{
  "id": 8554862,
  "title": "Infertility was incredibly hard. Loving one another got us through",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/infertility-was-incredibly-hard-loving-one-another-got-us-through",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-19T23:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-20/loving-one-another-through-childlessness/107149316"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "After three cycles of IVF, Susanne and Mike Armour decided to stop trying for a baby. Despite childlessness not being part of their initial plan, they expressed that their love for each other kept them hopeful for a future family of two. Their love story began in 2005 when they met during acupuncture school in New Zealand; Mike felt an instant connection and assumed they would start a family together. Susanne, though not initially focused on children, thought about the possibility once they were engaged. They began attempting to conceive in 2009, undergoing various treatments including acupuncture, herbs, and temperature checking. Susanne, who had painful periods, also experienced new discomfort after 2008 and underwent an exploratory laparoscopy, which revealed scar tissue. They completed three IVF cycles, with the final one discontinued due to her lack of response to the medications. The pair, both having medical backgrounds, felt unsupported throughout the IVF process, with Mike particularly struggling for emotional support. In the end, they agreed that their love for each other was more important than having a child together. After their last IVF cycle in 2013, Susanne turned 39 and eventually had a hysterectomy due to extensive endometriosis and adenomyosis. The diagnosis brought a sense of relief but also trauma for Susanne, who was a midwife at the time and worked closely with families experiencing the joy of childbirth. The hardest part of her infertility journey was the lack of emotional support and the feeling of being just a \"number.\" Susanne shifted her focus to supporting women through grief and loss, which has become her specialty. Mike, inspired by Susanne's experience, pursued a PhD in endometriosis research, aiming to improve the lives of others facing similar challenges. Despite their health struggles, both Susanne and Mike remain deeply in love, cherishing each other's kindness, compassion, and sense of humor.",
  "summary": "When IVF didn't work, Susanne and Mike Armour had to face the difficult decision to stop trying for a baby. The couple say their love for one another got them through.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}