10 IVF Rounds, No Embryos: Finding Motherhood Through Embryo Donation

10 IVF Rounds, No Embryos: Finding Motherhood Through Embryo Donation

Author: Women's Health Melbourne August 30, 2026 Duration: 39:05


After 10 rounds of IVF using her own eggs without creating a single embryo, Fiona O’Neil and her husband faced an incredibly difficult question: were they willing to let go of genetic parenthood to experience life as parents?


Their journey included undiagnosed stage four endometriosis, an ectopic pregnancy, pregnancy loss, known egg donation, two trips to South Africa for anonymous donor eggs and, ultimately, becoming parents through embryo donation.


In this deeply personal episode of Knocked Up, Fiona joins fertility specialist Dr Raelia Lew to share the emotional reality of transitioning from IVF with your own eggs to donor conception.


Fiona speaks honestly about grieving the child she initially imagined, worrying whether she would bond with a donor-conceived baby and the fear that her child might one day reject her. She also shares why those concerns disappeared when her son arrived.


Now the founder of The Fertility Framework, Fiona uses her lived experience to support individuals navigating fertility treatment and help workplaces become more informed, compassionate and fertility aware.


The Fertility Framework:

Instagram: @fertilityframework

Fertility coaching and workplace support:

Learn more through The Fertility Framework



ABOUT WOMEN’S HEALTH MELBOURNE

Women’s Health Melbourne is an innovative fertility and women’s health practice led by Dr Raelia Lew. Its specialist team provides evidence-based care across fertility, IVF, egg freezing and women’s health.


Learn more or book an appointment through Women’s Health Melbourne.


This podcast provides general information and should not replace personalised medical advice from your healthcare professional.



Embryo donation, egg donation Australia, donor conception, donor-conceived children, IVF journey, IVF failure, infertility support, fertility trauma, miscarriage support, pregnancy loss, fertility in the workplace, reproductive leave, workplace fertility support, stage four endometriosis, fertility specialist, genetic parenthood, anonymous egg donation, known egg donor and fertility podcast.



Ever found yourself with a question about your body or your journey to parenthood that felt too awkward or complex to ask? That’s exactly the space where Knocked Up: The Podcast About Fertility and Women's Health lives. Hosted by Dr Raelia Lew, a specialist from Women's Health Melbourne, alongside Jordi Morrison, this series digs into the realities of fertility, pregnancy, and overall health without the jargon or judgement. Each episode feels like a candid chat with knowledgeable friends who aren’t afraid to tackle the tough topics, translating complicated medical concepts into conversations you can actually follow and use. It’s more than just a fertility podcast; it’s a resource for anyone curious about how their body works, from preconception through to postpartum and general wellbeing. The tone is straightforward, empathetic, and grounded in real experience, making often overwhelming subjects feel manageable. You’ll come away with clearer insights, practical knowledge, and perhaps a bit of reassurance for your own path. For regular updates, the team can be found on social media, but the heart of it all is in these frank and essential discussions. Tune in for a genuinely accessible take on women’s health, where no question is off the table.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Knocked Up: All About Fertility and Women's Health
Podcast Episodes
The New Definition of Fertility [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:00
This week Australia's Medicare has broadened the definition of infertility, aligning with recommendations from the Gorton Review and the 2018 MBS review. So, we ask Dr Raelia Lew, what does this mean for us? We quickly m…
An AGES Surgeon's Perspective on Endometriosis with Dr Lima Wetherall [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:23
In this episode we are joined by Dr. Lima Wetherall, an AGES Specialist Gynaecologist and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgeon. Dr. Wetherall brings her expertise to a comprehensive discussion about endometriosis, exploring cri…
Pregnancy After Fertility Treatment [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:32
Pregnancy after fertility treatments can differ from spontaneous conception. Patients typically discover pregnancy earlier through blood tests, receive more intensive monitoring in the first trimester, and face slightly…
Big Miracles and Fertility for Singles with Dr Daniel Lantsberg [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:04
We speak to Dr Daniel Lantsberg, featured in the channel 9 show "Big Miracles" with his patient, Anna. Dr. Daniel Lantsberg is a Fertility Specialist at Melbourne IVF. After graduating with honors from Israel's Ben Gurio…
Big Miracles and Unexplained Infertility with Dr Kokum Jayasinghe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:12
With Big Miracles back on TV for 2025, we speak with one of the Doctors featured in the series, Dr Kokum Jayasinghe. Dr Kokum combines extensive medical expertise in fertility and IVF with deep personal understanding fro…
The Reset with Dietitian Wendy Fedele [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:21
Happy New Year! As we start a new year, it's a nice time to hit reset and set some intentions for the coming year. We welcome back Wendy Fedele, Master's degree qualified accredited practicing Dietitian and Nutritionist…
What is a PPOS Cycle and is it right for you? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:02
What does PPOS mean? What is it?, and how does it compare to conventional IVF? Is the timeline different? Who is it suitable for? Are the results the same? What is the success rate? How does the treatment differ? Side ef…