ivf journey support

7 vital things I learnt on my IVF journey

During early 2021, at the age of 40, I travelled with my husband, Russ to Prague for IVF. We’d been trying to naturally conceive a second child for two and a half years with no success. My existing condition – uterine adhesions had been rectified via private treatment during 2020. Due to our ages (40 and 44) and the fact that we’d already endured a long fertility struggle, we felt that it was important to not waste any more time and to get on with things. We researched our IVF options both in the UK and abroad. We opted to go abroad for IVF. Why? Well, I explain that below plus crucially I share the 7 vital things I learnt along the way.

1. Take time to think about what’s right for YOU and your partner and consider getting some expert support

I wouldn’t describe myself as a particularly decisive person. If I’m presented with endless options, I often feel overwhelmed. This was how I felt when my husband and I first started researching IVF abroad. Fortunately for us, we decided early-on to get help from Your IVF Abroad – an agency where you can pay to be matched to a safe European IVF clinic according to your needs and who supported us practically and emotionally through our treatment. Whilst this route felt right for us (we needed the expert guidance, to know things were safe and ‘right’ for us and the decision-making support and guidance through treatment), I appreciate that many people may wish to do their own research. My key advice here is to take time at the start to really consider what YOU (and your partner) need and to ensure you find a clinic that is regulated and safe and that can meet your needs. Often the decision to look into IVF abroad follows a gruelling fertility journey which may have included great disappointment and loss along the way. Sometimes people are already in a state of grief and perhaps don’t realise it.

2. Research, research, research!

This possibly sounds obvious but research is key. For us, much of the research was done by the agency we paid to support us. I personally found it really overwhelming to do the research and was not sure how to narrow down the pool of clinics I found when looking online. Overseas clinics (particularly in Europe) are generally well set-up to communicate with foreign patients. There are also many great sources of advice:

• the HFEA (Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority) have advice re: treatment abroad on their website www.hfea.gov.uk
• EggDonationFriends.com – great resource regarding IVF with donor eggs options abroad
• FertilityClinicsAbroad.com – general resource regarding IVF treatment abroad
• es-klappt-nicht.de is another great source of expert advice.

3. Clear and transparent communication is key

Undertaking IVF abroad can feel overwhelming. As our early decision-making stages fell during the Covid pandemic, I recall feeling anxious that I couldn’t just get in the car and go and see the clinics we were considering for myself. I felt a natural need to see the clinics with my own eyes – to see the levels of cleanliness, to see the clinic staff I’d been talking to, to meet in-person the doctors who would be overseeing my IVF cycle. My own way of managing this was to talk in depth with the UK-based agency who were supporting us. They had vetted the clinics themselves and were able to talk me through what to expect.

We managed to narrow our search down to two clinics in Prague, Czech Republic. It might sound irrelevant to a medical-based decision but Prague was somewhere my husband and I had always wanted to visit so it was a bonus to spend 10 days (our length of treatment abroad) in a City we’d always dreamed of exploring. There were of course other important factors (for example no waiting list) that influenced our decision too. When it came to deciding between the two clinics, we chose Gennet simply because it felt right. Looking back, this was largely down to the clinic’s clear and transparent communication. Whilst much of the communication was via email, the language was consistently clear. I never felt uneasy that I didn’t understand what the clinic staff were asking us to do. This is particularly important as it’s normal with IVF abroad that the early testing stages (blood tests, sperm analysis etc) are done in the UK prior to travelling abroad for the IVF treatment and we had support to do this from Your IVF abroad.

4. Know ALL your costs upfront

Again, this might seem obvious but I can’t stress enough how important it is to know your costs upfront. These costs are not just medical (testing, treatment, medications) but also include accommodation and travel costs. Something I learnt re: accommodation – make it easy on yourself and book a hotel very local to your clinic. You’ll be frequently back and forth for scans, blood tests etc and proximity is key. Be aware that many clinics abroad have discount deals available with local hotels – always ask about these as they can make a difference financially. I also learnt something essential re: travel – if you can, build in flexibility for your flight dates. Sometimes dates alter either at the start, during or end of your IVF cycle. If you have the flexibility to change your flights last-minute it can reduce stress at vital points in your treatment.

5. Paperwork accuracy is essential

Please don’t underestimate the amount of paperwork involved in doing IVF abroad. The majority of clinics will make the paperwork process as straightforward as possible. Afterall, the admin staff do this day in, day out with overseas patients. However, my advice is not to rush paperwork – whether it’s online forms or mailing of documentation – it’s all vitally important to your treatment. My advice is to take your time to complete everything thoroughly. It’s time well invested as it’ll help you feel more in control.

6. Remember that you are NOT a statistic – your IVF journey is unique to YOU

When first researching IVF abroad , it’s easy to start feeling like a statistic. Your fertility situation is often assessed by your age, existing medical conditions, BMI etc. This can lead to self-doubt and low self-esteem. Please remember that you (and your partner) are not a statistic. Your fertility journey is unique to you and whatever you read about success rates for your ‘category’, remember that your outcome will be unique to you too.

7. Support is vital – at every stage before, during and after IVF

Emotional, practical and psychological support is vital at every stage of IVF – whether you’re having your treatment abroad or not. My key sources of support were my husband, my family, my friends and the agency who guided us at every stage of our IVF treatment abroad. Looking back, emotional support was, and is vital. I feel it’s important to share that following our success at IVF abroad (we welcomed our beautiful daughter, Maisie on 10th January 2022), I have since suffered post-natal depression. I don’t believe this to be linked in any way to doing IVF abroad. Post-natal depression is multi-faceted and I’m in the process of healing. I’m fortunate to have access to excellent support from my GP. I urge anyone who is experiencing post-natal depression not to suffer in silence. Tell a trusted family member or friend. Talk to your GP and ask for help. You will not be judged or made to feel shame. I’m so glad that I did ask for help.

Sometimes, I hold Maisie in my arms and wonder how on earth I can feel sad when we achieved IVF success – our dream of a beautiful baby sister for her wonderful elder brother, Charlie. But post-natal depression can grip any new mother in any circumstances. I’m getting the help I need and feel positive that I’m heading towards positive times ahead.

I sincerely hope that by sharing my experience of going abroad for IVF, I will help others facing a similar journey. My most vital piece of advice is – get some support if you can from an expert, stay true to yourselves and do what feels right for you and your partner. I wish you the very best on your fertility journey.

• Fertility Treatment Abroad , Magazine

Understanding ROPA: A Prelude to Patient Success Stories at Cyprus IVF Hospital

Achieving the Ideal Uterine Lining for a Successful Embryo Transfer

Overcoming Advanced Maternal Age and Complex Infertility Issues – Real Patient Cases

Navigating Miscarriages, Repeated Implantation Failures, and IVF Success

Embryo Pre-implantation Genetic Testing: PGT-A

Fostering Employee Wellness and Profitability: Supporting People on the Infertility Journey

Privacy Overview

IVF Authority

16 top encouraging and supportive ivf blogs and forums.

Last Updated on October 15, 2021

Most women and men who begin an IVF journey hope it’ll end one way: with a baby. For some, the journey takes many years. For others, one round of IVF does it. Through the journey, regardless of how long it is, many people begin to write about it, and that’s how we’ve come to have so many IVF blogs available now. These bloggers openly share their IVF and infertility stories to not only connect with others, but also to connect with themselves.

Still, no two IVF blogs are the same and no two journeys are the same. Below are seven top fertility blogs for encouragement and support. Emotional trigger warning for those still going through IVF, or dealing with the pain of failed IVF: Each of the below seven bloggers went on to either conceive a child through IVF, or surrogacy. After this list is a compilation of five great fertility blogs in which the journey didn’t end in conception or a baby. And beyond that is a list of other information, resourceful IVF blogs and forums.

Starbucks, Peace, and the Pursuit of a Baby

URL : http://trialsbringjoy.wordpress.com

About : Chelsea, a woman who has been struggling with infertility for nearly 9 years, created Starbucks, Peace, and the Pursuit of a Baby to track her journey and just share her life stories. Along with her husband, Josh, she shares their story of infertility and IVF, after having been diagnosed with Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Chelsea and Josh recently (May 2017) gave birth to twins – a boy and a girl, after struggling for 9 years to conceive.

Chelsea posts updates regularly, and the blog is easy to navigate, so you can go back to the beginning. She posted an incredible resource called What to Expect – IVF 201 , to help people understand the IVF consult and how to get the most out of it.

No Bun In the Oven

URL : http://nobunintheoven.com

About : You’ll find humor, inspiration, and a ton of information in No Bun in the Oven, which is arguably one of the most popular IVF blogs, if not the most popular IVF blog at one time. The story behind No Bun in the Oven is a little different, too. While many women start a blog to track their infertility struggles (which are overwhelming female infertility, No Bun in the Oven deals with male factor infertility.

Carissa, the blog’s author, wrote an insanely funny but also very helpful post called “What I Wish They’d Told Me About Egg Retrieval.”  The post covers tips only insiders would really know, and useful advice including taking the day after egg retrieval off from work and protecting yourself from infection.

Don’t Count Your Eggs

URL : http://www.dontcountyoureggs.typepad.com/

About : Maya, a woman diagnosed with a condition called Diminished Ovarian Reserve, write this sometimes humorous, sometimes poignant blog about IVF, infertility, and parenting after infertility. Ultimately, IVF never actually worked for Maya and her husband, but it’s still an incredible blog as Maya shares her details of not only IVF with her own, but IVF with donor eggs as well.

She explains in the truest definition of a nutshell, her infertility journey in two sentences:

“I have Diminished Ovarian Reserve, and after one failed IVF cycle, two failed IUIs, and one failed IVF cycle using my sister’s donated eggs, we also have Diminished Cash Reserve. In the summer of 2014 we did an FET with an anonymously donated embryo, and it worked.”

Anyone who’s had experience with IVF will get something out of this blog. Maya posted a picture of all of the medications and tools for the IVF cycle, and several other photos with funny captions in her album titled, IVF Cycle 1.

Source: http://dontcountyoureggs.typepad.com/photos/ivf_cycle_1/img_0446.html

The Two Week Wait

URL : http://the2weekwait.blogspot.com/

About:  Read The Two Week Wait regularly for very funny, and also sassy, commentary on IVF, infertility, and pregnancy. The blog’s author is also compassionate. At the very top of the blog, she added a note for people who are still trying to conceive and DON’T want to read about her pregnancy. She points those readers to the beginning of her blog, which began in 2010, so they can read along with the journey there.

This is definitely a more humorous IVF blog than most are, and the writer considers herself an “infertility activist.” She also wrote an Infertility Etiquette  page for readers to share with others, including family and friends. On that page, she starts off with a funny list of things that she’d say to people if she could, but then gets more serious and provides – literally – a cut and paste letter that people struggling with infertility can send to people.

Unpregnant Chicken

URL : http://unpregnantchicken.com/about-our-journey/

About : Unpregnant Chicken is funny, heartfelt, and very encouraging both about the IVF and infertility journey, and pregnancy. Kaeleigh MacDonald, the blog’s author, struggled with infertility for 3 years, including 2 failed IUI treatments. Eventually she and her husband tried IVF and were successful with it.

Kaeleigh also created and published helpful resources, including two TTC (trying to conceive) guides: TTC Basic FAQ  and TTC Advanced FAQ . Her post on The Two Week Wait  is a must read both for those new to IVF and those who aren’t. In it, she warns people about the tendency to fantasize about being pregnant too much during the time:

“If you get your period it goes from, the soul crushing knowledge that you could have had a baby, to a DEFCON 5, spirit obliterating, meltdown about the EXACT baby you have lost.”

While that particular part is difficult, most of Kaeleigh’s writing is over-the-top funny, and it’s one of the things that makes her blog stand out.

Inconceivable

URL: https://inconceivable12.wordpress.com/

About : Written by a woman who was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome, Inconceivable is another IVF blog that offers a lot of support and inspiration. Katherine, the blogger behind the blog, documents her entire infertility and IVF timeline and includes links to the blog posts that go along with the timeline.

She eventually was able to conceive a child, and had a baby girl in 2015, and then subsequently had another baby girl in March 2017. The blog provides encouragement to both those who still struggle to conceive as well as those who are debating whether or not IVF is right for them. It took two cycles of IVF, but Katherine’s story is a reminder that even after failed IVF, conception is possible for some people. Where necessary, she provides trigger warnings so people are aware that they might be triggered by content in her posts.

Dreaming Of Diapers

URL : http://dreamingofdiapers.com/

About : The author of Dreaming of Diapers tried for 5 years to conceive a child. During that time, she went through multiple rounds of IVF, freezing viable embryos and getting ready for FET (frozen embryo transfer), only to have the FETs cancelled over and over again. Doctors diagnosed her with a blocked fallopian tube, hydrosalpinx due to a ruptured appendix, Asherman’s Syndrome, and finally Crohn’s Disease. After trying for 4 years, her sister acted as a surrogate and helped her and her husband have a baby.

In one of her recent posts, “IVF: What I Never Talked About,”  the author shares about how she developed Alopecia Areata from all of the IVF treatments over time. Alopecia Areata is a condition that causes someone to lose large amounts of hair. She explained that so much of the suffering taking place with IVF is behind the scenes. It’s not talked about. So she wrote the post – long after she and her husband had their baby through her sister’s surrogacy – to talk about something others may also be going through.

Blogs For Women with Failed IVF Treatments

Sometimes, IVF fails, not just once, but always. For some women, conceiving a baby just never happens. When that’s the case, it can be hard to read and blog about someone else’s success conceiving through IVF. Some of these bloggers are continuing with IVF treatments and some of them are not.

For women who come to the end of their IVF journey without a child, and need somewhere to go to connect with others in a similar situation, these blogs are great places to start.

Silent Sorority

URL:   http://blog.silentsorority.com/

About : Silent Sorority is probably the very best IVF blog online for women who never become mothers – naturally or not – after failed IVF treatments. Pamela, the blog’s author and primary contributor, isn’t alone. The fact is that more women who attempt IVF treatments fail to conceive than those that do, but there are probably 9 times more IVF bloggers whose journeys end with conception, than those who don’t.

Therefore, Pamela created an incredibly important, powerful infertility and IVF blog that women who end their infertility journeys after failed IVF. One of the most solemn and memorable posts is called, “Identity Lost and Found After Infertility and Failed IVF.”

Infertility Honesty

URL: https://infertilityhonesty.com/

About : Sarah Chamberlin is a self described “IVF veteran” who writes an ongoing blog called Infertility Honesty. Like Pamela of Silent Sorority, Sarah shares her life, and thoughts on infertility due to endometriosis and failed IVF, in this raw and impactful blog. She also describes her situation as “involuntarily childless” and discusses issues surrounding life when you want children that you cannot have, and how to move on. She and her husband spent $77,000 on multiple attempts to conceive, including IUI, IVF, and FET.

Sarah, like many women with failed IVF treatment, never became pregnant, in all of the years of trying. She wrote a long and insightful biography on her About page, which includes the following note:

“My writing mainly exists for my own therapy, which has become paramount in importance since the ongoing life crisis of infertility continues to be excessively minimized by society.  In doing so it ends up providing an uncensored view of what my life is like living with infertility.” ( About Sarah Chamberlin )

Parenthood For Me

URL:   http://parenthoodforme.blogspot.com/

About:  Sometimes, the infertility journey ends with adoption, not conception. That’s one of the best reasons to appreciate this blog, which is no longer actively maintained. Still, Erica, the blog’s founder, contributed many heartfelt – and sometimes gut wrenching – posts that failed IVF treatment survivors may relate to.

When You Can’t Have Kids

URL : http://whenyoucanthavekids.blogspot.com/

About : When You Can’t Have Kids, another infertility and failed IVF blog, provides support, encouraging, and insight for people who ended their IVF journey without conception or children. On the homepage, the author writes, “Eighteen months after our last IVF cycle, we knew we would not be having our own children. And, somehow, we have moved to a life that is much different to the one we thought we’d have.”

Kate Betton, the blog’s author, went on to write a book named after her blog which is available on Kindle, Amazon, and from The Book Depository.

No Kidding in NZ

URL : http://nokiddinginnz.blogspot.com.au/

About : The name of the blog indicates some level of humor in coming to the realization that the blog’s author, after two failed IVF treatments and two ectopic pregnancies, could not carry a baby to term. However, the author talks about a number of really tough situations that other women can relate to, including aging, and feeling guilty about not wanting children early in her career life.

On her about me page, the author included details about her story:

“A long story short is that two ectopic pregnancies and two failed IVFs later, I knew I would never have children.  I got the news on my 41st birthday.  I’ve had better birthdays.”

Like the other blogs for women with failed IVF treatments, No Kidding in NZ presents the other side of IVF, which is that when it doesn’t work, life still goes on.

Other Informative and Resourceful IVF Blogs and Forums

Some of the best blogs and forums on the web are either run by businesses or organizations or are news-like blog chock full of useful and helpful information. The remaining ten blogs of the Top 20 IVF Blogs are run by fertility clinics, networks, or other organizations. Bookmark these blogs or subscribe to them to get updates.

