Where did it all begin?

It all started with a regular gynaecology check-up that Sara had booked last November. This time, however, she decided to book an appointment with a new gynaecologist who was recommended to her.

“I truly believe that I was meant to visit this Dr. She performed a regular check-up along with what is known as an antral follicle scan,” Sara explained, who was still 29 at the time.

“This revealed that I only had around six follicles left in my ovaries. She was concerned due to my age and we went on to do further testing, which revealed a low ovarian reserve and other fluctuations in my hormones.”

“Naturally, we are born with around two million eggs! This number decreases rapidly until we hit puberty and then it can also decrease monthly after every menstrual cycle.”

“There is nothing that can increase our egg count and so when I found out I had such a small amount left I knew I had to make a decision for my future and egg freezing felt like the right option for me at this point in my life.”

“And so the journey began and I took the plunge to move over to the UK for just over two and a half months to complete three egg-freezing cycles.”

What was the experience like?

“Every cycle is different; it really is so hard to say how your body will react. Each round of IVF stimulation takes around 10-15 days. You wait until you get your period then on day 2/3 you start your injections.”

The injections contain hormones, which stimulate the follicles within the ovaries to grow and mature.

“During every menstrual cycle, as women our brain releases FSH, which naturally causes follicles in one of our ovaries to grow. Then prior to ovulation only one of the follicles matures and is released (known as ovulation),” she explained.

With IVF stimulation, you are given a synthetic form of this hormone to stimulate as many follicles as possible. You are also given other medications to suppress ovulation and trigger injections towards the end to further mature the eggs prior to retrieval.

“I remember my first cycle being quite a smooth ride. I didn’t suffer from many symptoms other than the common belly bloat towards the end. We also managed to collect five eggs and all in all we were off to a really good start.”

“The second cycle though was the hardest both physically and mentally, it was taxing. I suffered from extreme fatigue and emotionally it was really tough.”

“The egg retrieval was also not as successful as the first round. We only managed to collect one egg, which was really disheartening at first but I was determined to continue.”

“Luckily, the third round was similar to the first. I felt good physically and my mindset was much better. It was a matter of letting go at this point and just allowing nature to take its course, something, which has served as a huge lesson for me throughout this process.

“We managed to collect another two eggs on my 30th birthday. A priceless gift and certainly a birthday I will never forget.”

Which was the most challenging moment?

“I think the hardest moment for me physically was the extreme exhaustion I felt during the second round. My body was tired, I could feel it but I also couldn’t do anything about it other than surrendering to resting and hoping for the best.

“When I received the news that we had only collected one egg, I felt heart broken. My body had endured so much and it was tough but then it dawned on me that I had a choice in the way I was going to look at this.”

“This one egg could actually be MY baby!”

And what did the experience teach you?

“The process hasn’t been an easy ride but I have to say the growth I have experienced over the last few months has been somewhat eye, mind, and heart-opening for me.”

“It has taught me to really appreciate the little things.”

“I think whenever I have been faced with a challenge in life it has given me a sort of ‘refresh’ button – a chance to really zone in on the things that matter. There came a point in all this where acceptance, surrendering, and staying close to love were the only things that could hold it all together.”

“My mum was with me throughout the whole process, she saw me and held me at my best and my worst, and I have so much gratitude for the memories we made and the way in which it has strengthened our bond.”

Sara recounted how she felt when she found out about her low egg count, and how she spent weeks grieving something that she felt was taken away from her.

“Almost as though I was being robbed of the potential to be a mother.”

“We take so many things for granted, yet we really don’t know how life will unfold for each and every one of us. But when we choose to jump into the uncertainty of the unknown, even if we are scared, some beautiful things can happen.”

What would you tell other women?

“Go for it. If you have the choice just do it and don’t look back. Whether it’s for medical reasons or whether you are not in a position to have a child just yet.”

“We are so blessed as women to have that choice!”

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