Anita Asante, an accomplished footballer and activist, has had a storied career with clubs such as Arsenal, Chelsea, and Aston Villa. Now she has entered an even more exciting period of her life—motherhood. Asante gave an illustrious career that saw her earn 71 caps for England and help Arsenal win a historic quadruple in 2007. After retiring from playing, she moved into coaching, starting with Bristol City’s women’s side. It was during this transition that she and her wife, Beth Fisher, began to plan their path to parenthood.
Asante had a storied career in the USA and Sweden. He won a boatload of trophies, including four league championships and four FA Cups. Even in the middle of her busy, hectic schedule, Asante and Fisher were set on having a child of mixed cultural background. They decided to use an egg from Asante, who has Ghanaian ancestry, for the process of IVF.
“It made sense for us as a couple to wait until after I was done playing.” – Anita Asante
Imani and Asante’s IVF process started soon after Asante retired from pro soccer. Using the European Sperm Bank to help them find a donor, the couple chose a sperm donor based on shared interests and values. Asante remembered the surreal journey of being selected by the donor.
“You can also hear their voice on a recording and you can see a childhood picture.” – Anita Asante
Once they’d selected a donor, Asante began to get ready for egg extraction. The procedure involved special compounded medication that temporarily prevented her from training with Aston Villa. During this time, even more physical transformation took place.
“I started with the injections and it was such a weird feeling. I felt different in my body. I felt heavier, because your ovaries get enlarged, so it literally felt like I was carrying these massive eggs around.” – Anita Asante
The day Asante walked into the clinic for the procedure, she early and unexpectedly got her period. The process was very easy. She got pregnant on their first IVF try, a testament to her and Danny’s thoughtful approach and planning.
“I tried to not really think about what was about to happen. My period’s always spot on on the day and on the day that I walked in, I got my period. I think it was about a week early.” – Katrina Gorry
The choice that Asante and Fisher made to have a mixed-heritage baby was profoundly personal. They thought it was important for their child to learn her Ghanaian heritage.
“We both talked about how important it was that our baby would know where that part of her heritage was from.” – Beth Fisher
Along this journey, as she was starting to find time and space for football and other commitments, Asante had several realizations. In addition to the emotional upheaval caused by the IVF process, the physical changes IVF brought with it created new challenges.
“Physical activities I was used to doing, like moving goals around, felt a bit more challenging. Nothing can prepare you for that feeling of physical changes, and probably hormonal changes as well.” – Anita Asante
Their couple’s journey is an affirmation of those who believe that love triumphs over judgement or social expectations.
“I don’t think it should matter who your parents are. I feel like if you have love in a family and you have happiness in a family, then nothing else should matter.” – Katrina Gorry
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