Fertility Authority

URL : https://www.fertilityauthority.com/blog

About : The Fertility Authority acts as a hub for a number of blogs and bloggers. On the homepage of the blog, you’ll see a list of recent posts, and the authors are likely all different. This collection of posts are primarily IVF related but are also general fertility articles and posts, as well. Some of the bloggers include doctors and fertility clinics, so a number of posts are informative with tips and advice.

Some of the most recent post titles include, “Giving Up Coffee to Boost Your Fertility,” “Is Spring the Best Time to Do an IVF Cycle?”, “Staying Posting During Your First Trimester” and “Advice Following Miscarriage.”

The Fertility Authority also created a blogroll featuring over 50 different blogs. Not all of the blogs on the list are specific to IVF, but they are all personal blogs and resources for those in need of fertility support.  Bloggers that write about their personal infertility journeys are encouraged to submit their URL to Fertility Authority. The process involves emailing the website’s team and submitting the blog for consideration. Subjects can include surrogacy, adoption, IVF, or anything related to infertility.

Shady Grove Fertility Blog

URL : https://www.shadygrovefertility.com/blog/

About : Run by the Shady Grove Fertility treatment center, this incredibly resourceful fertility and IVF blog is updated regularly – multiple times per week. You can search the blog by keyword, and if you search for the keyword IVF, you’ll find 480 posts on the subject (at the time this article was written).

Topics covered include IVF success tips, success rates and research studies, and discussions about egg donation, freezing, and treatment programs that increase the likelihood of pregnancy. What you won’t find here are deeply personal stories or specific infertility journeys. This is really an informative blog focused on solutions and treatments rather than stories. Ideally, this is the most helpful kind of IVF blog to spend reading when your treatments are just starting, or haven’t begun yet and you’re debating whether or not to use IVF.

Shady Grove Fertility is a fertility clinic, though, and not an independent resource. Some of their posts are specific to their facility and their treatment programs. It may be useful, though, to see what options are out there. Then you can discuss them with your doctor or RE.

FertileThoughts.com Discussion Forums

URL : http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/

Over 94,000 members participate in the FertileThoughts IVF forums, and nearly 2,000 people follow the site on Facebook. Members can post questions for patient care advocates, get advice from other people going through IVF, and find a number of free resources.

Some of the forums and resources on Fertile Thoughts include:

• Share your fertility journey
• Egg freezing
• Infertility (General)
• Trying to conceive
• Male fertility and reproductive health
• Home pregnancy tests
• Egg donor and embryo match – This is an actual forum where people can meet others who are willing to donate eggs and embryos
• PGD/PGS discussions
• Family balancing (gender selection)
• LGBT family building
• Family building events
• HIV and TTC

Visitors can register for a free membership to the website and access the forums. Some forums are heavily moderated while others are not. The parenting, pregnancy, and adoption forums are the most populated forums on this site. Newly pregnant after ART women will find a lot of support and encouragement in these forums.

IVF Forum on The Bump

URL : https://forums.thebump.com/categories/trouble-ttc

Women who are looking for a “safe haven” on the web can register for the IVF forum on The Bump. Creators of the forum are explicit its purpose, which is for people who are still trying to conceive through IVF. Because of that, certain forum rules protect people from being triggered by success stories and pregnancy announcements. Forum moderators do have places to share certain news, but by and large the forum was designed as a place to connect with others who are still struggling with infertility.

A message at the top of the Infertility forum reads:

“This is a forum for those dealing with infertility and/or undergoing IVF treatment. Because this board is a safe haven, please include “child/pregnancy mentioned” or “siggy warning” in your title or post, if applicable.”

Every month, forum members can post IVF or FET updates in a new thread just for that month. Many of the members get to know each other, replying to updates and providing a lot of encouragement. The monthly threads help the members stay connected and continue to post updates. The members also update and maintain a shared Google spreadsheet for FET.

The Bump features a few different resources that members of the forums might find helpful. One of them is the Infertility Q&A page . Fertility specialists and medical professionals from a variety of fertility clinics and organizations post answers to common questions, such as:

• What is tubal ligation?
• Surprising facts about male infertility
• Signs of reproductive disorder
• 10 ways your home is making you infertile
• Introducing three parent IVF

Starting An IVF Blog

Keeping and maintaining an IVF blog to track your journey and connect with others can be cathartic. If you’re interested in information about how to go about it, these posts offer practical tips.

• Starting an Infertility Blog and Finding the TTC Community
• How to Start a TTC Blog
• A Whole Lot of Blogging – Brought to You Sorted and Filed
• Blogging Infertility

IVF forums also provide tips on sharing an infertility story and will help with acronyms and terminology that is so prevalent in the TTC community. Forums provide resources and links to website tips and tools. They are also good places to find ideas about what to post.

In addition to helping you learn about how to start an IVF blog, those articles also include information about how to find other people who are trying to conceive and connect with them. The more people you’re connected to in the blogging world, the more likely you’ll be to receive comments and get readers for your blog.

Other Resource:

Fertility Help Hub: https://www.fertilityhelphub.com/

Families Through Surrogacy Provide Comprehensive surrogacy advice and support to parents

IVF Pregnancy: 9 Very Important Things To Expect

Best fertility clinics in usa by live birth rate,specialty and reviews.

• Fertility Out Loud was designed for women who are trying to get pregnant and figuring out how to navigate their fertility journey. Get help during your fertility journey with a variety of important topics in the Content Hub.%0D%0A FertilityOutLoud.com/content-hub
• Paste to share." data-content=""> Fertility Out Loud was designed for women who are trying to get pregnant and figuring out how to navigate their fertility journey. Get help during your fertility journey with a variety of important topics in the Content Hub.%0D%0A FertilityOutLoud.com/content-hub
• Preparation

Continuing Your IVF Journey: 5 Things to Keep in Mind

By Connie Stark, RNC, C.P.C., Lead Fertility Coach on Fertility Outreach

The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your doctor, or a mental health professional, for the most appropriate treatment.

For some, an in vitro fertilization (IVF) journey may be the next step for aspiring parents when planning their family after an infertility diagnosis. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), the updated definition of infertility is, “a disease, condition, or status characterized by any of the following: 

• The inability to achieve a successful pregnancy is based on a patient’s medical, sexual, and reproductive history, age, physical findings, diagnostic testing, or any combination of those factors.
• The need for medical intervention, including, but not limited to, the use of donor gametes or donor embryos to achieve a successful pregnancy either as an individual or with a partner.
• In patients having regular, unprotected intercourse and without any known etiology for either partner suggestive of impaired reproductive ability, evaluation should be initiated at 12 months when the female partner is under 35 years of age and at 6 months when the female partner is 35 years of age or older. 

Nothing in this definition shall be used to deny or delay treatment to any individual, regardless of relationship status or sexual orientation.” 

Understanding your “why” for needing IVF treatment is essential, and includes learning about the medical terms, treatment options, and procedures to help navigate the details needed to move forward. This article explores the importance of maintaining a proactive mindset throughout the IVF journey and how it can positively impact your physical, emotional, financial, and social well-being. Here are 5 things to keep in mind.

1. Mindset: Understanding the IVF Journey through Terminology for Decision-Making

A proactive mindset involves informed decision-making, discussions with your fertility specialist (Reproductive Endocrinologist or RE), and having a clear treatment plan. To navigate the IVF journey, it’s essential to understand the terminology involved. Words and definitions used throughout the process may have different meanings depending on where they’re used, in what context they’re used and with which type of patient they’re used. 

Some key terms used during an IVF cycle include:

• Protocol: the medication and monitoring process and timeline given to you ahead of starting your cycle, typically focused on stimulating follicles (eggs), and includes things to do at-home (such as taking medications) and in-office (such as blood tests and ultrasounds)
• Egg Retrieval: the procedure in which follicles (eggs) are retrieved from the ovaries
• Fertilization: the process in which the eggs retrieved are fertilized with sperm in a laboratory
• Embryo Transfer: the procedure in which an embryo (fresh or frozen) is transferred back into the uterus
• Implantation: the process in which a fertilized embryo that was transferred implants into the uterine lining (to hopefully become a viable pregnancy)

Additional considerations, such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), may also be part of the decision-making process during an IVF cycle and should be fully understood. Back-to-back retrievals, embryo or egg freezing, sperm or egg donors and male factor considerations may also be important to understand and discuss when considering success rates and planning for the number of children you desire. 

Once you have all of the knowledge of what’s involved in your specific IVF journey, you will be better able to proactively move forward with a mind that’s ready for what’s to come.

2. Physical Well-being: Nurturing Your Body Throughout the IVF Process

Taking care of your physical health during the IVF journey is essential. Some ways to do this include maintaining a healthy diet and healthy weight, taking a daily prenatal vitamin (typically with folic acid), exercising regularly, stopping unhealthy substances (like tobacco and alcohol) and keeping your environment safe (avoiding toxins and chemicals). There may be additional supplements that your doctor recommends, such as vitamin D and CoQ10, that can improve your overall physical wellness in preparation for fertility treatment. Always speak with your healthcare provider before starting any supplements.

Understanding the physical demands of IVF and how you can nurture your body throughout each part of the process, from injections to retrievals to transfers and everything in between, should be added to your list of questions to discuss with your fertility doctor when planning. Also make sure to ask about any potential side effects that you may experience at each step so you’re prepared. 

Prioritizing physical self-care during the IVF planning process will help as you continue your journey to grow your family.

3. Emotional Resilience: Managing the Rollercoaster of IVF 

There’s no denying that your emotional health can go through all sorts of ups and downs throughout the IVF journey. For many, this path to parenthood involves stress and anxiety mixed with hope and excitement. Proactively managing your emotional health becomes crucial. Engage in activities that promote relaxation and reduce stress levels, whether that’s hiking, yoga, acupuncture, dancing, or journaling. The first step is to proactively find the right activity or technique that works best for you.

Building a strong “IVF team” can also help with emotional health. Focus on building a strong relationship with your fertility nurse and clinic team to ensure you have a reliable support system. This becomes very valuable when managing and planning the IVF journey. Your team may also include the support of a mental health specialist. Professional counseling may be most helpful if you and/or your partner are feeling depressed or anxious. As the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) states, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so get help early before problems arise.” 

Understanding the emotional impact that a fertility journey can have, from planning your IVF cycle to any potential challenges you might face to anticipating pregnancy test outcomes after a two week wait, may help turn the emotional rollercoaster ride into a smooth journey with balanced emotions. 

4. Social Connections: Building a Supportive Network

Maintaining a healthy relationship with your partner and building social connections are essential aspects of improving your social well-being throughout the IVF journey. Try to proactively communicate with your partner, friends, and family about your journey. 

As mentioned, nurturing a relationship with your clinic team and nurse can create connections and foster a supportive environment. These people will help manage your timeline and protocol alongside your fertility specialist, allowing you to hopefully feel more taken care of. 

Fertility coaches can also be helpful for social support, as they offer personalized guidance and support that focuses on you, your needs, and your healthy living. Support groups are another great option for peer-to-peer connection, and to help you feel less alone on what can feel like a lonely journey. Just ensure the group has a facilitator with fertility expertise, ideally someone who can offer credible resources and information.

5. Financial Planning: Budgeting for IVF Success

The financial part of the IVF journey is a reality that cannot be ignored. Proactively plan for costs associated with this type of fertility treatment, such as medications, appointments (monitoring or otherwise), procedures and any other potential “additions” that might come up once the cycle has started. Most of the time, when it comes to fertility care, the patient is responsible for covering the costs of treatment. In some instances, health insurance can help. Be sure to fully review your health insurance plan ahead of starting fertility treatment to see if anything related to fertility is covered. If it is, you may need pre-approvals before starting treatment (including ordering medications, attending appointments, or moving forward with any procedures). 

Discuss budget constraints and explore financing options with your fertility clinic. Having a clear understanding of the costs and a well-thought-out budget contributes to a sense of financial stability and reduces stress and anxiety associated with the financial aspect of IVF. Also seek out additional financial resources , such as grants and loans, that may be available to you to help cover costs. 

Maintaining a proactive mindset during your IVF journey is key to achieving optimal changes in various aspects of your life. Whether you’re considering physical well-being, emotional resilience, building social connections, financial stability, or overall well-being, a proactive approach empowers you to engage and manage the challenges of IVF with strength and optimism. These five key aspects can enhance your overall IVF experience, help you restore and feel your best self while planning to grow your family.   

Find more articles like this one on WeAreRobyn.co

What’s the Difference Between IUI and IVF?

• Fertility Issues

Struggling to Conceive the Second Time Around

You are now leaving fertility out loud for another partnering ferring website., you are now leaving fertility out loud.

Ferring does not have responsibility for, or control of, the contents, availability, operation, or performance of other websites to which this website may be linked or from which this website may be accessed. Ferring makes no representation regarding the content of any other websites that you may access from this website.

Navigating the IVF Process: Key Insights to managing the IVF Timeline and work-life balance

by Dr. John Preston Parry | Nov 9, 2023 | Doctor's Blog

Embarking on fertility treatments can be a demanding process that requires significant emotional, financial, and time commitments.

Understanding fertility treatments is the first step in what may be one of the most important journeys you’ll take as a couple. It’s about creating life and expanding your family. We’re here to guide you through the myriad of fertility treatments available today, providing you with a clear, supportive pathway to parenthood and helping you understand the potential demands and how they might intersect with your career.

How long does the IVF process take from start to finish?

Begin by educating yourself about the IVF process. Knowing the step-by-step process, from initial consultations to procedures and follow-ups, can help you anticipate and schedule necessary time off.

The typical IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) treatment timeline is a multi-step process that usually spans several weeks. Each cycle of IVF includes multiple stages, although the exact timeline can vary based on individual circumstances and protocols of the fertility clinic.

An IVF cycle typically includes  the following steps or procedures:

• Medications to grow multiple eggs
• Retrieval of eggs from the ovary or ovaries
• Insemination of eggs with sperm
• Culture of any resulting fertilized eggs (embryos)
• Placement (“transfer”) of one or more embryo(s) into the uterus
• Support of the uterine lining with hormones to permit and sustain pregnancy

The IVF Process and Timeline

Embarking on the journey of in vitro fertilization (IVF) can be filled with hope and anticipation, yet it’s important to acknowledge that every couple’s path to parenthood is unique. The timeline we provide here outlines a typical IVF process, but it’s tailored with flexibility to meet your specific circumstances.

As you step forward, remember that each phase is approached with your individual needs in mind, ensuring that your journey is as smooth and successful as possible. While timelines may shift, our commitment to your family’s dream remains steadfast.

*Please note that all timelines are approximate and can vary based on individual health profiles and responses to treatment.

Navigating Work-Life Balance During Your IVF Journey

Embarking on in vitro fertilization (IVF) can feel like taking on a second full-time job. Balancing your career while undergoing IVF requires careful planning, open communication, and self-compassion. Here are some strategies to help you maintain equilibrium between your professional life and IVF treatment.

Communicate with Your Employer

If you feel comfortable, have a candid conversation with your employer or HR department about your IVF journey. Many are willing to offer flexibility once they understand the significance and requirements of the process. You’re not obligated to disclose all the details, but providing some insight can lead to accommodations like flexible hours or remote work opportunities.

Flexibility in Your Work Schedule

Look into flexible working arrangements. Flextime, compressed workweeks, or the possibility of working from home on certain days can reduce the stress of juggling work and IVF appointments. It’s crucial to arrange this in advance to minimize the impact on your professional responsibilities.

Prioritize and Delegate

Evaluate your work tasks and prioritize them. Consider what can be delegated or what projects can be put on hold. By focusing on critical tasks, you ensure your work quality remains high, which can relieve some of the pressure during your IVF treatment.

Protect Your Personal Time

Resist the urge to overcompensate at work for the time taken off for IVF procedures. Protect your personal time by setting boundaries and avoiding the pitfall of working late hours or during weekends. This time is vital for rest and recuperation.

Plan for the Unexpected

IVF can be unpredictable, with last-minute changes or unexpected outcomes. Have a contingency plan for work projects and deadlines in case you need to adjust your schedule suddenly.

Understanding Your Legal Rights in the IVF Process

Deciding to embark on an IVF journey is a monumental, intimate decision, often reached after considerable reflection and, in many cases, profound emotional challenges. While navigating the intense emotions and the deluge of medical details, you must not overlook another significant element: the complexities of the legal framework surrounding Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and IVF. To learn more, check out our blog on the  7 Fertility Legal Insights To Avoid Common Pitfalls .

Navigating the Emotional Landscape of IVF

The stress of fertility treatments can affect your emotional well-being and your performance at work. Tools for stress management, such as those recommended by ACOG, can be valuable resources to help you maintain your composure and focus.

According to  OBGYN Nazanin E. Silver , “Before starting infertility treatment, I encourage couples to discuss what they will do if initial treatments don’t work. Would you ever consider adoption? Would your partner? You can talk through scenarios together, and it may help to consider couples therapy.”

In a  recent blog , we discuss how the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) highlights that the emotional impact of infertility often mirrors that of other significant medical conditions such as cancer or heart disease. You might oscillate between feelings of denial, anger, guilt, depression, and acceptance, all of which can be overwhelming and stressful.

In a recent interview with a Positive Steps patient, the couple noted, “The most crucial advice we can offer is to remember that you are not alone. The struggle with infertility can often feel isolating, but it’s important to know that you are part of a community that understands your journey and stands with you.”

