LGBTQ+ Community Open Day

Sunday 2 October 2022

1 St Thomas St, London, SE1 9RY

What is the Familymakers Fair?

We understand that the family structure has changed and continues to change over time – you may be a single parent, same sex parents, or have children conceived using donor eggs and sperm. As Familymakers, we are committed to providing fertility options to couples and individuals alike, regardless of what your family will look like.

At the Familymakers Fair, we will create a safe environment where all your questions can be answered by our world-class fertility experts from London Women’s Clinic, London Sperm Bank and the London Egg Bank.

Event Programme

We will be opening our doors from 10am so you can explore our clinic, meet our staff and find out how we achieve our industry leading results. We will be bringing together our experts to present on topics specifically curated for the LGBTQ+ Community such as options for lesbian couples, surrogacy pathway, using donor egg and sperm and the importance of nutrition and support.

10:30 - The Tale of Two Mums

“What matters most for children is the same in lesbian mother families as it is in traditional families: warm, sensitive, and involved parents, whatever their gender and sexual orientation”. In this talk, we will introduce the most popular methods of starting a family for same-sex couples, including the wonder that is ‘shared motherhood’. You’ll gain an understanding why so many women undergo shared motherhood with us, after hearing about the patient journey, our donor matching with London Sperm Bank , and what our research collaboration with Cambridge University reveals.

12:00 - The Surrogacy Pathway

Starting IVF with surrogacy can be daunting and fraught with highs and lows. London Women’s Clinic has completed more surrogacy journeys than any other UK clinic, with the clinical data needed to empower you on your journey. We hope you will come away from this presentation with confidence. You’ll understand how surrogacy works, receive advice on starting your surrogacy journey, and hear more about the legal steps involved.

14:00 - Donor Egg and Sperm: Find your perfect match

With over 20,000 stored eggs ready for use at London Egg Bank and 10,000 stored sperm at London Sperm Bank - you’ll be sure to find your match. LEB and LSB are the largest donor gamete banks in the UK. During this presentation, you’ll come to learn how a donor’s act of kindness and advances in technology allow you to begin your family.

After all – parenthood requires love, not DNA.

15:30 - The importance of nutrition, wellbeing, and support

During fertility treatment, your mind and body go through a wide range of changes. In this talk, you’ll hear from a panel of experts about why looking after your mental health during your fertility journey is so important, the role nutrition can play, and where to find the different support groups provided by London Women’s Clinic.

Meet the Specialists

Our clinical specialists will be providing a range of talks but also be available if you have any questions about your journey.

Jamie Forster, Senior Fertility Counsellor and Support Lead

Jamie is an experienced person-centred counsellor who specialises in fertility, trauma, and family therapy. She has a friendly and down to earth therapeutic approach and is passionate about supporting people through fertility treatment or donation and advocates nationwide for strong emotional support during treatment.

Zaina Mahmoud, Research Associate

Zaina is a research associate at LWC, specialising in female fertility preservation and donation. She’s completing her comparative PhD on surrogacy regulation, looking at Britain and California, at the Wellcome Centre for Cultures and Environments of Health, University of Exeter.

Dr Kirsty Horsey, Senior Research Associate

Dr Kirsty Horsey joined LWC/LEB in September 2021 as a Senior Research Associate, a new role created to carry out original socio-legal research on aspects of the work undertaken at LWC and LEB. Her first project has looked at the surrogacy treatments undertaken at LWC and LEB clinics since 2014, including conducting surveys with surrogates and intended parents. Her background is in academia: she has taught and researched law at the University of Kent, Canterbury, since 1998. Her main field of research has always focused on families created by assisted reproduction, particularly surrogacy, and their socio-legal implications. Since around 2015, she has been heavily involved in campaigning for reform of the law on surrogacy and is looking forward to the report and draft legislation due to be published by the Law Commissions of England & Wales and Scotland later this year.

Elena Lenara, Laboratory Manager and Quality Lead

Elena Linara-Demakakou is the Embryology Manager at London Women's Clinic, Harley Street with 15 years' experience in Reproductive Science. She is an experienced Senior Embryologist and a Diplomate of the Royal College of Pathologists. She works hard to ensure the highest success rates, but above all, the best care and service to patients. She has special interest in embryo morphokinetics and prenatal genetics and egg freezing. She is highly engaged with research and has presented her work in both national and international meetings. She is the Scientific Training Programme lead for London Women's Clinic, and has been one of the first private IVF labs that gained a licence from NSHCS to train STP trainees for Reproductive Science.

What else can you expect?

Meet other people on their fertility journey at the fair, plus there will be tea, coffee and pastries to ensure you have enough energy throughout the day. Our London Bridge Clinic is situated right next to the station and opposite Borough Market which should make it easily accessible.

Our partners at the London Women's Clinic, London Egg Bank and London Sperm Bank will be happy to answer any questions you may have about your fertility journey. Whether you have further questions after listening to a talk, or would like to discuss options that you have had on your mind, we will be here to help.

We hope to see you at the Familymakers Fair!