Kourtney Kardashian Shares Experience of Undergoing Five IVF Cycles

Kourtney Kardashian Shares Experience of Undergoing Five IVF Cycles
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Kourtney Kardashian Barker revealed that she underwent five failed cycles of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and three retrievals before conceiving her son naturally. 

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Responding to fan questions on Instagram, the reality star shared how she found strength to continue after numerous rounds of IVF. "I stopped after a year of trying (five failed IVF cycles, three retrievals)," she wrote. "My body relaxed, and I believed in God's plan for my life. Lots of prayers for whatever was meant to be for us. Also, lots of optimizing my health. I know how hard it is to feel like you're not trying, but believing in God's plan and saying your prayers is so powerful."

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Kardashian and her husband, Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, welcomed their first child, Rocky, in November. Both have children from previous relationships. Kardashian confirmed she became pregnant naturally on Valentine's Day in 2023, one year after stopping IVF treatment. 

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During season five of The Kardashians, the 45-year-old revealed she underwent "urgent fetal surgery" during her pregnancy, which she described as a "terrifying" experience. Her husband abandoned gigs in the UK and Ireland to return to LA immediately to be by her side. Last September, she expressed her gratitude to the doctors who saved her baby's life.

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The couple announced they were legally married in April 2022 after holding a "practice" wedding following the Grammys, hosted by an Elvis impersonator at 2 am. Kardashian and Barker both have three children from previous relationships.

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What is IVF?

In vitro fertilisation offers a possible solution for women facing challenges in getting pregnant. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 2% of US pregnancies result from IVF. The process involves retrieving the woman's eggs with a needle from her ovaries and combining them with a man's sperm in a lab. The fertilised embryo is then transferred into the woman's uterus, where it may create a pregnancy. However, the process is not guaranteed and may require multiple attempts to achieve success. In some cases, fertilised embryos are frozen and stored in tanks containing liquid nitrogen and can be held for up to a decade, experts say.

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