Embracing Self-Care During Your IVF Journey

Self-Care is Non-Negotiable. Amid the demands of IVF and work, self-care should be a priority. At the heart of your fertility journey is a commitment to nurturing your own well-being to enhance your fertility and increase the prospects of a successful pregnancy. Self-care in this context means taking thoughtful steps toward improving your overall health and creating the best possible environment for conception.

One of the primary self-care measures involves reviewing and potentially altering medication use, with professional guidance, to avoid substances that may hinder fertility or cause developmental issues. A healthcare provider can help determine which medications are safe to continue and which to suspend during preconception and beyond.

Maintaining a healthy body weight is also crucial, as weight can influence hormonal balance and fertility. A balanced diet and regular exercise not only support reproductive health but also improve mental well-being, a key factor in the fertility journey.

Moderation is the operative word when it comes to alcohol consumption. Reducing intake can have a positive impact on fertility, and it’s a change that partners can undertake together as part of their shared journey toward parenthood.

Furthermore, understanding the significance of timing in your sexual routine can be empowering. Aligning sexual activity with the most fertile periods can naturally increase the chances of pregnancy.

Lastly, addressing additional personal health factors, such as stress levels, sleep patterns, and other lifestyle choices, is essential. Each element of your lifestyle has the potential to affect fertility, and making positive changes can contribute to a healthier conception.

By integrating these self-care practices into your routine, you are taking control of what you can on your path to parenthood. It’s a journey that extends beyond the physical aspects of fertility to encompass the nurturing of your body, mind, and relationship.

Building a Support System: The Key to IVF Success

Navigating the complexities of fertility treatments can be emotionally taxing. During this period, a robust support system becomes invaluable. While the workplace may offer one avenue of support, expanding your search for understanding and solidarity beyond professional circles can provide comfort and connection.

At Positive Steps Fertility we are dedicated to helping individuals and couples get the support they need. These groups provide a safe space to share experiences, offer and receive advice, and foster a sense of companionship on the journey to parenthood.

It’s also important to consider the support that can come from close friends, family members, and even online forums. These personal connections can offer different perspectives and kinds of support. While friends and family provide a personal touch, online communities can offer anonymity and a broader range of experiences.

Counseling services, whether individual or as a couple, can also play a critical role in your support network. Professional therapists, particularly those specializing in fertility issues, can guide you through the emotional complexities that arise during this time, helping you to develop coping strategies and maintain mental and emotional wellness.

Remember, seeking and accepting support is not a sign of weakness; it’s a proactive step toward ensuring your emotional resilience as you navigate your fertility journey.

Preparing Financially for Your IVF Treatment

Costs associated with fertility treatments can add another layer of stress when balancing work life. At Positive Steps Fertility, our goal is to provide the highest quality fertility treatment at the most transparent and affordable cost. We understand that each fertility journey is unique, and we’re committed to getting to know you personally and designing a treatment plan that aligns with your family goals and budget. We aim to provide all the information and transparency you need to make informed decisions. So, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us at 855-759-4124 or email us at [email protected] to learn more.

Embracing the IVF Journey with Confidence and Clarity

At Positive Steps Fertility, we understand that your fertility journey is just one part of your larger life tapestry, which includes your professional aspirations. As you move forward with treatments, we’re here to support you in harmonizing your career goals with the path to parenthood.

With Positive Steps Fertility, you can be assured that while you strive for success in your professional life, we are working alongside you, dedicating our expertise to help you achieve your most cherished personal goal—building a family.

Site Search

Connect with Us

Positive Steps Fertility Videos:

Recent Posts

• 5 Ways Lifestyle Factors Can Impact Your Fertility
• Battling the Shadows: The Intense War on Hormonal Imbalances and Infertility
• Your First Fertility Appointment: From Anxiety to Answers
• Fertility Under Fire: How Alabama’s Frozen Embryo Ruling Affects Hopeful Parents
• Unlocking the Science of Timed Intercourse

• Fertility Services Overview
• Conventional IVF
• Egg Donation
• Egg Freezing
• International Intended Parents
• Sperm Donation
• Gender Selection
• Ovulation Induction
• Laparoscopy
• Male Infertility Overview
• Intrauterine Insemination
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
• Semen Analysis
• Fertility Drugs
• Why choose PFCLA
• IVF Success rates
• Downloadable Resources
• Video Gallery
• Fertility 101
• People that inspire us
• Testimonials
• Patient Notices

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): The Ultimate Guide

According to the National Survey of Family Growth conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1 in 8 couples struggle with infertility ––an estimated 49 million couples worldwide. 

Building a family is a milestone for many people. Yet up until the 1960s, many individuals and couples across the world struggled to conceive and start a family. 

Now, modern-day fertility treatments have made families a reality for couples struggling with infertility, with thousands of global organizations helping parents conceive. Thanks to much scientific advancement in the 21st century, we now have modern-day In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) to support individuals on their path toward parenthood. 

What Is In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)? 

IVF is an advanced form of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) that helps infertile women and couples conceive. Through IVF, eggs are manually fertilized using a sperm sample from a woman’s partner or donor.

There are many ways to tailor the In Vitro Fertilization process to intended parents, from reciprocal IVF for lesbian couples, to mini IVF treatments for people searching for a lower-impact, less expensive approach to fertility. 

IVF has helped many couples with fertility issues successfully conceive, and may be right for you if you have or experience: 

• Damaged, blocked, or removed fallopian tubes
• Ovulation disorders, uterine fibroids, or premature ovarian failure
• Decreased sperm count or decreased sperm motility
• Unexplained infertility

Additionally, those who are in a same-sex relationships or are intended single parents can achieve their dream of building a family through IVF.

When To Use IVF As Fertility Treatment

Since the introduction of IVF into mainstream medicine in the 1980s, nearly 5 million babies have been born through assisted reproductive technology (ART).

However, it’s also important to understand that IVF does not ensure a successful pregnancy. Some patients require multiple IVF cycles to achieve a successful pregnancy, while others unfortunately never achieve pregnancy at all. 

Good candidates for IVF include: 

• Women with blocked fallopian tubes 
• Women with an infertility disorder ( Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or Endometriosis)
• Women with irregular cycles of ovulation 
• Male factor infertility

IVF might not be as effective for: 

• Women over 37 years of age (it’s urgent you act quickly for IVF or fertility preservation)
• Women with trouble producing healthy eggs 
• Women with no interest in getting an outside donor 

Because IVF is unique to each patient’s situation, there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to fertilization. However, medications, blood tests, vaginal ultrasounds, sperm and egg retrieval, fertilization and embryo transfer are all critical elements of the process. 

IVF Process Calendar 

The IVF treatment process can be complex and daunting as a patient. It is important that you be as informed as possible throughout the entire process.

The IVF process has many elements: 

1. Consultation and Testing 

When the IVF cycle begins, your clinic will order a number of pre-treatment tests. Some tests are mandated by state and federal law, while testing required by your clinician is customized to you. These tests often include a baseline ultrasound, bloodwork, and a semen analysis for the male partner to assess your fertility challenges and possibilities.  However, other tests may also be required.

2. Ovarian Stimulation 

Ovarian stimulation is a critical part of egg production. By using fertility medications , women can prepare for egg retrieval and increase their chances of a successful pregnancy. Oral and injectable fertility medications are often recommended in addition to hormones for optimal results. This may be conducted with a transvaginal ultrasound to determine when the eggs have matured.

3. Egg Retrieval 

During the egg retrieval process , patients will receive general anesthesia to sleep during the procedure. Next, the eggs are then retrieved by placing a needle through the vaginal wall and into the ovary––and suctioned from the growing follicles and collected into test tubes. Finally, the test tubes are passed to the waiting embryologist. Here's what the egg retrieval calendar might look like: 

4. Fertilization 

Once the eggs are in the laboratory, they will be visualized under a microscope and prepared for fertilization with either fresh or frozen sperm. A process called ICSI or Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection is then performed to inject one healthy sperm into each of the viable eggs.

5. Embryo Freezing and Genetic Testing 

The following morning, the embryologist will be able to determine how many embryos have formed. The embryos will typically spend 5-7 days in the laboratory before they are ready to be frozen, or transferred back to the uterus. Frozen embryos tend to have better success rates. Most patients will choose to test embryos for genetic or chromosome abnormalities prior to embryo transfer through preimplantation genetic screening or preimplantation genetic diagnosis. 

6. Embryo Transfer

Preparing for your embryo transfer is one of the most important processes in your IVF journey. Patients at PFCLA may receive an IVF embryo transfer calendar that resembles the following: 

On the day of embryo transfer , the embryos will be graded based on their cell growth and development. This grading system, along with the patient’s age, will help the physician and patient to decide on the appropriate number of embryos to transfer.

An embryo transfer procedure feels similar to a pap smear and is performed while the patient is awake. To start, the cervix is visualized and cleaned. Then, a very thin catheter (tube) loaded with the embryo(s) is placed gently through the cervix and into the uterine cavity. The embryo(s) are placed near the top of the uterus using ultrasound guidance.

7. Pregnancy Test (Two Weeks After the Embryo Transfer)

Approximately ten days after the transfer, a blood pregnancy test (hCG level) is performed to determine if the patient is pregnant.

IVF vs. IUI

There are multiple available fertility treatments available today , but some are less effective than others. It’s important to talk to your doctor about what will deliver the best chances of pregnancy, so you’re not wasting precious time and money on options that may not be right for you. IUI, or intrauterine insemination, is one of these treatment options that some use because it is minimally invasive, but the success rates are usually far lower than that of IVF.  

After experiencing failed IUIs , many patients turn to IVF as a more reliable fertility treatment. IVF, or in vitro fertilization, oversees most of the stages of conception to increase the chance of a successful pregnancy. Although IUI is a viable and successful fertility treatment option, it is not uncommon for a patient’s first IUI attempt to fail. 

But for most who are experiencing infertility, IUI is an inferior option to IVF because IUI acts only as an assistant to natural conception. For many patients seeking fertility treatment, it can be impossible to achieve pregnancy through IUI, and your doctor may recommend starting with IVF. 

How To Prepare for Your IVF Journey

To prepare for IVF, intended parents will likely need various screenings --semen analysis, uterine exams, ovarian reserve testing, and even a mock embryo transfer. This is critical to your individual IVF success, and everyone’s process will look slightly different. Preparing for IVF requires consideration of your diet, blood testing, exercise, stress, and overall health. 

Before undergoing IVF, your blood work will be used to assess the level of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in your system. This will give the fertility specialist an understanding of the quality and number of eggs you may have. Also, the blood work performed can help note possible incompatibilities between a mother’s blood type and father’s blood type. This blood work is also crucial in determining the presence of potential genetic disorders, viruses, and diseases that could affect the mother or baby’s health if pregnancy is achieved.

Without critical data from ultrasounds and blood work during the IVF process , the chances of a successful pregnancy are much lower, and fertility specialists can’t use the most modern techniques to truly aid patients in their journey to having a child. Additional testing may be part of the IVF process, depending on the challenges you’ve faced in getting pregnant. 

After the embryo transfer, a blood test will be used to measure the pregnancy hormone levels of human chorionic gonadotropin in a woman’s system. The presence of this hormone confirms pregnancy and is typically tested for 11-12 days after an embryo transfer has been performed. 

Fertility Medications and IVF

During IVF, it’s common for fertility doctors to prescribe various fertility medications to their female patients as part of the treatment process. 

These fertility drugs are meant to trigger the release of various hormones and to regulate ovulation. By doing this, women are in essence made more fertile during the procedure, which improves the chances of pregnancy. 

There are common fertility drugs that may be prescribed: 

• Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) - Additional FSH may be used in addition to clomiphene to help stimulate the production of eggs.
• Human Menopausal Gonadotropin (hMG) - A combination of FSH and LH, and can also be used to supplement the effects of clomiphene.
• Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) - Used to trigger a woman’s ovaries to release viable eggs.
• Clomid or Serophene (Clomiphene) - A type of estrogen-blocking medication. It triggers the release of GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone), FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), and LH (luteinizing hormone), which signal your ovaries to produce eggs.

The exact medications and types of drugs required for your treatment will be determined during the consultation process. Keep in mind that some of these medications can be taken orally while others will be administered through injections.

Whatever drugs a patient requires, the effectiveness of these medications will require precise timing. Patients should take their fertility drugs as directed by their fertility specialist. 

All fertility visits must also be attended on schedule to ensure optimal results. The improper dosage or administration of a fertility drug can result in a failed IVF cycle or reduced potential for a successful pregnancy.

Side Effects of the IVF Procedure

When a woman is undergoing IVF treatment, the required fertility drugs can increase specific hormone levels, such as progesterone, to prepare the body for pregnancy. Just as when progesterone levels rise naturally during pregnancy, a patient’s increased progesterone levels during IVF are likely to cause fatigue.

While changes in hormone levels are the most prominent cause of fatigue during IVF, the condition can be further exacerbated by stress or anxiety. 

By the time a woman undergoes IVF treatment, she has often been dealing with infertility issues for at least a year. The worry and anticipation of repeated failed pregnancy attempts can take both a physical and mental toll, so it is understandable that many patients already feel worn down when their IVF journey begins. 

Make sure to talk through all your concerns with your fertility specialist to get peace of mind during treatments and receive resources for further emotional support if needed. This will ensure you feel prepared and comfortable during your IVF treatments. Some helpful resources could be therapy for trauma-related to previous pregnancies, talking to couples who have successfully undergone IVF or joining a support group for couples going through the same process.

Because IVF requires a variety of medications throughout the treatment process, patients undergoing IVF may experience a mixture of different side effects . However, the chances of starting a family through IVF far outweigh the possible side effects. 

If you do experience one of these side effects, know that they are common and can be minimized to prevent discomfort. These side effects include:

• Mild cramping and bloating
• Breast tenderness
• Constipation
• Leaking a small amount of clear or blood-tinged fluid after the procedure
• Mood swings
• Hot flashes

However, more severe risks and complications associated with IVF can include:

• Ectopic pregnancy
• Ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome (OHSS)
• Ovarian torsion

These complications can bring side effects that should not be ignored. If you're experiencing the following, reach out to your doctor immediately: 

• Pelvic pain
• Blood in urine
• Heavy vaginal bleeding
• A fever over 100.5° F

Your fertility doctor should address the side effects of IVF, as well as offer tips to deal with these symptoms. When experiencing fatigue, cramping and other side effects, it’s recommended you: 

• Sleep for 8-10 hours every night
• Drink plenty of water
• Maintain a healthy, balanced diet
• Use approved over-the-counter pain relievers
• Rest warm compresses on areas of discomfort
• Meditate and use other deep breathing or relaxation techniques

Although mild cramping and pelvic discomfort are common, more severe pain should not be ignored. If your side effects are 

IVF Success Rates and Outcomes

Success rates matter when it comes to the field of IVF, especially with surrogacy. Using the most experienced clinics with great success rates can provide you a better chance of having a successful pregnancy and birth, resulting in a healthy baby (or babies). You can ask any doctor or clinic for their success rates and protocols.

By having a conversation with your doctor about what you can expect, you’ll know what will and won’t be possible throughout your fertility journey. When it comes down to how many embryos will be implanted and what’s safe for you or your surrogate, trust your doctor’s counsel and let him guide you on the right path.

• Since 1985 the success rate of achieving a live birth from IVF has increased from 5% to 30% (SART). 
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recorded 231,936 fertility treatment cycles in America in 2015. Of that number, 99 percent of fertility treatments involved in vitro fertilization (IVF) . 
• The overall median age for women undergoing ART is 35.
• The CDC reports 186,157 ART cycles in which an embryo was transferred. Of these 186,175 procedures, 60,778 resulted in live births. 
• Through ART , 72,913 infants were delivered in 2015.
• When fresh non-donor eggs or embryos were used in ART procedures, the CDC noted an 81.6 percent success rate, meaning live birth of a child or multiple children; 16.3 percent of ART procedures resulted in pregnancy loss.

Out of nearly 118,000 cycle starts from intended egg retrievals including all embryo transfers record by SART performed in the United States in 2020, under 29%  (SART)  resulted in live births. By contrast, PFCLA has an over 44%   (SART)   live birth rate from cycle start per intended egg retrieval including all embryo transfers.

Bear in mind that comparing clinics to one another is rarely an ‘apples to apples’ comparison, as different clinics and the physicians therein take different profiles of patients based on age, risk factors and services offered (whether an egg donor was used etc…). The best thing you can do to understand your personal IVF profile is consult with a physician. 

Begin Your IVF Journey With Top-Rated Fertility Care

Building a family has never been more accessible and successful than ever. If you’re coping with infertility blues or looking to start your family but don’t know how, you don’t have to wait any longer to take steps toward this dream. 

The fertility specialists at Pacific Fertility Center would be happy to answer any further questions you may have regarding in vitro fertilization (IVF) and your surrogacy options. Contact us to get started today.

You May Also Like

These Stories on In-Vitro Fertilization

Top 10 IVF Clinics in the U.S. 2024

Egg Retrieval Process Explained: What To Expect Before, During, & After

How to Prepare for a Successful IVF Cycle

Subscribe by email, no comments yet.

