They say it only takes one egg…..
Katie Leaning, 35, and her husband Richard, 35, got married in October 2017 and were eager to start a family right away. However, they struggled to conceive naturally for three years.
After being referred for fertility treatment, Katie and Richard under went various tests and rounds of medication to boost ovulation, and embarked on their first IVF cycle at TFP Fertility in July 2021.
However, during the egg collection, only one mature egg was retrieved, which was lower than expected.
Dr. Joanne Wilkins, the Consultant Gynaecologist and Specialist in Fertility Medicine at TFP Nurture Fertility, explained that medication was prescribed to boost egg production, however, Katie’s body didn’t respond as expected, leading them to pursue IVF with a low dose of stimulation. Luckily, the one egg that was collected developed into a healthy embryo.
Dr. Wilkins emphasized that every stage of an IVF cycle carries risks and unexpected challenges, but luckily, they found the right egg for Katie, as after five days, they received the good news that the process was successful, and two weeks later, Katie discovered she was pregnant.
In April 2022, Katie gave birth to their son, Nathaniel, via c-section at the University Hospital of North Midlands.
Throughout the pregnancy, the couple had to pass several milestones and checks, which sometimes caused anxiety. However, they successfully navigated each stage.
Katie and Richard’s journey highlights the ups and downs of fertility treatment, but most of all, proving that it really does just take one egg!!
Watch this conversation about low ovarian reserve with Dr Rehan Salim, consultant gynaecologist, sub specialist in reproductive medicine, and the Medical Director at the Lister Fertility Clinic at the Portland hospital and Sara, Co Founder of IVFbabble.com.
