Undergoing IVF can feel like stepping into a world where no one has handed you a guidebook. If you’re navigating this stressful yet hopeful journey, let me tell you something you need to hear: you’re not alone. At Fertilista, we’ve worked with countless amazing women who are walking the IVF path. I’ve noticed some recurring patterns—three surprising secrets that no one talks about but that almost everyone experiences.
Let’s peel back the curtain and talk honestly about what happens behind the scenes of IVF.
1. Suddenly Hating Your Partner Is… Normal
Before starting IVF, most people have a good (or even great) relationship with their partner. But during the process? Cue the sudden irritation, the unexplained anger, and the feeling like you might not even like them anymore.
“Is this okay? Should I be reconsidering?” These are the questions we often hear from women in our practice. Let me assure you: this is entirely normal.
Here’s why. When you’re going through IVF, your hormones are running the show. Your stress levels are high, and your emotional bandwidth is stretched razor-thin. Things that were totally fine before may suddenly feel unbearable.
This doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with your relationship or that you secretly dislike your partner. It means your body is processing a cocktail of medications and emotions designed to get you to your ultimate goal—a positive pregnancy test.
My advice? If you liked your partner pre-IVF, cut yourself some slack. Remember what you’re working toward together, and don’t make any significant judgments about your relationship while you’re in the thick of treatment.
2. The 3 a.m. Rabbit Hole with Dr. Google
If you’ve ever found yourself awake in the dead of night, scrolling through your phone and obsessively Googling everything IVF-related, join the club. This is one of the most common “secrets” I hear about from women in IVF.
Why does this happen? Between 2 and 4 a.m., your blood sugar dips, and your stress hormones—like cortisol and adrenaline—kick in to compensate. When you’re already feeling stressed about fertility treatments, those internal alarm bells go off even louder in the middle of the night.
Cue the overthinking.
“Am I doing this right? What happens if this doesn’t work? Should I be taking a different approach?” At 3 a.m., our minds can feel like a snowball of questions we can’t stop rolling downhill.
The truth? You’re not alone in this. Almost every woman going through IVF has her version of this midnight spiral. It doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong; it’s your natural stress response. Instead of consulting Dr. Google, try deep breathing or a quick grounding exercise to calm your thoughts. And remember—you’re doing your very best.
3. “Secret Supplementing” with Leftover Medications
This one is a bit more niche, but I see it often enough that it’s worth mentioning. Women who’ve gone through several IVF cycles sometimes find themselves tempted to “supplement” their current treatment protocol with leftover medications from a previous round.
Say, for example, your doctor has prescribed progesterone suppositories or patches for this round, but you’ve got leftover progesterone-in-oil (PIO) injections from an earlier cycle sitting in your fridge. You might think, “What’s the harm in throwing in an extra injection? Won’t it help boost my chances?”
I get it. The urge to do everything possible to make your cycle successful is natural. However, it’s usually not a great idea to self-prescribe or add medications outside your current protocol. There’s a reason your doctor has tailored your treatment the way they have. Doing more doesn’t necessarily mean doing better—it could interfere with the process.
If you’ve thought about this, know you’re not the only one. But a quick call to your doctor is a much safer way to address your concerns.
You’re Not Alone In The IVF Journey
Whether you’re frustrated with your partner, Googling fertility questions at 3 a.m., or tempted to tweak your medication schedule, let me say this: you are human, and everything you’re feeling is normal.
IVF is an emotional rollercoaster, and it’s okay to have moments when you feel uncertain or overwhelmed. At Fertilista, we’re here to support you through every twist and turn of this journey. You’ve got this—and we’ve got you.
IVF is a challenging journey, and every feeling you have is valid. Remember, you’re not alone—Fertilista is here to support you every step of the way. Follow us on social media and visit this link: https://linktr.ee/_fertilista
Are You Tracking Your Ovulation the Wrong Way? Here’s What Works Best for You
Understanding your ovulation is one of the key steps in optimizing your fertility journey. However, with so many ovulation predictor kits (OPKs) on the market, how do you know which one is right for you? If you’ve ever found yourself overwhelmed by options or wondering if you really need to track ovulation at all, you’re
Decoding the Receptiva Test: Unlocking Hidden Causes of Recurrent IVF Failures
If you’ve been navigating the world of IVF and encountered recurrent implantation failure, your doctor might have brought up something called the Receptiva test. This groundbreaking diagnostic tool could provide answers to questions you didn’t even know to ask about your fertility. Let me help break it all down for you. I’m Nicole Stern, the
Prioritizing Parenthood: The Surprising Connection Between Life Choices and Fertility
When starting a fertility journey, it’s easy to focus solely on the physical factors. You’ve probably asked yourself questions like: How are my cycles? Am I ovulating regularly? What do my labs say about my hormone health? Maybe your partner has even done a semen analysis to rule out male-factor infertility. But let’s take a
The Stress-Free Path to Conception: Alternatives to Basal Body Temperature Tracking
When navigating the world of fertility, it seems like you should be using an endless list of tools and techniques. One method that might already be on your radar is basal body temperature (BBT) charting. Have you been thinking, “Should I add this to my routine?” or “Will this finally help me pinpoint my ovulation?”
3 Reasons Why Women Put Off Doing IVF
The journey toward motherhood isn’t always as straightforward as we’d like it to be. My heart goes out to every woman who’s been dreaming about starting a family yet finds herself faced with unexpected hurdles. Today, I’m exploring the top three reasons why many clients, especially those whispering about fertility challenges over morning coffees or
Decoding the Fertility Cleanse: Is It the Missing Piece in Your Conception Puzzle?
If you’ve been struggling to conceive, you’re not alone. Many of us are doing everything “right” but still find ourselves wondering why things aren’t falling into place. This is where a fertility cleanse might come in, offering a natural way to reset your body and improve your chances of conception, whether you’re trying to conceive
