Inspiring: Region’s couples share powerful IVF and fertility journeys
One in six Australian couples experience fertility issues. We sat down with multiple couples who shared their inspiring stories.
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Parents blessed with rainbow baby
Imagine spending your life waiting for the right time to have a child, only to be told you had a 1% chance.
For Emily, 33, and Matthew Woodrow, 43, becoming parents was always on the cards.
So when the couple decided to tie the knot in 2015, they immediately started trying to conceive.
But after two long years and with no result, the pair decided to seek help and got a referral with Toowoomba fertility specialist Dr John Esler.
Test results revealed Matthew had a very low sperm count, meaning the couple’s only option was IVF, with just a 1% chance of conceiving naturally.
Later that year, Emily was also diagnosed with endometriosis – an often painful condition where tissue that normally lines the uterus, instead grows on the outside of the uterus.
A cyst was also found on one of her ovaries, impacting how it works.
“At first it really was a shock to the system, and our chance of having a baby, even through IVF, was very low,” Ms Woodrow said.
“It was especially hard for Matthew, and I think it can be quite hard for males to come to terms with that … even as females, we blame ourselves, but no one should ever blame themselves – these things just happen.”
In 2018, the couple started their first round of IVF, and Ms Woodrow began injecting herself with hormones to stimulate her egg follicles.
Five eggs were retrieved during the collection procedure, but only one embryo was transferred.
By Christmas that year, the couple was elated to discover they were pregnant, but heartbreakingly, experienced a miscarriage during the first trimester.
Devastated by their loss, the pair waited a year before they attempted their second round of IVF.
Nine eggs were collected, but only four were considered to be high-quality.
One embryo was created but sadly, after the transfer, it was unsuccessful.
“It’s such a rollercoaster ride, especially the first time because you have no idea what’s going to happen, and you really need to prepare yourself mentally,” Ms Woodrow said.
When the country faced its first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, IVF, along with many other procedures, was put on hold, causing delays until services restarted.
Emotionally and physically exhausted, the pair decided it would be the last time they tried IVF.
At this point, Ms Woodrow said she was taking medication and injecting hormones twice a day for two weeks.
Fortunately, the third round successfully produced seven eggs, six of which were mature and injected.
Three eggs fertilised and created three embryos.
The couple welcomed their beautiful daughter Lily into the world on October 19, last year.
“It’s so surreal, but it’s absolutely amazing that she’s here with us now … we’re over the moon,” Ms Woodrow said.
“If it wasn’t for Dr Esler, the nurses and his team, we wouldn’t have Lily and we are just so grateful.”
Ms Woodrow said her advice for anyone going through fertility issues was to take it day by day, prepare themselves for all outcomes, turn to their support network and seek help from a professional.
“If people are wondering if something is wrong and they’ve been trying, don’t be afraid to go get tested, and if you hit a bump in the road, don’t be afraid to try IVF,” she said.
“When we finally got our little rainbow, the money spent, every heartache and all the blood tests, injections and medication, was so worth it.
“It’s surprising to know how many people do go through IVF because it’s not discussed openly, but people shouldn’t feel ashamed by it – every child is a miracle, no matter how they are conceived.”
Grateful for little Lily, the couple has also frozen two embryos, in case they choose to grow their family sometime in the future.
If this has impacted you or your mental health, please phone the Pregnancy Birth and Baby hotline on 1800 882 436 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
How power of positivity helped parents in their IVF journey
When Covid-19 turned the tourism industry on its head, Laura Hermann, 34, who owns a travel agency in Toowoomba, and her husband Dane, 30, decided it was the right time to try for a baby.
But the couple, who got married in 2019, soon discovered the process wouldn’t be as easy as they initially thought.
After about eight months of trying naturally, they met with Dr John Esler, who through blood work, discovered Laura had Polycystic ovary syndrome.
Unaware due to her minimal symptoms, the condition means she doesn’t ovulate regularly, which makes it difficult to conceive naturally.
For about nine months, Laura took hormone medicine to try and regulate her cycle, but it was unsuccessful, so the pair decided to try IVF instead.
“Making that decision to go down the route of IVF and to be able to take it into our own hands was actually a bit of a relief,” Ms Hermann said.
“We were very fortunate that we were successful on the first go, whereas I’m sure it must be a much longer road for others and that would make it a lot harder.”
Last year, the couple’s family grew when their first child Darcy was born.
Now seven months on, the loving parents want to share their experience in a bid to assist others who may be considering IVF.
And they both agree that staying calm helped.
The couple started the IVF process and decided to go on a camping holiday to take the pressure off, taking a fridge with them to store the hormone injections.
“Dr Esler reassured us that it wasn’t as if we couldn’t have children – it was just about trying other medical avenues, and because he was very positive, it made us feel very relaxed about it,” Mr Hermann said.
“I would tell others to try and not let the anxiety get to you because the process might not work if you’re feeling tense, but that’s not easy for everyone.”
From the beginning of their journey, the couple said they had also been very open with their families and friends, taking the taboo out of the topic of IVF.
“After talking about it with others, I found out a few people I know went through IVF too,” Ms Hermann said.
“It’s a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, especially when you’re taking the drugs, so it was nice to share my experience with others who had also been through the process, and it’s not something that should be hidden.”
The couple said while they wanted a baby, if it didn’t eventuate for them, they were content to remain being parents to their sweet Schnauzer Ruby.
They said while the experience could place an emotional strain on couples, it was important to stay positive and avoid getting frustrated with each other.
Fortunately, the pair had several eggs collected and were able to produce embryos, which have now been frozen.
The couple plans to have at least one more child.
“It really is amazing to think you might not have been able to do it naturally, but now we have a very beautiful little human here,” Ms Hermann said.
