A Journey of Hope Restored Through Individualised Fertility Care
A 33-year-old woman (pseudonym: Mrs. A) and her 35-year-old partner (Mr. R) presented to my clinic in mid-2019 after a prolonged history of primary infertility spanning over 5 years. The couple had undergone multiple fertility treatments overseas, and by the time they arrived in Australia, they had lost hope of conceiving using Mrs. A’s own eggs.
Their fertility journey began overseas, where Mrs. A underwent her first IVF cycle. Unfortunately, the response was very poor, resulting in only two eggs being retrieved, neither of which developed into viable embryos for transfer. Based on this outcome, she was advised to proceed with egg donation. Over the course of three frozen embryo transfers using donor eggs, the couple experienced repeated disappointment, with each attempt failing to result in a pregnancy.
When I met Mrs. A and Mr. R for their first consultation, I carefully reviewed their history and investigated all potential contributing factors. Despite the discouraging results overseas, I believed that with a highly personalised and optimised IVF protocol, we could attempt another cycle using her own autologous eggs.
A New Approach, A Renewed Outcome
We proceeded with a tailored ovarian stimulation protocol designed to maximise her response, and I am pleased to share that she conceived following a fresh embryo transfer from that IVF cycle. Tragically, this pregnancy resulted in a miscarriage at 7 weeks, a painful but common setback in the fertility journey.
Despite this emotional loss, we had frozen embryos from the same IVF cycle. We proceeded with a frozen embryo transfer, which was successful.
On 3rd November 2021, we transferred a single blastocyst, and a few weeks later, a transvaginal ultrasound confirmed a single live intrauterine pregnancy. The embryo’s crown-rump length (CRL) measured 12.2 mm, consistent with 7 weeks and 4 days gestation, and a strong fetal heartbeat was clearly visible. Her estimated due date (EDD) was calculated as 22 July 2022.
All her pre-pregnancy blood work and cervical screening tests were within normal range. I advised her to continue folic acid supplementation, along with Progynova and progesterone support until 11 weeks of gestation.
A Message of Hope
This case is a powerful reminder that prior IVF failure and egg donation attempts abroad do not necessarily mean the end of using one’s own eggs. With individualised care, meticulous planning, and a deep understanding of reproductive endocrinology, we can often achieve success where others have failed.
I wish Mrs. A and Mr. R all the very best as they welcome the next chapter of their lives.
