Did you announce on social media that you're doing IVF?

I was thinking of documenting my journey on youtube but still undecided.

No, I just shared with my closest friends and family. Thankfully we didn't because it took us 4 years to get 2 embryos.

People knew we were doing it but I never gave any specifics. So they knew we were doing IVF, knew it failed for us many times, but I never gave retrieval or transfer dates. If people know specifics expect them to be asking about it. Most people think IVF is a sure thing so they'll be asking if you're pregnant yet often. They'll ask for updates. Those questions suck ass when you get no embryos or it fails or things end in a miscarriage. Once you open that can of worms, it doesn't go back.

I kept things vague without vague posting. I shared our story and the information I wanted to share while making it very clear that I would update as I felt comfortable with it and specifically not to ask unless I volunteer the information. I shared far more often general facts and information about infertility than my specific treatment.

I'm glad I took the approach I did as it took 5 retrievals and 7 transfers to get my first. It was a long grueling journey and we weren't sure we'd ever have success.

Never shared on social media. IVF could be a very long journey and the ups and downs can be very difficult to cope. Not even my closest family really understand and we soon realised that they are not very interested in our struggles but just want to hear good pregnancy news.

Although I do agree with raising awareness, I only do this with close colleagues/friends privately. Writing blogs may be a good idea if you want to document your journey!

Thank you all!!! I think we will stop document on social media but keep it private for a while. I just want somewhere to keep everything all together you know? We've been trying for 3 years this month and I haven't documented anything yet-kinda glad about that because it's just been heartbreak for these 3 years. Thank you all for your input! I really appreciate it :)

I can totally relate! We have been doing ivf for 3 years (goodness) and before that 2 years of trying naturally! So it’s been a really long journey 🥺

I made a whole separate instagram page to document our fertility treatment journey....
And then forgot to turn off "share to facebook" and a whole post about moving to IVF got posted on my Facebook and I didn't see it happened until 3 hours later when a whole lot of friends and family all commented on it wishing us luck, offering prayers, and a few saying they know what we're going through

I don’t use social media so didn’t share on there, but I have been very open with family and friends about doing IVF. I totally understand why some people don’t want to share about the challenges, but for me, I love getting support when I’m going through stuff. I have also found that everyone is even more caring than usual and will check in more than they normally would, which has been really helpful throughout the process to have more constant reminders of being loved.

We didn’t tell anyone we did IVF other than our family . But we told people right when we found out . We are older and tried for 2 years and had 4 IUI fails and IVF worked on first try and I’m 32 weeks pregnant 😁😁😁 we are very thankful

Nope not announcing it at all

I didn’t share anything about IVF on social media. I didn’t share anything about either of my miscarriages either. The only people who know are my close friends and family.

I plan to share that I went through IVF after I have my baby. But right now I don’t feel like anyone is really entitled to know what I’m having to go through. Especially since it was so easy and quick for me to have my first naturally. I don’t want people rushing to assumptions or bombarding me with advice or questions. This journey is for me and my family alone.

I had a private infertility instagram account that I was already using and documented it all on there and was part of groups that were doing stims at the same time. I announced on my personal social media once I was pregnant and made a video of the injections and the journey to share awareness that it’s not easy for everyone to get pregnant.

If you share with too many people they then can think they have the right to ask the outcome of things when you might not be ready to share or can be insensitive assuming it was successful/unsuccessful by trying to analyse your behaviour. I didn’t want the added pressure and was glad I didn’t share in real time with the people in my life but it’s all down to personal choice.

I never announced anything on social media, only a few people knew and sometimes that felt like pressure. I kept an IVF journal though.

I share literally everything on my TikTok. https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8dx54Hr/

Me and my husband podcast it 😂

And do IVF updates on Instagram. I’ve also got a fertility-specific TikTok account

I shared with my close friends… but honestly I found it so hard when things failed and people asking me about things. I’d find it really hard if everyone was asking me all the time.

My journey took over a year and 3 transfers… so it was a long journey and in the end I was more private with it

I’ve been documenting my journey with videos and using a movie maker to put it all together which I found really helpful and I love watching it back as it’s crazy to see what we have to go through, I don’t know if I’d ever share it elsewhere though I’d really like to as you say to spread awareness but it feels so personal it makes me feel nervous!! I am pregnant now and I think I will include that we went through ivf in my announcement as I don’t want it to be something I’m ashamed of but again it does make me anxious thinking of doing that ! xxx

At first, I told friends and family openly as I wanted to help break down barriers around infertility stigma. The journey is hard, and even the best intentioned people ultimately say the wrong thing. It got harder and harder to share, and I started to yearn privacy and wished I hadn’t of been so open. Now, I’m almost 10w pregnant and I am not sharing it’s an IVF baby. Our child will know, but I don’t feel it’s my right to broadcast a component of their medical history before they’re even born. I realized my initial desire to share was due to my own feelings without regard for my baby’s feelings.

this is spot on! I’m glad you got there in the end 🙏🏼

yes so true. I am so glad I have only really brought very close friends on the journey, as I’ve had many many many cycles and 5 IVF miscarriages (6 losses as my last was identical twins). Victoria is so right. Our friends and family expect it to be easy and a baby just to happen on the first cycle and even transfer, so when it doesn’t happen that way it can be tough to explain.

Wishing you the very best with your journey 🙏🏼🤞🏼

It’s personal preference. I told a couple of close friends prior to transfer, day 10 day came and sadly they were asking like some sort of gossip. Now I don’t feel comfortable telling anyone thought it was none of their business to ask and in fact in normal circumstances ie natural pregnancy people a non the wiser until it’s announced usually. Those friends are now pregnant with their first. We are still continuing on our ivf journey. Maybe create a close group for family and very close friends.

So many couples share their journey, the ups and downs and it is something personal because it helps them to document their journey and raise awareness. But it is a personal choice. We have been on the journey nearly 8 years and only close friends and family know. We haven't documented it but I share my experience here to help.others.

I’ve been going through IVF for 3yrs and had 6 egg collections. Initially I only told a few family members. Since then a few close friends know as I was having to cancel a lot of get togethers with them due to treatment. In a way I wish that nobody knew at it puts so much pressure on and people generally just assume that it will work and straight away. Sadly IVF doesn’t for everyone and it can be so hard when people keep asking about it as can be really triggering.

I just want to say thank you too everyone for sharing your experiences and thoughts on this! I'm so sorry for everyone's loses and struggles. I'm praying for all of you! 🩵