Treatment

by

Last fall, we introduced our community to Allyn Rose, a breast cancer previvor, well known women’s health advocate, former Miss USA and Miss America contestant, and full-time model.

Under the care of Dr. Kate Devine, Allyn decided to go through IVF treatment and PGT-M to reduce the risk of having a child with an inherited condition.

Allyn is documenting her journey to motherhood via blogs and videos in hopes that it will lift the veil of the unknown associated with infertility treatment, and also serve as a reminder to women to be their own advocate. “I hope that it will ‘pay it forward’ to other women going through this and help them realize that they aren’t alone either.”

Catch up on Allyn’s journey:

Blog #1: Why I am Undergoing IVF Treatment

Blog #2: The IVF “Firsts” What to Expect

Blog #3: What It’s Like Giving Yourself IVF Injections

Blog #4: My Egg Retrieval Experience

READ ALLYN’S FIFTH BLOG ABOUT HER EGG RETRIEVAL EXPERIENCE:

When I say that Christopher and I are undergoing IVF, most people generally understand what that means: your ovaries are stimulated to produce eggs, a doctor retrieves those eggs and fertilizes them outside of your body, then they are transferred to your uterus to hopefully become a successful pregnancy! But the second you add “with PGT” after IVF, you start to see furrowed brows as they wrack their brains trying to figure out what the heck PGT stands for…
 
PGT (preimplantation genetic testing) is an IVF “add on” that is used to identify potential issues with embryos prior to implantation. This comes in two forms: PGT-M and PGT-A. PGT-M is used to help reduce the risk of having a child with a known inherited disorder (like BRCA 1/2 or cystic fibrosis) caused by mutations in a single gene (Monogenic). PGT-A screens embryos for sporadic chromosome abnormalities by counting the 46 chromosomes to look for extra or missing chromosomes (Aneuploidy). Still with me? Good!
 
Essentially, PGT is “leveling up” your chances of a pregnancy by ensuring that the embryo you transfer has the best chance for success. It’s also a huge relief for people like me who carry a single gene mutation because it means that you have the opportunity to eliminate a dangerous genetic disease from your family tree! After losing three of my uncles to my rare genetic disease, I knew that I wanted to do everything that I could to ensure that my children were gene and carrier free. That meant undergoing IVF with PGT. Even though it seemed a little intimidating to tack on an extra step in the IVF process (and to manage the TWO WEEK WAIT for the results), I knew that it was the right choice for me and my family. After consulting with my doctor, Dr. Devine, at Shady Grove Fertility, I felt even more confident that it was the right decision.
 
SGF recommended that we use the genetics lab Igenomix for our PGT testing. After seeing that they had over 15 years of experience and were an industry leader, I felt comfortable sending off my “embryo friends” for testing. Christopher and I opted for PGT-A as well as PGT-M. This meant that we were able to not only screen for the genetic disease that I carry, but also able to identify any chromosomal abnormalities in my embryos. That way I knew that I was “covering all my bases.”
 
Even thought PGT is probably the most elaborate and detailed part of the IVF process, it was a piece of cake for me! All I had to do was sit back  and let the experts do the work! After my egg retrieval, the embryologist determined which of my eggs were mature enough to be fertilized. Those remaining mature eggs were fertilized, creating embryos. Those embryos grew undisturbed for 5 days. At Day 5, the embryologist “peeked” to see which of those embryos had made it to the blastocyst stage of cell division. Those lucky 9 embryos were then biopsied (a small piece of genetic material was removed from the outer shell) and sent off to Igenomix for PGT.
 
Sounds like a lot, right? Well, it is pretty complicated stuff, but I knew that I was in great hands and that the experts were doing their best to ensure that Christopher and I will have a healthy baby.

