a frozen embryo<\/strong> from a donor couple or woman who has decided to give up their parenthood project. The embryo is then placed in the patient\u2019s uterus. This can be seen as a form of adoption.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nMother testimonials<\/h2>\n
To help you better understand what IVF really involves, several mothers have agreed to share their stories with us. We believe that real experiences are a powerful way to support (future) parents who may have doubts or are looking for something they can relate to.<\/p>\n
Julia’s story<\/h3>\n
Julia underwent IVF in June 2021. After numerous attempts to transfer frozen embryos, she gave birth to little Camille on December 10, 2023. She tells us about her journey.<\/p>\n
“We\u2019ve been together since 2007. In 2018, we decided to stop birth control<\/strong> to start a family.<\/p>\nAfter months of trying, I had no periods and no positive tests.<\/p>\n
In 2019, we consulted a gynecologist at a private hospital who suggested assisted reproduction. We began with insemination protocols<\/strong> but they didn\u2019t trigger ovulation. She referred us to the Intercommunal Hospital of Cr\u00e9teil and their fertility center.<\/p>\nWe paused for a year because we weren\u2019t ready to start a new protocol. In assisted reproduction, the psychological aspect is key<\/strong>, and you have to feel ready.<\/p>\nIn May 2020, after the lockdown, we had our first teleconsultation with Cr\u00e9teil. It was a blow: the gynecologist told us our case wasn\u2019t that serious<\/strong> because we were young (both 29). We felt she couldn\u2019t relate to us at all\u2026<\/p>\nAfter this bad experience, we were offered psychological support by the hospital, which helped us through these three long years of ART<\/strong>. We underwent heavy testing to check for fertility problems \u2014 they found nothing. It was frustrating to hear there was no explanation.<\/p>\nBetween Sept. 2020 and Feb. 2021, I did 3 insemination protocols<\/strong> involving many injections and hospital visits every two days to monitor follicles.<\/p>\nIn May 2021, we asked to move on from inseminations to egg retrieval for IVF<\/strong>. Again, the gynecologist commented that I was too young to go through IVF. Thankfully, the psychologist was there to pick up the pieces.<\/p>\nThe retrieval was very successful \u2014 I had 16 oocytes, which gave us 8 embryos<\/strong>. We were hopeful again.<\/p>\nBetween June 2021 and June 2022, I had 5 embryo transfers. Each time we hoped it would work, and each time we faced the heartbreak of a negative result after 10 days. After so many failures, we started to lose faith<\/strong>. The care team was supportive when we needed to talk.<\/p>\nIn summer 2022, I changed gynecologists, and we took another one-year break \u2014 we only had one frozen embryo left and lacked the strength to face another failure.<\/p>\n
During that year, we focused on therapy, travel, and enjoying time together<\/strong>.<\/p>\nIn January 2023, our new gynecologist kindly suggested starting fresh<\/strong> with updated tests. She found I wasn\u2019t ovulating and proposed a new hormone injection protocol. We started in March 2023 without much pressure, since we were busy with house renovations, a family celebration trip, and I was also best woman at my best friend’s wedding.<\/p>\nThe embryo transfer happened on Easter. I didn\u2019t dare believe in it<\/strong>. I was ready for another failure and another egg retrieval.<\/p>\nIn the end, the blood test in late April was positive<\/strong> and kept rising every week. I gave birth to little Camille on December 10.<\/p>\nDuring our journey, I only opened up to my friends \u2014 not close family. I didn\u2019t want them to ride the emotional rollercoaster or to see their disappointment. But in hindsight, I think their support would\u2019ve helped a lot<\/strong>. Now they all know and are very proud<\/strong> of us.<\/p>\nMy advice to future ART parents: don\u2019t hesitate to talk about it<\/strong>. There’s no shame in going through this process. It takes strength and perseverance. And when you finally hold your baby in your arms, you feel proud of having gone through it together. Don\u2019t hesitate to take breaks \u2014 it\u2019s important to recharge.”<\/p>\nEstelle’s story<\/h3>\n
Estelle discovered she had a half uterus (unicornuate uterus) and a low ovarian reserve. She entered assisted reproduction in 2021 and welcomed her baby girl, Victoria, in the summer of 2023. Here is her story:<\/p>\n
“In 2020, I was 30 years old. I knew I wanted kids one day \u2014 but not right away. I was happy, fulfilled, no urgency.<\/p>\n
