Kenneth and Lauren’s Journey with Male Factor Infertility

When Lauren and Kenneth Smith, from Barnstaple, North Devon, decided to start a family in December 2016, they didn’t anticipate the complex hurdles they would face in trying to build their family.

After a year of trying and a trip to their GP, Kenneth (aged 35) had a sperm test and it was discovered he had a low sperm count linked to an undescended testicle as a young boy which wasn’t detected until he was 14.

At the same time, testing revealed a secondary challenge for the couple; Lauren (aged 32), a nursery manager who spent her life working with children, was diagnosed with PMOS (Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome or previously referred as PCOS - Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) which can make it difficult to get pregnant. At the same time, testing revealed a secondary challenge for the couple; Lauren (aged 32), a nursery manager who spent her life working with children, was diagnosed with PMOS (Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome or previously referred as PCOS - Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) which can make it difficult to get pregnant.

At the same time, testing revealed a secondary challenge for the couple; Lauren (aged 32), a nursery manager who spent her life working with children, was diagnosed with PMOS (Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome or previously referred as PCOS - Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) which can make it difficult to get pregnant. The couple were given the news that they would need IVF treatment to fulfil their dream of having children.

However, they hit an immediate barrier. Lauren wasn’t eligible for NHS funding because her BMI was too high. So, she started her life changing health journey to lose weight, which is made harder when you suffer with PMOS as weight gain and loss is extremely difficult due to insulin resistance and hormonal disruptions.

Kenneth also made changes to his lifestyle, doing Slimming World with Lauren and eating healthily to ensure his sperm health was improved. Lauren went on to lose an incredible total of 20 stone across two separate stages of her fertility journey, however, Lauren’s BMI reading was still too high to be accepted because of the loose skin left from significant weight loss, so going private was the only option.

They wanted to find the best clinic both in terms of statistics but also somewhere they felt listened to and understood. So, after doing their own research on the HFEA website, they chose BCRM (Bristol Centre for Reproductive Medicine) in Bristol, which is a two hour trip each way from their home in Devon. After attending an open evening and meeting the team,

they knew it was the clinic for them and Kenneth credits the team at BCRM for keeping them grounded.

"Our consultant, Dr Akande, listened to us and made us feel at ease immediately. In fact, the whole team were rooting for us," Lauren recalls. “At every stage, they were reassuring and made us feel cared for.”

To fund the treatment, they took out an Access Fertility package which covered three rounds of IVF but had a 90% money back guarantee if it didn’t work. “For us, that peace of mind that we would get most of the money back if we didn’t have a baby was the decider for us. We didn’t have savings and we knew we wanted a family so much, it was the only option we could use as time is so precious when it comes to infertility.”

They did the first ICSI round of treatment in May 2019, where they had 16 eggs collected which resulted in three embryos, two of which were frozen for future use. Their very first fresh embryo transfer was a success, and Lauren gave birth to their daughter, Ella Grace, now six years old.

Wanting to complete their family and give Ella Grace a sibling, Lauren faced a second hurdle. After gaining all the weight she lost during the pandemic lockdown, she worked hard to lose 10.5 stone over nearly two and a half years to reach treatment eligibility again.

In March 2025, they returned to BCRM to for another embryo transfer and Lauren suffered a heartbreaking chemical pregnancy. Undeterred, she moved straight into a second transfer the following month with her remaining embryo and in April 2025, she was pregnant. She gave birth to Reuben (now five months old) on 18th March 2026.

“Reuben was born six years after our treatment which is crazy thinking that they could have been twins but his embryo was frozen! Ella Grace adores her brother and they have the best bond already. She really is a proud big sister.”

Despite the physical toll of losing 20 stone, the financial worries, and the travel, the couple remained focused on their dream of being parents: "When you are in that position, you are so determined. I lost 20 stone in total because the thought of not having children wasn't an option. You do anything to get the family you want," says Lauren.

"Whether you are facing weight loss, financial stress, or daunting odds, don't give up hope. Time is precious with infertility, but when you are in that position, determination carries you through. I would do it all again in a heartbeat."

Commenting on Lauren and Kenneth’s journey, Dr Akande, chief medical officer at BCRM, said: "Lauren and Kenneth’s story is a real testament to their resilience and determination. When a couple comes to us facing combined fertility challenges alongside complex barriers like PMOS, where losing weight is an exceptionally difficult battle due to underlying hormonal disruptions, it can feel like the odds are completely stacked against them.

"What made their journey so remarkable was her absolute strength of purpose. To lose 20 stone across two separate stages of treatment purely to make her dream of motherhood a reality shows a level of dedication that deeply inspired our entire team. It was an absolute privilege to guide them through their treatment and to help bring both Ella Grace and baby Reuben into the world.

“Stories like theirs are precisely why we do what we do at BCRM. To prove that even when the journey feels daunting, with the right care and support, building your dream family is truly possible."