My Fertility Journey: Hope, Loss, and Miracles

Sharing my fertility journey has been something I've wanted to do for so long. I have shared it with family and friends, and I've been very open about it. But it wasn’t easy at first. I’ve written my story countless times but have found it tough to get through. Here is my story, finally:

My Fertility Journey: Hope, Loss, and Miracles

After getting married in 2014, I couldn’t wait to have babies! It was the only thing I ever dreamed of and knew I wanted in life. My husband Matt and I started trying to conceive immediately. It was devastating when three years of marriage went by without ever seeing a positive pregnancy test. My primary doctor referred me to reproductive endocrinology. I was quickly diagnosed with PCOS as the leading factor in my infertility. This provided some relief that I had options, but also anger—it took 29 years to discover. The excruciating pain surrounding my menstrual cycle, inconsistency, and heavy flow was not normal. (Ladies—ask questions and advocate for yourself!!!)

We began treatments in 2018. I had a sono HSG procedure to check my tubes, which thankfully were clear. I completed three rounds of Letrozole followed by six rounds of Clomid. That totaled nine failed fertility treatments within a year. I was set for a follow-up appointment to discuss further options when I experienced a chemical pregnancy (an early miscarriage). After that, I gave up. It was too much. I took a year off, gained strength, and got my finances in order to push through what I knew would be the most difficult time of my life: IVF.

In August 2019, I had my egg retrieval, which resulted in four frozen embryos. In October 2019, I had a failed embryo transfer and lost two more embryos because they stopped growing, leaving just one last embryo. My doctors felt I was a good candidate for back-to-back transfers. On November 14, 2019, they transferred that last embryo. That last embryo became my beautiful, miracle daughter, Ellie (meaning "light"), born on July 13, 2020. She was the light at the end of a long and tough journey.

But that’s not where my journey ends.

After going through IVF, Matt and I decided we wouldn’t do fertility treatments again. We had been through it all, and we didn’t want to put ourselves through it again. It’s hard. It’s mentally, physically, and financially exhausting. We had the mindset of "whatever happens, happens," and we would be okay. We were the lucky ones who ended up with a beautiful baby girl through a successful IVF transfer. Then, 10 months postpartum, we were completely shocked to find out I was pregnant naturally.

It was terrifying. I had major anxiety over the pregnancy, feeling like I couldn’t handle it without the medical interventions I relied on. I did have a few complications, including low progesterone, marginal cord insertion, and gestational diabetes. Through it all, our little miracle son, Owen, was born on February 21, 2022.

In 2023, we started thinking about whether it would be possible to get pregnant naturally again. We decided to give it a shot but not expect much. Sure enough, I got pregnant in November 2023, but it ended in another chemical pregnancy in early December.

That was a big blow for me. To think my body had, in a way, "healed" from infertility, only to suffer another miscarriage. It brought back all the feelings of inferiority, trauma, and pain that had defined my journey before Ellie.

I still kept a little bit of hope, knowing that I could get pregnant and my cycles had become regular, something that had never happened in my earlier years.

In March 2024, I got pregnant again. I tested and tested each day, multiple times a day, like anyone does when they’ve dealt with infertility. A little hope, but a lot of doubt. Would the lines become darker, or would they fade away like before? This time, they didn’t fade away. I was pregnant.

It’s a hard concept to grasp when you’ve been through infertility. Part of you is thrilled, but part of you is in extreme fear and denial that it’s real. This is real, though. I’m due with a baby girl in December.

Had it not been for fertility treatments and the incredible doctors I owe it all to, I wouldn’t have my beautiful babies. Even with Owen, I wouldn’t have had the knowledge to take the steps I needed to make sure he was okay. I know I am a success story, and this isn’t the case for many women. Sometimes, there is never a happy ending. I think about this every day. I think about the families out there going through this, and I pray for them every day.

What I’ve learned throughout my journey is that infertility trauma never leaves you. It lingers and pops up in unexpected ways. It changes you forever. It gives you a deep understanding and appreciation for a woman’s body. It brings compassion, education, hope, fear, grief, strength—so many feelings, often accompanied by the question: "Why me?"

I know now that I was chosen for this path so I could share my story, provide hope, support, and fight for all families to have the opportunity to grow theirs. My passion for access to fertility care and reproductive rights only grows stronger each day. Becoming part of the infertility community is something nobody wants, but once you’re in it, it becomes a part of you that you will carry forever. I will carry it forever. I will carry my fellow warriors and always be in your corner.

-Megan Laverty

Medical Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider or qualified medical professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this blog.