This wasn’t a story we used to tell. It’s one of the hardest chapters in our lives, four years filled with heartbreak, anxiety, and loss. But it’s also the story of how we found hope, how we became parents, and developed an even deeper commitment to the fertility sector.

We were already recruiting within healthcare through Stroud Resourcing, including within fertility and women’s health. But our personal experience gave us the drive to create something more focused: a business dedicated to supporting the people and organisations working in this remarkable sector.

That’s what led to the launch of Fertility Talent in 2021.

Today, we share our story openly with clients, candidates and colleagues because behind our business is a deeply personal reason for doing what we do.

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The Start of Our Journey

Like thousands of other couples, we struggled to have children for many years.

In 2011, we experienced our first pregnancy. The joy was indescribable, but just six weeks later, we had our first miscarriage. It was one of the most painful experiences we’ve ever been through. What made it even harder was the silence. Pregnancy loss isn’t often spoken about, and we felt isolated and alone.

Each time we conceived again, hope returned, but it came hand-in-hand with fear. We were constantly waiting for bad news. Over the years, that news came three more times. Every loss chipped away at our strength and our optimism.

We tried everything we could think of - lifestyle changes, supplements, private scans and anything that could improve our chances. But each time, we were left devastated.

The Breaking Point

Our third pregnancy ended in a missed miscarriage following the first trimester. We had experienced regular scans and Joanna was visibly pregnant. Learning that we had lost the baby was a terrible shock.

Chromosomal testing revealed no abnormalities; our baby had been a healthy girl. The grief was overwhelming, particularly because we had no clear explanation of what had happened.

In 2013, we experienced a fourth miscarriage. Emotionally and physically exhausted, we booked a holiday to Thailand to process what had happened. But just before we left, Joanna began experiencing abdominal pain. We feared an incomplete miscarriage.

At the hospital, we had to fight for a proper scan. A transabdominal ultrasound was performed, and we were told everything had passed. We requested a more accurate transvaginal scan, but this was refused.

While trekking on a remote Thai island, Joanna collapsed. The pain was unbearable.

We discovered she had suffered a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, a life-threatening emergency. She was rushed on a four-hour ambulance journey to Bangkok Phuket Hospital, where emergency surgery was performed by Dr Kittipat Pongpech to remove her fallopian tube.

We were traumatised. And we truly believed our dream of having a biological family was over.

Finding Hope

Despite everything, we didn’t give up.

We began exploring adoption and then came a turning point. We were referred to Dr Siobhan Quenby at Warwick University Hospital, a specialist in recurrent miscarriage.

Speaking to her was a revelation. We realised we weren’t alone. There was research, there were clinical trials, and, just maybe, there was hope.

Although extensive testing revealed no clear cause, Dr Quenby refused to let us give up. She helped us access clinical trials, including:

The SiM trial, which involved endometrial injury, sometimes referred to as “scratching”, to investigate whether it could improve implantation.
Treatment relating to Chronic Histiocytic Intervillositis (CHI), a rare condition associated with recurrent pregnancy loss.

These were difficult decisions. We had already endured so much, but we believed in the possibility of a different outcome.

Following the SiM trial, medication was used to improve Joanna’s womb lining. Once we conceived, she was given steroids and heparin as part of her treatment plan. The medication was stopped after the first trimester, and for the first time in years, we allowed ourselves to hope.

At around 20 weeks, we were given some amazing news: we were through the riskiest part of the pregnancy, and our baby was healthy.

We never felt such a wave of relief.

We were thrilled. Although still worried about what might happen, we were told we could begin thinking about names. We named our unborn son Rory. We spoke to him every day and watched the baby bump grow with nervous anticipation.

On 27th May 2014, Rory was born by planned caesarean section - he was breech!

Two years later, following the same treatment plan, our daughter Matilda was born via emergency caesarean.

Following their births, we sent photographs to Dr Kittipat Pongpech, filled with gratitude. His skill had not only saved Joanna’s life but protected our chance of becoming parents.

We made a promise then that one day we would return to thank him in person.

In 2025, on Christmas Day, that promise was finally fulfilled.

We returned to Bangkok Phuket Hospital to see Dr Kittipat again, with Rory and Matilda. Standing together so many years later was deeply emotional and a powerful reminder of how close we had come to losing everything.

We were advised not to try for more children because of the risks. We are at peace with that. We feel incredibly lucky to have Rory and Matilda. They are everything to us.

The People Who Made It Possible

There were key individuals who made this outcome possible.

Dr Kittipat Pongpech, the surgeon in Thailand, performed laparoscopic surgery during Joanna’s ectopic rupture, helping to minimise complications and scarring despite the emergency.
Dr Siobhan Quenby and her team gave us not just treatment, but compassion, understanding, and hope.

During both pregnancies, reassurance scans helped us manage the anxiety that came with our previous experience. Every gesture of care made a difference.

We are forever grateful to these professionals and to the wider fertility and women’s health community.

Why We Founded Fertility Talent

Without the fertility industry, we wouldn’t have our children.

It includes everyone from embryologists and obstetricians to researchers, nurses and other professionals working across the NHS and independent healthcare. We’ve seen first hand the passion, expertise and purpose these professionals bring to their work.

One of our clients has helped bring over 50,000 babies into the world. That’s not just a statistic. It represents more than 50,000 families whose lives have been changed.

In 2021, after years of working in healthcare recruitment through Stroud Resourcing, and inspired by our personal journey, we launched Fertility Talent as a dedicated recruitment specialist for the fertility and women’s health sector.

We wanted to support the sector that had supported us, champion the people working within it and help clinics and organisations find the talent they need to continue changing lives.

Our Mission

Our fertility story has a happy ending, and we are proud to represent an industry that works every day to help make that possible for others.

