Bethany and Dan
In 2020 my partner Dan and I decided to come off contraception for various reasons and to expand our family. While we knew it wouldn’t happen straight away nothing could prepare us for what it would take for us to have our own family.
After 2 years of trying to conceive we still hadn’t been fortunate enough to become pregnant with no missed periods or even potential positive tests. It became obsessive tracking ovulation, taking ovulation tests and becoming so impatient taking pregnancy tests before my period was due. I even resorted to buying tablets online advertised as helping fertility as well as trying every fad in the book out of pure desperation.
After a visit to the doctor, I was referred to the IVF clinic after a few tests determined I produced no progesterone, and it was likely the cause of infertility was me. I had a HyCosy performed and after a discussion with Denise Holland started a 6-month course of Letrozole to increase my progesterone levels. While monthly bloods confirmed the levels had increased, we were still unlucky in conceiving, and it was become emotionally and mentally exhausting.
By December 2022 we had enough and despite an offer to continue the letrozole for a further 6 months we decided to go ahead with IVF. We had our first clinic appointment March 29th, 2023, and was looking forward to the journey ahead, it all seemed so exciting! On April 8th, 2023, I started my injections ready for treatment, Dan did the injections for me (I think he fancied himself a doctor!) which consisted of Ovaleap in my thigh and Ganirelix in my stomach which we documented on social media to try and break the stigma of IVF and taboo of infertility. After my follicles responded well to treatment, I had my egg collection on 21st April 2023 and retrieved 14 eggs. I had my egg transfer on 26th April 2023 and had a 5AA embryo transferred with another 6 being put in the freezer all of a great quality. Then came the torturous 2 week wait. Despite the temptation I didn’t test until my OTD at 4am as I was so excited and cried so much seeing those positive lines!
Dan and I are very much a team and knew IVF was the right option but it was difficult being the one having to undertake treatment whilst all Dan had to do was provide a sample. It made me feel like a failure that I couldn’t do what all women are supposed to be able to do and whilst on letrozole suffered some depression due to the infertility and I was scared the IVF would also fail. We were prepared for multiple rounds as we hear so often IVF takes multiple attempts and to expect the first round to not work so we were extremely lucky to have been successful our first time around.
It all happened so fast it felt like we didn’t even have time to process what was actually happening it seemed there wasn’t time to worry about the what ifs or if it would work. The staff at the clinic were absolutely fabulous which helped our nerves, and our visits were always paced how we wanted. We never felt rushed or just a number. Some days it’s hard thinking how we had to do IVF in the first place, but I would do it 100 times over if it meant I could have our son because he is the best thing to ever happen to us!
Our son is now 5 months old, and he absolutely is a miracle to us, if wasn’t for the clinic, we wouldn’t have him. I’ve also been fortunate enough to meet a group of women who also used the clinic at the same time as us who have babies and to keep in touch with people who know what it feels like to go through IVF is invaluable!
Bethany & Dan
Page Last Modified: 28th July 2026