Turner's Syndrome - Ruth and Alan

Diagnosed with Turner’s Syndrome at a young age, Ruth knew that having a child would be difficult, but she never gave up on her dream. Together with her supportive husband Alan, they navigated IVF, heartbreak, and ultimately found joy in the birth of their daughter Francesca. Here’s their inspiring story:

I was diagnosed with Turner’s syndrome, a condition that causes issues with ovarian development among other things, at 13. As soon as my parents explained the condition, I asked if it meant I couldn’t have children. Even at that young age, I knew I wanted children someday. 

The reality of my diagnosis  
When it was confirmed that I would never have my own child, I felt empty. My parents felt guilty, but I reassured them it wasn’t their fault. For a long time, every pregnant woman I saw was a painful reminder of what I thought I could never have. 

Expert care and support  
My parents researched the condition, and we went to see Professor Brook in London. I have been under the UCLH in London ever since and they continue to give me expert care to manage and monitor my condition. 

Meeting Alan and facing fertility challenges 
I had other boyfriends, but when I met Alan at 19, I knew he was the one. Early in our relationship, I told him about my fertility issues, fearing he might not want to be with me. However, Alan was incredibly supportive and attended my annual check-ups in London. 

Starting our IVF journey 
We got married in 2005 and always intended to commence In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) treatment. So, after doing a house up and travelling we had our first and only NHS treatment in 2009, where we had IVF with a donor egg. We were devastated when it didn’t work but stayed strong, we would try again and not give up. 

Seeking treatment abroad 
We found out about a clinic in Spain and after further investigation we embarked on a second course of treatment there. This again unfortunately was unsuccessful, however we had a frozen embryo remaining, so we had a second cycle in Spain. The clinic was fantastic for us, but I failed to become pregnant. 

Finding Care Fertility 
Despite moments when we wanted to give up, we both knew that a child was very important to us. We decided not to continue in Spain and through a colleague of Alan’s we heard about Care Fertility. We first visited Care Fertility Nottingham and were excited at the level of research and new techniques. Throughout the whole process the difficult thing to cope with is that things change and there are so many new techniques, it’s hard to feel you have tried everything. 

After in-depth discussions we embarked on another cycle with Care Fertility and were confident that we were in the right hands. At this point we discussed the blood test that looks at your killer cells, but we felt we were trying so many other new things that we decided not to have the blood test. 

Unfortunately, this cycle did not work either, so we decided to have the blood test before another cycle. I was personally devastated when it came back that I have high levels of killer cells. It made both of us feel that all previous attempts had been pointless. 

A glimmer of hope 
So, we then embarked on the fifth cycle, this time I underwent intralipid treatment. We were excited when for the first time we had a positive pregnancy test, however I started bleeding and miscarried at 5 weeks. We were devastated and I particularly found it hard to comprehend having another go and putting my body through it again. 

The final attempt 
However, after some respite we decided to have one last final attempt, this time at Care Fertility Manchester. We threw everything at it this time! We even decided to have the embryos chromosome tested, as well as having an exclusive donor. 

We were delighted but apprehensive when we had another positive pregnancy test. We did not relax at all until our three-month scan.  

Thankfully the pregnancy was uncomplicated, and I gave birth to Francesca via C-Section! 

I look at her every day and can’t believe how lucky we are. It has taken a lot of heartache, but we now have a beautiful, amazing daughter. We feel very thankful to our donor and all those skilled specialists at Care Fertility that have made our beautiful Francesca possible. 

More success stories  
Many couples have successfully achieved their dream of starting a family at Care Fertility. Here are a few inspiring stories: 

Lydia and Jenna’s journey: Lydia and Jenna chose shared motherhood after traditional IVF failed with Jenna’s eggs, and Lydia was unable to carry a child due to a medical condition. Lydia provided the eggs, and Jenna carried their beautiful baby girls.  Ashley and Jason's story: Ashley and Jason began IVF in 2020 after three years of trying to conceive, with Ashley facing endometriosis and COVID-19 delays. Their fertility treatment at Care Fertility Sheffield brought hope, but also challenges. 

Ready to take the next step? 

If you’re on a similar journey, know that you’re not alone. Explore our resources and find the support you need at Care Fertility. 

Book a consultation to learn more about our services and how we can help make your dreams of a family possible.