Support Our IVF Journey ✨

Hi my name is Ellie, and my partner and I are currently on a tough journey to parenthood.

Our journey through infertility has been a tough one. It’s been three and a half years since our IVF journey began and we faced the upsetting reality of not being able to conceive a child. Our most recent attempt of IVF did not have the outcome we had so desperately longed for, however we are not quite ready to let our dream of becoming parents go.

Please continue reading for details on our story.

My partner was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at the age of four, and ever since, he has faced numerous challenges on a daily basis. Among them is the harsh reality that cystic fibrosis in men often leads to infertility. It was for this reason that we were granted two funded rounds of IVF on the NHS.

Our journey began in 2020 during the pandemic. Despite the obstacles of isolation and shielding, we persisted, attending appointments and consultations through a combination of phone and in-person visits. Due to my partner's health conditions, retrieving sperm proved to be a complex process. He required additional appointments and support, but finally, in 2021, the surgery was successfully performed.

Filled with hope and optimism, we started on our first round of IVF in January 2022. I started the medication and underwent the stimulation process, and all the checks for myself up until that point seemed promising. However, during a routine scan, a nurse delivered the news: "fluid" was present in my fallopian tubes, potentially obstructing the embryo transfer. Although confused, I gathered my strength and proceeded with egg collection and embryo transfer, even though the odds appeared stacked against us with this news.

Sadly, our first round of IVF ended in disappointment with a negative pregnancy test. Determined to uncover the underlying issues, I underwent investigative surgery in August 2022. To my surprise, I received a diagnosis of Endometriosis. The surgery involved removing cysts and endometrial tissue from my fallopian tubes and uterus. While the news was shocking, it also brought a renewed sense of hope—a possible explanation for our struggles and the prospect of a successful future attempt.

In October of that year, we had our second embryo transfer. This time a lot less stressful and without any medication. A beautiful embryo took hold, and I found myself pregnant. The happiness we felt was indescribable, and we were discharged from the fertility clinic at 7 and a half weeks, as a healthy heartbeat and a viable pregnancy were confirmed. However, our happiness was short-lived. At our 12-week scan, our baby's heart was no longer beating. Devastatingly, I experienced a miscarriage at 13 weeks, and our world shattered into a million pieces.

Through the pain and heartbreak, we summoned the strength to persevere. In March 2023, we started our second and final funded round of IVF, equipped with new medications and lots of hope. Although we managed to create three embryos this time, only one made it to the blastocyst stage—a perfect little bundle of potential. But despite our best efforts, that embryo did not implant, and we experienced yet another loss.

We now find ourselves standing at a crossroads. I am currently waiting for further surgery before we can proceed with more IVF. This time, however, the burden of financing our next round of treatment rests solely on our shoulders. As our postcode limits us to two free rounds on the NHS, we are humbly reaching out to the generosity of others, hoping for support in funding our next attempt. Our journey has been marked by countless challenges and heartbreak, but we remain hopeful that our rainbow baby is waiting for us.

**Update**

I had my surgery on August 23rd, which was a success, and I am currently in the recovery phase. My partner and I are actively seeking a fresh start, this time at a new clinic, in the hope that it will lead to a successful attempt. While we're trying not to let hope blindside us, we are determined to maintain a positive outlook as we continue on this journey towards our rainbow.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story. We really appreciate it ✨.