Kirsten Mclennan | Straight Up Infertility

Welcome to Straight Up Infertility. I’m Kirsten — a writer, infertility advocate, and proud IVF and surrogacy mum.

I use my lived experience and professional background to support, inform, and empower others navigating infertility.

If you're looking for a professional writer, speaker, or partner in infertility advocacy, I'd love to connect.

You can learn more about my professional writing services here.

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Our infertility journey was the hardest experience of my life. There were times I felt overwhelmed, confused, and deeply isolated.

I created this space to share my IVF and surrogacy journey openly - to help others feel less alone and to raise awareness about the realities of infertility.

I also offer professional writing services for individuals and organisations working in fertility and women's health space.You can learn more here.

Read My Story

Most Recent

Looking After Yourself at Christmas When Trying to Conceive

I was wandering through a shopping centre 4 weeks ago when I heard it: “We wish you a Merry Christmas.” Not even December yet—and the Christmas music was already blasting. Because Christmas is never just a week or two. It’s months of build-up. Decorations, parties, school concerts, shopping… an explosion of festive everything at every corner. For many, Christmas is joyful—warm, cosy, full of togetherness. But if you’re facing infertility at Christmas, it can feel like a minef

Dec 24, 20253 min read

Infertility at Christmas: The 12 Days of Christmas survival guide

*As featured in IVF babble. The holiday season is often a time of joy and celebration. It’s filled with laughter around the dinner table and the magic of children opening presents from Santa on Christmas morning. But for those with infertility, Christmas can feel like a magnifying glass on what’s missing. It can be a painful reminder of the one thing you desperately want and would do anything to have. As we know, infertility is often an invisible grief and it’s suffered in

Dec 1, 20253 min read

Your first IVF cycle: What to expect

When you first start IVF, it can be daunting. During our IVF and surrogacy journey, I felt excited and hopeful but also overwhelmed. Some weeks fertility treatment felt like a full-time job. And while there are some differences between countries and IVF clinics, here’s what a typical first IVF cycle looks like. The Preparation 1. Paperwork. Police checks, child protection checks, consent forms and payment forms. 2. Mandatory couple’s counselling. 3. Blood and uri

Oct 22, 20254 min read

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