Actress Hwang Bo-ra has shared an emotional update on her second IVF journey, revealing a rollercoaster of failed egg retrievals before finally succeeding in retrieving one egg.
According to a report by Xports News on October 20, Hwang uploaded a video titled “IVF side effects and infertility vlog” to her YouTube channel “Hwang Bo-ra Boraiety” the same day, documenting the process in raw detail. The video follows her struggles after a menopause diagnosis, including side effects from the fertility treatments.
Hwang explained that her liver enzyme levels had risen, forcing her to stop taking herbal medicine. After about two months without menstruation, doctors told her two follicles had appeared, filling her with hope that she might attempt implantation. But a hospital visit delivered crushing news: due to diminished ovarian function, the follicles were likely empty. A re-exam the next day gave the same result, and she gave up on retrieval, deciding only to induce menstruation.
After more than a month of continued attempts, doctors spotted cells that looked like viable follicles, and she resumed growth hormone injections. On retrieval day she walked into the procedure room excitedly, saying “I’m so excited,” but left with a gloomy face — the retrieval had failed.
About a month later, another hospital visit brought unexpected good news. “The doctor said my uterine lining had grown so thick and follicles were visible,” Hwang said. “I want to think that this will work out and that this will be the last one.” On retrieval day she finally succeeded in retrieving one egg, telling her husband Kim Young-hoon, “Feeling good, let’s eat something delicious and have a party.”
Hwang, the wife of Kim Young-hoon, gave birth to their son Woo-in in May 2024 at the age of 40, and is now pursuing IVF for a second child. It remains to be seen whether the retrieved egg will lead to a successful pregnancy.
