Philipp Marx
Founder of RattleStork
Philipp Marx is a founder of RattleStork and a former international sperm donor. He writes from first-hand experience about sperm donation, co-parenting, and alternative paths to parenthood.
Before founding RattleStork, Philipp donated sperm in several countries. That experience showed him how differently people approach donor conception, trust, personal boundaries, and co-parenting.
At RattleStork, he combines that perspective with publicly available sources and practical guidance for donors, recipients, and prospective co-parents. His personal experience is not a substitute for medical or legal advice.
Articles by this author
Total published articles:220
Ovulation Trackers Compared: LH Tests, Temperature Trackers, Rings and Apps
Ovulation trackers are tools that narrow down fertile days using hormones, temperature, or observable body signs.
HIV self-test: how reliable home testing is, when it works, and what a negative result actually means
An HIV self-test can give quick reassurance or a clear reason to seek follow-up, but only if you use it at the right time and read the result properly.
Which of us should carry the pregnancy? How lesbian couples can decide fairly and medically sensibly
Deciding who will carry the pregnancy is rarely something you can settle on feeling alone.
Reciprocal IVF: process, role choices, odds, and legal questions in the UK
In reciprocal IVF, one partner provides the eggs and the other becomes pregnant.
Home insemination kits: contents, benefits, risks - what really helps
Home insemination kits are sets intended for a single use at home: a syringe without a needle places the sample near the cervix.
Ovarian stimulation: how it works, which medicines are used, the risks involved, and what really matters in IUI, IVF and ICSI
Ovarian stimulation does not automatically mean producing lots of eggs.
Natural Insemination: Does It Actually Give Better Chances?
Natural insemination means trying to conceive through unprotected sex with a donor.
Questions to ask before private sperm donation
If you are choosing a sperm donor, instinct is not enough.
How do I ask someone to become my sperm donor?
Asking someone to become a possible sperm donor is deeply personal, sensitive, and often tied to a lot of uncertainty.
Is Your Biological Clock Ticking? 7 Clear Signs and What to Do Next
If you feel like your biological clock is ticking, it is usually about more than age alone.
Getting pregnant as a single woman: safer routes, real trade-offs, and a workable plan
Getting pregnant as a single woman is entirely possible now, but the routes are not equally safe, lawful, or sustainable.
Social freezing: freezing your eggs – process, success rates, risks, costs and alternatives
Social freezing means freezing your eggs earlier in life so they can potentially be used later in fertility treatment.
Dating as a single parent: clear start, safe boundaries, steady progress
Dating can work without overwhelming your everyday routine.
Cross-border fertility: what really matters when treatment happens abroad
Cross-border fertility care can shorten waiting times, widen donor options, or make treatment possible that is not realistically available at home.
Understanding semen: what is normal, what affects quality, and when a check is worth it
Semen can vary in volume, colour, and consistency more than many people expect.
Supplements When Trying to Conceive: An Honest Guide to Folic Acid, Iodine, Vitamin D, Coenzyme Q10 and Inositol
If you search for fertility vitamins, you quickly end up on product pages with long ingredient lists and oversized promises.
Private sperm donation: Which health checks are sensible and what should you insist on?
Health checks can reduce the risk of infections and unexpected medical problems. They cannot eliminate it entirely. This is not a pessimistic view, but the essence of diagnostics: tests have limits, and something may change between the time of testing and the donation.
Could my child develop mental illness if I have mental health problems?
Many people with depression, anxiety, ADHD, trauma, or severe mental illness know the thought: What if I pass this on to my child?
Mental Health and Fertility: What Really Counts With Depression, Anxiety, Trauma, and Psychiatric Medication
When trying for a baby collides with depression, anxiety, trauma, or psychiatric medication, the topic can shift from hope to pressure very quickly.
Testicular torsion: symptoms, time window and what to do immediately
In testicular torsion, the testicle twists around the spermatic cord. The spermatic cord contains blood vessels and the vas deferens. If the blood supply is cut off, the testicular tissue can be damaged within a few hours.
Undescended testicle in children: causes, diagnosis, treatment, and why timing matters
An undescended testicle means one or both testicles are not permanently in the scrotum.
Is there an age limit for fertility treatment?
There is no single age cut-off that applies everywhere.