Professional skater Alex Murphy has broken down in tears after revealing a major medical setback in her ongoing fertility journey with her husband Paul Klein. The 37-year-old Dancing On Ice star shared an emotional video on Instagram explaining that their plans for another round of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment have been delayed for three months.
The sudden postponement came after Murphy underwent a routine uterine wash recommended by a fertility doctor, only for subsequent medical testing to reveal that her uterine microbiome had plummeted from 98 per cent to just 0.43 per cent.
A uterine wash is a medical procedure in which a sterile fluid such as saline is gently flushed into the uterus and then removed in an attempt to improve the uterine lining and treat underlying infections. However, the drastic drop in healthy bacteria means Murphy and Klein, 38, must now wait a quarter of a year for her body to recover before they can safely attempt IVF again.
Frustration over procedure and lack of research
Updating her followers on social media, the professional skater struggled to contain her emotions as she shared her agony at having to pause treatment once more. In the video, Murphy chastised herself for accepting the procedure without asking more questions about its potential impact.
"I’m mostly mad at myself for not questioning everything and for not asking a million questions and for not saying, 'Oh, well, why do I need that?' Like, I just didn’t know," Murphy said. "And I just like went along with it. And I’m so disappointed in myself."
"And I think that that’s like why I’ve been upset for the past few days, because I’m like, I’ve let myself down. I should have asked more questions. I should have done more research. It’s my frigging body," she added. "And I turned around and I let somebody else take control of it. I will never let that happen again, obviously, but it has absolutely put a wrench in our plan."
Disappointment with fertility care industry
Writing in the caption accompanying her post, Murphy expressed her deep heartache over the setback and admitted that the non-stop hurdles have left her so dejected that she feels like giving up entirely.
"This is never ending. I’m so frustrated, sad, and disappointed with the care we’ve received, but also with myself for not asking more questions," she wrote. "I feel like you can’t trust anyone in this industry and everyone is just out for money. Genuinely just want to give up at this point."
Following her post, Murphy was flooded with supportive messages from fans and followers in the comments section. Many reassured the skater that she was not to blame for the medical outcome, while others praised her courage and strength in publicly sharing her difficult journey.
![Alex, 37, and her husband Paul Klein, 38, have embarked on several rounds of IVF but without success, and sadly the couple have had another set-back in their quest to become parents [pictured in 2023]](https://i.dailymail.com/1s/2026/08/14/18/110646157-16053175-image-a-3_1786730329938.jpg)
Impact of uterine microbiome on fertility
In reproductive health, the uterine microbiome consists of the delicate ecosystem of microorganisms within the uterus. A healthy microbiome balance is widely considered essential for optimal uterine lining health and successful embryo implantation during IVF cycles. A crash in microbiome levels to less than 1 per cent requires time and medical intervention to restore the natural bacterial balance necessary for pregnancy.
Murphy and Klein, a YouTube star, tied the knot in 2023 and have been trying to conceive for approximately two years. The couple turned to IVF after experiencing unexplained fertility issues, but their previous treatment rounds have been unsuccessful.
Discovery of genetic incompatibility and DNA allergy
The latest hurdle follows another major revelation earlier this year, when Murphy disclosed that she had discovered she was allergic to her husband's DNA following multiple failed rounds of IVF.
Appearing on the ITV daytime magazine show This Morning in January, Murphy and Klein sat down with show presenters Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley to discuss the unexpected medical diagnosis made by a fertility expert.
Introducing the couple on air, Deeley and Shephard explained: "Alex discovered she was allergic to her husband. When trying to conceive, Alex's body turned on Paul's DNA, attacking the embryos and preventing pregnancy."
Explaining how their journey unfolded, Murphy told the hosts: "We started trying to conceive about two years ago, and we thought it would happen quite quickly, easily and naturally, as you do. A year went by and nothing had happened so I started having tests and they found nothing wrong, and the same thing with Paul - and we finally decided to do a round of IVF, due to what they call unexplained infertility, and that round of IVF did not work."
Immune system response to embryo implantation
Murphy explained that she decided to pause their planned second round of treatment to investigate further. "We were getting ready to go for our second round, and I put the breaks on because I felt, 'Something's wrong, my body works, his works, we need to figure out what is actually happening,'" she said.
Specialized blood testing subsequently identified specific genetic predispositions in both partners. The combination causes Murphy's immune system to react to Klein's DNA in the same manner it would respond to a foreign allergen, bacteria, or virus, actively attacking any embryos formed.
"We went on to find out that I have a genetic predisposition which makes me incompatible with Paul's DNA, which is crazy, I have Kir AA and Paul has this gene called HLAC2, and when they come together, they kind of repel," Murphy revealed. "My genes put the breaks on and say, 'let's attack this', so no matter what we had done at the time, it wouldn't have worked."
Paul Klein on emotional toll and male mental health
During their appearance on This Morning, Klein spoke openly about the emotional strain of navigating complex fertility struggles alongside his wife and the feeling of powerlessness experienced by partners.
"It's something that we never thought that we would go through, and it's been really difficult," Klein said. "Especially as a man, I feel helpless like there's nothing you can do - it's just really heartbreaking, but we're staying positive, and it's good to speak out about it."
He urged other men facing similar fertility obstacles to speak up and seek support rather than suffering in silence. "I was searching for answers and not many men were speaking about it, you might be too proud or embarrassed as a man to speak about it," Klein added. "It's important, because if it can help another couple."
Career background on Dancing On Ice
Murphy established her career as an elite figure skater before joining the cast of ITV's Dancing On Ice, a flagship television competition where professional ice dancers are paired with celebrities to perform live routines for judges and viewers.
In 2020, Murphy achieved her biggest television victory on the show when she won the Dancing On Ice trophy alongside celebrity partner Joe Swash, the actor and presenter known for his role in EastEnders. Murphy departed the hit entertainment series later that year.
Despite the recent three-month postponement, Murphy and Klein plan to resume their IVF journey once her uterine microbiome recovers.
