When Kate Shelley was about to turn 40, she decided it was time to start her family. Since she didn’t have a partner, she chose IVF. She had always promised herself that she would do so if she did not have children by her 40th birthday. As that day approached, he thought more about the process. Shelley says she knows she would feel like she’s missing out on something very important if she doesn’t have children of her own, and not having a partner in her life won’t stop her from pursuing that dream.
Choosing IVF worked out well for Shelley, but it wasn’t the first option she considered. At first, she talks to a platonic friend who is also a former partner, about conceiving a child and parenting. After much discussion, they decided that was not the right choice for them. She then had fertility tests, and was told by several doctors that her results were good, but that she only had a 3% chance of conceiving with her own eggs, due to age. It was the first time he learned that egg quality declines as women age.
The Evewell Clinic, however, gave Shelley hope by saying it was possible for her to conceive through IVF while still using her own eggs. Then the question is whose sperm to use. The UK does not allow photos for sperm donors, so Shelley will only know their beliefs, characteristics and hobbies, and information about their appearance. She signed up with sperm banks in Denmark and the United States, because those countries had photos and she wanted to know what her child’s sperm donor really looked like.
She had her IVF transfer shortly before everything was closed due to the pandemic, and only had one embryo created. Her pregnancy was delicate, and she stayed at her parents’ home in Wales. She returned to London when her daughter was eight months old, and admits it was difficult being a single parent. However, she wouldn’t change it, and she knows she made the right decision to have her beautiful child.
We aim to give our clients a straightforward breakdown of what can seem like a complicated and scary process so they can enjoy the wonderful experience of bringing a child into the world through assisted reproductive technology. Contact us today to learn more!