Let us know what you think

Westwood Location

10880 wilshire blvd ste 300 los angeles, ca 90024, call us: 310-209-7700, glendale location, 1818 verdugo blvd ste 402 glendale, ca 91208, call us: 818-952-0328.

Fertility Services

• Egg and Embryo Freezing
• Other Fertility Services
• Why Choose PFCLA
• IVF Success Rates

Subscribe to our newsletter

Note: This is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Information provided is for general educational purposes only and is subject to change without notice. Speak to your doctor directly with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Any information contained herein does not replace any care plan as determined by a physician.

¹Birth rate percentage using aggregate data from ALL age groups on the Live Births Per Intended Egg Retrieval (ALL EMBRYO TRANSFERS) of Patient's Own Eggs chart for 2020. Reference: PFCLA SART | NATIONAL SART

© 2024 PFCLA. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy.

Thanks for visiting! GoodRx is not available outside of the United States. If you are trying to access this site from the United States and believe you have received this message in error, please reach out to [email protected] and let us know.

Expert & advisory panel

Fertility is a highly specialist area of medicine. That's why we are delighted to work with

an expert panel of advisors made up of some of the world's most renowned fertility experts. This team of experts was instrumental in the writing of the book Everything Egg Freezing.  

Quote "ELANZA" when enquiring to qualify for any current offers, if available.

• Oct 18, 2021

5 Ways to Support Someone Going Through IVF

Updated: Apr 19, 2022

Fertility struggles are a daunting journey!

Although it may be a rollercoaster of emotions it is not a journey that you need to go through on your own.

We asked former and current fertility treatment patients what they think equals great help or support during the process and this article covers some tips based on what we learned from them, and general pointers for supporting a friend, family member or colleague through their fertility journey.

What this article covers:

Understanding what IVF might look like

What you should do

What you shouldn’t do

What you shouldn’t say

On the flip side of this, if you have ever had a friend, family member or co-worker undergo fertility treatment such as IVF, you might have thought about what you should [or shouldn’t] say or do and maybe even got a little worried about it to the point of not saying anything.

That’s understandable, but something we want to try to avoid happening, as it can increase people’s feelings of isolation during a difficult time.

To be honest, there is no clearcut answer here as to how each person may individually want or need help.

However, there are a few general guidelines that can help guide how you approach supporting someone through fertility treatments like IVF or egg freezing:

Understand What The IVF Journey Might Look Like

Many people having trouble conceiving naturally may turn to clinical fertility treatments.

Part of the difficulty in undergoing these is the new terminology, the sense of experiencing something that others might not quite fully understand.

When family and friends are uncertain about what the process actually is, or what it involves, it can widen the gulf between the person or couple experiencing it and their support networks.

If a friend or family member is undergoing treatment, it’s a good idea to get to grips with the basics of what their treatment might involve, to remove any room for misunderstandings and to be able to talk to them about various aspects (if they want to).

To get started, you could read the ELANZA guide to egg freezing or check out this IVF explainer by the NHS.

Fast Facts About IVF

1. What You Should Do

Take note of important dates.

While you are talking, if your friend does mention an important date, for example, her transfer day or her next appointment - try to make a note of this.

When the day does come around, she may appreciate a message or a quick phone call wishing her luck.

If you think that she might not want to talk about it - you don’t need to ask how the appointment went.

A simple card, a bunch of flowers or chocolate will let her know that you are thinking of her and that she is not alone.

Let Them Open Up In Their Own Time - Sometimes All They Need Is Someone To Listen

This particular piece of advice actually applies to all situations in life but in particular in this context. Often, when someone starts to open up to you, you might feel the urge to add your two cents or give them your advice, but at times it’s best to practice good listening, let them know that you are there for them.

Especially, someone going through infertility, they probably have all the medical advice they need from their fertility team, so if they're venting to you, they probably just need their safe space, someone who can just be there to let them know that their pain is real, what they're going through is tough and that you're always there for them whenever they need emotional support.

“We don’t expect you to have answers for us. Heck, we’ve spent countless nights doing all the googling ourselves and we still don’t know 1/100 of it all. We just need someone there to listen.” - @Zanetka

2. Ask Them If They Need Anything

First and foremost, it is important to help someone understand that asking for help and support from their friends and family is completely okay.

If you’re really not sure how to support your friend, just ask. Try to be specific instead of just saying, “ Well, let me know how I can help. ”

This may make them feel like a burden.

Instead, ask when you can drop by with takeout. Ask if she’d like to go to a movie or even just go out for a quick cup of coffee at your favourite cafe.

Let her know that you can be there for her in the way she needs, and if she doesn’t explicitly tell you what that is, just keep showing up— when she is ready, she will ask for help.

3. Send A Care Package

We turned to social media and asked women who have or are, undergoing IVF treatment what they would have liked in a care package from friends or family, this is what they had to say:

Catherin Baker @cattbaker

Putting together a care package for a friend is a great way to show support! A few generic ideas to include are fuzzy socks to keep her feet warm, decaf coffee, a key chain or bracelet as well as a book about hope or this nifty IVF planner . She highly recommends adding in an ice pack or two as this is a go-to for anyone undergoing IVF. Zanetka @Zanetka

Some of the most thoughtful gifts she received from her friends were a gratitude journal, fertility bracelet, a mug that had a fertility message on it & a little personalized IVF medication bag.

4. What You Shouldn’t Do?

Schedule and invite them to activities that might make them feel uncomfortable.

You may have the very best intentions but a friend or family member undergoing IVF might have made some lifestyle changes to improve their chances of a successful cycle.

Giving up alcohol might be a big one! Inviting your friend to happy hour might seem like a good idea, it may however have just the opposite effect and make her feel like she’s missing out.

Nobody is saying stop inviting someone places, but just try to be a little thoughtful of where she may prefer meeting up.

Instead of a big night out, could you book a mani and pedi or suggest brunch to catch up and try to take her mind off of it?

Of course, someone may want to blow off steam or keep going with their ‘normal’ life, especially after receiving some disappointing news.

The key is: ask, listen, be flexible, and be open to your meet-ups looking a little different than they might usually.

Don’t Assume That They Would Rather Not Hear About Your Pregnancy Or Kids

In an effort to protect friends with infertility issues, sometimes people attempt to keep a new pregnancy secret. This probably isn’t a good idea, as it might even lead to your friend feeling ostracized.

Instead, if you are planning a big pregnancy reveal at a barbeque or night out and you know that your friend is undergoing treatment, you may want to consider letting her know what your intentions are beforehand and this might be difficult for her.

Your friend is still happy for you, she wants to celebrate with you but an unexpected announcement might not be the best idea.

5. What You Shouldn’t Say To A Friend Undergoing IVF

‘just adpot’.

Adoption may be a wonderful option for some, but it definitely inst the answer to everyone’s fertility struggles. Suggesting adoption to a friend undergoing IVF in a very nonchalant way may actually come across as rude [even though this was not your intention].

Suggesting adoption may make your friend feel as if you have lost hope that her IVF cycle will be successful.

A key factor to always remember is that often people undergoing any form of fertility treatment have the fear and constant thought in their mind that they may not be able to have biological children.

Adoption is a beautiful way of building the family you have always dreamed of, but it isn’t for everyone.

‘Trust Me, You’re Lucky You Don’t Have Kids’

We have all gone out to dinner and have sat at a table next to a screaming baby or toddler throwing food everywhere, lets not even start with the 6-hour flight with a crying baby!

We all know that babies cry and puke EVERYWHERE. We all know that children are loud and messy. We all know that your life changes drastically when you have children.

But DON’T downplay your friends’ situation by making your blessing sound like a curse. For the longest time, all they have wanted is that crying baby or messy toddler.

‘Whatever You Do, Don’t Give Up’

Although this seems like a reassuring thing to say, it, unfortunately, isn't. The main issue with this statement is that it sounds inevitable that things will work out in the end.

The truth, unfortunately, is they may not

The other problem with this statement is it implies " giving up " isn't an option.

Deciding to stop treatment, or even deciding not to pursue treatments at all, is sometimes not even a choice that people going through treatment can make for themselves.

The costs associated with IVF very quickly pile up and the reality is that many people simply can’t afford multiple cycles.

Don’t Talk About Stress Being The Driving Factor Behind Their Struggles With Fertility

We have all heard this numerous times before: “ Stop stressing, it will happen when it’s meant to happen”

This is probably one of the WORST things you could possibly say to someone who is undergoing any sort of fertility treatment.

Contrary to what you might have read or heard, stress IS NOT the cause of most peoples struggles with fertility.

Although stress levels and mental health, in particular, need to be addressed and taken care of especially when dealing with any medical condition.

Next time you tell your friend or co-worker to “ just relax” be mindful of the context and how you might make them feel.

Don’t Keep On Asking How It’s Going

No one wants to feel like a charity case. Check-in often, but not so much that it’s obvious you’re worried or concerned about her.

And when you do check-in, unless she wants to talk about something, in particular, talk about the latest celebrity gossip, your latest binge-watch on Netflix, or the book you have just read, or maybe ask about other aspects of their life, like their career. There is still more to her life than her IVF treatment.

When you are feeling so encapsulated with one thing, it is often nice to have someone take your mind off of it, even if it is for a really short period of time.

Supporting a friend, co-worker, family member or partner through IVF is never easy, there's no right or wrong answer. An ELANZA coach can help support, guide and hold space during an IVF journey.

ELANZA coaches are specially trained to provide you with a framework that allows you to peel away the pressures from society, relationships, family, etc. to help you make choices that help you feel clarity and confidence in your future.

You might just realize how much an ELANZA coach can do for your entire life...

Treat a friend and book a coaching session with one of our expertly trained coaches.

If you or someone you know has undergone IVF and you would like to share your experience with us, please email us at [email protected]

Related posts.

Can you get Endometriosis in your Eyes? Understanding Ocular Endo

EverythingEndo app: Self-care on demand for endometriosis. Now live on Kickstarter!

10 Women's Health Breakthroughs of 2023

Comentarios

Supporting Every Fertility Prognosis 

The IVF Network gets you to your destination as quickly as possible. From powerful information to the best-in-class experts, we have what you need to make the right decision in your fertility treatment. 

We are here for any person experiencing fertility problems. No path to parenthood is the same and there are many factors that affect fertility and a variety of fertility treatments available. This can feel overwhelming and isolating.  

The IVF Network is here to empower each person on their fertility journey and provide an accessible community of experts that support you on your path to parenthood. Whether you are looking into in vitro fertilisation (IVF), embryo transfer, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), fertility medications and more we have resource to help our members.

Our global fertility experts join our monthly live broadcasts to discuss breaking fertility issues and answer your questions. 

Enjoy exclusive discounts with UK-leading fertility (taken out IVF) brands as a member of The IVF Network.

Meet members in our regular virtual catchup “The Safe Space”. Gain insights from people experiencing fertility treatments on similar fertility journeys. 

Meet experts at our events and watch videos and broadcasts on fertility treatments, clinics, IVF process and more. 

Our Story 

We are here for any person experiencing fertility problems. No path to parenthood is the same and there. There are many factors that affect fertility and a variety of fertility treatments available. When faced with this new and technical information, it can feel overwhelming and isolating.

The IVF Network is here for you, whether you are future-proofing your fertility, suffering from miscarriage, emotional trauma, male infertility, PCOS, endometriosis or other fertility-related challenge. challenges.

We are the only platform to provide an accessible community of world-renowned experts together with a supportive community. No matter what stage of your prognosis, The IVF Network guides you through your fertility-related challenge.

As seen in…

Meet our experts

Our experts are the best in their fields across the UK, US and Europe. We work with esteemed clinicians and contemporary therapists that offer support and advise to members. Through our monthly broadcasts members get access to fertility specialists and up-to-date information.  

Fertility and the workplace

Looking to support your employees on their fertility journey?

Getting a better understanding of fertility treatments to provide your employees with fertility support in an inclusive work environment. 

Information Hub

Providing community and support 

Our events provide the opportunity to hear form the world’s top fertility experts about fertility treatments, get your questions answered, and engage with a community that’s facing the same challenges. 

Access to global experts

The chance to join exclusive and informative events to help you on your fertility journey shouldn’t break the bank. Access fertility specialist as they discuss, procedures, treatments and new technologies for patients.  

Blogs, guides and real-life stories

Wherever you are on your fertility journey, we keep you informed with our ultimate guides that demystify the jargon and hear from people with similar stories to you and their real-life experiences.   

What our members say

The content The IVF Network produces for anyone going through a fertility journey is exceptional. It has really helped me make some stronger choices about my next steps. Corina

I was attracted to the IVF network because of the high-quality content of the broadcasts. I feel this is content that I can trust, which is a relief in the world Siobhan

Hearing about success rates, risk factors and your chances of getting pregnant can leave you feeling lost and confused. The IVF Network gave me answers to so many of my questions. Knowing the information was coming from reliable experts gave me confidence in my fertility treatments.   Sarah

YOUR PATHWAY TO PARENTHOOD

Professor Michael Chapman AM is one of Australia’s most highly profiled and respected fertility specialists.

He is a busy clinician who has personally been involved in fertility care resulting in over 3500 pregnancies. His academic position enables him to be at the forefront of new advances in treatment which he applies in his practice at the earliest opportunity. He has a high public profile due to his tireless efforts to ensure access to Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) for all Australians, as a vocal patient advocate and senior medical academic training practitioners of the future.

MB BS FRCOG FRANZCOG CREI Supportive and responsive, from day one to delivery Specialities: Infertility & IVF / PCOS / Recurrent Miscarriage A leader in the field, Professor Chapman AM is a keen and well-reputed patient advocate.

CONSULTATION

Fertility investigation, ovulation induction, the ivf journey, are you having difficulty conceiving if so, you’re not alone..

The IVF journey can be a real roller coaster ride for couples. Having a reliable source of information and professional medical advice can be extremely valuable on this journey.

Are you worried about having the Covid vaccination? I recommend you get vaccinated! Here’s why.

Based on worldwide data, we know that any of the vaccines reduces your risk of catching Covid and, more importantly if you do catch it, it reduces the risk of serious illness to you and your baby when you conceive.

Don’t be put off by scare stories about blood clots or heart problems. These risks are around 1 in a million and no worse in pregnant women. Compare this with the odds of dying as a plane passenger 1 in 188,364, or 1 in 1,117 for drowning and 1 in 103 for a motor vehicle crash.

Our Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists recommends the vaccination for women planning a pregnancy or already pregnant at any stage in their pregnancy because the risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 is significantly higher for pregnant women and their unborn baby.

Women who are trying to become pregnant do not need to delay vaccination or avoid becoming pregnant after vaccination.

So the experts say DO IT! I support that view. Discuss this with your healthcare professional today.

DISCOVER THE IVF JOURNEY PODCAST

375. debating adenomyosis, ai in ivf, and the quest for revo….

Join Prof Chapman as he discusses the dynamic world of fertility treatments, where cutting-edge technologies collide with age-old debates.&…

374. Understanding AMH and NKC in Reproductive Health

Join Prof Michael Chapman as he explores the dynamics of fertility through the lens of AMH levels and ovarian reserve, uncovering their imp…

373. IVF Success Metrics: The Truth Behind Clinic Cancellati…

Explore the intricacies of IVF success rates, from the impact of clinic cancellation policies to the undeniable influence of age on fertili…

Please Sign In or Register first.

profmichaelchapman

One of Australia’s most highly profiled and respected fertility specialists. Infertility & IVF / PCOS / Recurrent Miscarriage. Tune in to the podcast!

Sign up to learn more about the latest developments in Fertility and IVF from Professor Chapman.

• CALL US: (720) 666-4739

Navigating the IVF Journey: How Male Support Can Help

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a complex process that can be emotionally and physically demanding for couples. While much attention is placed on the role of the female partner in IVF, the importance of male support throughout this journey is often overlooked. Understanding and addressing the unique challenges men face, both emotionally and practically, can be instrumental in helping couples navigate the IVF process more effectively.

Understanding the IVF Process

The IVF process involves multiple steps, including ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, fertilization, embryo development, and embryo transfer. Each of these stages presents its own set of challenges and uncertainties. As a man, it is crucial to familiarize yourself with the process and actively participate in discussions with your partner and healthcare providers. This knowledge will not only provide you with a better understanding of what to expect but also help you support your partner emotionally and practically.

During the ovarian stimulation phase, your partner will undergo hormone injections to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. This process can be physically and emotionally demanding for her. As her partner, you can offer support by learning about the medications she will be taking, helping her with the injections if needed, and providing a comforting presence during this time.

Once the eggs have matured, the next step is the egg retrieval procedure. This is a minor surgical procedure that is typically done under sedation. It involves the insertion of a needle into the ovaries to collect the eggs. While your partner may experience some discomfort and bloating afterward, you can assist her by ensuring she rests, providing pain relief if necessary, and taking care of any household chores or responsibilities to allow her to recover.

After the eggs have been retrieved, they are fertilized with sperm in a laboratory. This is known as the fertilization stage. The embryos are then monitored for several days to assess their development and quality. During this time, it is important to be patient and understanding, as the waiting can be stressful for both you and your partner. Keep the lines of communication open and offer reassurance and support.

