advocate, campaign and strive to improve the landscape of surrogacy in the UK and globally. Addressing safety, exploitation and educating those about the real truths about safer surrogacy. We have a fabulous sponsor for our Season 3 podcast. Manchester Fertility were founded in 1985 and has an exceptional team of fertility doctors, nurses, embryologists and patient support staff. Manchester Fertility remains one of the leading fertility clinics in the country to this day, delivering more than 8,000 babies. For intended parents seeking surrogacy support, Manchester Fertility is My Surrogacy Journey’s Northern & Midlands Centre for Excellence, offering surrogacy advice and fertility treatment options for gay, bi, queer and trans men and heterosexual singles and couples, helping them to navigate their way through their surrogacy journey. Make sure you check them out.So for now, check out what's coming up in this cram packed season!Thanks for listening! Have you subscribed yet?Available wherever you get your podcasts. My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is a Talulah and The Duke Production and is recorded in London at Outset Studios Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is the UK's leading multi award winning podcast from a non profit UK surrogacy organisation. Michael and Wes are your regular hosts, but today - it's only Wes. Michael and Wes are parents themselves through surrogacy to two children (Talulah is 7 and Duke is 4) they continue to advocate, campaign and strive to improve the landscape of surrogacy in the UK and globally. Addressing safety, exploitation and educating those about the real truths about safer surrogacy. So welcome back! We have a wonderful episode today and it's especially interesting for those who have to navigate a failed IVF transfer when exploring surrogacy. How do you deal with this, when this was something you just weren't expecting. Our wonderful guest, Debbie Evans from from at Herts and Essex Fertility Centre and Angela Pericleous-Smith who is a Senior Infertility Counsellor, will help you understand all about PGT-A (formally PGS) and PGT-M, previously known as preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD)  Guest bios:Angela Pericleous-SmithAngela is Chair of the British Infertility Counselling Association (BICA), counsellor representative for British Fertility Society (BFS) and has specialised in fertility counselling within the NHS and private practice since 2004.Angela has written and spoken about the emotional impact of infertility and has co-authored BICA Guidelines for Good Practice in Fertility Counselling 4th Ed. 2019 and Counselling in Surrogacy in UK Licensed Centres (2021). Her recent research and writing have focused on Covid-19’s impact on UK counselling provision and patients’ experiences, The emotional, physical and psychological impact of infertility in the workplace and Counselling challenges associated with donor conception and surrogacy.Angela is driven to improve professional standards in fertility counselling; the psychological support, provision and accessibility of information and fair treatment for patients.Debbie EvansDebbie qualified as an RGN in 1985. She specialised for 20+ years on fertility management and has been with Herts & Essex Fertility Centres since 2007. As Director of Clincial Services, Debbie takes ownership of the day to day clincial management of the Centre with direct responsibility for 40+ members of staff. Her senior role has not changed her approach or work ethos; she is passionate about patient care as when she first joined the nursing profession.Debbie was the previous Chair of SING (Senior Infertility Nurse Group) for four years, and organisation that strives to support nurses in the fertility industry by providing peer support, guidance and encouragement to its members. Debbie has now retired from Herts & Essex Fertility Centre and joined us here at My Surrogacy Journey at the beginning of January as Clinical & Compliance Director.Available wherever you get your podcasts. My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is a Talulah and The Duke Production and is recorded in London at Outset Studios Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is the UK's leading multi award winning podcast from a non profit UK surrogacy organisation. Michael and Wes are your regular hosts, but today - it's only Wes. Michael and Wes are parents themselves through surrogacy to two children (Talulah is 7 and Duke is 4) they continue to advocate, campaign and strive to improve the landscape of surrogacy in the UK and globally. Addressing safety, exploitation and educating those about the real truths about safer surrogacy. So welcome back! We have a wonderful episode today and it's especially interesting for those who have to navigate a failed IVF transfer when exploring surrogacy. How do you deal with this, when this was something you just weren't expecting.Our wonderful guest, Debbie Evans from from at Herts and Essex Fertility Centre and Angela Pericleous-Smith who is a Senior Infertility Counsellor, will help you understand all about PGT-A (formally PGS) and PGT-M, previously known as preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD)  Guest bios:Angela Pericleous-SmithAngela is Chair of the British Infertility Counselling Association (BICA), counsellor representative for British Fertility Society (BFS) and has specialised in fertility counselling within the NHS and private practice since 2004.Angela has written and spoken about the emotional impact of infertility and has co-authored BICA Guidelines for Good Practice in Fertility Counselling 4th Ed. 2019 and Counselling in Surrogacy in UK Licensed Centres (2021). Her recent research and writing have focused on Covid-19’s impact on UK counselling provision and patients’ experiences, The emotional, physical and psychological impact of infertility in the workplace and Counselling challenges associated with donor conception and surrogacy.Angela is driven to improve professional standards in fertility counselling; the psychological support, provision and accessibility of information and fair treatment for patients.Debbie EvansDebbie qualified as an RGN in 1985. She specialised for 20+ years on fertility management and has been with Herts & Essex Fertility Centres since 2007. As Director of Clincial Services, Debbie takes ownership of the day to day clincial management of the Centre with direct responsibility for 40+ members of staff. Her senior role has not changed her approach or work ethos; she is passionate about patient care as when she first joined the nursing profession.Debbie was the previous Chair of SING (Senior Infertility Nurse Group) for four years, and organisation that strives to support nurses in the fertility industry by providing peer support, guidance and encouragement to its members.Debbie has now retired from Herts & Essex Fertility Centre and joined us here at My Surrogacy Journey at the beginning of January as Clinical & Compliance Director.Available wherever you get your podcasts. My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is a Talulah and The Duke Production and is recorded in London at Outset Studios Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is the UK's leading multi award winning podcast from a non profit UK surrogacy organisation.This Podcast was recorded prior to the new HFEA treatment ad ons revised ratings released early October. A list of treatment add ons with limited clinical evidence are listed here;https://www.hfea.gov.uk/treatments/treatment-add-ons/ Michael and Wes are your hosts, and as parents themselves through surrogacy to two children (Talulah is 7 and Duke is 4) they continue to advocate, campaign and strive to improve the landscape of surrogacy in the UK and globally. Addressing safety, exploitation and educating those about the real truths about safer surrogacy. Welcome back! We have a fascinating, clinical episode today and it's especially interesting for those exploring treatment and navigating treatment add ons, such as PGT-A (formally PGS) and PGT-M, previously known as preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). Our wonderful guest, Dr Lucy Richardson from at Herts and Essex Fertility Centre will help you understand all about PGT-A (formally PGS) and PGT-M, previously known as preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD)   Guest bios:Dr Lucy RichardsonLucy is the Laboratory Director at Herts and Essex Fertility Centre with a career in research and clinical Embryology which spans over twenty years. Lucy gained a First Class degree in Anatomy and Developmental Biology from University College London and was awarded her PhD from The University of Cambridge, where her research and discoveries into the origins of embryonic axis formation resulted in several scientific papers and award winning presentations at national and international conferences. Lucy started her Clinical Embryology career at a busy London unit before moving to a privately run group in Kent. She joined the Herts and Essex in 2013 and became their Laboratory Director in 2018. Lucy is passionate about helping to create families – she is also known affectionately as The Sperm Queen, a title she is extremely proud of!Available wherever you get your podcasts. My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is a Talulah and The Duke Production and is recorded in London at Outset Studios Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.