03 June 2026: ‘When will I stop?’ A key question for those on the IVF journey | Women's Agenda
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Key takeaways
- Your fertility journey is unique, and there is no right or wrong path to parenthood.
- Finding the right support can make a meaningful difference throughout treatment, as highlighted by Laila's story.
- Balancing realistic expectations with hope is an important part of the IVF journey
- IVF outcomes vary from person to person, and every fertility journey is different.
- Personalised advice matters when making decisions about continuing fertility treatment.
- Taking things one step at a time can help make the fertility journey feel more manageable.
- There is no single answer to the question of when to continue or stop fertility treatment.
In this Women's Agenda article, Laila shares her story of resilience and determination as she navigated fertility treatment after being diagnosed with a rare genetic condition that affected her ability to conceive naturally.
Laila's IVF journey
What began as an exciting new chapter led Laila and her partner to explore fertility treatment and the options available to help them build their family. After coming off birth control and trying to conceive, Laila experienced symptoms that prompted her to seek medical advice. Following months of testing, she was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition and learned that IVF would be her best chance of having a child.
The journey that followed involved multiple rounds of treatment and egg collection cycles. As she navigated the IVF process, Laila experienced the physical and emotional demands that can accompany fertility treatment, including regular appointments, ongoing monitoring and periods of waiting for results.
After several unsuccessful attempts, Laila and her partner went on to pursue an egg donation cycle. Throughout the article, she reflects on the ups and downs of treatment, the difficult decisions she faced along the way and the determination that kept her moving forward.
Navigating the question: "When will I stop?"
A central theme of the article is a question many people undergoing fertility treatment may ask themselves at some point: “When will I stop?” For Laila, that question surfaced at different stages of her journey. As treatment progressed, she found herself reassessing her options while continuing to hope that the next step might bring a different outcome.
The article highlights how personal these decisions can be. There is no single fertility journey, and there is no universal answer to the question of how long someone should continue treatment. Every patient brings their own circumstances, goals and experiences to the process.
The role of support during fertility treatment
Laila also reflects on the importance of support throughout treatment. She shares how her husband and mother played a significant role in helping her navigate the journey, particularly during periods when she felt overwhelmed. Their support helped her through both the positive moments and the challenges she encountered along the way.
In addition to family support, Laila speaks about the value of professional counselling. She explains how working with counsellors helped her better communicate her needs and process the emotional aspects of fertility treatment. Her experience highlights the different forms of support that may benefit patients throughout their journey.
Understanding IVF expectation with Dr Ying Li
Featured in the article, Genea Fertility Specialist Dr Ying Li discusses some of the common misconceptions surrounding IVF and why it is important for patients to have realistic expectations. While IVF has helped many people build their families, Dr Li explains that it is not a guarantee of success and that treatment outcomes can vary from person to person.
Dr Li also discusses the emotional demands of IVF and the resilience that many patients demonstrate throughout treatment. He notes that fertility treatment often involves periods of anticipation, waiting and uncertainty, which can be challenging to navigate. For this reason, he encourages patients to access the support available to them, including fertility counselling services.
The article also explores Dr Li’s insights into IVF success rates across multiple treatment cycles. He explains that cumulative success rates can increase over a number of cycles, while also emphasising the importance of personalised advice and individualised care when making treatment decisions.
Taking fertility treatment one step at a time
Throughout the feature, Dr Li highlights the importance of balancing honesty with hope. He encourages patients to focus on one step at a time and to recognise the small milestones achieved throughout treatment rather than becoming overwhelmed by the bigger picture.
Combining Laila’s personal story with Dr Li’s expert perspective, this Women's Agenda feature provides valuable insights into the realities of fertility treatment, the role of support and the highly individual nature of the IVF journey. It offers an honest and compassionate look at the experiences that can shape fertility care while highlighting the importance of resilience, realistic expectations and personalised support.
Whether you are considering fertility treatment, currently undergoing IVF or supporting someone on their journey, this article provides thoughtful perspectives on navigating treatment, seeking support and making informed decisions along the way.
About the authors
Dr Ying Li
CREI Fertility Specialist BSc(Med), MBBS, MBA, FRANZCOG, CREI
Sydney Fertility Specialist Dr Ying Li is CREI-certified at Genea Fertility. Expert in IVF, pregnancy loss & reproductive surgery with personalised treatment.
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