Infertility is a journey filled with hope, heartbreak, and resilience—one I know intimately.

Hi y’all, I’m Dr. Michelle Wendt, proud IVF mama and owner of Indigo Healing Acupuncture & Massage in Dripping Springs, Texas.

One of the primary specialties of my clinic is caring for fertility patients, as my own journey was filled with joy, despair, perseverance, and ultimately, transformation.

If you’d like to know more, step into my personal time machine… ready…set… launch!

Like many GenXers, most of my fertile years were spent actively trying NOT to get pregnant. I used prescription birth control religiously for over 10 years while building my career in corporate America. Deep down, I suspected fertility might be a challenge since I had a history of fibroids and ovarian cysts in my 20’s. One gynecologist even suggested freezing my eggs when I was 28, but I dismissed it—it seemed like an unnecessary hassle at the time.

Fast forward to my early 30s: my career was thriving, I was newly married, and it felt like the perfect time to start a family. But the Universe had other plans.

The first hurdle was an abdominal myomectomy to remove an ovarian cyst the size of a lemon. After eight weeks of recovery, we started trying to conceive (TTC). Four cycles later, I was pregnant. Ecstatic, I booked my first OB appointment. But before I could make it to my eight-week ultrasound, I woke up one morning with severe cramping and bleeding. My heart was shattered. The emotional weight of miscarriage is impossible to describe to those who haven’t experienced it. Everything in the world feels different.

After four more months of trying, we sought help at a fertility clinic. Our reproductive endocrinologist was confident he could help, so we embarked on medicated Clomid cycles and eventually nine rounds of intrauterine insemination (IUI). Each time my period arrived, it wasn’t just another disappointment—it felt like another piece of my heart breaking. Meanwhile, my pelvic pain worsened, like knives stabbing me for a week each month.

When all nine IUI cycles failed, we turned to in vitro fertilization (IVF) with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). First, I underwent another surgery, which revealed Stage IV endometriosis. Multiple endometrial lesions covered my ovaries, fallopian tubes, intestines, and abdominal wall. With this new diagnosis, we felt hopeful for a fresh start and pressed on.

At our fertility clinic, a panel of seven doctors reviewed our case for IVF. Their vote? Four approved us for IVF; three deemed us unlikely candidates. It was far from reassuring, but we held onto hope.

Balancing a full-time job and graduate school, we treated IVF like our full-time jobs. We meticulously followed protocols, giving follicle-stimulating injections at the exact time, even if it meant disrupting our normal lives. I received acupuncture nearly every day—something my professors and classmates were eager to help with.

At egg retrieval, we got eight mature eggs. Four fertilized. By Day 3, we had two viable embryos for a fresh transfer. I continued daily acupuncture to support implantation and ease the anxiety of the two-week wait. Using Chinese pulse diagnosis, I checked my pulse obsessively, seeking confirmation I was pregnant.

Then came the devastating call: my first hCG test was negative. I sobbed for hours. Yet, my pulse still indicated pregnancy. Desperate, I called the clinic the next day, begging for another test. They hesitated but agreed as my hCG was 6—just high enough to qualify for a follow-up. Two days later, it was 15. Low, but doubling as needed. I was pregnant!

At our eight-week ultrasound, my pregnancy pulse was strong, but my hCG levels were still considered low. The doctor entered the room prepared to deliver bad news. Instead, to her complete shock, there was a flicker on the screen—a heartbeat. Against all odds, one of our little embryos was thriving.

I was labeled high-risk and put on moderate bed rest—no exercise, travel, or swimming (which was tough, considering I was living in Hawaii!). I continued acupuncture for pregnancy support, stress relief, and better sleep.

At 39 weeks, our rainbow baby was born—healthy and strong.

A few years later, another miscarriage followed. The return of Stage IV endometriosis made cycles unbearably painful. We decided to stop TTC and focus on healing my body.

My IVF journey was a daily blend of anxiety and hope. Through all the highs and lows, I learned firsthand how much unwavering belief in the body can make a difference. I also believe you can’t truly understand the emotional and physical toll of infertility unless you’ve been through it yourself.

My experience shaped me into the doctor I am today. Because I’ve walked this path, I provide my patients not just with treatments, but with understanding, strategies, and hope. It’s a remarkable honor to support women and couples with acupuncture, research-backed treatments, and heartfelt guidance to help bring more rainbow babies into the world.

If you’ve read this far, thank you, but now I’d love to hear your fertility story! You can share in our Facebook group Dripping Springs Fertility and IVF Community or message me directly at drmichelle@indigohealingacupuncture.com