Melbourne-based Sharyn County, General Manager of Procurement and Real Estate at APA Group, has released a powerful new memoir, shedding light on the silent struggles of unsuccessful IVF journeys.
Titled What Now…I Don’t Have Kids!, Sharyn’s compelling story coincides with World Infertility Awareness Month, breaking down the stigma associated with one of life’s most difficult yet rarely discussed challenges.
The honest and vulnerable book chronicles Sharyn’s deeply personal four-year battle with infertility, including the physical struggles plus the psychological grief and heartache associated with discontinuing IVF treatment.
Sharyn said she hopes her book will assist the many women and families who are navigating infertility, and who may face a life without children.
“I know from my own lived experience the significant mental, physical and financial cost that is caused by navigating infertility over many years,” she said.
“The intense feelings of grief, trauma, shame, isolation, hope and disappointment that people experience, often in silence, while navigating grueling IVF treatments and juggling expanding professional careers and busy family and social lives, are real.”
Infertility is a growing health issue worldwide, affecting approximately one in six people. This means in a room of 20 people of reproductive age, three would statistically face fertility challenges.
Fertility rates are continuing to decline globally, falling from five births per woman in 1950 to just 2.3 in 2021. In Australia, the drop is even more pronounced, falling from 3.5 births per woman in 1961 to 1.7 in 2021 and 1.5 in 2023.
While IVF is successful for many, around 30 percent of women will discontinue IVF treatment after an unsuccessful IVF cycle, despite the probability of IVF success increasing with each subsequent cycle – 33 per cent in the first cycle and up to 77 percent by the eighth cycle.
However, IVF comes with significant cost and, often, emotional turmoil. An average IVF cycle starts at $8,000 in Australia and can be as high as $10,000, depending on circumstances.
Written over several years, What Now…I Don’t Have Kids! formed part of Sharyn’s healing journey, prompted by the lack of resources available for women facing infertility and subsequent treatments.
“Despite being 2025, infertility is still not spoken about. My book is a message of hope, a message that you are not alone and you will be ok,” adds Sharyn.
“Throughout What Now…I Don’t Have Kids!, I share my personal journey, offering insights into the emotional and physical challenges faced along the way, including the career compromises and emotional isolation I experienced.
“Success shouldn’t be the only narrative worth telling when it comes to fertility journeys.”
Sharyn’s story is a testament to the power of embracing life’s unexpected turns, finding purpose beyond preconceived notions and discovering that fulfilment can blossom in even the most unexpected places.
Additionally, it addresses the challenges of balancing infertility treatments with work commitments, advocating for improved workplace policies to assist those in similar situations.
What Now…I Don’t Have Kids! is available globally via Amazon, Booktopia, Barnes & Noble and other retailers.
For more information, visit Sharyn’s website.
