<description>&lt;p&gt;For this Yesticle, the Yes Girls take a more serious turn. No yesing, no games - just a deeply important conversation that too many women, couples, and families struggle with in silence.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This mini episode explores infertility, IVF, surrogacy, egg and sperm donation, and the evolving legal frameworks around Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) in Kenya.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Akumu and Claire sit down with Sandra Opiyo, founder of Nina Misaro Associates Advocates, an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, and one of the country's most passionate voices in ART Law, to unpack the rights, risks, realities, and emotional toll of navigating fertility challenges today.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Whether you're considering fertility treatment, supporting someone, or simply curious about how law and reproductive health intersect, this episode gives you clarity, grounding, and crucial information.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;_____&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent;"&gt;Timestamps to Specific Segments:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent;"&gt;(0:00) Intro&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent;"&gt;(1:59) Meet Sandra Opiyo - lawyer and specialist in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) law&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent;"&gt;(2:53) Explaining the terms: What is Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)? (+ IUI and IVF?)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent;"&gt;(5:38) Where and why must the law intervene, and what are the consequences of unregulated reproduction?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent;"&gt;(9:42) How the law is evolving around ART &amp;amp; reproductive rights in Kenya&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent;"&gt;(11:55) Countries with forward-thinking and comprehensive legal frameworks governing reproductive health and ART&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent;"&gt;(14:13) Legal protections for intended parents and surrogates&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent;"&gt;(15:45) Topics gaining attention in the ART space: robot surrogacy, designer babies, reproductive autonomy, egg/embryo freezing &amp;amp; fertility preservation, posthumous sperm extraction, sperm donor limits and regulations (e.g., the Jonathan Jacob Meijer case - The Man With 1000 Kids)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent;"&gt;(33:25) Sandra's advice for anyone seeking ART services: what to do when you can't get pregnant &amp;amp; what to know before starting any ART process&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent;"&gt;(35:50) The stigma surrounding fertility struggles, infertility, and reproductive autonomy in Africa&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent;"&gt;(42:41) What Sandra has recently said yes to&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent;"&gt;(44:09) Outro&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;______&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If you've ever wondered about infertility, IVF, surrogacy, or reproductive rights in Kenya, this conversation will give you clarity you didn't even realise you were missing.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Once you've listened, pass it on.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Infertility is more common and emotionally complex than people think. Women deserve informed consent, protection, and support — and families deserve empathy, not pressure. Sharing this episode might help someone finally feel seen.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent;"&gt;____________________&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(41, 47, 54); background-color: transparent;"&gt;If you enjoy the podcast, we love you! And we'd like to ask you to &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2yAqJtkJnlXJ23Z5A229hR" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent;"&gt;rate us on Spotify&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(41, 47, 54); background-color: transparent;"&gt; - it will only take a couple of seconds, we promise!&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(41, 47, 54); background-color: transparent;"&gt;If you listen to us on Apple Podcasts, please take a moment to&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-yes-girls/id1560933330" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent;"&gt; &lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-yes-girls/id1560933330" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(80, 0, 185); background-color: transparent;"&gt;leave a brief review&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(41, 47, 54); background-color: transparent;"&gt;. We promise it will take less than a minute unless, of course, you have more to say. In any case, we appreciate you!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(41, 47, 54); background-color: transparent;"&gt;Thanks in advance!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(41, 47, 54); background-color: transparent;"&gt;_____________________&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent;"&gt;For video logs, visit &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.youtube.com/@yesgirlspodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"&gt;https://www.youtube.com/@yesgirlspodcast&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(13, 13, 13);"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(41, 47, 54); background-color: transparent;"&gt;For blogs, visit&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://yesgirlspodcast.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(41, 47, 54); background-color: transparent;"&gt; &lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="https://yesgirlspodcast.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent;"&gt;https://yesgirlspodcast.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(41, 47, 54); background-color: transparent;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(41, 47, 54); background-color: transparent;"&gt;Feel free to follow us across these platforms:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.instagram.com/yesgirlspodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent;"&gt;INSTAGRAM&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.twitter.com/yesgirlspodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent;"&gt;TWITTER&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/yesgirlspodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent;"&gt;LINKEDIN&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@yesgirlspodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent;"&gt;TIKTOK&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Yes Girls Podcast | Do, Be, Learn Something New

