In this deeply personal and insightful episode of the Paths to Parenthub Podcast, we speak with Sarah from Toronto, a mum to three children, each conceived in a different way.

Sarah shares the story of how she and her husband navigated medical diagnoses, complex decision making, and the emotional realities of fertility treatment and donor conception. With honesty and warmth, she reflects on the path that led them to building their family, a path that wasn’t linear, but one that ultimately brought them three much loved children.

We explore:

1. How medical diagnoses shaped their family building decisions
2. The emotional process of moving towards donor conception
3. What donor selection was like in practice
4. Navigating different conception stories within one family
5. How they are talking to their children about their origin stories
6. Why openness and honesty matter in their home

Sarah speaks candidly about raising children who each have slightly different conception stories, and how, despite those differences, they are loved, supported and valued in exactly the same way. This episode is a powerful reminder that there is no single way to build a family, and that children thrive in homes grounded in honesty, security and love.

If you are navigating medical diagnosis, considering donor conception, or thinking about how to talk to your children about their story, this conversation offers reassurance, perspective and thoughtful insight – especially for those seeking insight into a family of mixed genetics.

Season 4 of the Paths to Parenthub Podcast is proudly supported by Ovacy Egg Bank, who support a range of family types and pathways for those using donor eggs - You can learn more Ovacy by visiting their website www.ovacy.com

In this episode of the Paths to Parenthub podcast, Hayley and Becky sit down to explore the questions they believe can be helpful for intended parents to ask their egg or sperm bank, or fertility clinic, when considering donor conception.

Rather than focusing on the usual “how to choose a donor” conversation, this episode looks at some of the less obvious questions that can shape long term experiences for families. Drawing on their many years of working in this space, and the insight gained from supporting parents, donors and donor conceived people, Hayley and Becky reflect on what they have learned along the way, and how perspectives often change over time.

This episode is not intended as a definitive or “must ask” checklist. Instead, it offers a gentle introduction to topics and considerations that may help you feel more informed and confident as you make decisions that are right for your family.

The conversation follows on from Becky and Hayley’s recent visit to Cyprus to OVACY Egg Bank, who are also supporting Season 4 of the podcast, and includes reflections inspired by what they saw and discussed during their time there. You can find our more about OVACY Egg Bank and their donors via their website at www.ovacy.com.

This episode mentions one of our most popular free downloadable resources, available via our website. Get your copy at www.pathstoparenthub.com/free-resources/

‘Top Questions to Ask Your Egg and Sperm Bank’

In this special episode, Hayley and Becky are joined by an egg donor, sharing her story under the alias “Snow”.

This conversation brings together three lived perspectives on donor conception. Hayley, a donor conceived person, Becky a mum through egg donation and ‘Snow’ an egg donor herself.

Together, they explore what motivates someone to donate, what the donation process is really like, and how donors think about the people and children who may exist because of their decision. “Snow” also takes the opportunity to ask Hayley and Becky questions, opening up an honest, two way conversation that is rarely heard in fertility spaces.

With increasing numbers of donor gametes being imported for treatment in the UK, this episode offers a valuable opportunity to hear directly from someone with lived donor experience, alongside recipient and donor conceived voices. It is a thoughtful, human discussion that highlights the importance of openness, reflection and understanding in donor conception.

This episode is supported by Ovacy Egg Bank, for more information about their donors and treatment options please see their website, www.ovacy.com. For more information about the support on offer at Paths to Parenthub, including specific webinar content that discusses donor motivations and associated research see www.pathstoparenthub.com.

In this episode, Becky and Hayley are joined by Dr Mavrides, consultant obstetrician, gynaecologist and fertility specialist, and Founder of ISIS Fertility Clinic and OVACY Egg Bank. They reflect on their visit to the clinic earlier this year, while also exploring Dr Mavrides’ personal journey, the history of the clinic, and the values that underpin its work.

In this episode, they discuss:

1. The story behind ISIS Fertility Clinic and OVACY Egg Bank
2. Becky and Hayley’s first hand experience visiting the clinic
3. Fertility treatment in the Republic of Cyprus, and how it differs from other areas of Cyprus
4. Changing anonymity laws around donation in Cyprus and what this could mean for future families
5. The donor experience at OVACY, including donor care, welfare, and psychological assessments
6. How OVACY Egg Bank works with UK HFEA licensed clinics to provide donor eggs to UK patients

For more information about OVACY Egg Bank please see their website, www.ovacy.com

Other links mentioned during episode, www.pathstoparenthub.com

Season 4 of the Paths to Parenthub podcast is proudly supported by Ovacy Egg Bank.

Welcome to Season 4 of the Paths to Parenthub Podcast!

In this opening episode, Becky and Hayley take you with them on a deeply personal and eye opening journey to Ovacy, an overseas egg bank in Cyprus. This season is unlike anything we’ve shared before, candid, reflective, and rooted in real time experiences.

A key focus of this episode is Becky and Hayley exploring the fact that Ovacy now supplies donor eggs to HFEA regulated clinics in the UK, and unpacking what that means in practice for intended parents and families formed through donor conception. From donor recruitment and screening, to regulation, transport, and the way UK clinics work with overseas egg banks, they break down a process that is often misunderstood.

