Hello, I’m Adele O’Connor, and I want to share my story with you.

It’s perhaps a story that you resonate with, I met my husband later in life, I was 40 and he was 44. I didn’t plan it that way, it just took time to meet the right man for me.

Two years later, we were engaged and excited to start a family. However, our journey took an unexpected turn when tests revealed that my eggs were no longer viable.

In denial of the biological clock, I explored every alternative, from goat placenta capsules to fertility acupuncture. Despite our efforts, IVF attempts with my own eggs failed, and our Fertility Specialist suggested using an egg donor.

Navigating the complexities of affordability and Australian laws, we found our solution in an anonymous egg donor from South Africa.

Thanks to the assistance of Dr Joel Bernstein of Donor Eggs Australia. We traveled to Cape Town for the embryo transfer, but not without making mistakes and enduring emotional, physical, and financial challenges along the way.

Now, on the other side of my journey, I am blessed with a beautiful son.

Each fertility journey is unique, yet we all share the pain and trauma it brings. Having embarked on my journey many years ago, I am now fully committed to supporting families like you who are currently navigating their own paths.

Frustrated by the lack of support I found during my journey, I decided to become the support system I wished I had. My mission is to hold space and provide guidance to families using donated eggs to create or complete their families.

Additionally, I advocate for honesty and transparency in family conversations, especially regarding donor conception. Women often struggle with self-blame and shame, contributing to the secrecy surrounding donor egg IVF.

That’s why I launched my podcast and began writing about all aspects of donor egg IVF. My goal is to spark conversations and shift the narrative surrounding donor conception from one of shame to one of empowerment and acceptance.