How can donor insemination help you start or expand your family? This talk demystifies the IUI process step by step, with real stories and expert insights applicable to LGBTQIA+ parents. Follow the typical timelines and the patient journey and hear practical tips from leading fertility specialists. You’ll also hear a moving success story from the community, offering a first-hand glimpse of the joys and challenges of building a family through donor insemination.
Donor insemination is a well tried and tested fertility treatment in Britain, with almost 30,000 babies born since 1991. It’s a first-line treatment for fertility which is easy and affordable.
How do you find the right sperm donor? Here, you can explore London Sperm Bank’s own selection process, designed to recognise the values and needs of LGBTQIA+ couples and individuals. LSB’s UK-sourced donors are vetted for health, personality and inclusivity, so clients can feel confident of their treatment and the high quality of sperm samples
LSB now supplies sperm to more than 80% of licensed UK centres, with consistently high success rates. Other licensed UK centres reach out to us via an easy software LSB Portal that enhances the selection process and strictly monitors the 10 family limit enshrined in the UK law.
Preserving your fertility and keeping your options open. This session offers a clear look at egg freezing and how it can be a game-changer for LGBTQIA+ people. Egg-freezing is Britain’s fastest- growing fertility treatment and can fit into a range of family-building pathways, but key to them all is the control it offers over your reproductive future; the big decisions are left to you.
LWC now operates the UK’s largest egg freezing programme, with numerous studies revealing high success rates and patterns of use comparable with any throughout the world. The security of the samples for up to 55 years as enshrined in the UK law is provided through a very secure storage and tracing laboratory.
Now, there’s an IVF option which combines the very best success rates with affordability. It’s called Kind iVF and it’s already offering greater access to this core fertility treatment, and greater appeal. This session explains how Kind iVF works and why it’s rapidly become a leading choice among LGBTQIA+ people considering parenthood.
Records already show how Kind iVF combines high quality care with minimal cost, a reaffirmation of LWC’s continuing mission of access and affordability. Most people expressing an interest in Kind iVF are eligible for treatment, and once under way can look forward to success rates among the best in the world.
The concept and achievements of shared biological parenthood have revolutionised fertility treatment for same-sex female couples, giving each partner the chance to share a biological bond with their child. This lively session explains how the concept of shared motherhood works – for the partner providing the egg and the partner carrying the pregnancy.
There will be details from real couples who’ve made the journey themselves, and from academic collaborators with news on research developments. This session will answer all your questions about shared motherhood and why it’s been such a popular choice over the past ten years.
Surrogacy can feel like a complicated process, but it doesn’t have to be daunting or cloaked in mystery. In this candid session, experts consider everything from legal guidelines to the practicalities of working with egg banks. Here, you’ll learn how regulated surrogacy actually works, where to find support, and what to expect along the way.
There are over 35,000 births each year globally, but most are in unregulated territories and without the oversight which gives surrogacy in the UK its greater clarity and transparency. LWC’s experience in surrogacy goes back many years, with several published studies documenting its progress and showing how 400 treatments have led to 147 births and many happy families. Surrogacy treatments at LWC are already equally divided between heterosexual and same-sex couples.
9.30am - Doors open
Doors opens
9.45am - Welcome address
Welcome from Professor Nick Macklon, LWC Medical Director & Anya Sizer, Fertility Patient Advocate and Chair of Organising Committee
9:50am - DIVA Magazine keynote
Keynote Address
10:00am - Inseminar
Donor Sperm – Real Stories & Explaining IUI
Speakers: Elena Linara-Demakakou, Jemma Garrett
How can donor insemination help you start or expand your family? This talk demystifies the IUI process step by step, with real stories and expert insights applicable to LGBTQIA+ parents. Follow the typical timelines and the patient journey and hear practical tips from leading fertility specialists. You’ll also hear a moving success story from the community, offering a first-hand glimpse of the joys and challenges of building a family through donor insemination.
Donor insemination is a well tried and tested fertility treatment in Britain, with almost 30,000 babies born since 1991. It’s a first-line treatment for fertility which is easy and affordable.
