Couple’s tango (collaboration) on the Path to Parenthood: Communication, Support, and Persistence

#TFC Success Story #Next mom-to-be

Shu-Han has been married for two years and doing all the preparation for pregnancy for over a year, but there was still no positive news. And then, she began to feel physical changes with getting elder. "I was 38 when married, and now looking back, I’ve turned 40 already." She mentioned that her knowledge of fertility was actually quite limited, and many details about the body, like ovarian function and sperm quality, were the things she only started to learn throughout this path.

Before coming to TFC, Shu-Han had undergone a uterine polyp removal surgery and discovered a decline in ovarian function. In order to not miss the golden window for pregnancy, she started to explore every possible treatment. By chance, she and her husband joined a TFC IVF public lecture, where they not only learned a lot about fertility planning and the high correlation with age but met Dr. Xing-Hui Huang.
During the one-on-one consultation after the lecture, Dr. Huang’s patience reassured them, and it was also when they decided to start a full medical examination and their fertility journey at TFC.

The challenge of self-injection
“The ovulation injection was okay, but the trigger shot (Pregnyl for Injection / Ovidrel/ HCG/ Decapeptyl) was really suffering." Looking back at the fertility treatment, Shu-Han was most grateful for her husband’s support. He helped administer the ovulation shots and pampered her through the suffering of the trigger shot. “The trigger shot is a mixture of both liquid and solid, and when it goes in, it’s really uncomfortable. I even shed a few drops of tears.”
Although the mounting-up pressure of physical suffering and the time constraint made her want to give up from time to time. With each other’s encouragement, they persevered.
“The part I was most afraid of was actually the waiting after the egg retrieval,” she confessed. Waiting for embryo cultivation and the test results is like a final school exam or SAT for them. Following the doctor’s advice, they performed a PGS test. Although she knew that women over 40 typically need 6 embryos to get 1 healthy one, they were lucky enough to get a qualified embryo on their very first attempt

The Warmness and Reassurance from TFC
When talking about TFC, the couple still remembers it vividly: “The clinic doesn’t remind me of a hospital; it is more like a warm cozy space to relax.” They reserved appointments during weekday evenings to avoid crowds and feel more at ease. Especially Dr. Huang Xing-Hui's patience and attention to detail made the fertility process feel less foreign and anxious.
Dr. Huang didn’t rush to proceed with embryo implantation. Instead, she suggested Shu-Han to get her best physical condition/energy level first to make sure the uterine lining reached the ideal thickness before taking the next step. "Our goal is to succeed with one try," she said. The husband also took high-dose Q10 to improve sperm quality, which is truly ‘team work’.
They also referred to genetic testing (PGS mentioned above) results. When certain gene variations were discovered, Dr. Huang carefully explained the findings and confirmed that they wouldn’t impact pregnancy, which reassured them and made each step more manageable.

Anticipating the new life milestone
Now, Shu-Han is successfully pregnant. Though still a bit nervous, she was grateful and forward-looking.“Dr. Huang reminds us of all the specifics at each stage, which helps us stay calm.” They’ve already picked out a nickname for their baby—“Little Six,” inspired by a character from a film, symbolizing wisdom and composure, and it carries the parents’ full blessings for their child.

To every family on such journey
Walking though the journey, Shu-Han would like to share with other couples who are trying, “Trust the doctors, and trust your body. Medical technology is really advanced now, and as long as you take it step by step, you won’t feel as anxious.”
Her husband added, “At TFC, my wife takes the lead, and I’m just her supporter.” He said that they treat every check-up like getting together with an old friend, learning more about their bodies, and adjusting their lifestyle and tempo along the way.

Both of them admitted this isn’t an easy journey and takes mutual support and understanding. “If one of you feels like giving up, the other needs to pull them through. Don’t let them fight alone.”
Finally, they hope every family on this journey keeps moving forward bravely, believing in themselves, and having their persistence paid out.