After the biopsied material was sent to Igenomix, we just had to get through the dreaded “Two Week Wait.” It takes, on average, two weeks to receive your PGT test results. That might not sound like a lot, but when you’re waiting to hear about the genetic health of your precious embryos, it can feel like a lifetime. My impatience escalated quickly…

To make matters worse, my two week wait turned into a THREE WEEK WAIT. Sometimes you just get unlucky and it takes a little longer than two weeks. Unfortunately that was me…

I finally got a call from Dr. Devine – the results were in! Out of our 9 embryos, 3 were PGT-A and PGT-M clear! Christopher and I were thrilled. This meant that coupled with our first round of IVF with PGT, we were able to bank 4 healthy embryos to start our family. Christopher and I want 2-3 children so 4 is a great number heading into our first transfer. This wasn’t an easy process, but knowing that we have done everything that we can to protect our future children from my genetic disease has given me an incredible peace of mind.

Next up is our transfer! Stay tuned for more!

Continue following Allyn’s IVF journey on Shady Grove Fertility’s Instagram, YouTube Channel and Enewsletter!

Schedule an Appointment
To schedule a virtual consultation with an SGF physician, please call our New Patient Center at 1-888-761-1967 or submit this brief form.

by

Last fall, we introduced our community to Allyn Rose, a breast cancer previvor, well known women’s health advocate, former Miss USA and Miss America contestant, and full-time model.

Under the care of Dr. Kate Devine, Allyn decided to go through IVF treatment and PGT-M to reduce the risk of having a child with an inherited condition.

Allyn is documenting her journey to motherhood via blogs and videos in hopes that it will lift the veil of the unknown associated with infertility treatment, and also serve as a reminder to women to be their own advocate. “I hope that it will ‘pay it forward’ to other women going through this and help them realize that they aren’t alone either.”
Catch up on Allyn’s journey:

Blog #1: Why I am Undergoing IVF Treatment

Blog #2: The IVF “Firsts” What to Expect

Blog #3: What It’s Like Giving Yourself IVF Injections

READ ALLYN’S FOURTH BLOG ABOUT HER EGG RETRIEVAL EXPERIENCE:

 
(*Allyn’s egg retrieval took place prior to COVID-19.)
Even though an IVF cycle only takes a few weeks, it can feel like it’s never going to end. The process itself isn’t all that complicated… but add in the emotional highs and lows, a hormonal free-for-all and the inherent challenges that infertility or a genetic diagnosis can have on your life — it’s not always pretty.

The day of my Egg Retrieval felt like a relief. I was DONE! My hard work was over… I had grown the follicle friends and now it was up to the doctor to do his/her part.

I was scheduled for surgery at 12 noon which meant that the toughest part of my morning was not eating breakfast and picking out what pajamas I wanted to wear to the surgery center.
 
Because Christopher wasn’t in town, I asked my best friend Caitlin’s mom (who I affectionately call Tish) to be my driver and emotional support bestie for the day. Tish picked me up from my brother’s house and drove me to the Shady Grove Fertility Rockville location for my procedure. The surgery center there is BEAUTIFUL and I instantly felt at ease when I was greeted by the warm reception staff.
 
The thing I love about SGF, and what I think makes them stand out, is that a large number of their staff have undergone fertility treatments themselves. I really appreciated that because I felt like they ACTUALLY understood what I was going through and when they told me that I would be okay – they meant it. It was also an extra boost of confidence to be surrounded by women who are SGF success stories!
 
After I finished my initial paperwork I was led back to my recovery room where I was suited up in everyone’s favorite open-in-the-back surgical gown. Yay.
 
One by one various doctors and nurses came by to check on me and to prep me for surgery. First I met with a wonderful nurse who catered to my every need – including giving me THREE heated blankets because I’m always freezing. No really, they came out of a special blanket heater… I was in heaven. The doctor performing the actual egg retrieval explained each step of the process and let me know that the procedure would only last about 20 minutes and when I woke up I would already know how many eggs they had retrieved. How’s that for efficient!
 
Then came my favorite kind of doctor – the anesthesiologist. I imagine there is a lot of job satisfaction being the one that gives people “happy juice” before surgery. He prepped my IV, explained the types of medicine that he would use and told me that he would be back later with the good stuff.

I called Christopher who was in Germany at the time for one last “I love you” before we got this show on the road. He wished me luck and as we wrapped up the call, the anesthesiologist came back as promised to wheel me into the surgical room.