A few months later, I experienced unexplained bleeding<\/strong> outside of my periods. The gynecologist ordered an MRI, and that\u2019s when they discovered a malformation that had never been noticed before \u2014 I had a unicornuate uterus (and asymptomatic endometriosis, which explained the bleeding). The doctor sat me down and said having a baby would be complicated but not impossible<\/strong>. I left the appointment lost and devastated. I wanted kids \u2014 suddenly it felt urgent.<\/p>\nBlood tests confirmed that in addition to the malformation, my AMH levels were quite low for my age. My ovarian reserve wasn\u2019t great. I immediately booked a fertility consultation \u2014 I was lucky it moved quickly. Then came more tests, many of them, which really impacted the spontaneity in our intimacy. My first appointment was in March, and we started inseminations in May. Because yes, IVF is expensive for the healthcare system, so even with a tiny chance of natural success, they start with inseminations.<\/p>\n
The first one worked on the first try, but I had a very early miscarriage. It was hard to process, but once you enter assisted reproduction, I think you go into autopilot<\/strong>. You just keep going.<\/p>\nI went through 3 more inseminations. The center was a bit like a factory. We were dozens of women waiting<\/strong> in line for bloodwork and transvaginal ultrasounds. There was no time for questions<\/strong>, there were too many of us, and the gynecologist didn\u2019t have time for empathy if she wanted to see everyone. In 5 minutes you had to take off your underwear, have the ultrasound, and be out the door. Results were explained later by phone. The doctors did what they could (especially since it was a different gynecologist every day), but the staff shortages meant no real psychological support<\/strong>. You have to be tough, and you need a go-to doctor who can keep you going<\/strong>. Also, you can\u2019t be shy \u2014 there\u2019s no time for modesty.<\/p>\nAfter the failed inseminations, we moved on to IVF! The hormone doses were stronger, I felt more tired, and I had terrible acne. I was afraid of the retrieval procedure \u2014 I\u2019d never been in a hospital before. In our center, egg retrieval is done with local anesthesia (which terrified me), so your body can recover faster.<\/p>\n
On the big day, an ultrasound showed 10 follicles of the right size. I was hopeful. In the operating room, I was crying and shaking, but the team was amazing. They listened and waited until I was calm before starting. I didn\u2019t feel anything despite the needle size. They managed to retrieve 5 oocytes. I was disappointed \u2014 I knew we\u2019d lose some during development. Only 2 embryos survived, were transferred, and failed to implant<\/strong>.<\/p>\nI took the hit and had another egg retrieval three months later. I switched gynecologists. The new one was wonderful and gave me back my strength. She was vibrant and always found the words to make this feel like an adventure toward our baby<\/strong>. The appointments and injections felt more manageable, and we took time to travel too. She kept saying at each visit: \u201cYou\u2019ll have your baby soon.\u201d<\/p>\nThe second retrieval was a success \u2014 we changed the protocol, and they retrieved 13 oocytes, 8 of which became high-quality embryos. We were overjoyed! The first was implanted, and I got pregnant<\/strong>. We were so happy \u2014 it felt like our time had come. At 7 weeks, I decided to get a blood test, just to see my HCG levels skyrocket. But then my heart sank. Another miscarriage. At the ER, they confirmed there was no embryo: \u201cYou can see the residue.\u201d Residue. They were talking about my baby<\/strong>. I burst into tears \u2014 it was too painful. The gynecologist told me it would feel like a heavy period. Devastated again. Thankfully, we were two \u2014 I felt supported and loved. The miscarriage was incredibly painful. Every contraction paralyzed me.<\/p>\nI refused to continue with more transfers without doing further testing. My gynecologist hugged me and said I could take time to process, but I wanted to move on quickly<\/strong>. I wanted out of this cycle. We ran many tests. In the end, we discovered I had a gene that poorly synthesized a hormone essential to embryo development. I took medication for two months and tried another transfer. And this time, it worked. I was 32. Our light baby was on the way. 39 weeks later, I held in my arms a 4 kg baby girl<\/strong> with a face that could melt the whole world. All the struggles we went through \u2014 we forgot them. It sounds crazy, but it\u2019s true. Every minute, every tear, every effort\u2026 we knew why we did it. The joy of being parents.”<\/p>\nPauline’s story<\/h3>\n
