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.
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. Following months of testing, Laila learned that IVF would be her best chance of having a child. Over the years that followed, she underwent multiple rounds of treatment, experienced unsuccessful egg collection cycles and eventually pursued an egg donation cycle.
The article explores a question many people undergoing fertility treatment may ask themselves: “When will I stop?” For Laila, that question arose at different points throughout her journey as she navigated the many decisions that can come with fertility care. Despite the challenges, she remained focused on her goal of growing her family, drawing strength from the support of those around her.
Laila also reflects on the important role that family, partners, counsellors and healthcare professionals can play throughout fertility treatment. She shares how the support of her husband and mother helped her through the process, as well as the value of professional counselling in helping her communicate her needs and navigate the emotional aspects of treatment. Her experience highlights that every fertility journey is unique, and that support can take many different forms.
Featured in the article, Genea Fertility Specialist Dr Ying Li discusses some of the common misconceptions surrounding IVF and explains why realistic expectations are so important. While IVF has helped many people build their families, Dr Li emphasises that it is not a guaranteed pathway to pregnancy and that every patient's experience is different. He also shares insights into IVF success rates across multiple treatment cycles and the importance of balancing honesty with hope when supporting patients through treatment decisions.
Dr Li encourages patients to focus on one step at a time and to recognise the small milestones achieved throughout treatment. He also highlights the value of accessing support services, including fertility counselling, to help navigate the emotional aspects of the journey.
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 importance of personalised support and the different paths people may take on their journey to parenthood. It offers a compassionate and honest look at the experiences that can shape fertility care while highlighting the resilience, support and hope that help many people move forward.
Dr Ying Li, CREI
Dr Ying Li offers a compassionate and personalised approach to fertility treatment. As a leader in obstetrics, gynecology, and fertility, he supports patients throughout their journey by investing time to understand their specific fertility issues and develop the most appropriate plan to maximise their chance of conceiving.
