This weekend, Documentary On Newstalk presents - "Childless" a new documentary by producer Hilary Fennell.

"It’s hard to imagine that there remains a subject so taboo that although shared by one in five women over 45, it is never discussed. That subject is being childless, but not by choice." -  Hilary Fennell, programme maker and journalist is one of a growing number of such women in Ireland. In this  documentary she explores what it means to be childless in a child-centred society and breaks the taboo of ‘social infertility’ by hearing the stories of six women.

"The thing that infuriates me most are the ‘bingo’ comments: ‘Why don’t you just adopt? Why not buy sperm? Why not use a surrogate?’ As if it was that simple,’ comments psychotherapist Jody Day."

Presenter Hilary delves into the emotional, physical and social impact of childlessness and why she feels it is such a huge taboo.

"All the media wants is the happy-ending-miracle-twin IVF stories, or the women who are childless by choice. Nobody ever talks about the years of baby-mania - hormone testing kits, invasive treatments, crazy diets, acupuncture, herbal remedies, reiki healing, you name it. All, for nothing,’ says children’s mental health support worker and a solution-based hypnotherapist Jemma White.

Sensitive but probing, with interviews recorded on location in the subjects’ homes aided by creative soundscapes and a contemporary score by Daragh Dukes.

Funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the Television Licence Fee, Childless will be broadcast on Newstalk on Sunday January 23rd at 7am and again on Saturday January 29th at 9pm. The documentary will be available as a podcast on Sunday January 23rd.