Jessica's Fertility Journey: Emotionally, Financially and Physically Taxing

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to get pregnant the old-fashioned way? A romantic dinner then off to the bedroom for the magic, or the "we weren't even trying" scenario, or candles and vacation sex? I sure have for the past 7 years! Infertility is cruel but can also open many new doors that might have forever been shut if we weren't forced to endure this journey.

Our long story short, we have been trying to build our family since 2013. After the old-fashioned way was not working for us, we mustered up the courage and made an appointment with my OBGYN to see what the deal was. From 2014-2015 we began medicated cycles with timed intercourse. After this too did not work, we were referred to a fertility specialist who we saw from 2016-2018. There we underwent 6 failed IUI cycles and began IVF in September of 2018.

We had a great stimulation round and ended up with 19 eggs and 8 frozen embryos once all was said and done. From there we endured 3 failed frozen embryo transfers (FET) an ERA cycle which was pre-receptive and another failed FET and not to mention, the loss of 8 embryos and sadly were back at square one. We finally decided to switch clinics in May of this year (something we should have done years ago) and began fresh.

After several tests, we received all clear to begin IVF.

We started another IVF cycle and ended up with 5 PGS tested normal embryos. It was recommended to do an HSG test, a Hysteroscopy and another ERA cycle before transferring, so that's what we did. The HSG and Hysteroscopy came back clear - tubes are open and no scarring or polyps found. We just completed our ERA cycle and are awaiting the results. Our plan is to transfer 1 of our 5 healthy embryos in January.

This journey has been emotionally, financially and physically taxing on my husband and me. The one silver lining we have discovered is our tenacity, perseverance and everlasting love for each other. We have both grown into Warriors although we really didn't have a say in the matter. IVF takes a toll on your body, mind, spirit and all relationships in your lives. We've put ourselves on the line for what we believe in for years. No matter how tough the battle is, we will never give up, because frankly giving up is not an option. We have learned to endure until we've overcome all the adversities were facing. We are survivors and won’t give up hope of having a child one day."

- Jess

Medical Disclaimer:

The information provided in this blog is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider or qualified medical professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this blog.