Dancing On Ice professional skater Alex Murphy, 37, has revealed a new hurdle in her fertility journey, leading to a three-month delay in her planned IVF treatment. Murphy shared an emotional video on Instagram detailing the setback, which occurred after she underwent a uterine wash procedure on the advice of a fertility doctor.
The procedure, intended to improve the uterine lining and treat infections by flushing the uterus with sterile fluid, resulted in a significant drop in Murphy's microbiome levels from 98% to 0.43%. This change means she must now wait an additional three months before she can attempt IVF again.
"I’m mostly mad at myself for not questioning everything and for not asking a million questions and for not saying, 'Oh, well, why do I need that?' Like, I just didn’t know," Murphy expressed in her video, referencing her disappointment in herself for not being more proactive about her treatment. "And I just like went along with it. And I’m so disappointed in myself."
She added, "It has absolutely put a wrench in our plan." In her post caption, Murphy further conveyed her heartache, admitting that the continuous setbacks leave her feeling dejected and wanting to "give up."
This recent challenge follows earlier revelations this year when Murphy and her husband, Paul Klein, discovered a genetic incompatibility. After multiple unsuccessful rounds of IVF, a fertility expert determined that Murphy's immune system reacted to Klein's DNA, treating it as an allergen and preventing embryos from successfully implanting. Murphy has a gene variant known as Kir AA, while Klein has HLAC2, and their combination causes her body to reject potential pregnancies.
"My genes put the breaks on and say, 'let's attack this', so no matter what we had done at the time, it wouldn't have worked," Murphy explained previously. Klein also spoke about the emotional toll, noting the feeling of helplessness and the importance of speaking out about their experience to support other couples facing similar challenges.
Despite the ongoing difficulties, Murphy has received significant support from her followers, many of whom have reassured her and praised her strength during this challenging period.