We exist to support the professionals who supported us, give back to the sector that gave us so much and help organisations build the teams they need to deliver better care.

This wasn’t a story we used to tell. It’s one of the hardest chapters in our lives, four years filled with heartbreak, anxiety, and loss. But it’s also the story of how we found hope, how we became parents, and developed an even deeper commitment to the fertility sector.

We were already recruiting within healthcare through Stroud Resourcing, including within fertility and women’s health. But our personal experience gave us the drive to create something more focused: a business dedicated to supporting the people and organisations working in this remarkable sector.

That’s what led to the launch of Fertility Talent in 2021.

Today, we share our story openly with clients, candidates and colleagues because behind our business is a deeply personal reason for doing what we do.

The Start of Our Journey

Like thousands of other couples, we struggled to have children for many years.

Each time we conceived again, hope returned, but it came hand-in-hand with fear. We were constantly waiting for bad news. Over the years, that news came three more times. Every loss chipped away at our strength and our optimism.

We tried everything we could think of - lifestyle changes, supplements, private scans and anything that could improve our chances. But each time, we were left devastated.

The Breaking Point

Our third pregnancy ended in a missed miscarriage following the first trimester. We had experienced regular scans and Joanna was visibly pregnant. Learning that we had lost the baby was a terrible shock.

Chromosomal testing revealed no abnormalities; our baby had been a healthy girl. The grief was overwhelming, particularly because we had no clear explanation of what had happened.

In 2013, we experienced a fourth miscarriage. Emotionally and physically exhausted, we booked a holiday to Thailand to process what had happened. But just before we left, Joanna began experiencing abdominal pain. We feared an incomplete miscarriage.

At the hospital, we had to fight for a proper scan. A transabdominal ultrasound was performed, and we were told everything had passed. We requested a more accurate transvaginal scan, but this was refused.

While trekking on a remote Thai island, Joanna collapsed. The pain was unbearable.

We discovered she had suffered a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, a life-threatening emergency. She was rushed on a four-hour ambulance journey to Bangkok Phuket Hospital, where emergency surgery was performed by Dr Kittipat Pongpech to remove her fallopian tube.

We were traumatised. And we truly believed our dream of having a biological family was over.

Finding Hope

Despite everything, we didn’t give up.

We began exploring adoption and then came a turning point. We were referred to Dr Siobhan Quenby at Warwick University Hospital, a specialist in recurrent miscarriage.

Speaking to her was a revelation. We realised we weren’t alone. There was research, there were clinical trials, and, just maybe, there was hope.

Although extensive testing revealed no clear cause, Dr Quenby refused to let us give up. She helped us access clinical trials, including:

The SiM trial, which involved endometrial injury, sometimes referred to as “scratching”, to investigate whether it could improve implantation.

Treatment relating to Chronic Histiocytic Intervillositis (CHI), a rare condition associated with recurrent pregnancy loss.

These were difficult decisions. We had already endured so much, but we believed in the possibility of a different outcome.

Following the SiM trial, medication was used to improve Joanna’s womb lining. Once we conceived, she was given steroids and heparin as part of her treatment plan. The medication was stopped after the first trimester, and for the first time in years, we allowed ourselves to hope.

At around 20 weeks, we were given some amazing news: we were through the riskiest part of the pregnancy, and our baby was healthy.

We never felt such a wave of relief.

We were thrilled. Although still worried about what might happen, we were told we could begin thinking about names. We named our unborn son Rory. We spoke to him every day and watched the baby bump grow with nervous anticipation.

On 27th May 2014, Rory was born by planned caesarean section - he was breech!

Two years later, following the same treatment plan, our daughter Matilda was born via emergency caesarean.

Following their births, we sent photographs to Dr Kittipat Pongpech, filled with gratitude. His skill had not only saved Joanna’s life but protected our chance of becoming parents.

We made a promise then that one day we would return to thank him in person.

In 2025, on Christmas Day, that promise was finally fulfilled.

We returned to Bangkok Phuket Hospital to see Dr Kittipat again, with Rory and Matilda. Standing together so many years later was deeply emotional and a powerful reminder of how close we had come to losing everything.

We were advised not to try for more children because of the risks. We are at peace with that. We feel incredibly lucky to have Rory and Matilda. They are everything to us.

The People Who Made It Possible

There were key individuals who made this outcome possible.

Dr Kittipat Pongpech, the surgeon in Thailand, performed laparoscopic surgery during Joanna’s ectopic rupture, helping to minimise complications and scarring despite the emergency.

Dr Siobhan Quenby and her team gave us not just treatment, but compassion, understanding, and hope.

During both pregnancies, reassurance scans helped us manage the anxiety that came with our previous experience. Every gesture of care made a difference.

We are forever grateful to these professionals and to the wider fertility and women’s health community.

Why We Founded Fertility Talent

Without the fertility industry, we wouldn’t have our children.

It includes everyone from embryologists and obstetricians to researchers, nurses and other professionals working across the NHS and independent healthcare. We’ve seen first hand the passion, expertise and purpose these professionals bring to their work.

One of our clients has helped bring over 50,000 babies into the world. That’s not just a statistic. It represents more than 50,000 families whose lives have been changed.

In 2021, after years of working in healthcare recruitment through Stroud Resourcing, and inspired by our personal journey, we launched Fertility Talent as a dedicated recruitment specialist for the fertility and women’s health sector.

We wanted to support the sector that had supported us, champion the people working within it and help clinics and organisations find the talent they need to continue changing lives.

Our Mission

Our fertility story has a happy ending, and we are proud to represent an industry that works every day to help make that possible for others.

We exist to support the professionals who supported us, give back to the sector that gave us so much and help organisations build the teams they need to deliver better care.

That is why Fertility Talent exists.