37 years of making babies, and 70 years young
Working in the Fertility industry is possibly one of the biggest joys of my life. Obviously my kids and husband take the top spots, but this job is certainly a joy. Seeing people who arrive in my DM’s completely lost, emotionally drained, often after unsuccessful fertility treatment, possibly even loss. They soon become better informed, guided and hopeful of what is actually possible through UK surrogacy. Slightly different journey from that of same sex male couples or single gay men. We begin this journey with joy and excitement, of course we may be confused or unsure of the pathway – but it begins with a completely different starting emotion and energy level.
Before we tracked our every move, meal and breath on social media, I worked within Healthcare recruitment, and still have my own recruitment business. The difference now is that this only equates to 10% of my time – yet 100% of that focus is now committed to recruiting HCA’s, Fertility Nurses, Embryologists, and Doctors for the fertility industry. I completely changed my business model as it just made sense, as all my recent network was in this [fertility] space. That’s the thing with the fertility industry – once you’re involved it’s hard to let go of it. It becomes an obsession, a passion, unlike any other job I’ve had – in fact it doesn’t even feel like a job. I’ve only had a mere few years under my belt, unlike some in the industry. Which got me thinking. In speaking to one of my clients, (Herts & Essex Fertility Centre) the wonderful Marna and I were having a chat about the distant memory of 2019, and the wonderful garden party celebrating 30 years of the clinic and what a fab event it was. It turns out the incredible Michael Ah-Moye FRCOG CEO of Herts & Essex Fertility Centre and Consultant Gynaecologist, is having a special birthday and happens to be celebrating (within government guidance) around Chinese New Year too
Meet Michael
Michael has almost 37 years’ experience working exclusively in the field of IVF and Assisted Conception since starting in 1984 within the NHS in Oxford. With two other Gynaecologists in 1985, he was a founder member of the Fertility & IVF Unit at the Wellington Hospital in London, under the directorship of Professor Ian Craft, who was famous for his pioneering work in IVF, and was the second person in the UK to be responsible for an IVF birth after Mr Patrick Steptoe. The Unit quickly became the largest and busiest IVF unit in the world at that time, performing over 3500 IVF cycles per year. Michael was Deputy Medical Director when he left in 1989 to start his own independent IVF centre.
A Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists, he is also a member of the British Fertility Society, the European Society for Human Reproduction & Embryology and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
As we’ve learnt, in 1989, Michael founded the Essex Fertility Centre at Holly House Hospital in Essex. 18 years later, the team relocated to their current purpose built clinic in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, and was renamed the Herts & Essex Fertility Centre – a TwoDadsUK partner clinic, a My Surrogacy Journey Directory member and the Surrogacy sponsor of The Modern Family Show. Michael turns 70 on the 13th of February and he’s still seeing patients, still making babies with love and science – 37 years on. Now that’s commitment and passion.
Michael photographed here with Debbie Evans, Director of Clinical Services Santa Michael!
Herts and Essex Fertility Centre IVF treatment success rates are among the highest in the country, as confirmed by the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority (HFEA). Their dedicated team has helped to create thousands of happy new families with the successful delivery of over 6,500 babies since 1989.
Clinic Services
In addition to IVF, they offer a range of treatments including fully funded IVF options with an Egg Donation scheme, in-house Sperm Bank, Egg, Sperm and Embryo freezing treatments, surgical sperm retrieval, award-winning Surrogacy with outstanding results and more.
Michael’s impressive experience and expertise in Assisted Conception has resulted in the successful and safe delivery of thousands of babies and thousands of happy new families. Widely renowned for his medical prowess, he is equally respected for his meticulous, caring and personal approach to all his patients.
From us to you Michael – Happy 70th Birthday – thank you for your commitment to the fertility industry.
Did Michael help you complete your family? We’d love to hear from you. Comment or message us and we’d love to pass on your thanks to him and the team.
Michael Johnson-Ellis
Michael Johnson-Ellis is Dad to Talulah and Duke, step Dad to Katie, and husband to Wes. Since having children Michael changed his career from a stressful city job, to being an award winning Surrogacy advocate, supporting those who are struggling to conceive or are from the LGBTQ community, and dream of parenthood. Michael blogs and documents his life as a parent via TwoDadsUK® on Facebook and Instagram. Michael and Wes are both founders of TwoDadsUK®(www.TwoDadsUK.com), The Modern Family Show 2021 (the only UK LGBTQ family building event, and the latest Surrogacy not for profit organisation My Surrogacy Journey®(www.mysurrogacyjourney.com). Michael also writes for IVF Babble, the world’s largest online fertility magazine and has recently established IVF Babble LGBT. Michael recently was awarded one of the twenty two Census purple plaques, recognising his work to the trying to conceive community. TwoDadsUK has collaborated with brands such as Cow & Gate Baby Club, Audi, Save The Children, Vodafone, Sainsburys, and appeared on TV such as BBC Breakfast, CBeebies and Channel 4 to name a few.
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