Challenges

While suffering with infertility I always had a secret hope that I am sure is shared by many other people who pursue fertility treatments. I wanted more than anything to just miraculously get pregnant and prove all the doctors wrong, showing everyone that we weren't actually infertile and that we could get pregnant on our own. I did lots of reading about people who got pregnant after the HSG test and convinced myself that would happen to me too, but it didn't. I kept putting off the initial consultation with the Reproductive Endocrinologist thinking that I would have luck in the month before the appointment, to no avail. I tried a new tactic every month that was supposed… [more]

In the very beginning stages of an IVF cycle you learn about success rates and (hopefully) what the expectation is for you. You learn about fees and can get an estimate of what your particular protocol will cost. You will also probably hear about, or get information on a shared risk program. To do or not do the shared risk program was, for us, a big debate. "Shared Risk" is a guarantee program that typically offers a flat fee for three IVF cycles. If you do not become pregnant within three cycles you are refunded a portion of the money. If you do get pregnant on any of the three cycles you do not get any money back… [more]

When we began our IVF journey the list of things to stress about was very lengthy. At the top of the list was finances and trying to determine just how to pay for the treatments, none of which would be covered by insurance. If you live in a mandated state that requires insurance to cover infertility treatments then the process is certainly still difficult, but count your blessings that trying to find a way to pay for it all isn't an added dilemma! For those of use who are looking at staggering amounts of money owed for each step along the way, the financial aspect of infertility can sometimes be the most overwhelming issue of all. As a couple… [more]

I was blissfully ignorant about the whole reproductive process before I had trouble conceiving. I honestly did not know that the actual window of conception was so short and that on most days of the month you aren't fertile. Now that I know more about how it all works I am truly flabbergasted at the number of "accidental" pregnancies. Not only are there fewer days than I thought that can actually lead to conception, but there are also a lot of things that have to work perfectly to create a baby. You have to ovulate, the egg has to travel through the fallopian tube into the uterus, you have to introduce sperm in some way to the whole environment at… [more]

An acquaintance of mine just underwent a Frozen Embryo Transfer - her third attempt at IVF using the last of her available embryos. I happened to call her on the day of the transfer and when she mentioned that she was in fact in the waiting room of the doctor's office at that very moment I was instantly reminded of the emotions and fears associated with my IVF cycle. As much as I realized at that moment, though, that I would not want to be back in that position I also reflected on my opinion that transfer day or even retrieval (which I found to be a painful recovery despite what some said) was by no means the worst part of IVF… [more]

I have mentioned in previous posts that the very first fertility treatment I tried was clomiphine citrate, more commonly called Clomid or Serophene. I was initially prescribed Clomid after my diagnosis of PCOS. Prior to starting the Clomid medication I had tracked my cycles and realized that I do not reliably ovulate each month - it was definitely hit or miss. The goal of Clomid is to induce ovulation and when I told my ob/gyn that I was not ovulating every month he assured me that Clomid had an excellent success rate and that he was confident that it would do the trick. He remarked that I would only be allowed to take the Clomid for six cycles, but told… [more]

When my husband and I initially completed the IVF paperwork and consent forms we were forced to discuss our options in terms of freezing any embryos that we did not transfer, donating them to another couple, discarding them, or donating them to research. All of these options were only IF we had any embryos that were going unused and when we began the process we had no idea if we would even have the two, three or more we were hoping for and/or if there would be any "leftover." When we allowed ourselves to dream and hope we envisioned finally getting pregnant with one baby and freezing five or six embryos to use in a couple of years to try for a… [more]

If I hadn't been having trouble conceiving I probably would have never been diagnosed with PCOS. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS is just one of the litany of problems that I bring to the table in efforts to conceive and one that long-term will probably have the most substantial impact on my health and well-being. Nevertheless, when I am visiting doctors other than the ob/gyn or fertility specialist I often forget to mention (on forms or in person) that I even have PCOS. PCOS is an endocrine disorder that affects approximately one in ten women that is typically characterized by cysts on the ovaries, irregular periods, and high levels of male hormones or androgens. It is the most… [more]

The decision to visit a Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE)is a big one. Once you take the step to delve deeper into your fertility issues by researching treatments and more advanced therapy and seeking the help of a fertility specialist, then you have had to come to the point of admitting to yourself that you may be infertile and may need more help than your regular ob/gyn can offer. That first consultation can be nerve wracking and overwhelming and it is often difficult to know what questions to ask. My biggest piece of advice is to make a list and take it with you! Write down your questions and concerns and get the answers that you need. It is also helpful… [more]

I try to make it a habit not to talk about religion, politics or money - I guess I am in a rule breaking mood though because here I am about to discuss two of the three! As I have mentioned before, when we began our infertility journey we were pretty open and often talked about our struggles and different treatments that we were pursuing, and that included sharing with co-workers and my supervisor. The early treatments did not require that much time away from work and my tales of fertility woes were more anecdotal than anything. As time went on, however, treatments, and appointments, and monitoring, and surgical procedures, and the like began to demand more of my time and… [more]