Pauline gave birth to a baby boy who is now 10 months old. Before that, she described her ART journey as an \u201cemotional roller coaster.\u201d Here is her story:<\/p>\n
“At the end of 2020, I stopped taking the pill, assuming that after 10 years on birth control, it would take time for things to get back to normal and I\u2019d need a few months to conceive. I quickly became worried when my natural cycle didn\u2019t return<\/strong>. After 3 months without a period, I saw my gynecologist. I knew getting pregnant could take time, and 3 months wasn\u2019t much, but since I wasn\u2019t having periods, I had very little chance it would happen by miracle.<\/p>\nThat\u2019s when we stepped into a world we knew nothing about<\/strong>. My gynecologist ordered the first standard tests \u2014 ultrasound and bloodwork \u2014 which showed slightly polycystic ovaries. I started treatment (Duphaston) to trigger periods and restart my cycle. But Duphaston soon became my worst enemy<\/strong> since I had to take it after each failed attempt to get my period \u2014 meaning no pregnancy.<\/p>\nAfter 3 more months (6 months post-pill), I wasn\u2019t pregnant and was far from it. My gynecologist referred me to a reproductive endocrinologist at La Piti\u00e9 Salp\u00eatri\u00e8re. Living in Paris was a stroke of luck \u2014 I got an appointment 2 months later. I can only imagine the delays outside big cities. My appointment was in July \u2014 not great timing in ART, when summer and the holiday season are feared<\/strong> because most fertility centers close.<\/p>\nART is a long process, not just because it doesn\u2019t always work the first time<\/strong>, but because many attempts and treatments are often needed, and each failure means a lost month \u2014 or more. So months pass quickly, and sometimes your body needs a break between cycles. That\u2019s helpful for some women and certainly their bodies, but for me, it was terrible to watch time go by without being able to try again.<\/p>\nMy husband and I went through several methods<\/strong> before starting IVF: first a GnRH pump that caused severe hyperstimulation and failed (2 months wasted), then 3 failed inseminations. I always had hyperstimulation, so each time we had to stop mid-cycle to avoid risks. Almost a year after our initial hospital consult, the doctor said the silver lining to hyperstimulation was that I had many follicles and oocytes \u2014 meaning high IVF success potential<\/strong>. So we moved forward.<\/p>\nThe first IVF attempt started like the inseminations \u2014 nightly injections to mature follicles. I was used to it. The hormones caused major side effects: I gained weight (water retention), lost hair, had acne, was exhausted \u2014 and emotionally down, although maybe not just from the meds. IVF takes a massive toll on your energy and time. At the start, I had to go to the hospital every other day for ultrasounds and bloodwork. I spent countless hours in that windowless waiting room, looking at posters about alcohol and smoking during pregnancy. After the tests, I\u2019d wait for the hospital\u2019s midday call to adjust treatment or tell me when to start ovulation-blocking injections. Then it was two injections per day \u2014 one to mature follicles, another to block their release. I imagined the conflicting signals in my body like a cartoon \u2014 \u201cOnce Upon a Time\u2026 Life\u201d style. After 10 days, I went in daily for close monitoring to avoid hyperstimulation. But that first IVF cycle didn\u2019t happen: they called me while I was in a work meeting to say it had to be canceled due to dangerous overstimulation. Worst of all \u2014 right before the Christmas break<\/strong>, so we had to wait a month to try again. Another bead on the calendar necklace.<\/p>\nOn the second try, we used much lower hormone doses \u2014 it took longer, but was safer. After daily visits and dual injections, I finally got the call: we could trigger ovulation<\/strong>. Egg retrieval was scheduled. Under general anesthesia, it went well \u2014 they retrieved 18 oocytes, an excellent result. We left full of hope \u2014 we\u2019d never been this close.<\/p>\nBut three days later, a Saturday morning, we got the call: only 3 embryos had formed from 18 oocytes, and none survived. I collapsed \u2014 literally fell to the ground<\/strong> like my body had melted. Even now, with a happy ending, I remember that moment as one of the most painful emotions I\u2019ve ever experienced.<\/p>\nWe were advised to take 2 months to recover emotionally and physically \u2014 another two months added. But this time, the break helped. I found a new job, regained energy, the side effects faded, and life slowly came back. But I still counted every day until the next try.