The Emotional Impact of IVF

IVF can be emotionally taxing for both partners. The uncertainty, disappointment, and frustration that come with failed cycles or unexpected setbacks can take a toll on mental well-being. As a male partner, it is essential to acknowledge and validate your own emotions, as well as those of your partner. Communicate openly and empathetically, allowing space for both of you to express your fears, hopes, and concerns. Remember, emotional support goes beyond just being present; active listening and understanding are key.

It is important to recognize that the emotional impact of IVF may vary for each person. Some individuals may feel a sense of loss or grief if the treatment is not successful, while others may experience anxiety and stress throughout the process. Be mindful of these emotions and offer support in whatever way feels most appropriate for you and your partner. This could involve seeking counseling or therapy, joining support groups, or simply finding time to engage in activities that bring you both joy and relaxation.

The Physical Demands of IVF

While women bear the brunt of the physical demands of IVF, men can also play an important role in supporting their partner’s physical well-being. Help with medication administration, accompany your partner to medical appointments, and provide practical support during the recovery period after procedures. By actively participating in these aspects of the IVF journey, you can alleviate some of the physical burdens and strengthen your bond as a couple.

During the recovery period after the egg retrieval procedure, your partner may experience abdominal discomfort, bloating, and fatigue. Offer assistance with household chores, meal preparation, and any other tasks that may be physically challenging for her. Additionally, encourage her to rest and prioritize self-care during this time. Small gestures of kindness, such as preparing her favorite meals or giving her gentle massages, can go a long way in helping her feel supported and cared for.

As the embryo transfer approaches, your partner may feel a mix of excitement and anxiety. Accompany her to the appointment and provide a calming presence. After the transfer, she may be advised to take it easy and avoid strenuous activities. Help create a relaxing environment at home, offer to run errands, and remind her to take her prescribed medications as instructed. Your involvement in these practical aspects can make a significant difference in her overall well-being.

The Importance of Male Support in IVF

Male support plays a crucial role in the success of the IVF journey. It encompasses both emotional and practical aspects, offering a solid foundation from which couples can navigate the challenges and uncertainties they may encounter.

Emotional Support: A Key Role for Men

Emotional support from male partners is essential throughout the IVF process. Your presence, understanding, and empathy can provide a much-needed source of comfort and reassurance to your partner. Be available to listen, offer encouragement, and validate her emotions. Being a supportive and compassionate figure will help your partner feel more secure and less alone in this journey.

During the emotional rollercoaster of IVF, it is important to remember that your partner may experience a wide range of emotions. From excitement and hope to anxiety and disappointment, these emotions can be overwhelming. By being there for her, you can help her navigate through these ups and downs with strength and resilience.

Additionally, male support can also help alleviate the stress and anxiety that often accompany the IVF process. By providing a calming presence and a shoulder to lean on, you can help create a sense of stability and security for your partner. Your unwavering support can make all the difference in her ability to cope with the challenges of IVF.

Practical Support: How Men Can Help

Practical support is equally important when it comes to navigating IVF. As a male partner, there are several ways you can lend a hand. Taking on additional household responsibilities, organizing medical documents and appointments, and researching IVF-related topics are just a few examples. By actively participating in the practical aspects, you can minimize your partner’s stress levels and demonstrate your commitment to the IVF journey.

One practical way to support your partner is by helping her maintain a healthy lifestyle. Encourage her to eat nutritious meals, exercise regularly, and get enough rest. By taking care of her physical well-being, you can contribute to her overall fertility and increase the chances of a successful IVF outcome.

Furthermore, being involved in the logistical aspects of IVF can help alleviate the burden on your partner. By taking charge of organizing medical documents and appointments, you can ensure that everything is in order and reduce her workload. This will not only make the process smoother but also show your dedication and commitment to the IVF journey.

Researching IVF-related topics is another way you can provide practical support. By staying informed about the latest advancements, treatment options, and potential challenges, you can be a valuable source of knowledge and guidance for your partner. This will empower both of you to make informed decisions and navigate the IVF journey with confidence.

In conclusion, male support is vital in the IVF journey. By offering emotional and practical support, you can create a strong foundation for your partner and increase the chances of a successful outcome. Remember, your presence, understanding, and active involvement can make a world of difference in this transformative journey towards parenthood.

Communication During the IVF Journey

Effective communication is the glue that holds relationships together during challenging times. Open and honest dialogue between partners is crucial for establishing a united front and fostering emotional intimacy.

Open Dialogue: The Foundation of Support

Creating an environment of open dialogue sets the stage for mutual support and understanding. Regularly check in with your partner to discuss fears, hopes, and concerns. Encourage her to express her emotions, and never undermine or dismiss her feelings. By fostering a safe space for communication, you can navigate the complexities of IVF as a team.

Listening: A Crucial Skill for Male Partners

Active listening is a skill that every male partner should strive to develop during the IVF journey. Allow your partner to express her thoughts and emotions freely, without interruption or judgment. Be present in the moment, fully engaged in the conversation. By actively listening, you demonstrate your commitment to understanding your partner’s experience and provide valuable emotional support.

Overcoming Challenges Together

The IVF journey is not without its challenges. Couples may face failed cycles, unexpected setbacks, or feelings of despair. However, by approaching these challenges together, couples can emerge stronger and more empowered.

Dealing with IVF Failures as a Couple

Experiencing a failed IVF cycle can be devastating for both partners. It is important to acknowledge and process these emotions together. Allow yourselves time to grieve, reflect, and heal. Seek professional support if needed, as therapy can provide a safe space for processing complex emotions and developing coping mechanisms. Remember that setbacks are a normal part of the IVF journey, and with resilience and support, success can still be within reach.

Celebrating Successes: The Joy of Shared Triumph

IVF is a journey marked by both challenges and moments of triumph. Celebrate your successes, regardless of their scale. Small victories, such as positive test results or milestone achievements, deserve recognition and celebration. By sharing in these moments of joy, you strengthen your emotional connection and reinforce your commitment to one another.

Maintaining Relationship Health During IVF

Amidst the intensity of the IVF journey, it is vital to prioritize the health of your relationship. Nurturing your bond allows you to weather the storms and emerge stronger together.

Balancing IVF and Relationship Needs

IVF demands a significant amount of time, energy, and focus. However, it is important to strike a balance between the IVF process and your relationship. Set aside dedicated time for connection and intimacy, away from the stress of appointments and treatments. Engage in activities that bring you joy and allow you to recharge as a couple. Remember, nurturing your relationship is just as essential as navigating the IVF journey.

Keeping the Spark Alive Amidst IVF Stress

Stress is an inevitable part of the IVF journey, but it doesn’t have to overpower your relationship. Find ways to cultivate joy and lightheartedness amidst the stress. Engage in activities that bring you both happiness and help you relax. Maintain open lines of communication regarding your feelings, fears, and desires. By actively tending to the emotional and physical elements of your relationship, you can keep the spark alive and strengthen your bond.

In conclusion, male support is an invaluable asset throughout the IVF journey. By understanding the process, providing emotional and practical support, fostering effective communication, overcoming challenges together, and prioritizing relationship health, male partners can play a crucial role in helping couples navigate this intricate path. With unity, strength, and unwavering support, couples can increase their chances of success and find solace in their shared journey.

Posterity Health

Posterity Health Care Hubs

HQ: 9100 E. Panorama Drive, Suite 250 Centennial, CO 80112

View All Care Hubs

Have any Questions? Reach out anytime.

Office: 720-666-4739

Providers, Send New Patient Referrals To: Fax: 469-935-8951

Providers, Send Existing Patient Details To: Fax: 833-449-4351

• SCHEDULE NOW
• Partner Inquiry
• For OBGYN Partners
• News & Press
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• Telemedicine Privacy Policy
• HIPAA Privacy
• CPRA – California Privacy Rights Act

© 2024 Posterity Health. The views and opinions on this website should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your doctor or male fertility specialist for the most important treatment and advice.

• Baseline Assessment
• Cryopreservation
• Male Fertility Workup
• Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Consult
• Second Opinions
• Vasectomy Reversal
• Supplements
• Gender Affirming Consult
• At-Home IUI Assessment
• Low Testosterone Treatments
• Free 10 Minute Consult
• Project AIM
• Why Choose Posterity Health
• Vasectomy Reversal Myths
• Medical Advisory Board
• Leadership Team
• Our Clinical Team
• Commitment to Inclusivity
• Greater Philadelphia / New Jersey / Delaware
• San Francisco
• Patient Portal

Support Groups

The ivf journey and navigating loss support group, date & time:, meeting information.

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Share on Email

273 episodes

In this unfiltered podcast about infertility, journalist and mom-of-two Ali Prato, who went through secondary infertility and IVF herself, talks to women—and some men—about the messy, frustrating, painful, heartbreaking, absurd and sometimes humorous journey to have a baby. Or in some cases, to not have a baby. Each episode tells a different story about family building, getting real about miscarriages, egg freezing, sperm and egg donation, IUIs, endometriosis, male factor infertility, adoption, surrogacy, genetic testing, single parenting by choice, LGBTQ+ fertility, living childless not by choice, depression, relationship issues, money issues, jealousy, PTSD, and so much more. Ali covers all of the outcomes in this safe, non-judgement zone: the happy endings, the soul-crushingly sad ones, and the ones still in limbo.

Infertile AF: Infertility and Modern Family Building Alison Prato

• Health & Fitness
• 4.9 • 452 Ratings
• MAY 2, 2024

Tara Clark's Infertility Story: Unexplained infertility and IUI success

Today Ali is talking to Modern Mom Probs founder Tara Clark about her unexplained infertility journey. Tara talks about growing up in Catholic school and the "fear-based" sex education she got; her three devastating miscarriages; being diagnosed with fibroids and having a procedure to remove them, and why she and her husband needed to take a mental health break after their losses. She also talks about trying again, doing three IUIs; getting pregnant on her third IUI; and the anxiety after loss she experienced when she was pregnant with her now-11 year old son, Jack.  TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: Unexplained infertility; sex education; miscarriage; mental health; infertility; IUI; failed IUIs; IUI success; pregnancy after loss; the anxiety of pregnancy after infertility  EPISODE SPONSORS: WORK OF ART Children's Book about IVF https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books Ali wrote her first children’s book, and it’s available now! “Work of ART” is the story of an IVF kiddo the day he learns he is a “work of ART” (born via IVF and Assisted Reproductive Technology). For young readers 4-8. Hardcover. Written by Ali Prato; Illustrated by Federico Bonifacini. Personalized and non-personalized versions are available. Order yours now at https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books For bulk orders of 10 or more books, go to https://www.infertileafgroup.com/bulk-order-request FERTILITY RALLY @fertilityrally www.fertilityrally.com No one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 5 to 6 support groups per week, three private Facebook groups, tons of curated IRL and virtual events, and an entire community of more than 500 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey. Join today at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at www.fertilityrally.com/membership SAVE $40 on an annual membership with code RALLY2024 RECEPTIVA DX ReceptivaDx is the singular test capable of identifying endometriosis, progesterone resistance, and endometritis in one comprehensive analysis. These conditions are often the hidden culprits behind unexplained infertility, directly impacting the success rates of IVF treatments. Ask for the Receptvia DX test today, and use code INFERTILEAF24 for $75 off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• APR 24, 2024

Ali, Abbe Feder, and Elizabeth King's Infertility Story: Infertility in Pop Culture

In this week’s special crossover episode, Ali is joined by her friends Abbe Feder (host of The Fertility Chick) and Elizabeth King (host of Creation Innovation podcast) to discuss infertility in pop culture. As infertility becomes more talked about in TV, movies, music and the news, what shows get it right? Where do we still need more support and stories shared? How can we ensure the narrative feels authentic? And when it doesn’t, is it just plain fun to laugh at? Ali, Abbe and Elizabeth get into all of this today, covering everything from Bluey to American Horror Story to the Taylor Swift song, "Bigger Than The Whole Sky."  TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: IVF; miscarriage; Taylor Swift; Kim Kardashian; Emma Roberts; Bluey; UP!; TTC; pregnancy after loss; childlessness not by choice  EPISODE SPONSORS: WORK OF ART Children's Book about IVF https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books Ali wrote her first children’s book, and it’s available now! “Work of ART” is the story of an IVF kiddo the day he learns he is a “work of ART” (born via IVF and Assisted Reproductive Technology). For young readers 4-8. Hardcover. Written by Ali Prato; Illustrated by Federico Bonifacini. Personalized and non-personalized versions are available. Order yours now at https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books For bulk orders of 10 or more books, go to https://www.infertileafgroup.com/bulk-order-request FERTILITY RALLY @fertilityrally www.fertilityrally.com No one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 5 to 6 support groups per week, three private Facebook groups, tons of curated IRL and virtual events, and an entire community of more than 500 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey. Join today at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at www.fertilityrally.com/membership RECEPTIVA DX ReceptivaDx is the singular test capable of identifying endometriosis, progesterone resistance, and endometritis in one comprehensive analysis. These conditions are often the hidden culprits behind unexplained infertility, directly impacting the success rates of IVF treatments. Ask for the Receptvia DX test today, and use code INFERTILEAF24 for $75 off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices S'MOO S’moo’s best-selling hormone balance powder is formulated with 7 essential vitamins, minerals, and herbs that are all highly recommended for Hormone Balance, Fertility, and PCOS. S’moo was created by fellow PCOS Cyster, and has helped thousands of women manage their PCOS naturally. Go to thesmooco.com  Enjoy a generous 20% off sitewide using code 'InfertileAF20' at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• APR 19, 2024

John Yurcisin's Infertility Story: Single dad by choice

"Growing up, I always imagined I'd one day be married with kids" says today's guest, single dad by choice John Yurcisin. "I've dated many smart, interesting, beautiful women. I was engaged once and called it off. I just never found my life partner." And so, John decided to become a dad on his own. On this episode, John shares the entire journey to having his two sons as a solo parent, including being the only heterosexual man in a room of 250 people at the Men Having Babies conference; finding a single parents group online; choosing and connecting with his surrogate; choosing an egg donor; and meeting his egg donor for dinner. He also talks about having his two boys, including his advice for anyone contemplating a single dad by choice journey.  TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: Single dad by choice; solo dad by choice; egg donor; surrogate; surrogacy journey; IVF; Men Having Babies conference; doctors; lawyers; single parents' groups online  EPISODE SPONSORS: WORK OF ART Children's Book about IVF https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books Ali wrote her first children’s book, and it’s available now! “Work of ART” is the story of an IVF kiddo the day he learns he is a “work of ART” (born via IVF and Assisted Reproductive Technology). For young readers 4-8. Hardcover. Written by Ali Prato; Illustrated by Federico Bonifacini. Personalized and non-personalized versions are available. Order yours now at https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books For bulk orders of 10 or more books, go to https://www.infertileafgroup.com/bulk-order-request FERTILITY RALLY @fertilityrally www.fertilityrally.com No one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 5 to 6 support groups per week, three private Facebook groups, tons of curated IRL and virtual events, and an entire community of more than 500 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey. Join today at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at www.fertilityrally.com/membership RECEPTIVA DX ReceptivaDx is the singular test capable of identifying endometriosis, progesterone resistance, and endometritis in one comprehensive analysis. These conditions are often the hidden culprits behind unexplained infertility, directly impacting the success rates of IVF treatments. Ask for the Receptvia DX test today, and use code INFERTILEAF24 for $75 off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• APR 12, 2024

Cara DiFalco's Infertility Story: Single mom by choice

"Truthfully, my journey is about 10 years long at this point," says today's guest, Cara DiFalco. Cara grew up in a big, boisterous Italian family in NJ, and she always knew she wanted many children. After getting divorced with no children at 38, she decided she would pursue being a single mom by choice, and today, she tells us her whole story. She talks about how her family embraced that decision; finding a sperm donor, including her pro tips on choosing a donor and navigating the donor sperm process; navigating three unsuccessful IUIs; her endometriosis; her egg retrievals and how "fertility treatments are stupid expensive, whether you have insurance or not." She also talks about feeling jealous of family and friends who've easily had babies, and where she is today.  TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: Single parent by choice; solo parent by choice; donor sperm; donor sperm selection; IUI; finances; egg retrieval; IVF; jealousy EPISODE SPONSORS: WORK OF ART Children's Book about IVF https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books Ali wrote her first children’s book, and it’s available now! “Work of ART” is the story of an IVF kiddo the day he learns he is a “work of ART” (born via IVF and Assisted Reproductive Technology). For young readers 4-8. Hardcover. Written by Ali Prato; Illustrated by Federico Bonifacini. Personalized and non-personalized versions are available. Order yours now at https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books For bulk orders of 10 or more books, go to https://www.infertileafgroup.com/bulk-order-request FERTILITY RALLY @fertilityrally www.fertilityrally.com No one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 5 to 6 support groups per week, three private Facebook groups, tons of curated IRL and virtual events, and an entire community of more than 500 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey. Join today at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at www.fertilityrally.com/membership RECEPTIVA DX ReceptivaDx is the singular test capable of identifying endometriosis, progesterone resistance, and endometritis in one comprehensive analysis. These conditions are often the hidden culprits behind unexplained infertility, directly impacting the success rates of IVF treatments. Ask for the Receptvia DX test today, and use code INFERTILEAF24 for $75 off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices S'MOO S’moo’s best-selling hormone balance powder is formulated with 7 essential vitamins, minerals, and herbs that are all highly recommended for Hormone Balance, Fertility, and PCOS. S’moo was created by fellow PCOS Cyster, and has helped thousands of women manage their PCOS naturally. Go to thesmooco.com Enjoy a generous 20% off sitewide using code 'InfertileAF' at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• APR 5, 2024

