Finding Fat-Friendly Fertility Clinics: How to Research, Interview, and Choose Your IVF Provider

04/10/25 • 21 min

Episode Summary

In this episode of Fat and Fertile, Nicola Salmon dives into the practical—and emotional—realities of finding a fertility clinic that supports fat folks with compassion and without weight stigma. Whether you’re just beginning to explore fertility treatment or feeling frustrated by constant barriers, this episode is packed with actionable tips, thoughtful guidance, and much-needed reassurance.

Nicola shares the exciting news of her newly updated Fat-Friendly Fertility Clinic Guide, a powerful resource featuring nearly 150 community-sourced recommendations from fat people who’ve accessed IVF and other fertility treatments. She explains how to use the guide, what to look out for, and why it’s so important to have information upfront—especially when some clinics still impose harmful BMI restrictions or hidden costs.

She also walks you through her top tips for researching, interviewing, and choosing a fertility clinic that will treat you with the respect and care you deserve. From asking the right pre-consultation questions to understanding your legal and medical rights around weighing, diet talk, and treatment access, Nicola empowers you to advocate for yourself at every stage.

If you’ve ever felt disheartened by fertility clinics, this episode is a must-listen. Nicola reminds us that while fat-positive clinics might feel like unicorns, they do exist—and finding the right one can make all the difference in your journey.

Links and Resources

🧡 Fat-Friendly Fertility Clinic Guide – Download here

🧡 IVF for Fat Folks Course – Your step-by-step guide to navigating fertility treatment in a bigger body

🧡 The Fat Person’s Guide to Getting Pregnant – Free download

🧡 Fat Fertility Facebook Group – Connect with others navigating this journey

🧡 Reddit r/infertility – A moderated space with weight-inclusive policies

🧡 Join the Fat and Fertile Community on Ko-Fi – Exclusive Q&A episodes, community support, and bonus content

Get Involved

Nicola would love to hear from you! If this episode resonates, share your story, ask a question, or leave a review. Your voice matters and could help someone else feel less alone.

Support the Podcast

If you're enjoying Fat and Fertile, you can buy Nicola a coffee or share this episode on your favourite social media platform. Every share helps make this information more accessible to the people who need it most.

Follow Nicola on Instagram

@fatpositivefertility – For fat-positive fertility tips, updates, and behind-the-scenes support.

👉 Explore these resources and take your next step toward growing your family—without shame, without diets, and entirely on your terms. Nicola’s in your corner, cheering you on every step of the way.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary

Links and Resources

🧡 Fat-Friendly Fertility Clinic Guide – Download here

🧡 IVF for Fat Folks Course – Your step-by-step guide to navigating fertility treatment in a bigger body

🧡 The Fat Person’s Guide to Getting Pregnant – Free download

🧡 Fat Fertility Facebook Group – Connect with others navigating this journey

🧡 Reddit r/infertility – A moderated space with weight-inclusive policies

🧡 Join the Fat and Fertile Community on Ko-Fi – Exclusive Q&A episodes, community support, and bonus content

Get Involved

Nicola would love to hear from you! If this episode resonates, share your story, ask a question, or leave a review. Your voice matters and could help someone else feel less alone.

Support the Podcast

Follow Nicola on Instagram

@fatpositivefertility – For fat-positive fertility tips, updates, and behind-the-scenes support.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

Your Fertility, Your Way: Exploring IVF Abroad with Emma Haslam

In this episode of Fat and Fertile, I’m joined by the incredible Emma Haslam, founder of Your IVF Abroad and a passionate advocate for fertility choice. Emma shares her deeply personal journey through infertility, the barriers she faced due to BMI restrictions in the UK, and how she ultimately found a path to parenthood abroad.

We dive into the realities of navigating fertility treatment as a fat person, the frustration of arbitrary weight-based restrictions, and the emotional toll of being told to lose weight before receiving medical support. Emma opens up about her decision to seek IVF treatment outside the UK, what that experience was like, and how it led her to create Your IVF Abroad—a business dedicated to helping others access safe, transparent, and supportive fertility care without weight stigma.

If you’ve ever felt dismissed by the fertility industry, this episode is a must-listen. Emma’s story is one of resilience, empowerment, and challenging the status quo. She’s proof that fertility care should be accessible to all bodies, and she’s on a mission to make sure others have the information and support they need to explore their options.

Listen in to hear:

✅ The challenges of accessing fertility care with a higher BMI

✅ How Emma found an alternative path to IVF treatment abroad

✅ Why weight stigma in fertility care needs to change

✅ Tips for navigating fertility treatment with confidence and choice

Connect with Emma & Explore Your Options:

Free Webinar: From Obstacles to Options" – How to overcome fertility treatment challenges in your home country, get started on your right path to parenthood, and fast-track growing your family, on your terms. yourivfabroad.co.uk/freemasterclass
Emma’s Podcast: yourivfabroad.co.uk/podcast
Emma’s Website: yourivfabroad.co.uk
Emma’s Instagram: @yourivfabroad
Nicola’s book: Fat and Fertile
Nicola's Instagram: @fatpositivefertility
Grab the Fat Person’s Guide to Getting Pregnant
Join the Fat and Fertile community on Ko-Fi for more support

🎧 Tune in now and remember: your body is worthy, and your fertility journey should be met with care, respect, and real choices. 💛

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next Episode

What is Fat Positive Fertility Coaching

In this episode of Fat and Fertile, I’m diving deep into something I don’t talk about nearly enough—what fat positive fertility coaching actually is, and why it matters so much.

I’ve been a fertility coach for over seven years now, and while I often share tools, insights, and resources, I realised I haven’t really broken down how coaching works or what it looks like to be supported in a fat-positive, weight-neutral space. So that’s what this episode is all about.

I share how my own experience of being diagnosed with PCOS as a teen—and being told I’d never have children—led me to this work. And I explain how my journey through unlearning diet culture and stepping away from weight loss gave me the clarity and drive to support others doing the same, especially those navigating fertility in bigger bodies.

In this episode, I talk about:

What coaching means to me (and why it’s not about “fixing” you)
The unique challenges fat folks face when trying to get pregnant
Why we deserve support that’s free from judgement and shame
What it means to create safety in your nervous system as you navigate this process
How to explore health-promoting behaviours without dieting
And why separating your worth from your ability to conceive is a game-changer

I also explain what a fat positive approach really looks like in practice—how I work with you to move from where you are now to where you want to be, using tools that centre your autonomy, your lived experience, and your joy.

If you’ve ever felt like you're battling the system just to be seen, heard, or supported—this one’s for you. And if it resonates, I’d love to invite you to book a free 30-minute chat with me. No pressure, no pushy sales pitch—just a space to connect and see if coaching might be the right next step for you.

Resources & Links:

Email me: [email protected]
Find me on Instagram: @fatpositivefertility
My book: Fat and Fertile – available via Amazon
Join my community: Ko-Fi Membership

Thanks for listening, lovely. You absolutely deserve to feel supported, cared for, and full of hope as you navigate growing your family—exactly as you are. 💛

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.