LONDON PRODUCTION

“I want to thank you for positively encouraging discussion around the male side of fertility. I think I’d assumed that men just weren’t interested in talking about it but discussions proved that wasn’t the case and that men do want to talk if given the right opportunity.”

Fertility Fest Attender

“It is hard to put in to words how much it means to me to have been involved. In the middle of a difficult year, it provided just the support, encouragement and love that we needed. It might seem a bit hyperbolic to say it’s changed us, but in many ways I think it did.”

Fertility Fest Attender

“I really appreciated the fact that people could say things which were eccentric, challenging, debatable but still there was an overall feeling of respect, compassion and tolerance. Everyone was extremely welcoming and there was a friendly, open atmosphere. I instantly felt at home.”

Fertility Fest Attender

“The ‘infertile’ time of my life was the hardest and most painful. Fertility Fest helps me to integrate the painful time into the rest of my story. The thing I appreciate most is that people who have children and those who gave birth in other ways are all together, sharing as one family. This means more to me than I can say.”

Fertility Fest Attender

“I met really interesting people. I learnt new things. I felt that ‘fertility’ stopped being a rather dark and difficult thing and that it became something which could be discussed in new and more positive ways.”

Fertility Fest Attender

“I no longer feel so alone in my own journey. It was amazing to be with people and feel like one of the crowd rather than on the outside of everything.”

Fertility Fest Attender

“Fertility isn’t just science and medicine. It affects your whole life and the way you feel about yourself and your place in the world. We need to recognise fully the emotional aspects of fertility. The arts can bring some light, laughter and understanding into an issue which can just seem incomprehensible, painful and difficult.”

Fertility Fest Attender

“So often in the fertility business, patients are expected to take their doctor’s word, but Fertility Fest highlights that there is no one way and no consensus and that ideas and technology are changing all the time.”

Fertility Fest Attender

“I think the most important thing it does is bring everyone together on an equal footing – no other event does this in at all the same way. It is great that people who’ve had successful treatment, people who don’t have children and people who have made families in different ways can all come together and realise we have a lot in common rather than focusing on the things which divide us.”

Fertility Fest Attender

“The Fest itself pushes fertility and discussions around fertility forward and slowly the stigma and taboos around this subject will hopefully ease away…”

Fertility Fest Attender

“The feeling of community was palpable. I felt able to speak to anyone as I knew that there would be some form of shared experience. I made several connections and came away with some new friends.”

Fertility Fest Attender

“One of the things which stands out about Fertility Fest is the supportive environment – and the sense of solidarity that we are all part of this, no matter what our involvement, no matter what our outcome.”

Fertility Fest Attender