Bailey's Infertility Story (Part Two): Deciding to stop infertility treatments and work in a clinic

It's part two with our friend Bailey, who first shared her story on the pod in 2021. At the time, Bailey talked about having hair loss, night sweats -- finding out her AMH was just 0.1 and she had diminished ovarian reserve. She was told, 'You should be freezing your eggs, like, yesterday.'" Catch up on Bailey's first episode, and then listen to this one to find out where she is today, three years later: No longer going through treatments herself, working in a clinic, and making life much easier and better for any infertility warriors following in her wake. She also talks about the mental effects of infertility treatments, and how that helped her make the decisions which lead her to where she is today. "Infertility never leaves you," she says. "Your journey that you've been through -- it's never ending."  TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: DOR; IVF; egg retrieval; egg freezing; fertility preservation; mental health; community support; patient care EPISODE SPONSORS: WORK OF ART Children's Book about IVF https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books Ali wrote her first children’s book, and it’s available now! “Work of ART” is the story of an IVF kiddo the day he learns he is a “work of ART” (born via IVF and Assisted Reproductive Technology). For young readers 4-8. Hardcover. Written by Ali Prato; Illustrated by Federico Bonifacini. Personalized and non-personalized versions are available. Order yours now at https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books For bulk orders of 10 or more books, go to https://www.infertileafgroup.com/bulk-order-request FERTILITY RALLY @fertilityrally www.fertilityrally.com No one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 5 to 6 support groups per week, three private Facebook groups, tons of curated IRL and virtual events, and an entire community of more than 500 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey. Join today at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at www.fertilityrally.com/membership RECEPTIVA DX ReceptivaDx is the singular test capable of identifying endometriosis, progesterone resistance, and endometritis in one comprehensive analysis. These conditions are often the hidden culprits behind unexplained infertility, directly impacting the success rates of IVF treatments. Ask for the Receptvia DX test today, and use code INFERTILEAF24 for $75 off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• MAR 27, 2024

Ashley Hingston's Infertility Story: Surrogacy Mama

LFG!!!!!! Today's guest is a dear friend of Ali's, Ashely Hingston, aka @rage_against_infertilty. Ashley tells Ali all about having PCOS symptoms as a young woman and going on birth control, how certain doctors don't want to work with someone over a certain BMI; and going through letrozole rage. She talks about meeting her husband, Rob, doing medicated cycles and discovering male factor infertility, and recovering from an eating disorder. She talks about joining Fertility Rally; finally finding a clinic and medical team that would work with her, enduring many cycles that ended in failed implantation, and -- SPOILER ALERT -- what happened when they met their surrogate, and finally had their son, Jackson Walter, in early 2024.  TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: PCOS; IVF; egg retrieval; ART; BMI; Letrozole; medicated cycles; male factor infertility; surrogacy; surrogacy agencies; surrogacy pregnancy; grieving your pregnancy; IVF success  EPISODE SPONSORS: WORK OF ART Children's Book about IVF https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books Ali wrote her first children’s book, and it’s available now! “Work of ART” is the story of an IVF kiddo the day he learns he is a “work of ART” (born via IVF and Assisted Reproductive Technology). For young readers 4-8. Hardcover. Written by Ali Prato; Illustrated by Federico Bonifacini. Personalized and non-personalized versions are available. Order yours now at https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books For bulk orders of 10 or more books, go to https://www.infertileafgroup.com/bulk-order-request FERTILITY RALLY @fertilityrally www.fertilityrally.com No one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 5 to 6 support groups per week, three private Facebook groups, tons of curated IRL and virtual events, and an entire community of more than 500 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey. Join today at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at www.fertilityrally.com/membership RECEPTIVA DX ReceptivaDx is the singular test capable of identifying endometriosis, progesterone resistance, and endometritis in one comprehensive analysis. These conditions are often the hidden culprits behind unexplained infertility, directly impacting the success rates of IVF treatments. Ask for the Receptvia DX test today, and use code INFERTILEAF24 for $75 off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• 1 hr 25 min
• © All rights reserved.

Customer Reviews

452 Ratings

Simply the best!

Going through infertility can feel so isolating. But Ali has such an amazing way of holding space for those of us trying so hard to have a baby. I love hearing her conversations with other women going through some of these same struggles. Every story is different, but she makes it so relatable. This podcast is one I come back to again and again because of the raw real stories. Keep it up Ali!

Diverse insights on infertility

It’s such a gift to hear so many diverse and unfiltered experiences with infertility. This, coupled with a community to gather around these hard topics - such a gift. Thank you Alison and guests!

You are not alone!

Everyone in the #ttc community needs to be reminded that they are not alone. Ali and her guests share their stories and provide that much needed reminder in a way that is real, raw and soooooo relatable. 🧡🧡🧡

Top Podcasts In Health & Fitness

You might also like.

Advertisement

Uswnt legend lloyd announces pregnancy, opens up on difficult ivf journey, share this article.

U.S. women’s national team legend Carli Lloyd has announced that she and her husband Brian Hollins are expecting their first child.

Lloyd made the announcement in an Instagram post on Wednesday, saying that she is due in October.

The 41-year-old retired in 2021 after a decorated career that saw her go down as one of her sport’s all-time greats. At the time of her retirement, Lloyd said that she was hoping to start a family.

But Lloyd had a difficult journey to pregnancy, revealing in an essay for Women’s Health Magazine that it took her nearly two years and several rounds of in-vitro fertilization (IVF).

“I felt all the emotions during my career — stress, worry, fear, anxiety — but I’d never felt all the emotions that IVF brought on. I felt completely out of control. It’s an indescribable roller coaster unless you go through it,” Lloyd said.

She added: “When I look back at all the things I went through on the soccer field — whether it was a poor performance, getting benched, or missing a penalty kick in a World Cup final — there was always something I felt I could do to control the situation. I would go out and work 10 times harder. I was incredibly focused during my career. The majority of the time, the world saw me in competitor mode. A machine. I was often emotionless and numb because that’s the only way I felt I was able to survive and thrive.

“But this situation hit me so differently. I wasn’t emotionless or numb. Some nights I would lie in bed crying uncontrollably to Brian. I cried and worried a lot. I leaned on Brian more than I ever had, as well as on my family and friends. For the first time in my life, I needed their support to keep going.”

Lloyd said she wanted to fully share her story in order to let other people struggling with infertility know that they are not alone.

“I went from feeling embarrassed, ashamed, and afraid to tell people that I was going through IVF to now wanting to share my story to help others,” she said. “In times of struggle, we see what we are made of. We grow. We learn. And most important, we have more appreciation for the things we do have in life.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by CARLI LLOYD (@carlilloyd)

USWNT to face Costa Rica in Olympic send-off match in Washington, D.C.

Uswnt 2024 schedule: results, fixtures, tv channel and streaming, carli lloyd: i was the only one brave enough to say it how it is.

Follow all of Pro Soccer Wire's USWNT coverage right here.

Most Popular

The 20 best players yet to make a uswnt appearance, arsenal's 2024-25 kits have leaked. fans are mixed., longtime televisa, univision announcer paco villa passes away at 54, 'when you're no longer happy, it's time' - union goalkeeper blake wants out, la liga 2023-24 top scorers: tracking the pichichi race, inter miami roster and salaries for 2024 mls season, soccer world in awe of columbus crew after stunning champions cup win at monterrey.

Please enter an email address.

Thanks for signing up.

Please check your email for a confirmation.

Something went wrong.

After Unexplained Infertility, Carli Lloyd Is Pregnant And Sharing Her Story For The First Time

“In times of struggle, we see what we are made of.”

Being a mom was always something I wanted, but it wasn’t necessarily something that was always on my mind. As a professional soccer player, I was on the sole mission of becoming the best in the world. In order to get there, I knew soccer had to be my number one priority. It would require a selfish mindset.

My husband, Brian, and I met in high school, so we’ve been together for 24 years. He supported me through every step of my career, and without his support, I never would have reached the heights I did.

When I retired in 2021 at age 39, I’d spent 34 years of my life playing soccer, 17 of them professionally. Having a baby was on our mind, and I thought putting it off for a little bit longer to enjoy life wouldn’t pose an issue. For the first time, soccer wasn’t my priority. I could actually choose what I wanted to do and spend time with Brian, my family, and my friends without soccer consuming my mind and body. (In retrospect, I wish I had been more educated about pregnancy and how to prepare for it, and that I looked years ago into the options I had for freezing my eggs.)

The only thing that changed when I retired was that I wasn’t training or playing. I was very grateful for the opportunities that continued to come my way. I was flying all over for appearances, shoots, speaking engagements, and filming for the Special Forces show, and I got to play in an amazing charity soccer match.

In the summer of 2022, Brian and I thought it was time to try to get pregnant and see where it would lead us. My whole life revolved around defying odds and proving people wrong. Soccer taught me how to work hard, persevere, be resilient, and never give up. I would do whatever it took to prepare, and usually when I prepared, I got results. But I found out that I didn’t know much about this world. I was very naive to think that we wouldn’t have any issues getting pregnant. And so it began. The casual whatever happens, happens turned into disappointment month after month. I was starting to feel like this was a race against the clock—my 40-year-old biological clock.

The journey began to eat me alive and consume me.

I kept saying to myself, “Why is my body failing me?” I had taken such good care of myself, was never a smoker, didn’t drink much. I started talking to a former teammate who had gone through similar struggles, and she helped guide me and encourage me. She suggested I start building a support team around me. I began doing acupuncture and going to a health and wellness center that could help with the process. Brian and I also decided to both get checked out to make sure there were no issues going on.

After getting all the necessary tests done, there was nothing standing in our way except my age. I left that visit with the doctor asking when I wanted to start in-vitro fertilization. I was taken aback, as we were in the early stages and I hadn’t even thought about IVF. I wasn’t ready to go down that road. In my mind, we could still get pregnant naturally and just needed to give it some time.

The months continued to pass, with the thought of trying to get pregnant constantly on my mind. I decided to schedule a consultation with another fertility doctor. I asked around about other doctors, and Dr. Louis Manara at the Center for Reproductive Medicine and Fertility in Voorhees, New Jersey, came highly recommended. At this point, my COBRA insurance that I had for a year after I retired was expiring. We didn’t have any insurance at the consult, but I didn’t care, as I wanted to hear what he had to say.

I met with Dr. Manara, who has been a fertility doctor since 1985. He gathered some information about myself and Brian. He was empathetic, knowledgeable, and honest. He said, “With your age and the timing, the best and most straightforward route is to do IVF.” I fought it so much up until this point. As a woman, I wanted to get pregnant naturally because that’s what our bodies are supposed to be capable of. I felt like my body let me down. But at that moment, I was ready to take the next steps.

The first time I sat in the waiting room, I remember feeling really ashamed and embarrassed. I wanted to put my head down, afraid that people would recognize me. I felt as if I shouldn’t be there. But as time went on, I realized that we’re all human and many women are going through similar struggles. There’s a stigma that comes with needing help or needing to go through fertility treatments. It isn’t talked about enough, but it’s just a different process ​​to get to the same end goal: becoming a parent.

We began our first round of IVF in April 2023.

Our plan was to stash as many embryos as we could because we would love to have two children, and now was the time to retrieve my eggs at a younger age. So, again, being a bit naive, I’m thinking, We’ll get four on the first one. Totally. Not a problem .

During my career, I put myself through rigorous workouts, did ice baths every day, and had a very high pain tolerance. I was always “no pain, no gain.” So, for me, the injections were the easy bit, and I did all of them myself. The hardest thing was the emotional toll. The uncertainty. The waiting. The constant worrying about what if .

I had 20 eggs retrieved, but we expected those numbers to dwindle after they were fertilized by day five and six. Then the numbers are expected to dwindle even more when the embryos are sent for genetic testing. So it was a waiting game that we literally had no control over. And it’s hard. I felt all the emotions during my career—stress, worry, fear, anxiety—but I’d never felt all the emotions that IVF brought on. I felt completely out of control. It’s an indescribable roller coaster unless you go through it.

After my first egg retrieval, I was waiting for the call to find out how many embryos had made it after day six. I was in Washington, D.C., in the dining hall of the Capitol building, doing media and meeting with senators about the excitement of the upcoming 2023 Women’s World Cup with the team at Fox Sports.

When the nurse called, I had to excuse myself. She told me that three embryos had made it, which meant we would likely end up with even less than that after genetic testing. The nurse needed an answer on whether we wanted to hold off on genetic testing and do another retrieval. We could group the first and second rounds together to save money, or go ahead with sending these three off to get tested. Genetic testing results usually took one to two weeks.

.css-1cugboc{margin:0rem;font-size:2.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-family:Domaine,Domaine-roboto,Domaine-local,Georgia,Times,Serif;color:#f7623b;font-weight:bold;}.css-1cugboc em,.css-1cugboc i{font-style:italic;font-family:inherit;}.css-1cugboc b,.css-1cugboc strong{font-family:inherit;font-weight:bold;} “I felt all the emotions during my career—stress, worry, fear, anxiety—but I’d never felt all the emotions that IVF brought on. I felt completely out of control.”

I started tearing up. The emotion hit me like a ton of bricks, and all I wanted was to be alone in private. I hadn’t said anything to my colleagues at Fox. I felt incredibly rude and apologized profusely, and they supported me even though they had no idea what was going on. Meanwhile, we started our tour around the Capitol building.

I called Brian and shared the news with him and couldn’t control my emotions. But I had to pull it together. I called my other friend who had gone through the IVF journey and was supporting me every step of the way, asking her if we should do another cycle right away or wait for the genetic results.

I was just so gutted. My expectation was that we would get enough embryos this first round, we would do a transfer, I would get pregnant, and then I would go work at the World Cup in July, and everything would be absolutely perfect. But life is never perfect and never how you plan it. That was when I realized you cannot have any expectations going through this process.

We decided to try a second round of IVF the following month.

We chose to pay to send the embryos off for genetic testing. We wanted to know how many genetically normal ones we had before we started a second round. Two of our embryos came back genetically normal, so now we had a bit of a dilemma. If we wanted two kids, both embryos would have to work. We went back and forth about whether to do another cycle, and there’s never a right or wrong answer. You just make a decision that inevitably decides the path. It’s also a costly decision.

A lot of this was paid out of pocket, because our health insurance didn’t cover it. I know that many people struggle to even be able to consider fertility treatments, so we were very grateful that more rounds of IVF was an option for us.

My schedule was insanely packed throughout this process, but this cycle was particularly challenging. Anyone who has gone through IVF knows that you are at the mercy of your body and you don’t control the timing. It took a lot of patience and understanding when my agent would tell some of the brands I was working with that, confidentially, I was going through this and we may need to reschedule some events. Believe it or not, I was able to get through everything seamlessly. One shoot I had with Delta required stopping the shoot so I could do my injections. We were shooting all over D.C., and I had a 15-minute window to duck into a hotel bathroom, do my shots, and come back out.

My body responded well to the medication and there were no issues retrieving eggs. The issue I was faced with was finding quality eggs that would fertilize and become strong embryos. This time, three made it to day six, and next was the genetic testing process.

I was in Los Angeles, about to host my soccer clinic, when the nurse called. I was walking to get breakfast with my cousin Jaime and my coach and friend Shaun. The nurse told me that zero embryos had come back genetically normal. The entire cycle was a wash—a complete waste of time and money.

My clinic was starting 30 minutes later in front of 100 kids, and once again I had to wipe away tears and carry on. My cousin Kerrie, who lives in Los Angeles, met us for dinner that night. Thankfully I was not alone and had Kerrie, Jaime, and Shaun by my side. I cried to Kerrie and Jaime in my hotel room, explaining the journey. They both said to stay hopeful and that it will work out the way it is supposed to work out.

At this point, I didn’t have time to do another retrieval cycle. I was leaving for Australia for the Women’s World Cup with Fox Sports at the beginning of July. I also was so emotionally drained that I needed a break. My thoughts were consumed with this. It was time to get away, let loose, have a cocktail or two, and enjoy my experience. And that is exactly what I did. I was surrounded by an incredible team of people working the Women’s World Cup, and it was the exact break I needed.

But I was still left with the decision of what to do. I s two embryos enough? Do we take our chances? Do I go through another retrieval? Brian was ready to go through with a transfer, but I wasn’t quite sure, and he knew I wasn’t ready to make a decision. But I didn’t need to have an answer right away. I had plenty of time to think.

We went ahead with our first embryo transfer in October.

When I came home from Australia in August, I purposely waited to start the transfer process until I had adjusted back to the time zone and was feeling good. No matter how much you want to speed up this process, you can’t. It is very time consuming and unpredictable. We had two frozen embryos, and we decided to take the chance with one. We felt that maybe these two were meant to be our children.

The embryo transfer was quick and easy. You don’t have to be put under anesthesia like you do with an egg retrieval. I was still feeling as if I could somehow control this journey, so I went to the grocery store and purchased all I could to help allow my body to accept this embryo—pomegranate juice, pineapple, nuts, teas. I kept my socks on daily. I did a medicated transfer, which required daily progesterone shots on my butt, alternating sides every day. It was much easier having Brian do these for me while I lay on my stomach. He never liked having to do these. I didn’t like them either. I bled and had bruises and knots on each side of my butt.