Lifelong Learning with Akumu & Claire

81. When science makes babies & the state makes decisions: IVF, surrogacy & ART law w/ Sandra Opiyo - Yesticle

NOV 22, 202544 MIN
Yes Girls Podcast | Do, Be, Learn Something New

81. When science makes babies & the state makes decisions: IVF, surrogacy & ART law w/ Sandra Opiyo - Yesticle

NOV 22, 202544 MIN

Description

<p>For this Yesticle, the Yes Girls take a more serious turn. No yesing, no games - just a deeply important conversation that too many women, couples, and families struggle with in silence.</p><p><br></p><p>This mini episode explores infertility, IVF, surrogacy, egg and sperm donation, and the evolving legal frameworks around Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) in Kenya.</p><p><br></p><p>Akumu and Claire sit down with Sandra Opiyo, founder of Nina Misaro Associates Advocates, an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, and one of the country's most passionate voices in ART Law, to unpack the rights, risks, realities, and emotional toll of navigating fertility challenges today.</p><p><br></p><p>Whether you're considering fertility treatment, supporting someone, or simply curious about how law and reproductive health intersect, this episode gives you clarity, grounding, and crucial information.</p><p>_____</p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent;">Timestamps to Specific Segments:</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent;">(0:00) Intro</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent;">(1:59) Meet Sandra Opiyo - lawyer and specialist in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) law</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent;">(2:53) Explaining the terms: What is Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)? (+ IUI and IVF?)</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent;">(5:38) Where and why must the law intervene, and what are the consequences of unregulated reproduction?</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent;">(9:42) How the law is evolving around ART &amp; reproductive rights in Kenya</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent;">(11:55) Countries with forward-thinking and comprehensive legal frameworks governing reproductive health and ART</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent;">(14:13) Legal protections for intended parents and surrogates</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent;">(15:45) Topics gaining attention in the ART space: robot surrogacy, designer babies, reproductive autonomy, egg/embryo freezing &amp; fertility preservation, posthumous sperm extraction, sperm donor limits and regulations (e.g., the Jonathan Jacob Meijer case - The Man With 1000 Kids)</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent;">(33:25) Sandra's advice for anyone seeking ART services: what to do when you can't get pregnant &amp; what to know before starting any ART process</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent;">(35:50) The stigma surrounding fertility struggles, infertility, and reproductive autonomy in Africa</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent;">(42:41) What Sandra has recently said yes to</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent;">(44:09) Outro</span></p><p>______</p><p><br></p><p>If you've ever wondered about infertility, IVF, surrogacy, or reproductive rights in Kenya, this conversation will give you clarity you didn't even realise you were missing.</p><p>Once you've listened, pass it on.</p><p><br></p><p>Infertility is more common and emotionally complex than people think. Women deserve informed consent, protection, and support — and families deserve empathy, not pressure. Sharing this episode might help someone finally feel seen.</p><p><span style="background-color: transparent;">____________________</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(41, 47, 54); background-color: transparent;">If you enjoy the podcast, we love you! And we'd like to ask you to </span><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2yAqJtkJnlXJ23Z5A229hR" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent;">rate us on Spotify</a><span style="color: rgb(41, 47, 54); background-color: transparent;"> - it will only take a couple of seconds, we promise!&nbsp;</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(41, 47, 54); background-color: transparent;">If you listen to us on Apple Podcasts, please take a moment to</span><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-yes-girls/id1560933330" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent;"> </a><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-yes-girls/id1560933330" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(80, 0, 185); background-color: transparent;">leave a brief review</a><span style="color: rgb(41, 47, 54); background-color: transparent;">. We promise it will take less than a minute unless, of course, you have more to say. In any case, we appreciate you!</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(41, 47, 54); background-color: transparent;">Thanks in advance!</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(41, 47, 54); background-color: transparent;">_____________________</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent;">For video logs, visit </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@yesgirlspodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">https://www.youtube.com/@yesgirlspodcast</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(13, 13, 13);">&nbsp;</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(41, 47, 54); background-color: transparent;">For blogs, visit</span><a href="https://yesgirlspodcast.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(41, 47, 54); background-color: transparent;"> </a><a href="https://yesgirlspodcast.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent;">https://yesgirlspodcast.com/</a><span style="color: rgb(41, 47, 54); background-color: transparent;">&nbsp;</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(41, 47, 54); background-color: transparent;">Feel free to follow us across these platforms:</span></p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/yesgirlspodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent;">INSTAGRAM</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">&nbsp;</span></p><p><a href="https://www.twitter.com/yesgirlspodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent;">TWITTER</a></p><p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/yesgirlspodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent;">LINKEDIN</a></p><p><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@yesgirlspodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent;">TIKTOK</a></p>