Women's Fertility Series: stories of resilience, science, and hope

Announcing a Secret Back to School Project and DeSci Tokyo

Having a baby is a fraught experience for some. We are launching a series of stories of women sharing their fertility journeys; from the fortunate ones to the ones that are still on their journey. It contextualizes how much work there is to be done to make the reality of having a baby easy for all.

By Laura Camurri, AthenaDAO Science and Dealflow Contributor

Albert Einstein once said, "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." For me, my son encompasses all miracles - a testament to love, hope, and the remarkable advancements of science.

My journey to motherhood was not a straightforward path. It was marked in my early 30s by the heartbreak of multiple miscarriages, each one leaving me with unanswered questions and a void in my heart. Despite witnessing the precious heartbeats of my babies and watching them grow week by week, they slipped away, leaving me to wonder what was wrong with my body. Was it stress, age, lifestyle, or something else entirely?

As a scientist, I delved into research, astonished by the gaps in our understanding of such a fundamental aspect of life. How could it be that in the 21st century, my partner and I faced such struggles with fertility, despite medical progress?

Fast-forward ten years. I am holding my miracle baby boy in my arms, filled with awe and gratitude for the resilience of women, the progress of science, and the breakthroughs in technology. How did I get here? 

Following my miscarriages and with my fertility rapidly declining due to aging, I was determined to extend my window of opportunity. At 39, I made the decision to freeze my eggs and despite the previous unsuccessful pregnancies, I refused to abandon hope.

My eggs were harvested, frozen, and stored for a few years. At 41, I decided to undergo in vitro fertilization. My frozen eggs underwent a series of additional meticulous steps: they were thawed, fertilized, and then carefully frozen again. Shortly after, they were thawed once more for implantation in my womb, once the right timing was ensured, all in pursuit of creating one precious life. The process was undeniably arduous, and to this day, I ask myself how such tiny cells (and women in general!) endured such rigorous treatments.

Against all odds, the moment arrived when my son was born, 10 years and 11 months after my first unsuccessful natural pregnancy. He is now a healthy, wonderful, smart, and funny six-year-old boy - my miracle baby.

Every woman deserves the chance to embrace the miracle of motherhood if she so desires. My journey involved the technology available to me, my determination, and some luck; I recognize that for some women, perseverance, and science may not be enough, and I was fortunate. 

This is a call to action for greater investment in technologies and treatments that could help women rely less on luck and more on science. It is through continued research and innovation that we can make this a reality. Yet, may my story serve as a source of hope for all those who dare to believe in the miracles of science and life itself!

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We have a secret project this fall! 🤫

Hint: With our network of experts, researchers, clinicians, we are working on something that will help women on their fertility journey. Coming this Fall! 🧬🪩

Whitelist yourself now to find out first! 💁‍♀️

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We’ll be in Japan for DeSci Tokyo x Funding the Commons 🇯🇵

In Tokyo Wednesday, July 24th - Thursday, July 25th? Join AthenaDAO Science and Dealflow Co-Lead, Estefano Pinilla, for an exciting two days at DeSci Tokyo and Funding the Commons to talk fertility, crypto, and how ReproTech is needed to revolutionize women’s health. 🧬🪩

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