Reality television personality Louise Thompson has shared an emotional and candid update on her fertility journey, breaking down in tears after receiving what she described as 'hugely disappointing' news from her embryologist.
The Raw Emotional Toll of IVF
The 35-year-old former Made In Chelsea star posted a tearful video on TikTok this Monday, revealing the latest stage in her IVF journey. Thompson, who hopes to expand her family with partner Ryan Libbey by 2026, explained that while 20 eggs were retrieved in her latest cycle, only 10 were deemed mature enough for the next stage.
Her distress was palpable as she recounted the conversation. "I felt really optimistic yesterday and now I've just got off this call and they've said only 10 will mature which is hugely disappointing because that cuts it in half," she said, wiping away tears.
The news worsened as she detailed the fertilisation process. Of the 10 mature eggs, five were treated with an additional egg activation process (AOA). The result was that only two eggs fertilised from each group, leaving the couple with just four fertilised embryos on day one.
A Complicated Health History
Thompson's path to motherhood has been fraught with severe medical challenges. In 2021, she almost died giving birth to her son, Leo, following an emergency caesarean during which she lost a life-threatening 12.5 litres of blood.
This near-death experience led to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and post-natal anxiety. Her health struggles have continued, with subsequent diagnoses of Lupus and Asherman's syndrome, a second haemorrhage, and the fitting of a stoma bag.
These complications mean it is likely she will be unable to carry another pregnancy herself, making the success of her IVF journey and the use of a surrogate critically important for her hopes of having a sibling for Leo.
A Glimmer of Hope Amid the Disappointment
In her raw video, Thompson compared the current cycle unfavourably to a previous attempt. "Last time I did it I only got eight eggs retrieved but all eight fertilised on day one," she explained, her voice cracking. "So I'm just looking at the statistics if we only have four on day one, so what are we going to have? Half an embryo now? I feel so demoralised."
However, she did share a small piece of potential good news. Six eggs that were initially immature had since matured and were going to be fertilised, offering a faint hope for more embryos.
In the caption accompanying the video, Thompson struck a more positive note, revealing that things had "picked up a bit" since filming and the couple had received "some more positive news." She questioned whether her intense reaction was "rational or hormonal," showcasing the emotional rollercoaster of fertility treatment.
The update comes just days after she posted about completing her first full IVF cycle, describing feeling "exhausted" and "disgusting and sore." She admitted to "obsessing over cell division, fragmentation, compaction" and said that when she closed her eyes, "all I can see is embryos dancing around."
Thompson has been open about suffering a miscarriage in 2020 before welcoming Leo, and has stated she is "afraid" of the complicated journey ahead. Her decision to share these intimate and painful moments provides a stark, unfiltered look into the reality of fertility struggles for many women, far removed from the glossy perception often associated with her television background.
