Conceiving naturally after failed IVF

Five years ago, I was sitting in a doctor’s office being told I would only be granted a third round of IVF if I used donor eggs. In that crushing moment, I believed I would never be a mum.
Today, I am sitting writing this blog as a 40-year-old mum to two young boys, who I managed to have completely naturally - and just in the nick of time, I might add!
Some days I can barely believe it, when I look back at the terrible lows of more than five years struggling with infertility and pregnancy losses. 
More shockingly, I genuinely believe I wouldn’t have those boys today had I not decided to take a closer look at what was going on with my hormone health.
Pre IVF tests had shown I had a low ovarian reserve. Because I’d managed to briefly conceive on my first round of IVF I fought for a third round using my own eggs. But when that failed I was convinced my eggs were useless and I was careering towards early menopause.
I’d recently read an amazing book called Period Power and learned about the DUTCH test, a home-based test that measures a very wide range of hormones.
It was pricey but it was lockdown and I had nothing else to spend my money on so I figured it would at least help me feel my best going forward after two years pumping myself full of artificial hormones.
But that test changed everything for me.
It flagged a few problems, with my Nutritional Therapist Beverley suspecting my overall issues had been related to periods of chronic stress, inflammation, blood sugar imbalance, sub optimal DHEA, sub optimal vitamin D and sub optimal melatonin, all of which are related to egg health! But my reproductive hormones were actually good. 
There was a new focus and something to feel proactive about.
As she deciphered my results and formulated my plan, Beverley gave me a bit of a pep talk and reminded me that I was still a very healthy young woman, not the woman I had come to believe I was after five years of struggle.
Within weeks of making the changes I was pregnant with Leo, now three.
This time it was different. I had a solid line on a test and when sickness kicked in I just knew it was going to be ok.
I told myself it must have been luck. It was finally just ‘my time’, which everyone had assured me would come.
When Leo was one we decided we would have one more year of trying as I was getting older, then we would draw a line - totally content that he was just meant to be for us.
After around eight months with no luck I asked Beverley for a reasessment and to resubscribe some of the things I’d previously needed, as a last ditch attempt.
I was stunned to conceive three cycles in a row. Unfortunately with very early losses on the first two cycles. But on the third cycle, I conceived my second son, Finlay, now one. 
I now have no doubt that it was the changes I made as a result of the DUTCH test that finally made me a mum.
I frequently shudder to think what my life would be like now if I hadn’t taken that step.
The hormone tests I was offered on the NHS didn’t even scratch the surface in highlighting the areas that I personally needed help with.
I don’t need to be specific here about what I believed helped me, because that won’t help the next woman and I know very well how infertility can make you want to try everything - helpful or not.
The reality is our individual hormone health is so complex and specific to us. Which is why I wrote to the Consultant Gynaecologist at the health board where I underwent my failed IVF to tell her my story.
I asked if, given my experience, there was scope for more advanced hormone profiling, which may just help spare more women the misery of years of infertility and potentially needless IVF.
I was assured my story would be passed on to the clinical lead. I really hope it was.
To anyone struggling with infertility just now, I know how all consuming and painful it can be. 
I know I was extremely lucky to have the outcome I did and sadly, for many women, this won’t be the case. But what I really wanted to share is that there is power and reassurance in better understating our bodies while we’re going down this difficult road.
I’ll forever be grateful to Beverley and the team for helping me understand mine.

Sally, Glasgow.