Your Future Fertility – Wales

Infertility is a disease of the reproductive system that affects around 1 in 6 of us. The causes are many, the impact is far-reaching and it can have a devastating effect on a person’s life. Even with treatment, success is not guaranteed, so raising awareness of infertility and its impact within society is essential.

Funded by the National Lottery community fund, Your Future Fertility is an education project working to improve knowledge of fertility and reproductive health right across Wales, from education to the workplace and beyond.

As a charity, we hear far too often: ‘I wish I had known that sooner’ or ‘why did no one tell me that before?’ so we have been providing evidence-based information to young adults, so that they are educated on all aspects of their fertility, and better able to make informed choices going forward.

We have been working with universities in Cardiff, Aberystwyth and Wrexham to help students understand how to take care of their own fertility, the factors that may impact their ability to conceive in the future and when and how to seek help.

We have:

• had conversations around STIs (sexually transmitted infections), stressing the importance of using condoms and getting tested and how, if left untreated, an infection like chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease;
• discussed anabolic steroid misuse, binge drinking and smoking and highlighted how certain substances can disrupt hormones, inhibit sperm production and speed up the rate at which eggs are lost;
• talked about how ovulation works, the importance of a well-balanced diet, and why maintaining a healthy body weight matters for both natural conception and assisted fertility treatment;
• emphasised the need to self-examine and the importance of not being too embarrassed to see a GP about any lumps or swellings in the testicles; and
• stressed the importance of seeking medical help for eating disorders and abnormally painful, heavy or irregular periods.

Your Future Fertility has been working with medical students, trainee GPs and other future healthcare professionals from Hywel Dda, Cardiff & the Vale, and Betsi Cadwallader University health boards to stress the significant emotional impact of infertility. With an improved understanding, we hope future patients suffering with infertility may feel better informed, more supported and less isolated when undergoing investigations and treatment.

We have also been working with practicing clinicians to highlight the experiences of fertility patients across Wales.

We have:

• indicated the need for NHS eligibility criteria to be discussed, and accurate fertility information to be provided at the initial GP appointment;
• highlighted the significant emotional impact on fertility patients by sharing videos ‘The Midwife’s Tale’ and ‘Lisa’s story’, and we have provided appropriate support resources for patients to access; and
• run sessions which help all those involved in the treatment pathway understand the huge toll fertility investigations and treatment can take on a person, their work, and their relationships.

We are thrilled to have been working closely with several police forces, public authorities and charities, where we have been talking to employees, human resources teams and line managers about fertility in the workplace. We have presented the facts and highlighted the hidden implications. Fertility treatments are far from easy and feelings of depression and isolation are common; relationships and work life can equally suffer.

We have encouraged conversations around fertility, made recommendations on policy and provided support resources, enabling workplaces to be more knowledgeable and supportive to those experiencing fertility investigations, treatment and miscarriage – both now and in the future.