At 34 years old, she was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a condition that would shape her emotional and physical journey toward motherhood. With hopes high but options limited, she began fertility treatments that would test her resilience in ways she never expected.
She initially underwent several cycles of Clomid and Letrozole, two commonly prescribed medications for ovulation induction. Unfortunately, her body showed no response to either. That unresponsiveness led her and her medical team to pursue in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Her stimulation protocol included Gonal-F and Menopur. However, her response to the medications was far stronger than anticipated. Estrogen levels skyrocketed, prompting dose adjustments and, ultimately, the use of Lupron as her trigger shot. The timing was critical; her doctors made the call to trigger early due to her heightened risk for Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS).
While her progesterone remained low during stimulation—suggesting poor egg quality as an additional fertility hurdle—her ultrasound revealed an overwhelming number of follicles. A technician even commented it was the most they’d ever seen. Yet, the emotional high was short-lived. Despite the follicle count, only 4 eggs were retrieved. Of those, just one fertilized.
It was a devastating blow, but she and her partner decided to proceed without PGT-A testing. That single embryo was graded A,A—offering a glimmer of hope in an otherwise challenging cycle.
Before embryo transfer, further complications emerged. A saline sonogram revealed uterine polyps, requiring a hysteroscopy. When her uterine lining failed to thicken as needed, her medications were once again adjusted. Eventually, conditions aligned, and the embryo transfer took place. Five days prior, she had begun progesterone and estradiol injections, which she continued for the first 10 weeks of her high-risk pregnancy.
Post-transfer, she faced another scare: a subchorionic hemorrhage at just 5 weeks. Fortunately, it resolved on its own. Between retrieval and transfer, she followed a strict supplement regimen including Pentoxifylline, CoQ10, vitamin E, and prenatal vitamins. Cabergoline was also used during stimulation to minimize the risk of OHSS.
After a long and emotionally taxing process filled with uncertainty, her perseverance was rewarded—with the arrival of her son.