In brief: A survey by Jersey fertility charity Tiny Seeds has found that 64% of respondents say fertility struggles have severely affected their lives, with grief, depression and anxiety among the most commonly reported impacts. The findings are published as the charity marks five years of operation and National Fertility Awareness Week gets under way.
The Scale of the Struggle
The numbers from Tiny Seeds’ 2026 survey of fertility and reproductive experiences make for sobering reading. Channel Eye reports that around 70% of respondents reported grief or loss, 67% experienced low mood or depression, and 66% reported anxiety. Two thirds also reported feelings of failure or inadequacy, and more than half (53%) described social isolation or withdrawal. Seven per cent disclosed experiencing suicidal thoughts as a result of their fertility struggles.
The charity is careful to note that the findings reflect the experiences of those who responded and are not necessarily representative of everyone experiencing fertility difficulties in Jersey. Even so, the breadth and depth of distress described is striking.
One respondent, Ioana Teslaru, shared her personal experience with Channel Eye: “It took so long and it took so much out of us, it was a decade of grief. We became isolated, we couldn’t find it within us to socialise with our friends. And also, I have to say it took a toll on our marriage, we went through ups and downs.”
Her account will resonate with many Islanders. Fertility difficulties are rarely discussed openly, which is precisely the problem Tiny Seeds was set up to address.
One in Thirteen Babies Born Through IVF
To put the issue in context, figures provided by the charity show that 7.4% of babies born in Jersey in 2025 were conceived through IVF, equivalent to approximately one in every 13 births. That is a significant proportion of the Island’s new arrivals, and it underlines just how many families are navigating the financial and emotional demands of assisted reproduction.
Since 2023, Tiny Seeds has awarded more than 160 grants of £400 each towards off-island IVF travel and accommodation costs, specifically supporting people who do not qualify for government-funded IVF treatment. For those who fall outside the eligibility criteria for public funding, the costs of travelling to a mainland clinic, finding accommodation and taking time off work can be considerable. A £400 grant will not cover everything, but it is a meaningful contribution at a stressful time.
Dr Jessica Langtree Marsh of Fertility Health Hub Jersey told Channel Eye: “The support provided by Tiny Seeds is invaluable during what is often one of the most difficult periods of their lives. Despite being a relatively small organisation, they provide unwavering compassion, practical support, and a sense of community for those who can otherwise feel very isolated.”
Five Years On, and Still Growing
Tiny Seeds was founded five years ago and has since built a range of support services, including one-to-one counselling, group crafting sessions and question-and-answer events with healthcare professionals. National Fertility Awareness Week, running from 2 to 6 November, provides an annual opportunity to raise the charity’s profile. This year, Collins on King Street will display information about Tiny Seeds in its Broad Street window.
Founder Chloé Fosse said: “As we celebrate five years of Tiny Seeds, our mission remains the same: to make sure nobody in Jersey has to navigate fertility struggles alone. Fertility Awareness Week is an important opportunity to break down the stigma, encourage more open conversations and remind people that behind every statistic is someone experiencing an incredibly difficult journey.”
Anyone in Jersey who is affected by fertility difficulties and needs support can find out more about Tiny Seeds and its services through the charity directly.
Source: Channel Eye
