Fat and Fertile – Details, episodes & analysis

Should I Take a GLP-1 for My Fertility?

If you're being told you need to lose weight before you can access fertility treatment, and GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro are part of that conversation, this episode is for you. Because you deserve to make this decision with the full picture, not just the version the pharmaceutical companies want you to hear.

In this episode:

Why GLP-1s are increasingly being offered to fat folks wanting to get pregnant, and why the logic behind that recommendation is shakier than it's presented as

The genuine potential benefits worth knowing about, including for folks with PCOS, insulin resistance, or type 2 diabetes, and why access to care is a real and valid consideration

The risks that often go unmentioned, including nutritional deficiencies, weight regain after stopping, and the absence of long-term human pregnancy safety data

Why the research linking weight loss to better fertility outcomes tells a more complicated story, and what it's more likely actually showing

Four questions to sit with before making your decision, so that whatever you choose, you're choosing it with your eyes open

This is the first in a four-part series on GLP-1s this month.

Useful links:

Fat Positive Fertility Roadmap Sessions

Free download: Fat Person's Guide to Getting Pregnant

Follow Nicola on Instagram: @fatpositivefertility

If you've been hurt by the healthcare system while trying to access fertility care, you are not alone, and you are not broken. This episode is for anyone who has experienced harm, dismissal, or humiliation from healthcare providers and is now caught in the incredibly difficult position of needing care from a system that has already hurt them.

In this episode, we cover:

What healthcare trauma actually looks like, and why so many fat folks experience it without ever naming it that way

How your nervous system responds to perceived threats (fight, flight, fawn, and freeze) and why your fear is not self-sabotage

The Prepare and Care framework: practical steps to support yourself before and after appointments

The difference between advocacy mode and survival mode, and why it matters

How to find trauma-informed providers, and what to do when that's not possible

Key takeaway: Your fear of being harmed again is a completely rational, protective response. You do not have to be in advocacy mode all the time. Sometimes just getting through the appointment is enough.

Resources & Links

📖 Fat and Fertile

🌿 Work with Nicola: Fat Positive Fertility Roadmap

📱 Instagram: @fatpositivefertility

📧 Email: nicola@nicolasalmon.co.uk

Content note: This episode discusses weight loss, weight-based medical discrimination, and fertility challenges. Please take care of yourself as you listen.

This week's episode is one that made me both furious and hopeful in equal measure. I sat down with Zoe, who spent years being told to lose weight before she'd be taken seriously about her fertility. After losing nearly four stone and still getting nowhere with UK fertility services, she went to Greece for testing and discovered extensive uterine scarring that would've prevented pregnancy entirely, regardless of her weight.

If you've ever been dismissed by doctors who only see your body size, or if you're stuck in "unexplained infertility" territory, this episode is for you. Zoe's story shows why proper investigation matters and what becomes possible when you get the care you actually deserve.

In this episode, we cover:

- Why "unexplained infertility" often means "we haven't investigated properly" and what testing might be missing

- How Zoe discovered extensive uterine scarring that was completely treatable but would never have been found in the UK system

- The reality of accessing fertility care abroad and why Greece became the answer when UK services kept saying "lose weight first"

- What a hysteroscopy revealed in 10 minutes that years of UK appointments had missed

- Why weight loss couldn't have solved the actual problem and what that means for anyone being told their size is the issue

Useful Links:

Download: Fat Person's Guide to Getting Pregnant

Book a Fat Positive Fertility Roadmap Call

Follow me on Instagram

Email me a question for a future episode

Emma Haslam's work helping UK folks access fertility care abroad

This week's episode tackles a question I hear far too often, and it gets me every single time: "My doctor says I have PCOS but only looked at my weight. What now?"

If this is your experience, I want you to know something right away, what happened to you isn't medicine. It's bias dressed up as care, and you deserve so much better.In this episode, we cover:

- What the Rotterdam criteria actually are and why they matter

- Why weight doesn't cause PCOS (and why that distinction is so important)

- Other conditions that might be going on if you haven't been properly tested

- Practical ways to advocate for the healthcare you deserve

- What to do if you suspect you've been misdiagnosed

Useful Links:

Download: Fat Person's Guide to Getting Pregnant

Book a Fat Positive Fertility Roadmap Call

Follow me on Instagram

Email me a question for a future episode

Episode 23: When Your GP Won't Test Your Fertility Until You Lose Weight

This week, we're tackling one of the most common issues fat folks face: being denied basic fertility testing until they lose weight.

In this episode:

- Why it's not your fault when doctors refuse testing based on weight

- The basic fertility tests you deserve access to

- When to seek testing

- Why your sperm-producing partner should get tested first

- How to advocate for yourself when doctors say no

Key takeaway: You are not broken and you do not need fixing. The healthcare system needs fixing. There are absolutely tests that can and should be done regardless of your body size, and you deserve to have your health needs met.

Resources:

Book: "Fat and Fertile" - available on Amazon

Instagram: @fatpositivefertility

Email: nicola@nicolasalmon.co.uk

Fat Positive Fertility Roadmaps: personalised 90-minute calls to create your fertility plan

Send me your questions for future "In Your Corner" episodes via DM or email!

In this personal episode, I'm sharing my PCOS journey - from diagnosis at 16 to navigating fertility and finding weight-neutral care approaches.

What We Cover:

My PCOS story and unexpected fertility journey

3 major PCOS myths that need busting

Weight-neutral care advice that doesn't involve weight-loss!

Sponsored by Inofolic Alpha Plus - The only PCOS supplement designed for folks with BMI over 25. Use code NICOLAPOD for 10% off.

Resources:

Book a Fat Positive Fertility Roadmap Session

Join the Substack community

Get the book: Fat and Fertile

Have questions about PCOS? Share your story in the Substack comments - I'd love to hear from you!

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: nicola@nicolasalmon.co.uk
• 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.

Hi folksHere is our Q&A for April.We talked about pregnancy tests for fat folks. Are they as effective?I'd love to hear your thoughts. Share below in the comments or head over to our Discord server for a chat x

References:

* Shah, A., Kimball, S., & Beesley, S. et al. (2012). "The relationship between body mass index and quantitative maternal serum human chorionic gonadotropin levels." Fertility and Sterility. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2012.06.011

* Steiner, A.Z., Long, D.L., et al. (2018). "Effect of Body Mass Index on pregnancy rates in women using intrauterine insemination or in vitro fertilization." The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/103/11/4209/5076007

* Eskild, A., Fedorcsak, P., Mørkrid, L., & Tanbo, T.G. "Maternal body mass index and serum concentrations of human chorionic gonadotropin in very early pregnancy."

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.

🧡 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

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.

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.

@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.

Hi folksHere is our Q&A for March.1. I discussed supplements for fertility and food.(I also have an episode on my podcast if you want extra info where I may or may not say exactly the same things 🤣 )2. I also shared some ideas about how to navigate family and friends being judgy about getting pregnant in a bigger body.I'd love to hear your thoughts. Share below in the comments