This posting is for all of you out there that have tried and tried IVF/FET and are feeling angry, hopeless or confused as to what to do next. I was in this same exact boat exactly one year ago.
One year ago to this day I started my 8th fresh cycle! Yes you read that right EIGHT! It was on this day one year ago while I was driving to my first monitoring appointment for ultrasound and blood work I was thinking “How did I get to this point?” Well ill tell you it was a lot of stupidity and being naive. I mean we all have this dream about being an amazing parent and sometimes you think you’re thinking rationally but you’re not…if you’re in this situation please learn from my experience.
My husband and I were told 5 years ago that his sperm sucked and we could only get pregnant via IVF. We went to a clinic who has “great” ratings through SART only to waste 5 fresh cycles there. After each failed cycle they would be like “oh the problem now is fill in the blank_” I’m thinking why the heck didn’t you check for that in the first place? And why am I paying for this financially and emotionally? I mean its easier to play Monday morning quarterback but come on…then we switched clinics.
The second clinic was awesome but the best thing that came of it is I old myself they have 2 shots at getting me pregnant. If they can’t learn by their “trial and error” of their first try plus reviewing the notes of my last clinic and the multiple tries there…then I need to move on. After a miscarriage and chemical we left for CCRM. I learned to cut the IVF umbilical cord and loyalty we all have to our REs and Clínics.
So CCRM- I thought I was crazy for traveling to another state but they do have the best lab and they’ve developed most if the protocols all of the clinics are using. I knew this a long time ago but thought “it’s too expensive” or “ill try other local clinics”. But honestly I spent so much money at the local clinics (close to 80k) that Colorado would have been a lot cheaper to go to as my first choice! Anyhow I am sitting here holding my baby girl who is 6 weeks old and thinking if I knew then what I know now I would have saved so many years, depressed days and periods of isolation from family and friends. I feel like I should have treated myself to why I deserved- the best- early on. And not tried so many times with one clinic. Also- do your genetic testing and be thorough even if they “find” a simple problem like low sperm count (which ended up not even being our only problem)…it usually isn’t that simple.
I don’t mean to ramble or promote any specific clinic. But please don’t cheat yourself o thorough work ups (even if you think it’s saving you money or cutting corners) and don’t stay in one place too long
Best of luck and baby dust to all of you!