Emma and Kirsty’s Fertility Journey

As a same-sex couple, Emma and Kirsty always knew they’d need some help to start their family. When they found Care Fertility, everything started to fall into place. Emma has kindly shared their journey in her own words to help others who are thinking about treatment and wondering what to expect: 

Hello, I’m Emma. I’m 32 years old, and I come from a big family with four brothers, four sisters, and lots of nieces and nephews. I grew up in Northern Ireland, but I live in England now after moving here for a job coaching gymnastics. Gymnastics has been part of my life since I was five years old—I even competed for Northern Ireland and Ireland. I’ve been coaching since I was 17, and it’s now my full-time job.  

It was through gymnastics that I met Kirsty, my other half. From the start of our relationship, having a family was always at the top of our list. It’s something we’ve both wanted for as long as I can remember, and being in a same-sex relationship, we knew we’d need to explore what options were available to us. 

Starting our journey 

We spent a lot of time researching and trying to figure out how we could make our dream of having a family come true. That’s when we found Care Fertility. I started following them on Facebook and Instagram, and they seemed like a clinic that really cared about their patients. The Tamworth clinic was the closest to us, so we decided to get in touch and find out more. From that first call, it felt like everything started to fall into place. 

In 2022, we began filling out the paperwork, and by 2023, we officially started treatment. We were assigned Bethan at Care Fertility, who guided us through every step of the process. She was absolutely amazing and always there to answer any questions we had. I was put on medication to get ready for the egg retrieval, and we had regular blood tests and scans to monitor how everything was going. 

The challenges along the way 

As someone with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), I knew there might be some hurdles to overcome. I had to keep an eye on my weight throughout the treatment, which wasn’t always easy. After the egg retrieval procedure, I developed overstimulation, which meant we couldn’t proceed immediately with the embryo transfer. Instead, we had to go for a frozen embryo transfer, which involved waiting longer than we had hoped. At the time, it felt like forever, but looking back now, I realise it was just part of the journey. 

The injections were another challenge for me. I’ve never liked needles, and I’d often get emotional before doing them. But Kirsty was always there to reassure me and remind me of why we were doing this. The idea of letting her down was something I struggled with emotionally—there was so much pressure because we had put so much into making this work.  

"But with Kirsty’s support, along with my family, friends, and the team at Care Fertility, I was able to get through it."

The moment that changed everything 

After all the appointments, the waiting, and the ups and downs, we were successful on our first round of IVF treatment. In January 2024, our beautiful daughter Penelope was born. She’s absolutely amazing, and she’s changed our lives in ways we couldn’t have imagined. Having her here makes every part of the journey worthwhile. 

We also have eight frozen embryos, which gives us the opportunity to grow our family in the future if we decide to. Knowing we have that option feels incredibly rewarding and takes some of the pressure off if we want to go through the process again. 

Reflecting on the journey 

The hardest part of the process for me was dealing with the unknown. There’s so much worrying—will the treatment work? Have we done everything we can? It’s not an easy journey, but staying positive and focused on the end goal made all the difference. I found that keeping busy with work and reading motivational quotes helped me stay on track, especially during the tougher days. 

Kirsty was my rock throughout the process. She was so supportive, and I couldn’t have done it without her. We also felt so well cared for by the team at Care Fertility. Bethan, in particular, was incredible. She was with us from the very beginning and went above and beyond to make sure we felt supported. Peggy was another staff member who really stood out—she’s brilliant at what she does, and together, the team made us feel like more than just patients. 

Advice for others 

If I could give one piece of advice to anyone starting their fertility journey, it would be to stay positive and not give up.  

You’re stronger than you think, even when things feel overwhelming.  

Some days will be harder than others, but you have to keep reminding yourself why you’re doing this. Take it one day at a time, and don’t put too much pressure on yourself. 

Care Fertility does an amazing job—they truly go above and beyond to help you achieve your dream of having a family. They’re there for you every step of the way, not just as medical professionals but as a support system too. 

When I think about holding Penelope for the first time, I know it was all worth it. There’s nothing like having your baby in your arms, and the love you feel is unlike anything else. It’s not an easy journey, but it’s the most rewarding thing we’ve ever done, and I wouldn’t change a thing. 

Final thoughts 

Our journey with Care Fertility has been incredible, and we’ll always be grateful to them for helping us bring Penelope into the world. To anyone reading this, just remember that it’s okay to feel scared or unsure—it’s all part of the process. Trust in the people supporting you, stay focused on your goal, and know that you can do this. 

Thank you to everyone at Care Fertility for being such a big part of our story and for helping us create our family. 

Everyone’s path to parenthood is different, but the right care and support can make all the difference. Emma and Kirsty’s story is a reminder that even when things feel uncertain, there’s always a way forward. If you’re thinking about treatment, we’re here to help whenever you’re ready.