After 5 Miscarriages, PCOS & Cancer, Josephine Shares Her 12 Year Journey To Pregnancy With Twins

“I went through a double mastectomy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy before trying IVF again.”

Josephine Foong and her partner started trying for a baby when Josephine was 27 after being diagnosed with PCOS. It’s been a difficult and long 12-year journey navigating multiple egg transfers and miscarriages, which had to be stopped when Josephine found a lump in her breast that turned out to be Stage Two Breast Cancer. Josephine went through a double mastectomy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy before going back on IVF. Here, she shares her journey and credits her partner, friends, and the volunteer-run Fertility Support SG for keeping her spirits up throughout her dream to conceive.

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Tell us about your journey trying to conceive

My partner and I got married in 2009, but we wanted to wait a while before trying for a baby. When we decided to try to conceive, because I have irregular periods, we sought help at the same time. I was 27 at the time and was diagnosed with PCOS, so the medical team started me on Clomid to see whether I would ovulate. When it didn’t work after three rounds with increasing dosages, we started on IUI (intrauterine insemination).

Our first IUI didn’t result in fertilisation, then our second IUI found too many follicles stimulated, so I was suggested to do a “freeze-all” IVF protocol which involves cryopreserving all embryos created during an IVF cycle which can then be transferred in separate, future cycles. All in all, we have done five egg retrievals and eight embryo transfers and had five miscarriages. We are currently pregnant with identical twins due in March 2026.

Congratulations, that is amazing news after everything you’ve been through. What has kept you going even when things felt impossible?

Throughout all the different cycles, it was tough to face the disappointments, but I feel extremely blessed with my amazing husband, who is ever supportive and loving, even through everything we have gone through. I have an amazing medical team who are very encouraging and willing to try different protocols and medications to see what works best for me.

Every time I have miscarried, the experience has been different, so the positivity and encouragement from Fertility Support SG have made me feel less alone as we share our stories and have built a community of support.

Plus, my friends and loved ones were the source of strength when I had no more strength to continue on the journey. They gave me the hope and the desire to continue.

How did you find out you had cancer, and how did you navigate treatment alongside your desire to get pregnant?

As ladies, we know about the importance of monthly breast self-checks and being aware of our own body changes. So, one day while showering, I felt a lump. I asked my husband and my mother to feel it to see whether they felt anything, and they did.

At that time, we were planning for another egg transfer, so when we went back for the review, my fertility doctor referred me to the Breast Centre for further investigation. Subsequently, we were informed of the diagnosis of Stage Two Breast Cancer, and after genetic testing, I was found to have the BRCA2 gene as well. So I went through a double mastectomy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy before trying IVF again. Throughout my treatment, my oncologist was aware of my desire for a family, so he always kept that in mind with my treatments.

How has the experience of trying to conceive affected your relationship with your partner?

This journey wasn’t the easiest or smoothest, but it drew us closer together as a couple as we learned to navigate all the different outcomes. We learned that we react differently and that disappointment affects us in different ways, too.

How did you balance hope with self-protection when starting yet another cycle, transfer or treatment?

I chose who and what I shared with others. If I know I can trust you and that you will be supportive of me regardless of the results I may experience in the end, I am willing to share more intimate details with you.

What advice would you give someone at the very beginning of a fertility journey who may feel overwhelmed or scared?

This journey may not be a bed of roses for everyone, but it is one that will change you and strengthen you in ways you never thought possible.

What are some of the misconceptions about IVF, miscarriage or PCOS that you wish more people understood?

There are many misconceptions about IVF, miscarriage, and PCOS that can make an already difficult journey even harder. IVF isn’t guaranteed to work on the first try, or even after several attempts. And that can be emotionally overwhelming. A miscarriage, while devastating, doesn’t mean you won’t be able to conceive in the future.

And having PCOS is not a life sentence; many people with PCOS do go on to conceive naturally. The truth is that fertility is full of unknowns, and there are still many things science can’t fully explain. All you can do is make the best decisions with the information you have.

I volunteer at non-profit Fertility Support SG, and our goal is to support anyone who needs a safe space so you never have to go through this alone. Whether it’s sharing our miscarriage experiences, offering a listening ear during IVF, or creating opportunities to meet in person and build a supportive community, we truly understand this journey because we’ve walked it ourselves. My wish is that sharing my story’s ups and downs shows that there is always hope and support.

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