10:50am - Finding your donor match
Our Approach at London Sperm Bank
Speakers: Nicole Nel, Director of London Sperm Bank, Hayley King, Operations Manager at Paths to Parenthub and Donor Conceived Adult
How do you find the right sperm donor? Here, you can explore London Sperm Bank’s own selection process, designed to recognise the values and needs of LGBTQIA+ couples and individuals. LSB’s UK-sourced donors are vetted for health, personality and inclusivity, so clients can feel confident of their treatment and the high quality of sperm samples
LSB now supplies sperm to more than 80% of licensed UK centres, with consistently high success rates. Other licensed UK centres reach out to us via an easy software LSB Portal that enhances the selection process and strictly monitors the 10 family limit enshrined in the UK law.
Refreshment break
Light refreshments are available throughout.
12:05pm - Family, Your Way
IVF That’s Affordable, Accessible and Kind
Speakers: Diane Casha, Clinical Services Director LWC Bromley & Canterbury, Jemma Garratt, Data Scientist
Now, there’s an IVF option which combines the very best success rates with affordability. It’s called Kind iVF and it’s already offering greater access to this core fertility treatment, and greater appeal. This session explains how Kind iVF works and why it’s rapidly become a leading choice among LGBTQIA+ people considering parenthood.
Records already show how Kind iVF combines high quality care with minimal cost, a reaffirmation of LWC’s continuing mission of access and affordability. Most people expressing an interest in Kind iVF are eligible for treatment, and once under way can look forward to success rates among the best in the world.
12:05pm - Surrogacy 101 Break out session
Speakers: Dr Priti Jain, Consultant in Reproductive Medicine at London Egg Bank, Mimi Arian-Schad, Director of Nursing at LWC, Rachel Westbury, Director at Nappy Endings Surrogacy Agency
Surrogacy can feel like a complicated process, but it doesn’t have to be daunting or cloaked in mystery. In this cosy session, experts consider everything from the legal guidelines to the practicalities of working with egg banks. Here, you’ll learn how regulated surrogacy actually works, where to find support, and what to expect along the way.
There are over 35,000 births each year globally, but most are in unregulated territories and without the oversight which gives surrogacy in the UK its greater clarity and transparency. LWC’s experience in surrogacy goes back many years, with several published studies documenting its progress and showing how 400 treatments have led to 147 births and many happy families. Surrogacy treatments at LWC are already equally divided between heterosexual and same-sex couples.
Lunch break
Light refreshments are available throughout.
1:00pm - Food & Fertility
Nutrition Talk during Lunch
2:00pm - Your Fertility, Your Timeline
18 Years of Egg Freezing at London Women’s Clinic
Speakers: Egle Kanceryte, Head of LWC Elective Egg Freezing, Dr Vanessa Ross, Consultant in Reproductive Medicine
Preserving your fertility and keeping your options open. This session offers a clear look at egg freezing and how it can be a game-changer for LGBTQIA+ people. Egg-freezing is Britain’s fastest- growing fertility treatment and can fit into a range of family-building pathways, but key to them all is the control it offers over your reproductive future; the big decisions are left to you.
LWC now operates the UK’s largest egg freezing programme, with numerous studies revealing high success rates and patterns of use comparable with any throughout the world. The security of the samples for up to 55 years as enshrined in the UK law is provided through a very secure storage and tracing laboratory.
Break
Light refreshments are available throughout.
3:00pm - The Two-Mother Journey
Creating LGBTQ Families with Reciprocal IVF. Panel discussion
Speakers: Jamie Forster, Fertility Counsellor, Dr Barbara Manukian, Consultant in Reproductive Medicine, Ellen
The concept and achievements of shared biological parenthood have revolutionised fertility treatment for same-sex female couples, giving each partner the chance to share a biological bond with their child. This lively session explains how the concept of shared motherhood works – for the partner providing the egg and the partner carrying the pregnancy.
There will be details from real couples who’ve made the journey themselves, and from academic collaborators with news on research developments. This session will answer all your questions about shared motherhood and why it’s been such a popular choice over the past ten years.
4:00pm - Fertility Coaching Session
Tools, Support & Self-Care
Speakers: Anya Sizer, Fertility Coach & Jamie Forster, Fertility Counsellor
This session is designed to offer support and expert guidance to individuals and couples navigating their fertility journey. This event, led by a licensed fertility counsellor and fertility coach ****provides a safe, welcoming space for you to learn techniques for managing stress, explore your thoughts, and receive emotional support from both professionals and peers who truly understand the complexities of this journey.
4.45pm - Drinks
Finish the day with a glass of something cold and a chance to get to know other couples and individuals at the event. The Familymakers Team will be there to chat through any questions you have.
You can view further information on all of the sessions above on our downloadable guide, linked here.