In celebration of Pride Month and our ongoing commitment to supporting LGBTQ+ families, Merrion Fertility Clinic is excited to announce the addition of Reciprocal IVF to our range of services.
We have had the privilege of assisting many same-sex couples on their journey to parenthood through donor sperm treatment, and we are thrilled to share Sinead and Ami’s heartwarming story with you. Their story will inspire and guide others embarking on similar paths. Their beautiful daughter is a testament to the miracles we witness at our Clinic every day.
Choosing the Clinic
We were always aware of the Merrion Fertility Clinic before we started our journey. As both of us are nurses, it was important to us to find and avail of a not-for-profit clinic and one that also had a long history in the field. We also really liked the key ethos and focus on research the clinic carries out. Once we started thinking about starting our journey, Merrion Fertility Clinic was the first place we looked at, and we were delighted to find out they offered treatment to same-sex couples. They are also partnered with our medical insurer – VHI, so all of this combined made it feel like the right fit for us.
“Choosing our donor was a very positive experience for us. Our embryologist, Joyce, gave us great advice before we started this process “
Treatment Process
Our journey was longer than we expected it to be, and we had two unsuccessful transfers. This was definitely the most challenging aspect for us. At any stage when we’d feel deflated that things weren’t turning out as we’d hoped, we would meet with Dr Martyn or talk to the nursing team. They would always put our minds at ease and be proactive in discussing the next steps and developing a suitable plan.
Choosing our donor was a very positive experience for us. Our embryologist, Joyce, gave us great advice before we started this process. She was always at hand to answer a call and guide us in helping us choose the best fit for us.
Support
The level of support provided by each separate person in every department you deal with cannot do enough for you. Any queries we had, be they big or small, someone would always respond either via the patient portal or a phone call. We navigated some challenging times by being open with each other and sharing our fears and feelings. We also always knew that anything we felt we could openly discuss with anyone in the team at Merrion Fertility Clinic which was invaluable support to us as it is a long and emotionally taxing journey filled with a roller coaster of emotions.
“Seeing our little girl’s heartbeat for the first time was the most incredible moment for us – we couldn’t believe our luck”
Outcome
We had our third transfer on the 21st of June, 2023, and we could not quite believe it when we finally had a positive pregnancy. We were overcome initially with emotions, more fear than excitement. We constantly just kept worrying that something would happen, so we held off on telling people for a number of weeks until it really sunk in with us that we were actually pregnant. Our first scan was in Merrion Fertility Clinic, and seeing our little girl’s heartbeat for the first time was the most incredible moment for us – we couldn’t believe our luck.
“Lean on each other during challenging times and always hold on to the dream that you will have a little baby at the end of it all, and it will all be so worth it”
Advice
Our advice to any same-sex couple starting their journey is to just be patient and avail of any supports offered. Link in with other couples who you may know who’ve gone through the journey, I think would be hugely beneficial. This was something we didn’t have, and we’ve been so open since then to lend an ear and offer support to others we know who are starting their journey. Lean on each other during challenging times and always hold on to the dream that you will have a little baby at the end of it all, and it will all be so worth it.
Experience with the Clinic
We cannot fault Merrion Fertility Clinic in any way. The place will always hold such a special place in our hearts. It became like a second home to us for many years and we would not have our little girl without them. We would recommend the clinic to any couple seeking to start their family. The level of care, compassion, acceptance and empathy is invaluable throughout this process.
We will be forever grateful to Merrion Fertility Clinic for helping us create our family.