So now the waiting began. To be honest, it was torture. My life stopped completely, as I felt like I needed to control everything for this embryo to take. I was traveling around this time and needed to wait an extra few days to go to the doctor’s office to get blood work to see if I was pregnant. Usually I would have gone in nine days after the embryo transfer. In my case, it was 12 days later.

I was driving to our local dump to throw trash and cardboard out, which I do quite often, when I received a call from Dr. Manara right before I pulled in. My heart was beating so fast, and I was holding my breath.

He shared the bad news: I wasn’t pregnant. I felt sick to my stomach. He was heartbroken for us. He said that even when you take all these steps, there’s only a 60 percent chance of a successful transfer with genetically normal embryos, and sometimes it just doesn’t work out. He suggested we go ahead with another retrieval since now was the time to get as many embryos as we could for future children. That afternoon, I had to put a smile on my face, wipe away tears, and shoot some social media content. Life went on.

I wanted answers. I thought maybe there was something I did wrong. I felt hopeless. I didn’t see light at the end of the tunnel. I had never been this broken in my life, ever.

My life had been revolving around all of this, consuming me. Everything I ate or drank, anything I did, there would be guilt. Should I have this? Should I not have this? Should I work out? Should I not work out? I was literally driving myself crazy. Throughout this entire process, my schedule was busy and I was juggling so much. I’d have to leave my home, go speak or do a shoot, put on a happy face, and pretend that none of this was going on in my world when it was eating me up every single moment of the day.

I’ve felt every emotion throughout this process. When I look back at all the things I went through on the soccer field—whether it was a poor performance, getting benched, or missing a penalty kick in a World Cup final—there was always something I felt I could do to control the situation. I would go out and work 10 times harder. I was incredibly focused during my career. The majority of the time, the world saw me in competitor mode. A machine. I was often emotionless and numb because that’s the only way I felt I was able to survive and thrive.

But this situation hit me so differently. I wasn’t emotionless or numb. Some nights I would lie in bed crying uncontrollably to Brian. I cried and worried a lot. I leaned on Brian more than I ever had, as well as on my family and friends. For the first time in my life, I needed their support to keep going.

Ultimately, we chose to do a third round of IVF.

Growing up, my parents attended church and would take me and my sister and brother. We attended Sunday school and some youth group events, but it wasn’t something I necessarily enjoyed. Throughout my career, I had many teammates who would hold Bible study on the road, and I would occasionally join in. It wasn’t until after our failed transfer, where I felt lost and completely hopeless, that my faith kicked in. Former teammates of mine would send me prayers and encouragement. I truly believe that everything in our lives happens for a reason. You can’t always see it or feel it in the moment, but when you look back in time, you understand it.

When I called my parents to tell them our transfer didn’t work, they both said, “It just wasn’t meant to be. For whatever reason, God has other plans for you. Don’t lose hope.” And while hearing this was hard to process, it was the only thing I could hold on to. I had to believe that what is meant to be will be and to trust the process. It sounded familiar. Something I would constantly tell myself during my career.

At the start of our third cycle, my mindset was totally different. I finally surrendered. Whatever was meant to be would be, and I had to continue to live life. Life is short. I didn’t want time to pass on by and look back and say I didn’t enjoy my life while we were going through this. You don’t get time back. So I tried to stop thinking about the future and started living in the present, one day at a time. We have chickens, so I spent time outside in nature with them, and that was very therapeutic. I started to journal every day. I wrote down my fears and worries, I read, and I prayed. For once, I became vulnerable and leaned on all the support I had around me.

Brian and I had a vacation planned to the Bahamas in December, and of course, here we are on unplanned IVF cycle number three at the mercy of my body’s timing. We hoped it wouldn’t interfere with our trip, but we knew we couldn’t control that. Thankfully, our third retrieval ended up being a week prior to our departure. The nurse called and left a voicemail as we were flying to the Bahamas letting us know we had four embryos that made it to day six, which was great news for us. Those got shipped off for genetic testing—more waiting. Two of those four ended up being genetically normal. After three retrievals, we had three embryos, and we felt good about that. Dr. Manara felt good about it as well.

“I tried to stop thinking about the future and started living in the present, one day at a time.”

We started the transfer process at the beginning of January, and our transfer was at the end of the month. Of course we had another trip scheduled. This time, I was invited to play in the Waste Management Pro-Am in Phoenix. I was now worried whether it would be okay to play and swing a golf club while we waited to see if this embryo took. I consulted with Dr. Manara, and he said it would be okay. It was nice to be away and have a distraction. Since we were traveling, I wouldn’t be able to go into the office to get my blood drawn to see if I was pregnant. So, instead of having to wait until we got home, the office wrote me a script to go while in Scottsdale.

We got up early, took an Uber, and walked into a Labcorp. I expected the results to come back three days later, since it was a Friday. The next morning I woke up early and noticed an alert in my portal that I could view the results. Since this was a Saturday, no one was at Dr. Manara’s office, so I got the news before they could call to tell me. Without clicking on the downloaded version, I saw only my beta hCG level. I texted my friend—the one who had been supporting me throughout this journey—a screenshot of the number. She texted in all caps: “OMG CARLI!!!!! YOU ARE PREGNANT.” Brian was just waking up as I shared the news. We hugged and held each other and, for the first time in a long time, felt at peace.

I was finally pregnant, but we weren’t ready to celebrate just yet.

While I wanted to jump up and down and celebrate, we knew we weren’t out of the woods. We would have four more blood tests to make sure my hCG levels were rising, and the ultrasounds would follow. Every appointment brought anxiety. Our first ultrasound was to confirm that the gestational sac was inside the uterus and everything was looking good. Since we had a ski trip coming up the following week, we went back to the office two weeks later.

During our second ultrasound, we were thrown a curveball. The baby still had a heartbeat, but the measurement was calculated at five days behind, and Dr. Manara was concerned to see this in a genetically tested embryo for which we knew the exact date of the transfer. I immediately thought I did something wrong.

Dr. Manara assured me this had nothing to do with skiing or traveling. He did say, “I’m still hopeful, but I am concerned that this could potentially lead to a miscarriage.” We left that visit extremely uneasy and worried. And I was leaving for Mexico the next day. We now had to wait another week after I returned from my travels to go back and make sure that everything was okay. Again, we held on to that faith that God has a plan and it will work out the way it is supposed to work out. I continued to journal. But it was never off my mind. I feared I’d miscarry at any moment.

This next appointment couldn’t come any faster. To say we were anxious and worried was an understatement. I felt as if everyone in the office was anxiously waiting as well. The ultrasound tech was quick to get in and make sure there was a heartbeat. And we had a heartbeat! What a relief. And the baby had gained a day and was now measuring four days behind. Dr. Manara was feeling a lot better after this visit, but he still wanted to check again, so we came back four days later to do another ultrasound.

Each week we went back, we would go in holding our breath. The ultrasound tech would say, “Okay, there’s a heartbeat,” and we all could breathe again. We didn’t want to let ourselves get too excited. But with every appointment since then, the baby’s been steadily progressing each week.

After 10 weeks of monitoring this pregnancy, it was time to graduate. In the IVF world, you graduate from your fertility clinic and then start going to your ob-gyn. It was bittersweet, and I knew I would miss everyone in the office. The most exciting moment was when I was done with the daily progesterone shots. I had some serious scar tissue, knots, and bruises that I couldn’t wait to go away.

Dr. Manara’s office is a very small practice with very special people. They made me feel comfortable and truly cared about me as a patient. Dr. Manara is the best; I am so grateful for the way he handles his patients, the knowledge and expertise he provides, and the care and empathy he showed throughout our entire journey. At every visit he is face to face with his patients, going over everything and answering any questions. I couldn’t have been any happier with my experience there.

It is still hard to believe I am pregnant. It truly is a miracle, and we are so excited to be parents!

I want to show other women going through IVF that they are not alone, and that good can come from this.

I’ve conquered the soccer world and I consider myself to be really strong, but I was at my weakest during this entire process. I want to show other women that it’s okay to struggle. It’s okay to feel broken and to feel hopeless, but to never give up and to keep going. We don’t know the future chapters of our lives, and it is important to just keep putting one foot in front of the other.

I went from feeling embarrassed, ashamed, and afraid to tell people that I was going through IVF to now wanting to share my story to help others. In times of struggle, we see what we are made of. We grow. We learn. And most important, we have more appreciation for the things we do have in life.

Going through something like IVF also puts things into perspective. I’ve been blessed with many things in my life. It was not easy for Brian and me to navigate the journey from high school to attending different colleges, to a professional career, and then a long-distance relationship as I traveled the world. Our relationship continues to be tested and strengthened. This experience brought us closer than I had ever imagined. I couldn’t have gotten through it without him. He kept me going. He would say, “Just trust. Trust that it’s going to work out.” His strength and calmness was something I never realized I needed.

I always try to extract positive things or lessons that come out of struggle. And there are many things, but the one that is truly special is that it brought me closer to my parents, as well as my sister and my brother, after years of not speaking. We can never get back lost time, but we can soak up all the present and future times together, and I am grateful for that. We are truly blessed with the family and friends we have in our lives who were there for us when we needed them the most.

Since I retired, my heart has come alive. I have felt I can be more like myself. I am not in the pressure cooker anymore. I can let my guard down and be more vulnerable. For those who have never experienced the national team, it’s hard to truly understand how cutthroat it is. For 17 years, I was a machine. I was on a mission. And the only way I felt I could achieve my dreams was to be like this. The women’s national team either makes you or breaks you. Only the strong survive. And now for the first time in my life, I needed others to help carry me along.

“I want to show other women that it’s okay to struggle. It’s okay to feel broken and to feel hopeless, but to never give up and to keep going.”

I have been told that nothing I have accomplished or faced in my soccer life will ever be as great as being a mom. I know this will change me forever, and I am so excited for the journey. This was not an easy journey, but that’s true of most things in life that are worthwhile. Brian and I look forward to loving and raising a strong little one to be the best version of themselves.

My story is currently a happy one, but I know there are other women who are facing challenges in their pregnancy journey. I see you and I understand your pain. My hope is that more and more women will speak up about this topic, because their stories helped me. I also wish for more resources, funding, and education around fertility treatments. There is much to be done, and I hope I can play a role in helping.

—As told to Amanda Lucci

Sports & Athletes

Where Is Brittney Griner Now? All About Her Doc

Why Did Gabby Douglas Retire? Her Break, Comeback

Dietitians Recommend These Pre-Workout Supplements

Meet Basketball Star Caitlin Clark's Boyfriend

Meet Coco Gauff's Parents, Candi And Corey

Your Favorite Olympic Gymnasts, Then And Now

How Suni Lee Is Taking Care Of Her Mental Health

Who Is Olivia Dunne's Boyfriend Paul Skenes ?

Who Is Coco Gauff's Coach? Meet Brad Gilbert

Does Coco Gauff Have A Boyfriend?

Where Is Larry Nassar Now? FBI Settlment Details

This 'brilliant' $10 tick remover is 'quick, easy, painless and effective'

It works for both people and pets, and has more than 8,600 reviews.

Haley and Oula Palve announce birth of daughter after IVF journey: 'You’re the love we’ve always known was coming'

The former "bachelor" star shared her ivf process with fans before announcing her pregnancy in october 2023..

It's a girl for Haley Palve and her husband Oula!

On Monday, the former "Bachelor" star and wife of ex-Pittsburgh Penguins player Oula Palve, shared the arrival of their daughter, Lovi Lavigne Palve, in a touching Instagram post .

She shared a carousel of her newborn swaddled in her bassinet, surrounded by custom name blocks and a sign sharing her date of birth and weight. "You’re the love we’ve always known was coming. Been soaking up every second of the newborn bubble bliss," the new mom penned in the caption.

"Baby and I got home from the hospital yesterday and we are doing great! She is pure joy and we couldn’t be more in love. Welcome to the world sunshine girl!" Palve added .

Fans shared their excitement and congratulated the new parents on their newest addition in the comments.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Haley Palve (@hfergie11)

"Gorgeous baby girl! Congratulations mama and papa," fellow former "Bachelor" contestant Vanessa Grimaldi shared .

"What a journey. So happy for you both. You have a beautiful family. Congratulations!" a fan wrote .

"OMG! She is so perfect! That hair is amazing! I hope all is well with you mama, and welcome to motherhood. Also, love the name Lovi!" another commented .

"Congratulations! She is absolutely beautiful. Wishing you guys all the best in the new role of parenthood. It's a wild ride. Lean on your village and don't be afraid to ask for help," one Instagram user chimed in.

Back in November, the 31-year-old opened up to her Instagram followers about the challenging IVF process she endured to finally conceive her daughter, and the anxiety and anticipation that came with it.

"When we transferred our first little embryo I was anxious but full of hope," she recalled .

"Every little thing I felt worried me, and the first 10 weeks were mixed with a lot of different emotions."

As the weeks progressed, Palve found herself gradually transitioning from anxiety to a growing sense of joy and anticipation. She shared her thoughts, saying , "I’m not sure it has totally hit me yet that I get to have my baby that I've dreamt of for so long, and maybe I won’t believe it until I get to hold that dream in my arms in 25 weeks."

Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @ YahooStyleCA ! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram .

Latest Stories

1 in 3 canadians think dangers of sun exposure are exaggerated: what to know about skin cancer risk, sunscreens & more.

Nearly a quarter of Canadians believe you need to burn before you tan — but is it true?

Why Maria Georgas backed out of being the next 'Bachelorette' — plus everything else we learned from the 'Bachelor' star's 'Call Her Daddy' episode

The Ontario-native opened up about dating, her time on "The Bachelor" and more on the "Call Her Daddy" podcast.

Is Beyoncé Attending the Met Gala 2024?

The star has been notably absent since 2016. Is this the year it all changes?

Police officer who faced sword attacker suffered ‘horrifically serious’ injuries

A 36-year-old suspect remains in hospital after a 14-year-old boy was killed and four other people were injured in Hainault, east London.

Long-duration snowfall continues to hit Alberta for the start of May

Snowfall warnings line parts of southern Alberta, as May begins with more wintry weather across the region. Brace for slower commute times and difficult travel. The Weather Network meteorologist Nicole Karkic has the details.

The Rewind: Kim Kardashian Wears Marilyn Monroe's Dress

The reality star couldn't think of anything more fitting for the Met Gala's "America" theme than wearing the Hollywood icon's gown to the event — a task that did not come easily

Sandra Oh recreates iconic Princess Diaries phone scene for Anne Hathaway

Killing Eve star appears on The Kelly Clarkson Show to introduce guest Anne Hathaway

Upfronts 2024: Pilot Buzz & Other Development Updates In Another Atypical Broadcast Cycle

If you read the headline and are asking yourselves, pilots? what pilots? — you are not wrong. It’s been largely a 2024 pilot season without pilots. A grand total of maybe one of them is expected to factor into any fall decisions as the broadcast networks prepare to unveil their schedules, starting with CBS tomorrow, …

Why one economist says Elon Musk has turned Tesla into a meme stock

"From the standpoint of Wall Street speculators, it is a bouncing ball in a roulette wheel: a tech-bubble casino play," J. Bradford DeLong wrote.

Sarah Jessica Parker Kicks Off “And Just Like That... ”Season 3 with Cast Table Read: 'Here We Go'

The revival series was renewed for season 3 ahead of the season 2 finale last year

Woods accepts exemption to play US Open in June

Tiger Woods accepts a special exemption to play in the US Open at Pinehurst next month.

Biden taps veteran campaign operative Greg Hale as director of presidential production

As President Biden ramps up his travel schedule, the White House has hired Greg Hale, a longtime veteran of several Democratic presidential campaigns, as the director of presidential production, sources tell The Hill. The hire comes as the White House Office of Scheduling and Advance has been adding more jobs to its team as Biden…

First overall selection Dublanko set to make Edmonton his new football home

Joel Dublanko is looking forward to calling Edmonton home. The Edmonton Elks took the rugged linebacker first overall in the CFL draft Tuesday night. There was karma with the selection, as the American-born Dublanko was able to declare for the draft because his father is from Edmonton. And the burly six-foot-three, 240-pound Dublanko still has plenty of family living in Alberta. "Thankfully it's another home for me in Edmonton (with) how much family I have here," Dublanko said. "It (being drafte

Melissa Gorga Shares Secret to Her 20-Year Marriage to Joe Gorga Ahead of Wedding Anniversary (Exclusive)

The Bravo star, 45, spoke to PEOPLE about enjoying "date nights" with her husband ahead of the couple's 20th anniversary in August

Ancient scroll charred by volcanic eruption reveals what Plato did in his final hours

The scroll, damaged in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, puzzled researchers for centuries — until now.

“Bachelor” Alum Courtney Robertson Welcomes Baby No. 3: 'As Sweet as They Come' (Exclusive)

The couple is already parents to son Joaquin, 3, and daughter Paloma, 2

The health products you can skip, from detox teas to vitamin shots

Consumer experts Which? have determined which products are not worth your hard-earned cash.