\nThe next cycle was in June \u2014 important, because the center closed in August. We had just one shot; otherwise, we\u2019d have to wait until September. Three more months gone. Plus, we were moving to Belgium for my job, so it was our last chance to try IVF in France. We already had a fertility appointment booked in Brussels for September.<\/p>\n
This time, I wanted to maximize my chances. I asked my GP for a two-week medical leave so I could focus on the process. Balancing hospital visits, side effects, pain, and stress with work had been draining. I didn\u2019t want to keep making excuses for being late or crying in the office bathroom after hospital calls.<\/p>\n
We started slowly \u2014 same process as before. Retrieval gave us 12 oocytes \u2014 a slightly lower number, but maybe better quality?<\/p>\n
This time, we tried ICSI \u2014 directly injecting sperm into the eggs to boost fertilization. In standard IVF, you let nature take its course, but apparently my husband’s sperm lacked vigor. ICSI gave us better chances.<\/p>\n
It worked. Three days after retrieval, we had 6 good embryos. We waited until Day 5 for transfer, to select the strongest one. Two days later \u2014 the transfer. Finally. At that moment, no matter what happened next, I was pregnant. I didn\u2019t move for 3 days. I was afraid even going to the bathroom might dislodge the embryo.<\/p>\n
I waited the full 14 days before testing. I watched for symptoms, but I knew Ovitrelle (the ovulation trigger shot) could cause false positives \u2014 I\u2019d experienced that before. This time, I was disciplined. I waited for the blood test. My husband and I opened the result together \u2014 we hugged silently. We were expecting a baby \u2014 finally.<\/p>\n
My advice: talk about it. That\u2019s why I\u2019m sharing my story now. We started our ART journey in secret \u2014 dreaming of a magical pregnancy reveal for our loved ones. We thought it would be short, and we wouldn\u2019t need outside support. But after our second failed IVF, we had to open up. No one around us had been through it, so true understanding was rare. But at least our sadness made sense to others. People understood why we were tired, why we socialized less. Why I broke down when friends announced pregnancies (never in front of them, of course).<\/p>\n
I also recommend working with experienced professionals. I can\u2019t say for sure it made the difference, but for my last IVF, I saw an incredible osteopath in Paris, specialized in women\u2019s health. I went before and after the retrieval to \u201cprepare the ground.\u201d Even if it wasn\u2019t a miracle fix, it eased my pain from the retrieval and hyperstimulation.<\/p>\n
I also saw an amazing acupuncturist midwife, before and after transfer. Whether or not it helped the embryo implant, it was time well spent \u2014 being heard and cared for. He used acupuncture to manage my stress and fatigue \u2014 it was a game-changer. I\u2019ll be forever grateful to both of them.<\/p>\n
And of course, my husband \u2014 who never gave up and always picked me up after every setback. Today, he\u2019s the most wonderful dad.<\/p>\n
As with everything in life, care depends a lot on the person in front of you. We met many healthcare professionals \u2014 gynecologists, midwives, anesthetists, interns\u2026 some were awful, others brilliant. But overall, I often felt like a car being repaired<\/strong>. Few talked to me, few asked how I felt. The goal was to get me pregnant. Time was tight, and it showed. We were a file, not a couple longing for a child. Everything was fast, rushed. Our heartbreaks were just bad stats. You show up, put your feet in the stirrups, and leave.<\/p>\nI had to take charge of my own journey. I learned to understand the numbers, the hormone levels in blood tests, the ultrasound images \u2014 because if the doctors made a mistake, it meant failure. Every hour mattered. For my last attempt, I even adjusted my hormone doses myself because I felt it was going too fast and I was close to hyperstimulation. I\u2019m not saying everyone should do this, but understanding the treatments and process \u2014 that was the key for us<\/strong>.<\/p>\nI know this is a long message \u2014 once I started writing, the memories came flooding back. But this is a part of our story, mine and my husband\u2019s. Even months later, even with a beautiful baby, this time in our lives leaves me shaken. The fear of never becoming a mother was overwhelming. I was deeply, painfully jealous of every pregnant woman. I still feel a bit ashamed that I\u2019m not one of those \u201cfertile\u201d women meant to repopulate France. I sometimes feel broken, like I\u2019m missing part of my femininity. And I\u2019m already anxious at the thought of going through this again if we want a second child. Honestly, it might be what makes me not want one.<\/p>\n
Thank you for everything you do at May \u2014 you made my pregnancy and the early days of motherhood so much softer. It was a May midwife who predicted my labor in March \u2014 and she was right!”<\/p>\n
The IVF journey can be long and difficult, but it holds the power to fulfill the wish of building a family<\/strong>. Don\u2019t hesitate to talk to others who have been through it, and to health professionals who are here to listen \u2764\ufe0f.<\/p>\n**<\/p>\n
Photo: Envato<\/p>\n
This text was translated from French by an artificial intelligence. The information, advice, and sources it contains comply with French standards and may therefore not apply to your situation. Make sure to complement this reading by visiting the May ES\/UK app and consulting the healthcare professionals who are supporting you.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Have you ever heard of in vitro fertilization (IVF)? This medical procedure involves replicating the development of an embryo in a laboratory. To learn more, May sheds light on the topic. What are the criteria for undergoing in vitro fertilization? IVF is one of the options available as part of medically assisted reproduction (MAR). It […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":6117,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[186],"tags":[148,203],"class_list":["post-24038","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pregnancy","tag-early-pregnancy","tag-pregnacy-timeline"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24038","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24038"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24038\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24043,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24038\/revisions\/24043"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6117"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24038"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24038"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24038"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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