At Care Fertility, we support people at every stage of their fertility journey—including those choosing to pursue solo parenthood. Dayna came to us for a fertility assessment at 32, she wasn’t expecting the results to be so serious. But with clarity, support, and expert care, she made the decision to try IVF with donor sperm. Her journey wasn’t easy, but it led to the arrival of her little boy, Cody. Here, she shares her experience in her own words:
My journey to solo parenthood
At 32, I decided to have a fertility assessment—something I hadn’t thought too much about until then. But the results absolutely floored me.
The consultant told me that if I wanted children, I needed to act now. That’s not something you expect to hear in your early thirties. It was a huge shock. I’d never imagined I’d have fertility issues, but my egg reserve was extremely low for my age. Suddenly, I had a massive decision to make.
After taking some time to process everything, I decided to move forward with IVF using donor sperm. I knew I wanted to become a mum—and I was ready to do it on my own.
Finding a donor
The sperm donor process felt a bit overwhelming at first, but I knew what I was looking for. I had a clear idea about the physical characteristics that were important to me, as well as things like interests and health history.
I looked through a lot of donor profiles, both in the UK and abroad. And then I found the one—I just knew he was the perfect match for me.
The treatment journey
Because of my low egg reserve, I knew I was unlikely to get a large number of eggs. On my first round, I only retrieved one egg due to early ovulation. But that one egg defied the odds and developed into a high-quality embryo.
I found out I was pregnant on Christmas Day 2023. Sadly, it turned out to be an ectopic pregnancy.
For my next round, we changed the protocol. It was the right move. This time I collected six eggs, and three of them became good quality embryos. I got another positive test, but at the early scan there was no heartbeat. It was a missed miscarriage.
Despite everything, I decided to move straight into another transfer using one of my frozen embryos. I went on holiday the day after the transfer and took a test a few days later. It was positive again.
That was my third pregnancy—and this time, everything went as it should. My little boy Cody was born in 2024. He was worth everything I went through.
What helped me cope
One of the hardest parts of treatment for me was the injections. I’ve always had a big needle phobia, so having to inject myself—sometimes three times a day—was tough. I had multiple alarms going off to remind me of each dose!
The waiting around was also difficult. There’s a lot of uncertainty and it’s easy for your mind to run wild—especially after going through two early losses.
I found that keeping busy helped me cope, along with having a strong support system around me. My family and friends were amazing, and having people to talk to made all the difference.
What I’ve learned
At the start, I was quite naive. I thought IVF automatically meant a baby. But I quickly learned that it’s just a chance—nothing is guaranteed.
Looking back, I’m proud of everything I went through to get here. There were plenty of ups and downs, but I’d do it all again in a heartbeat to have Cody in my arms.
If I could give one piece of advice to someone starting out, it would be this: take care of yourself. Try not to overthink things. The outcome is out of your hands. Let people in and lean on your support network—it really is invaluable.
Final thoughts from Care Fertility
We’re proud to have supported Dayna on her solo IVF journey and are thrilled to have played a part in welcoming baby Cody into the world. Our team at Care Fertility Sheffield were by her side throughout—from donor matching and treatment planning, to embryo transfer and aftercare.
If you’re considering IVF, donor sperm, or solo parenthood, we’re here to help you understand your options and guide you through the next steps. Whether you're ready to begin or just want to explore what's possible, get in touch with our Patient Enquiry Team today.
You don’t need to do it alone—we’ll be with you every step of the way.
