“I launched OVUM after my own fertility struggles highlighted the gaps in the support available, both in the products I needed and in society more broadly. A culture of silence can lead to women having fewer conversations and therefore not finding the right products and treatments for them. Through Break the Silence, we want to help change that, standing alongside Pregnant Then Screwed and Fertility Matters at Work this Fertility Awareness Week to raise awareness and give people practical advice.”

“These figures show a workplace culture that is still punishing women who need medical treatment to support their fertility. Silence shouldn't be the safest option. We're calling for statutory protection and clear legal rights for people undergoing fertility treatment, so no one has to choose between their career and their chance of having a family.”

“The example employers are given in the EHRC's Code of Practice compares a woman needing time off for IVF with a man taking a week off for cosmetic dental surgery, which shows how poorly this medical treatment is still understood. It leaves people incredibly vulnerable. Those who disclose are often showing their hand before they're even pregnant, telling their employer they intend to have a baby in a world that still discriminates against maternity, and hoping it won't be held against them. Employers don't need to wait for the law to change to put that right.”