This episode sets the scene for the season ahead, offering transparency around overseas fertility care, donor egg pathways, and addressing the questions so many people back home are asking but rarely get clear answers to.

Whether you’re considering donor eggs through a UK clinic, exploring overseas options, supporting someone who is, or simply want to better understand how these systems work together, this season - and specifically this first episode is for you.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why Becky and Hayley chose to visit an overseas egg bank

• Ovacy’s role in supplying Open ID donor eggs to HFEA regulated UK clinics

• What that pathway looks like for UK patients

• First impressions of Ovacy in Cyprus

• What they saw behind the scenes

• Honest reflections on the emotional impact of being there

• What they want intended parents back home to know

This season is about education, openness, and lived experience, and it starts here.

Series 4 of the Paths to Parenthub podcast is proudly supported by Ovacy Egg Bank. For more information about Ovacy please head over to their website .

https://ovacy.com/. For information about the ISIS fertility clinic please see their website https://isisclinic.com/

mentions in episode include the bbc article re sperm donor breaching family limits https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgmy90z991o.amp

eshre draft proposal to introduce international family limits on donation, have your say https://www.eshre.eu/Europe/Position-statements/Stakeholder-review?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPMTI0MDI0NTc0Mjg3NDE0AAGnqjeZPePuWQDWZetsXB0zKRZ-hdsJKCdcO5byAUhk4Gm37F02eKtu1EoWQsI_aem_2lavQnKin96jdUrHMKzLmw

In this season finale of season 3 of the Paths to Parenthub Podcast, Becky and Hayley are back from an incredible trip to ESHRE Paris 2025 – one of the biggest reproductive medicine conferences in the world – and they’re sharing all about it!

During this special episode, Becky and Hayley discuss what it was like to be surrounded by leading experts, the key conversations that stood out, and how research connects to the real experiences of families created through donation.

During this conversation, they also bring you exclusive insights from three leading researchers in the field of donor conception - Professor Vasanti Jadva, Astrid Indekeu and Dr Sophie Zadeh. Through their questions, Becky and Hayley gain unique insight into the researcher’s thoughts and opinions on key donor conception topics, capturing meaningful responses that shine a light on where research is heading and why it matters.

It’s a reflective, insightful and inspiring episode that brings together science, story and the heart of what Paths to Parenthub is all about - learning, connection and community.

Other mentions in this episode – our free ‘Why Telling Matters’ webinar. You can sign up via our website: www.pathstoparenthub.com/free-resources/

If you’d like to find out more about the Paths to Parenthub community membership, head to our website or connect with us on socials.

This season is supported by TV Edwards Solicitors. To learn more about their services or to book an appointment with Anest Mathias, visit www.tvedwards.com/person/anest-mathias/

Warning: Discussions of birth trauma during parts of this episode

In this heartfelt episode of the Paths to Parenthub Podcast, Becvky and Hayley are joined by Akua, who openly shares her family building story as a mum through surrogacy and sperm donation with her husband.

Akua talks candidly about the many challenges she and her husband faced along the way, including navigating fertility struggles, choosing a donor who reflected her husband’s heritage, finding a surrogate, and managing the unexpected reality of a cancer diagnosis in the middle of their journey.

Today, Akua is the proud mum of three amazing girls. She reflects on the role of support, community, and Paths to Parenthub membership in helping her through the highs and lows of the process. She also shares practical tips for talking with children about surrogacy and donor conception, and why honesty and openness are so important.

This is a powerful, moving conversation filled with insight, resilience, and hope, one that will resonate with anyone navigating donor conception, surrogacy, or supporting families who are.

Other mentions in this episode – our free ‘Why Telling Matters’ webinar, head over to our website, www.pathstoparenthub.com/free-resources/ to get your link. The Paths to Parenthub community membership, details can be found via our website or checking us out on socials.

The season is supported by TV Edwards Solicitors. For more information about the services they provide or to arrange an appointment with Anest Mathias please head over to their website www.tvedwards.com/person/anest-mathias/

In this special episode of the Paths to Parenthub Podcast, Becky and Hayley are joined by not one, but two leading specialists in donor conception. We welcome Anest Mathias, solicitor and legal expert at TV Edwards, and Mr. James Nicolopoulos, consultant gynaecologist at The Lister Clinic, to explore a topic that is often less talked about: using a known egg or sperm donor at a UK HFEA licensed clinic.

Together, they unpack:

• The step by step process of using a known donor in a clinic setting
• Legal, medical, and emotional considerations for intended parents and donors
• The potential pros and cons of this path to parenthood
• What needs to be considered if using a known donor outside of a clinic, and how the legal position can differ
• The wider implications for families and children
• Honest, frank conversations to help bring greater clarity and confidence

If you’ve ever wondered what this journey looks like, this episode will give you valuable insights from both the legal and medical perspectives, helping you make informed decisions.

For more free resources and support see our website www.pathstoparenthub.com or follow us on Instagram @path_to_parenthub

For all your legal advice see Tv Edwards solicitors https://tvedwards.com/person/anest-mathias/