“When we had Darcy, Dr Esler told me that we’re just like everyone else now … we have a baby, not an IVF baby, and that was really nice because he’s just as precious as any other baby.”
Region’s facility becomes flagship
Expansion for one Toowoomba fertility clinic will offer more accessibility to services across the region, reducing the need for travel.
City Fertility has transformed its IVF Toowoomba clinic into its flagship facility for regional Queensland.
The expansion will see two dedicated specialists, Dr Anthony Cerqui and Dr Lanziz Homar, now assisting patients in the region.
With a combined 40 years of experience in gynaecology, obstetrics and fertility, the pair is both highly respected in their field.
“It’s exciting to be a part of a global network that is driven to deliver would-be parents the highest quality care from conception to delivery and provide a full service facility on their doorstep,” Dr Cerqui said.
“We often see fertility patients seek out our services from Roma and Morven, Quilpie, and we do have some who fly from Townsville and Cairns for their gynaecology needs.”
Dalby couple Emma-Jane and Nathan Jameson said they were grateful for the assistance received from Dr Cerqui, with the couple now expecting a son in the next two months.
“It can be a very anxious time, but Dr Cerqui didn’t treat us like a number and was invested in the process as much as we were … we have been truly blessed,” Mrs Jameson said.
“It would be so much more convenient for couples to be able to lessen the stress of the process and minimise the costs associated with travel and time away from loved ones.”
City Fertility CEO Adnan Catakovic said the expansion meant patients would no longer have to travel to Brisbane for treatment options.
“Toowoomba is the fertility and reproductive health centre for rural patients from the Gulf to Goondiwindi,” he said.
Dr John Esler bids farewell and clinic welcomes Dr Rachel Collings
Few things could be more rewarding than helping couples and individuals in their conception journey, and for two Toowoomba doctors it’s the ultimate gift that keeps on giving.
So when the time came for Dr John Esler to announce his semi-retirement and plans to step away from his Toowoomba clinic, where he has worked for almost four decades, it’s understandable why the decision wasn’t an easy one to make.
But the well-respected fertility specialist felt more at ease knowing the practice will now be in the safe hands of new owner Dr Rachel Collings and the Queensland Fertility Group (QFG) team.
“It’s been an honour to work in Toowoomba for the past 36 years as the community’s local fertility specialist and gynaecologist, and to have helped so many families, it has been such a privilege,” Dr Esler said.
“I’m delighted to pass on the torch to Dr Rachel Collings, who I’ve worked closely with at the Toowoomba clinic over 2021.”
Growing up in a rural town in Central Queensland, Dr Collings understands first-hand about the importance of health and specialist services in regional areas and has been hoping to return to her grassroots for many years.
“My family is from the Darling Downs, and my husband is a vet and farmer from out near Stanthorpe, so we’d always planned to come back here to Toowoomba,” Dr Collings said.
“Growing up in a very rural town myself, we often didn’t have a doctor or medical help where we were, and I do reflect on how even minor things could turn into big issues, because we just didn’t have access to that medical help.
“My husband and I always wanted to return to a regional area like Toowoomba and that’s a particular reason why – to be able to provide specialist care and options for women and couples in this area.”
After discovering her passion for obstetrics and gynaecology, Dr Collings completed her training in Melbourne and her Masters degree in fertility at the University of NSW.
When she relocated to Toowoomba at the beginning of last year, Dr Esler contacted the fertility specialist and asked her to join the clinic, with the opportunity to one day take over the reins.
The duo worked together and alongside the QFG team for the entire year, and after much success, Dr Collings purchased the gynaecology and fertility clinic.
“It all stemmed from my longstanding interest in women’s health, and what really drew me into specialising in gynaecology was that those services are really all about improving quality of life,” she said.
“When it comes to fertility, being able to walk alongside women and couples through that journey and help them to achieve that dream of parenthood and to see that elation when we’re able to get to that point … that is really something very special to be a part of.”
As of this month, Dr Collings has taken over Dr Esler’s practice and said she would continue to provide quality care in the areas of gynaecology and fertility.
She said she was excited to work alongside the QFG Toowoomba clinic team and felt honoured to be stepping into the shoes of her well-respected predecessor.
“Dr Esler has been practising here in Toowoomba for 36 years, so he has really established such a great reputation and has such a strong legacy here in Toowoomba,” Dr Collings said.
“He really is one of the leaders in the fertility world, in terms of continuing to advance the technologies and techniques and being on the cutting edge (of the industry).
“To be able to have worked alongside him, get to know a lot of the patients and see how his processes work has been really amazing.”
And with the intention of staying in Toowoomba long-term, the fertility specialist said her aim is “to be here for another 36 years and more.”
And while some people having issues with fertility may feel alone, research shows one in six Australian couples will experience it.
Fertility specialist Dr Rachel Collings, who has taken over Dr John Esler’s Toowoomba clinic and works alongside the Queensland Fertility Group team, said it was really important to seek advice from a fertility specialist rather than rely on information found on the internet, as it might not be relevant to the individual.
“We define infertility as not being able to conceive for 12 months of regular intercourse, and the big thing to know is that it is very common,” she said.
“There are a number of different reasons that can result in troubles or delays when conceiving – there’s female causes, male causes, a combination of both, and in a percentage of people we don’t find a cause.”
Dr Collings said IVF was only one of the options available for people struggling to conceive, all of which would be discussed in-depth with women or couples when they visited the clinic.
The clinic is at Suite 15, 9 Scott Street, Toowoomba.
It is open on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8.30am until 5pm, and on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 8.30am until 4pm.
For more information, please phone (07) 4638 5533 or visit qfg.com.au.
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