In this series you will hear conversations about routes to parenthood from same sex couples, solo parents as well as people navigating donor conception. You can learn about surrogacy around the world, the legalities involved and also we discuss adoption and childlessness not by choice.

This special episode isn't me, well you'll hear me at the start but it's a poddy take over by the lovely Cat Strawbridge aka @tryingyears

Cat now has her own podcast called Finally Pregnant, however, she started her presenting journey with a series of brilliant Instagram lives, talking about topics ranging from How to Choose a Clinic, Making Difficult Decisions, and The Dark Side of our emotions As part of this, she recently introduced a new ‘Fertility Lives’ series, inviting a guest to join her to talk about their own experiences because of #EveryStoryMatters.

Cat is a strong believer in us finding out more about each other’s experiences because it may help us be better prepared for what may lay ahead, plus it will help us, as part of the TTC community, to advocate on behalf of everyone dealing with fertility issues, no matter what their story.

It kicked off this week with Jocelyn aka @motheringsolo who talked about her journey to becoming a Solo Mum which includes egg freezing, donor selection, and more.

Welcome to National Fertility Awareness Week 2015 and Monday's episode. To help raise awareness of the week, I'm releasing a podcast every day starting with Carmen in Mexico.. now you might ask why I've chosen to leave the UK on day 1, but I want to highlight how there are people all over the world going through a similar struggle to start a family, as you might have found yourself going through.  Carmen found peace in her painting and later her storybooks which she has kindly donated as a giveaway. Scroll down to find out how you could get copies of her books.

About my Guest:

Carmen is a fertility coach, regression therapist, infertility writer, and painter now based in Mexico City.  During her infertility years, she painted her emotions, which without realizing was therapy for her.  This leads her to help people who, like her, had difficulty conceiving a child.  She became Director of the Mexican Infertility Association (AMI) and publish her autobiography 'I want to have a child, whatever it takes' and 6 stories for children on all the different forms of conception (egg donation, sperm donation, surrogacy, two dads, single mums, etc), which her sister Rosemary, illustrated.  Carmen has given lectures in India, Turkey, Spain, Chile, Brazil, the USA & Mexico.  Two years ago she helped form, RED TRAscender a network of Latin American support groups.

In this podcast you will learn: 

• The perception of infertility in Mexico
• Using art as therapy
• Dealing with loss
• Considering adoption

Follow Carmen on Twitter: @CarmenMJover

If you would like a copy of Carmen's books email info@thefertilitypodcast.com to be entered into a prize draw.