Infertility Support Group

In vitro fertilization is one of the most common and utilized ways of treating conception problems. This support group is dedicated to those beginning their journey with IVF and needing support. Join the community and share your experiences, advice, and story with people going through similar challenges starting a family.

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LaceFace 08/23/2016

This infertility stuff is tough! This is my first support group & first post...hoping I'll feel less alone & lost hearing from others on their fertility journey!

Here's my story: I just turned 35 y/o and started this journey over 2 1/2 years ago. We live in Round Rock, TX (north of Austin). Currently, our diagnosis is "unexplained infertility" because the issues I had could in theory be fixed with surgery. We TTC on our own for over a year before going to an RE. At my first appointment my Dr. found that I had a small uterine septum from birth so I had to have that "removed" surgically & during the laparoscopy the Dr. found that I also had a fibroid & endometriosis, so he removed those as well. I had complications including bleeding after the surgery and the doctor was not very responsive, so I ended up changing doctors (although my initial Dr. came highly recommended & has a great reputation). During treatment I did fertility Accupuncture weekly, I've been taking numerous supplements and I try to eat a whole food diet & do yoga occasionally. After my surgery, we then did 2 rounds of IUI with Clomid with my new RE, which were unsuccessful. After that, we planned to try IVF but found I had a uterine polyp, so I had surgery to remove that before moving forward. In May, we did a round of IVF (planning to do a frozen embryo cycle) with 11 eggs retrieved, only 5 successfully fertilized using ICSI and then over the next 3 to 5 days all of the embryos degraded. We didn't get a single embryo for freeze/transfer! We were told my eggs didn't respond well to fertilization or possibly to the process of ICSI.

We really haven't been given any reason why IVF failed and our diagnosis is still "unexplained," yet our Dr. is encouraging us to try IVF again. It's just so heartbreaking & expensive! We've taken the past few months off from treatment to take a break & to pay off the first round. I'm really struggling with the prospect of never having our own biological child and having a hard time trying to decide what to do next!

I'm 35, have been through 2 1/2 years of fertility treatment and have never been pregnant! And I can't help but wonder if it's possible for me to ever get pregnant?!?

lilie315 08/23/2016

Hi Lace... i'm sorry that you're going thru all of this! I feel like the unexplained part is the hardest - it's 2016! There's almost self driving cars, why can't you figure out why a woman can't get pregnant??!! i totally understand taking a break, and also being a little hesitant to try a 2nd round - what if the same thing happens? They won't accept an "unexplained" reason for not being paid and then walk away! I haven't even gotten near IUI or IVF , and i'm already wondering myself, "will i ever get pregnant, and if not, why am i putting myself thru all this time and emotional stuff? I hope that you find some peace and answers on your journey, and sending you hugs. You're not alone here.

blbnjf 08/25/2016

Hi LaceFace... I am so sorry to "meet" you here, but glad that you came for some support. Your story sounds so exhausting and frustrating. I can't even imagine the horror of going through the IVF process and walking away with no embryos... what makes the dr think it will be different the second time around? Is he suggesting a different medicine protocol? Or forgoing ICSI this time around? Or biopsying them to see if they can find any genetic issues? I would be so reluctant to try a second time and do the exact same thing. It is one thing to get embryos that were transplanted with no implanters, but for them not to even make it to Day 3/5? Does your Dr. have his own embryologist lab/staff onsite? I absolutely adored my RE and her staff, but after a couple of failed embryo transfers, I started to question her and contemplated a new Dr./2nd opinion if I had to start IVF round #2. (IVF #1 rendered 8 embryos and I transferred the first 6 with no luck). Even though I loved her, I thought maybe another Dr. might be able to see if there was something she was missing. I completely understand where you are coming from and know that it is a horrible place to be. I hope that you are able to get some kind of answers soon so you can make a plan and move forward. Please feel free to reach out... wishing you the best:)

LaceFace 09/09/2016

Thank you for your responses & words of encouragement & advice. This is a tough journey, so it is nice to have some support!

LaceFace 09/09/2016

blbnjf those are all good questions! My doctor recommends a 2nd try at IVF but hasn't exactly given me solid info as to why...he essentially said it could have been a "bad batch of eggs" and I may respond better the next time & "one cycle can be totally different from the next." Yes, he wants to try a different stim protocol for meds & this time we would do a fresh cycle. We had planned to biopsy & do genetic testing the 1st round but my embryos didn't even survive long enough for that, so we're forgoing even trying to do that for the 2nd IVF. As for ICSI, he thinks we should fertilize 1/2 of my eggs with ICSI & 1/2 without since we're not sured ICSI or just plain fertilization was the problem. My fertility clinic has their own embryology lab & the clinic's stats and success rates are high. My doctor even said he talked to the head embryologist after my embryos all died & read their notes & said one of the most experienced embryologist performed ICSI on my embies. I found it both good that he looked into it & sort of strange that he felt the need to check with the lab...does he really think they screwed up? I read the only 3 reasons IVF would result in no viable embryos is because 1. The Lab Screwed Up 2. My eggs are rotten (at the age of 34) 3. The doctor's timing of retriec or Med protocol was way off. So, yes I'm questioning my Dr. but I like him & really can't imagine sort of "starting over" with someone new. Again, still struggling with what to do next but not sure I'm ready to give up on ttc.

ayekaybee 09/15/2016

Hi LaceFace, you and I have fairly similar starts. I too live in central Texas, and I am 35. I have undergone surgery for a septate uterus where they also found endometriosis. I have a great RE but of course there are always more circumstances than that. I struggle a lot with wanting to give up and just feeling defeated. Hoping your next round of IVF is a success. It's scary making those decisions when there is so much money involved.

fertilitycoach 09/22/2016

totally been there - feel free to read my story at www.adventuresinbabymaking.com and let me know if you want to talk

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