As direct-to-consumer fertility testing rapidly expands, people can now access home sperm and hormone tests, book pelvic ultrasound scans at independent centres, and make major reproductive decisions without ever consulting a healthcare professional, let alone a fertility specialist. At the same time, Instagram and TikTok are crowded with self-appointed ‘experts’ offering advice and paid recommendations, often outside established clinical and regulatory frameworks, including that of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. Tim’s talk will explore the opportunities, risks and unanswered questions created by this fast-moving shift in reproductive healthcare, from a reproductive medicine perspective. Tim Child is Associate Professor of Reproductive Medicine at the University of Oxford. He is a board member of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, where he chairs the Scientific and Clinical Advances Advisory Committee. His clinical and academic work focuses on fertility, IVF and reproductive healthcare, with particular interests in evidence-based practice, regulation and patient information. He is Chair of Trustees of The Fertility Alliance charity and also shares myth-busting, patient-focused fertility content on Instagram at @drtimchild. This talk was recorded at our event ‘Direct-to-Consumer Medical Testing: Exploring Opportunities & Challenges’ which took place at St Anne’s College, University of Oxford on Tuesday 5th May 2026.

Watch Now