Going through IVF is one of the most harrowing and isolating experiences. It can leave many people feeling lost and alone, even with all the support in the world. The toll it can take not only on your body, but on your mental health, is something that shouldn't be dismissed.
Speaking out about personal experience isn't easy, but it is one thing that can help other women feel less alone.
Irish influencer Dominique Nugent recently confirmed she has started her IVF journey.
In a moving post on Instagram, Dominique said it is "a road we never expected to walk, but one we’re stepping into with hope and love."
She shared:
"The past couple of years have been difficult, filled with loss, longing, and quiet heartbreak. Losing our baby girl Wynter, at 15 and a half weeks, changed everything. Since then, becoming parents has been a journey marked by both pain and deep hope.
"Sharing this doesn’t come easy, but I believe in talking about the difficult topics rather than keeping them to myself."
Dominique added, "I never spoke about my first pregnancy online until it ended in loss. So this time, I’m choosing openness from the start."
"IVF can feel isolating, but it shouldn’t be. It’s just another path to parenthood, a path many of us are quietly walking. And I want to help normalise that. I’m not sure how much I’ll share, but for now, I’ll share this: we’ve started. We’re doing the injections, the scans, the blood tests, and hoping this will bring us closer to holding our baby.
"I know there are no guarantees. But we’re ready, and we’re hopeful."
She encouraged others going through IVF to share their stories because the impact it can have is remarkable.
"If you’ve been through IVF and feel comfortable sharing your story or positive outcome in the comments, please do. I know others, like me, will find comfort in your words. It’s the stories of others that have helped me feel less alone in recent months, and I hope that by opening up a little here, my page might do the same for someone else."