I felt pretty calm because I knew it was a fairly straightforward procedure and I trusted the team I had. The room looked a little like a more pimped out gynecologist’s office with one of those stirrup style chairs in the center. And to be honest that’s all I remember about it. I sat in the chair, cracked a joke about my French Bulldog socks and I was out!
 
I woke up back in the recovery room feeling a little groggy. But they quickly brought Tish in and the doctor joined to tell me that I had THIRTY FOUR eggs retrieved! No wonder I had felt bloated and uncomfortable – my ovaries were probably the size of grapefruits! I spent about 15-20 minutes waking up from the anesthesia before I felt comfortable enough to walk to the car and head home.

The nurse warned me that I shouldn’t eat heavy or greasy foods after this procedure so of course I made Tish drive straight to the nearest pizza restaurant because that’s my post-anesthesia ritual.
Thankfully my stomach survived and we made it home without any complications.

The next few days were a bit of a roller coaster. I began to experience what my doctor presumed to be Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS). This can happen during IVF cycles, particularly ones like mine which result in a very large number of follicles. Essentially the body is “over stimulated” and you experience things like fluid build up in the uterine cavity, as well as bloating, constipation, headaches and over all yuckiness. OHSS symptoms shouldn’t be ignored, so Dr. Devine had me change my flight back to Germany for a week later and had me come in to monitor each day to ensure that the fluid was decreasing.

Lucky for me it was a very mild case and after a few days of monitoring I was back to normal and ready to ship back off to see Christopher in Germany. Now came the hard part – THE WAITING.

After your egg retrieval, the eggs are checked for their size (to see if they are mature enough) and then fertilized – often through a process called intracytoplasmic sperm injection or “ICSI.” Some of the eggs are stubborn and won’t fertilize even if they are mature enough, that’s why sometimes you see numbers like 34 retrieved, 25 mature, 15 fertilized. Unfortunately, not every egg will go on to become an embryo.

After the eggs are fertilized, they are placed in containers and undisturbed for 5 days to allow them to “grow.” The embryologist then checks on Day 5 to see if they have reached Blastocyst (a stage of cell division). If they have reached that stage, they are ready to be sent for genetic testing! Sometimes the embryologist sees that the embryos are ALMOST there and allows them an extra day or two to see if they will reach Blastocyst. If they do, they are also sent for genetic testing.

Let me tell you – IVF stimulation was hard but WAITING FIVE DAYS to see how many embryos you have felt like a life time!

To add insult to injury, AFTER you wait 5-7 days to see how many embryos you have, you have to wait another TWO WHOLE WEEKS to get your genetic test results back. It seems like cruel and unusual punishment. My only advice is to pick up a new hobby, find a long Netflix series or do something like learn how to knit because otherwise you’ll drive yourself insane.

So in order to prepare you for your next IVF cycle, I’m going to make you wait until my next blog to tell you how many embryos we sent off to testing 😉 Stay tuned!
Continue following Allyn’s IVF journey on Shady Grove Fertility’s Instagram, YouTube Channel and Enewsletter!
 

Schedule an Appointment
To schedule a virtual consultation with an SGF physician, please call our New Patient Center at 1-888-761-1967 or submit this brief form.

by

Last fall, we introduced our community to Allyn Rose, a breast cancer previvor, well known women’s health advocate, former Miss USA and Miss America contestant, and full-time model.

Under the care of Dr. Kate Devine, Allyn decided to go through IVF treatment and PGT-M to reduce the risk of having a child with an inherited condition.

Allyn is documenting her journey to motherhood via blogs and videos in hopes that it will lift the veil of the unknown associated with infertility treatment, and also serve as a reminder to women to be their own advocate. “I hope that it will ‘pay it forward’ to other women going through this and help them realize that they aren’t alone either.”

Catch up on Allyn’s journey:

Blog #1: Why I am Undergoing IVF Treatment

Blog #2: The IVF “Firsts” What to Expect

READ ALLYN’S THIRD BLOG ABOUT WHAT IT’S LIKE GIVING YOURSELF INJECTIONS:

“Is it scary giving yourself those shots?” After getting that question over and over again since I’ve started this journey, I decided to share exactly what a round of IVF injections is really like! Spoiler Alert: It’s really not so bad.

