IVF

With 10-25% of all clinically established pregnancies ending in miscarriage, it’s a wonder that anyone would purposefully put themselves at risk of going through such a heartache. When a couple has to employ the services of a reproductive endocrinologist and pay for artificial reproductive technologies (ARTs) in order to even attempt a pregnancy, it’s all the more amazing that people take the chance. On average, IVF carries with it a 35-40% success rate for women under age 35, just over 30% for women between 35 and 37, just over 20% for women between 38-40, and only about 13% and 4% respectively for women aged 41-42 and those over 42. So between the likelihood of a success (defined here as a live birth of the awaited child) and… [more]

The latest statistics released on birth and pregnancy in the United States show that out of all the couples who fall in the range of an appropriate child-producing age, almost 9% of them are infertile.  The promise and possibilities that an in vitro pregnancy can offer a couple or an individual who is incapable of having children via coital means can spark joy and life where there was once disappointment and shame.  However, this scientific innovation does not come without its many proponents and critics.  It is quite common for different political parties, organizations and groups to have a firm stance on topics such as these, understanding all of the facets of an IVF conception and process can lead you to making the soundest choice and decision on where this… [more]

Writing about the creation of life is about beginning again. There is so much information available today for most people who are trying to conceive. Websites, blogs, advertisements, all leading to potential answers and antidotes which will certainly help you become pregnant. After having gone through so many infertility treatments, experiments on my body, mind and soul, it would inevitable lead to the "Begin Again". And, every time, the begin again was so excruciating and so painful, and yet there was the promise of next time. This is where the mind is so powerful over being influenced by those involved in this multi-million dollar industry. Your goal is to be a parent and you will go through things so incredible to have a… [more]

A good friend of mine got word today that her IVF cycle has to be delayed even more because of a cyst. She went in for her baseline ultrasound after taking birth control pills and they found a pretty large cyst. They instructed her to keep taking birth control pills for a month longer and to go to the office today to see if the cyst had shrunk or disappeared, as they anticipated. Unfortunately, it was still there and she has to have it surgically removed before she can move forward with her IVF cycle. She told me that she was so distraught and upset when she heard the news that she forgot to ask questions… [more]

The other day at the library I decided to go beyond the aisles of Dora and Little Critter and actually find something for me. As I walked around I saw a set of blue eyes staring at me from the cover of a book. It was the eyes of Michael J. Fox, a face I had seen my whole childhood, on the cover of his new book Always Looking Up. It is pretty common knowledge where Michael J. Fox stands on stem cell research and as I read his words I realized I really didn't have an opinion on the matter. I obviously have an opinion on infertility treatments, which includes invetro fertilization, but I hadn't researched enough about what happens to… [more]

IUI is widely considered the "first step" when a couple begins fertility treatments beyond taking medications. I have had friends state that they are willing to try IUI, but draw the line there. They say that they won't "go as far" as attempting IVF. This decision is, if I am being brutally honest (and I am), baffling to me. IUI is more affordable and less invasive, but there are definitely risks that often are not considered when someone decides that IUI is the better bet. IUI is less effective meaning repeated tries are often necessary. When IUI is successful multiple births occur much more frequently than with IVF. The majority of multiples conceived… [more]

When my husband and I decided to try to have a baby we talked of our hopes and dreams for the yet to be conceived child. We both envisioned a boy first, followed by a girl, and even talked of a third whose gender was not speculated. We by no means only wanted a boy, and would not have really cared one way or the other. In our idealized picture of our family, though, there was always the first born older brother looking out for his sibling(s). As the years went by (without us having a child of either gender) we encountered many friends and family who had boys first, girls first, second children… [more]

As soon as we got the positive beta all I wanted to do was shout the news from the rooftops. We didn't, of course, but I was obsessed with my news and could think of nothing else. So, I began to furiously scour the internet for information on my probable due date, a progress report on stages of development in pregnancy for me and baby, and so much more. What I found often did not exactly make sense. I was unsure of the date of my last menstrual period and didn't really know if that would be accurate since it was forced by medications. I had the luxury of knowing exactly when my embryos were… [more]

Although each patient's IVF schedule is individualized according to their own personal circumstances and needs, it can often be a comfort to have a general idea of the "typical" schedule. Whether you are trying to coordinate your IVF cycle with your work schedule, or just trying to familiarize with the process and how much time it is going to take, it is helpful to understand the average length of the IVF process. I was on birth control pills prior to the official start of my cycle - which was actually probably the worst part of it all (birth control has a tendency to make me a little crazy - one good reason I guess for never having a… [more]

Historically when the economy is in shambles family size decreases and couples think more about the financial impact of having a child than they might when the economy is robust. I imagine that a down economy also affects people's approach to infertility and fertility treatments. One of the biggest stresses for me when pursuing IVF was the exorbitant cost of the treatment. When we found out that we were expecting twins, that stress about finances was amplified. We went through our IVF cycle almost two years ago, before the economic fall-out and I was still overwhelmed. I can't imagine what couples are facing today - financial stresses are tough on relationships even before infertility is thrown… [more]