Client stories
Aug 28, 2026
For some, the dream of becoming a parent has always been there. For others, it grows over time until the moment feels right. For Erika and Tina, the decision to start a family began a journey of waiting and hope that would lead to a love greater than anything they had ever known.
When we meet Erika and Tina, they have been together for more than five years. Shared interests, including exercise and travel, have been part of their relationship from the start. Their thoughts about parenthood, however, developed at a slightly different pace.
“I’ve always known I wanted children,” Tina says.
For Erika, that wish was less clear at first.
“I was unsure for a long time, but the wish grew gradually, naturally and without any pressure. Then one day, it hit me out of the blue: it was time to contact a fertility clinic.”
Once they had made the decision together, it was time to find out what fertility treatment would involve. Tina already knew a little from people she knew who had had a child with the help of treatment.
“I knew a little about how the treatment process works,” she says.
For Erika, much of it was new.
“I really didn’t know what the different stages of fertility treatment were, or what would happen in practice.”
The couple began with fertility investigations at another clinic, but it did not quite feel like the right fit. When they started exploring other options, the choice soon became clear.
“Ovumia really stood out, and the clinic was conveniently close to my workplace too,” Erika says.
Both remember their first visit to Ovumia with warmth. They smile as they look back on that moment.
“Ovumia felt right from the moment we first walked into the clinic,” Tina says.
“The clinic was fresh and modern, and the whole atmosphere was calming. We felt welcome straight away,” Erika adds.
They had heard many good things from friends who had previously received treatment at Ovumia. This made them feel even more reassured about their choice.
The staff, and especially the doctor who cared for them, have left a lasting impression.
“Our doctor was wonderful: kind and gentle. I felt so safe in their care. I’m so grateful to have been looked after by them,” Erika says.
For Tina and Erika, deciding who would carry the baby was surprisingly easy.
“I knew I didn’t want to give birth myself. I’m also the older of the two of us,” Tina explains.
Erika, on the other hand, had long felt drawn to the idea of carrying a baby. It felt natural to her.
“It was quite clear to me that I wanted to be the one to experience pregnancy.”
Choosing a sperm donor was another important part of the couple’s journey to parenthood.
“We hoped for an Asian donor because we wanted our child to have features resembling both of us,” Tina explains.
They were able to express preferences about the donor’s background and country of origin. Finding a suitable donor took time, however.
“There weren’t many donors with the background we were hoping for, so we had to wait.”
Then came a phone call they will never forget.
“Ovumia called on our anniversary to tell us they had found a donor with the ethnic background we had hoped for.”
Tina laughs as she remembers the moment.
“We just squealed with joy. We were so happy.”
They also have frozen embryos created using sperm from the same donor, giving them the possibility of having a full biological sibling for their son in the future.
When Tina talks about the team at Ovumia, she knows exactly what made their care so meaningful.
“The right people in the right place. They are empathetic and gentle, and we’ve been so happy with our care,” Tina says.
Both say they felt seen as individuals and well cared for throughout their treatment.
“We’re grateful that our treatment journey moved forward relatively quickly. But even if it had taken longer, we would be just as grateful for all the help we received from the Ovumia team,” Erika says.
Erika has PMOS, which meant her menstrual cycle could be irregular. This made it harder to predict the timing of their next steps towards having a baby.
“It was difficult for me to predict when my period would start,” she explains.
The couple therefore decided early on to proceed with in vitro fertilisation (IVF).
“We wanted to get started straight away, and we felt IVF would give us the best chance. Once we had decided to start a family, we didn’t want to wait any longer than necessary.”
The hormone treatment went well, but Erika found the egg collection challenging.
“The egg collection itself was painful, but the pain was manageable,” Erika says.
She pauses for a moment, then smiles.
“But it was absolutely worth it.”
The outcome of the collection was very good: an exceptionally high number of eggs were retrieved.
Like many others going through fertility treatment, Erika and Tina describe the waiting as the hardest part of their journey.
“Once you’ve decided to start IVF and you want a baby so much, everything feels as though it takes such a long time,” Erika says.
Tina knows the feeling too.
“Treatment and pregnancy feel long, but really, it’s because you’re so eager to finally meet your child.”
The embryo transfer took place just a few days before Erika’s birthday.
“By the night before my birthday, I already felt that I was pregnant,” Erika says.
She describes a strong feeling that something had happened.
“I had such a clear feeling in my body that the embryo had implanted.”
So when a pregnancy test later showed a positive result, it did not come as a great surprise.
“Of course, we were incredibly happy, but on some level, we had already sensed it.”
When Erika and Tina talk about the biggest surprises of parenthood, lack of sleep and new routines are not the first things they mention.
Instead, they talk about the people around them.
“What has surprised me most is the enormous amount of love you receive from friends, acquaintances and even people you’ve never met before,” Erika says.
“People smile, congratulate you and strike up conversations in a whole new way. It feels like becoming part of an entirely new world.”
The birth of their son has changed everyday life in many ways. When Tina describes the journey to becoming a parent, she sums it up in just a few words.
“It’s the most extraordinary journey you can take. You can’t describe it until you’ve experienced it yourself.”
Daily life now revolves more around their child’s needs, but there is still room for their own interests too.
“Life isn’t the same as before. We follow his lead, but the things that matter to us are still part of our lives,” Erika says.
Travel and exercise remain an important part of everyday life.
“The difference is that now he gets to join us on our adventures,” Tina says.
Looking back, Erika and Tina see the decision that began their journey in a new light. It led them towards the family they had long hoped for and a shared life with their son.
Into their lives came the child they had waited so eagerly to meet, and a love even greater than they had imagined. ❤️