Police storm Columbia University amid pro-Palestinian protests

New York police were given permission to enter the campus of the prestigious Columbia University on Tuesday amid ongoing pro-Palestinian protests. Officers stormed Hamilton Hall and cleared the building by removing students and demonstrators handcuffed with zip ties.

Valerie Bertinelli Gets Honest About 'Drugs, Alcohol, Infidelity' with Eddie Van Halen, Says He Was 'Not a Soulmate'

Bertinelli and Eddie Van Halen married in 1981 and officially divorced in 2007 before his death in 2020

No, Mama Cass Did Not Die from a Ham Sandwich: In New Book, Her Daughter Shares What “Really” Happened (Exclusive)

The Mamas & The Papas singer passed away at 32, and her daughter Owen Elliott-Kugel has had to live with rumors ever since

Get Started

Our Service

Arranging your low-cost ivf abroad, service overview, our unique support, superb czech clinic, stress-free experience, ivf abroad is now the option of choice for many couples. your ivf journey organises every aspect of your ivf overseas – and we arrange donor-egg and donor-embryo treatment as well..

As the exclusive UK agency for a leading Czech fertility clinic, our mission is to drive down the cost of IVF. We take impeccable care of you throughout your IVF treatment abroad. As patients ourselves, we fully understand your needs.

Planning IVF abroad requires meticulous preparation. So, unlike most agencies, Your IVF Journey offers you comprehensive support before, during and after your visit to the clinic. Driven by our own experience of IVF overseas , we know how important it is to be looked after. Organisation is key – and we help you with all of it. Read our patient reviews.

Our low-cost IVF abroad package is probably the most cost-effective IVF treatment you’ll find anywhere in Europe. Patients on our IVF abroad with donor eggs package  get priority booking: you could have your treatment in just  eight weeks . And our IVF abroad with donor embryos package is a new and exciting option for couples seeking an alternative to traditional adoption.

Our Success Rates

Donor embryos, ivf + own eggs.

A caring and personalised service, helping patients sensitively through their treatment.  

We know how tough fertility treatment is. We provide compassionate support and advice.  

We’re hardworking and efficient. You’ll feel informed, respected and cared for.

IVF abroad – what we offer

Your IVF Journey is a unique, patient-led service that manages every aspect of your IVF abroad. From the moment you get in touch, and wherever you live in the world, we provide general advice, support and a host of other benefits designed to make your trip as affordable and comfortable as possible.

We’re proud to work exclusively with a Czech IVF clinic whose standards and success rates  speak for themselves. And as we’ve discovered for ourselves, having IVF overseas can really help you relax, maximising your chance of success. In fact, pregnancy   rates for Your IVF Journey patients are even higher than the clinic’s own stats, reflecting the dedicated care and support we give you from day 1.

People consider IVF abroad for many reasons. Perhaps, like us, you’ve undergone cycles in the UK without success or felt unhappy with the service you received or the money you paid. You may not have qualified for IVF treatment on the NHS, in which case the cost of IVF treatment is a key factor. Or you may be interested in the higher success rates, shorter waiting times and convenience of some overseas clinics.

You may have concerns about having IVF abroad, not at home. Who will support you? How do you organise things, before and after your IVF overseas? Will you be given accurate advice and information you can understand? The list is quite extensive and your worries are perfectly normal. The good news is, Your IVF Journey helps you with everything.

IVF abroad – the process

Your first step is to contact us if you have any questions or wish to discuss your IVF abroad treatment options. You can speak to our patient coordinator, Becky Saer, by phone or email. If you prefer, we’ll arrange a Skype conference.

When you’re ready to take things further, we’ll email you a medical questionnaire for review by the clinic. We’ll tell you if the clinic wants you to have additional tests or procedures and we’ll book a treatment date to suit your schedule. We’ll pass on all medical information from the clinic and help you understand your protocol, prescription and timetable. For more on what your IVF abroad will involve, read our treatment pages or browse Your Questions .

IVF abroad – our service

Our fees to coordinate your treatment are highly reasonable – see our prices for more details . Our service also has a range of added-value benefits, including our Prescription Price Promise, discounted hotels and big reductions on currency costs. Patients also get a detailed travel guide, priority booking (donor egg IVF patients) and unique access to clinic consultants.

IVF abroad – our price guarantee

The cost of IVF at the Czech clinic is among the lowest in Europe. But it’s the results of your IVF overseas that matter. Rest assured you’ll receive affordable treatment at a superb clinic. You’ll also get round-the-clock support from us: fellow patients who care about your future.

So this is our promise to you. Should you not achieve a pregnancy with your first IVF cycle abroad and decide to have subsequent treatment, we’ll halve our agency fee altogether for your second attempt. What’s more, if you don’t fall pregnant after two donor-egg cycles, you pay only  50% of the treatment cost for your third cycle. A copy of the clinic’s ‘shared risk’ offer is available on request.

Let’s get started

Let's plan your treatment. we'll support you every step of the way., 0115 822 0325, [email protected].

Watch CBS News

Retired USWNT forward Carli Lloyd announces pregnancy after IVF journey

By Joe Brandt

Updated on: May 1, 2024 / 1:11 PM EDT / CBS Philadelphia

DELRAN, N.J. (CBS) -- Positive, joyful news awaited Carli Lloyd at the end of a long "secret journey" with infertility.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist and New Jersey native announced she and husband Brian Hollins are expecting a child on social media and with a first-person piece in Women's Health magazine .

Lloyd said she went through multiple rounds of in vitro fertilization, or IVF , that were not successful and said at times during the journey "I was literally driving myself crazy."

She drew a large contrast between her time on the field and the journey to becoming pregnant, saying if she missed a kick or turned in a poor performance "there was always something I felt I could do to control the situation."

"I would go out and work 10 times harder," Lloyd wrote.

"The majority of the time, the world saw me in competitor mode. A machine. I was often emotionless and numb because that's the only way I felt I was able to survive and thrive," Lloyd said.

𝔹𝕒𝕓𝕪 ℍ𝕠𝕝𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕤 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕚𝕟 𝕆𝕔𝕥𝕠𝕓𝕖𝕣 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟜! 🩷💙 “𝙏𝙤 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙟𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮 𝙬𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙥 𝙖𝙩 𝙖 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚, 𝙗𝙪𝙩... Posted by Carli Lloyd on  Wednesday, May 1, 2024

But in contrast, Lloyd said she felt at times "completely out of control" and at her weakest when she first started going through the process. She described trying to put on a happy face while she was traveling extensively for public appearances, speaking engagements, filming the show "Special Forces" and playing in a golf pro-am.

She credited the support of family, friends and her husband Hollins as well as her faith to keep going.

Lloyd said she started out "feeling embarrassed, ashamed, and afraid to tell people that I was going through IVF," but eventually her mindset shifted and she began wanting to share her story to help others.

Lloyd said she went to Dr. Louis Manara of the Center for Reproductive Medicine and Fertility in Voorhees, New Jersey for her IVF treatments. 

"Dr. Manara is the best; I am so grateful for the way he handles his patients, the knowledge and expertise he provides, and the care and empathy he showed throughout our entire journey," Lloyd wrote.

Lloyd's baby is due in October 2024.

• National Women's Soccer League
• Burlington County
• U.S. Women's Soccer Team

Joe Brandt has been a digital content producer for CBS News Philadelphia since 2022. He is a Temple University graduate and was born and raised in Pitman, NJ.

Featured Local Savings

More from cbs news.

"Stay with me, buddy!" Bodycam video shows NJ Transit officers save choking child's life

Customers line up for reopening of beloved South Jersey Goodwill store

New Jersey nonprofit Seeing Eye looking for volunteer puppy raisers

Original "Rosie" revels in accepting Congressional Gold Medal: "Only took us 80 years"

Strong political support for Jersey couples to receive more IVF treatment funding

• Wednesday 1 May 2024 at 2:23pm

ITV Channel reporter Phil Wellbrook explains the changes. Picture courtesy of Pixabay

People in Jersey are a step closer to receiving more money from the government to help pay for up to three cycles of IVF treatment.

The current support only covers medication and is tightly means-tested , leaving the vast majority with thousands of pounds in medical bills.

Deputy Lucy Stephenson, whose second son was born with the help of IVF, argues "the current eligibility criteria is so low that there is no evidence anyone has ever qualified" and lodged a proposition calling for a better funding model.

It was eventually supported overwhelmingly as politicians voted 44-1 in favour but only after Deputy Tom Binet's amendment was included.

That means rather than automatically adopting NICE clinical guidance that would see all women under 40 given up to three IVF cycles paid for fully by taxpayers, there will now be a consultation over who can qualify and how much is covered.

Posting on social media after the vote, Deputy Stephenson said: "Disappointingly, the Assembly adopted an amendment from the Health Minister which watered down my original proposal somewhat and we now need to wait and see what improvement looks like to this government."

Official figures show Jersey's fertility rate between 2020 and 2022 was among the lowest in the world at 1.3.

It was also the lowest figure for the island in 27 years - a fertility rate of 2.1 is needed to maintain a stable population.

How does Jersey compare to other places?

Jersey is understood to be the only place in Europe to mean-test IVF support.

Guernsey provides some financial help with the cost of travel and medication but treatment is not covered.

In the UK, NICE fertility clinical guidance states up to three cycles of IVF should be offered for free through the NHS to women under 40 if they have not been able to get pregnant through regular unprotected sex and artificial insemination first.

Women aged 40 to 42 are also eligible for one cycle of free treatment as long as they meet certain health criteria.

Scotland follows this but in England and Wales a final decision is made at a local level so in reality, some believe it is a 'postcode lottery' as certain regional care boards are stricter than others.

In Wales, the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee sets the criteria and provides two full cycles for women under 40 and one for those aged 40-42.

Northern Ireland announced in February that it was improving its IVF financial support by offering one free full cycle for those who qualify.

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know...

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes

Giuliana Rancic Says She's 'So Lucky' to Have Son Duke, 11, as She Looks Back on Her IVF Journey (Exclusive)

The former 'E! News' correspondent shares her son with husband Bill Rancic

Janine Rubenstein is Editor-at-Large at PEOPLE and host of PEOPLE Every Day podcast, a daily dose of breaking news, pop culture and heartwarming human interest stories. Formerly Senior Editor of music content, she's also covered crime, human interest and television news throughout her many years with the brand. Prior to PEOPLE she's written for Essence, The Cape Times newspaper and Los Angeles Magazine among others. On-screen Rubenstein can be found featured on shows like Good Morning America and Entertainment Tonight and she routinely hosts PEOPLE and Entertainment Weekly's star-studded Red Carpet Live specials. Follow the San Francisco native, Black Barbie collector and proud mom of two on Instagram and Twitter @janinerube

Giuliana Rancic/Instagram

Giuliana Rancic is grateful to have her son in her life.

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the former E! News correspondent, 49, reflected on her journey to becoming a mom to her son Duke, now 11, whom she shares with husband Bill Rancic , 52.

"For me, my faith is very strong," the proud mom tells PEOPLE. "When we got married and we set out to start a family, we didn't realize that we were going to have the path we had, which was struggling to get pregnant in fertility."

"IVF [in vitro fertilization] thankfully, we're fortunate enough to have a wonderful healthy child, but we always thought we were going to...even in interviews before, Bill and I would say, 'Oh we want four kids.' But it's like, God gives you what is right for you."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"And I think that we're just so blessed," Giuliana continues. "We're so lucky. It was such a hard time in our lives when we were going through IVF and even opening up about it, something that was so personal at the time was really not talked about as much publicly."

The journalist went on to share that she was so glad that she did open up about her journey , adding that people still approach her to thank for her sharing her story.

"I'm glad we did. I mean, the fact that our story impacted people makes it worth it for sure," Giuliana says. "But yeah, I mean we always say we're a small but mighty family and we are always together, the three of us. We have a lot of fun together."

Rancic and her husband welcomed their son via surrogate in 2012.

In 2019, Bill spoke with PEOPLE about how they manage to make traveling fun for their son Duke , who was 6 at the time.

“[Duke is] fortunate that he gets to come on the road with us,” Bill told PEOPLE. “He travels with us and in every city we give him a scavenger hunt."

"So when he is in New York City, he has to go to the top of the Empire State Building, he has to go to the Statue of Liberty — he’s 6,  but we want him to experience these  cities and really have some takeaway. It’s experiential learning.”

Giuliana added that her very active son not only loved to take part in their work travels but also in their work itself. “He loves anything to do with our jobs. I have a clothing line on HSN and he watches me on HSN.”

“The other day, I come home from HSN and I’m in my room unpacking and Duke has set up on the coffee table, all the products, and he’s like, ‘Mom,  shoot me on your phone’ and  he’s doing the presentation of [my] skincare line,” she said. “Then I asked if he wanted to watch and he said, ‘No, just make sure it gets on TV.’ ”

Related Articles

Olympic gold medalist Carli Lloyd is pregnant, but it wasn’t easy. She shares her IVF struggles on Instagram.

The World Cup champion and Delran native shared the details of her emotional fertility journey with Women's Health Magazine.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Carli Lloyd announced on Instagram Wednesday that she is pregnant with her first child.

“It has been a roller coaster of a journey to get to this point,” the Delran native wrote on the social media platform in all caps. “We are beyond excited to be parents. I couldn’t have gotten through this without my amazing husband, Brian. He truly kept me going.”

The post features a photo of a onesie with the words, “Worth every single shot,” printed in calligraphy. Next to it is a chalkboard that reads: “We’ve hoped and we’ve prayed and now we are excited to say: Our little miracle is on the way. October 2024.″

The 41-year-old FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion shared her emotional fertility journey with Women’s Health magazine in a story, also published Wednesday. Lloyd retired from professional soccer in 2021 at 39 and waited a year to try to become pregnant. She was healthy. She took care of herself. The journey would be easy, she thought.

“I was very naive to think that we wouldn’t have any issues getting pregnant,” Lloyd told Women’s Health writer Amanda Lucci for the in-depth piece. “And so it began. The casual whatever happens, happens turned into disappointment month after month. I was starting to feel like this was a race against the clock — my 40-year-old biological clock.”

Lloyd and her husband, Brian Hollins, went through three rounds of in vitro fertilization. The egg retrieval was tough, but the wait to find out if the embryos were viable and genetically healthy was excruciating. The embryos still had to be implanted into Lloyd’s uterus. There was no guarantee they would take. Lloyd’s insurance didn’t cover the process.

“I felt all the emotions during my career — stress, worry, fear, anxiety — but I’d never felt all the emotions that IVF brought on. I felt completely out of control,” Lloyd shared.

In January, while on a golf trip in Phoenix, Lloyd got the call she’d been waiting for from her doctor — the IVF worked. She was pregnant.

“I want to show other women that it’s OK to struggle,” Lloyd said. “It’s OK to feel broken and to feel hopeless, but to never give up and to keep going.”

International Football

USWNT legend Carli Lloyd pregnant with her first child, details ‘indescribable roller coaster’ IVF journey

Retired U.S. women’s national team star Carli Lloyd and her husband Brian Hollins are expecting their first child after going through multiple rounds of in vitro fertilization. Lloyd announced her pregnancy on Instagram on Wednesday and said her baby is due in October.

“It has been a rollercoaster of a journey to get to this point,” Lloyd wrote. “We are beyond excited to be parents!”

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by CARLI LLOYD (@carlilloyd)

Lloyd, a two-time World Cup winner and two-time Olympic gold medalist, played in 316 matches with the USWNT and scored 134 goals and 61 assists. Her decorated career includes scoring three goals in the U.S.’ win over Japan in the 2015 World Cup final.

In 2021, Lloyd retired at age 39 and transitioned to a career in broadcasting.

Advertisement

Lloyd detailed her pregnancy journey in a personal essay for Women’s Health magazine and said she always wanted to be a mom but didn’t think about it too much during her soccer career. After her retirement, she struggled to get pregnant and eventually began IVF treatments in April 2023.

“It was a waiting game that we literally had no control over,” Lloyd said in the essay. “And it’s hard. I felt all the emotions during my career — stress, worry, fear, anxiety — but I’d never felt all the emotions that IVF brought on. I felt completely out of control. It’s an indescribable roller coaster unless you go through it.”

Lloyd said she underwent three rounds of IVF before finding out in February that she was pregnant. She decided to share her story about her fertility issues “to show other women that it’s OK to struggle.”

“I’ve conquered the soccer world and I consider myself to be really strong, but I was at my weakest during this entire process,” Lloyd said. “It’s okay to feel broken and to feel hopeless, but to never give up and to keep going. … I went from feeling embarrassed, ashamed, and afraid to tell people that I was going through IVF to now wanting to share my story to help others.”

Required reading

• Carli Lloyd: ‘No regrets’ about career; USWNT needs Deion Sanders-style coach to usher in new era
• Carli Lloyd on her criticism of the USWNT: ‘I simply didn’t like what I saw’
• CBS’ curious handling of Carli Lloyd’s Gotham investment during their NWSL Championship broadcast

(Photo: Dennis Schneidler / USA Today)

Get all-access to exclusive stories.

Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Try a week on us.

Jenna West is a staff editor on The Athletic's news team. Before joining The Athletic, she served as a writer and producer for Sports Illustrated's national news desk. Jenna is a graduate of Northwestern University.