I’m a pretty positive person. So when approaching something like IVF, I usually just put on my bravest face, put one foot in front of the other and just do it. But there are not many things in life less natural than having to stab yourself in the stomach with a needle…

It’s particularly challenging when all of your friends check in with a level of concern that makes you start to think that maybe you’re not quite worried enough…

Luckily for me, Shady Grove Fertility (SGF) plans ahead for my (and I’m presuming most patient’s) paranoia and mandates that you take an injection class prior to the start of your cycle. After handing in my Masters Thesis two years ago, I swore that the word “class” would be struck from the depths of my brain and that I’d never willingly sign up for continuing education ever again.

But man was I relieved to know that someone would be “hand holding” me through this step of the process. I visited the SGF office on K Street in Washington, D.C. and was led to a bright “classroom” with a non-threatening (whew!) injection set up at my desk. A wonderful nurse walked us through every step of the injection process – from prepping the skin, how to pinch your skin to eliminate pain, filling of the syringes, using the various cartridge brands and replacing needles. We also prepared for the all-important intramuscular “trigger shot” which I learned had to go in… wait for it… MY BUTT! 

Wait… what?!

I had just mentally prepared myself for sticking the tiny needles into my tummy and now I have to stick this GIANT NEEDLE IN MY BUTT?! I think the nurse could see the instant panic on all of our faces and quickly let us know that the enormous looking needle that came with the trigger shot kit was NOT in fact the needle that we would be using but was only for “mixing” the medication. In unison, we all let out a sigh of relief.

We wrapped up class and I felt much more prepared heading into the start of my cycle. Here is a glimpse of what my actual class set up looked like:

(If you look close enough, you can see the butt diagram poking out on the white paper)

Now it was time to get this show on the road… literally. Remember when I told you that I had to start my IVF cycle right after I appeared on Good Morning America? I wasn’t kidding. I finished up my segment, had lunch and headed to my tiny New York City hotel room (4,000 miles from home) to administer my first injections. Suddenly my mind went blank… everything that I learned in injection class went out the window and I started to panic. I frantically looked through the packet and paperwork that they gave me… I studied the butt diagram… I read the medicine manual… I did everything to avoid just getting started. Luckily, my calm, reliable German husband said in a serious Dad voice “Stop stalling… just do it.”

I took a deep breath, I remembered my nice nurse’s voice telling me that everything was going to be okay, I took the syringe of Menopur, pinched my tummy, closed my eyes and did what felt like one of the bravest things I’ve ever done – I STABBED MYSELF IN THE STOMACH!

As I opened my eyes, I saw Christopher smiling as he said “Great job, baby, you did it!” Trying to play it cool, I contained my excitement…

I let out a huge sigh of relief. That wasn’t bad AT ALL. I barely even felt it.

I prepped my second injection (Gonal-F), took a deep breath and bam… it was done! I WAS DONE! What felt like an hour was actually about 3 minutes and I was really proud of myself for not only starting this process, but doing it on the road and in the midst of my busiest time of the year.

Over the next two weeks, I gave myself injections in 5 different states, countless hotel rooms and had monitoring appointments at 3 separate SGF offices. I was SO GRATEFUL that I was working with a center like SGF because I wouldn’t have been able to complete my cycle without the flexibility of my clinical team and the ability to be seen at multiple locations. I made it through – but it wasn’t always easy… and because I was new to this, I had a lot of panic moments.

First off, I had to travel with my meds, some of which needed to be refrigerated. I brought some of them from home, which meant traveling on a 9 hour flight and keeping medication cold. After copious amounts of research, I bought a small diabetic cool pack and I used that during the flight. It did the trick, but it definitely wasn’t as cold as I would have liked it to be upon arrival (but after a frantic call to my nurse I knew that it was still okay). Now that I know better, I would have asked the flight attendant for some ice mid flight and added that to the kit.

Travel Tip #1: Add More Ice

When I arrived in New York, the hotel I was staying at didn’t provide mini-fridges in the room. After about 17 calls to reception, they agreed to pull the ONE mini fridge in the hotel out of another room and give it to me. Upon arrival, I realized that this thing was about 20 years old and I was terrified that it wasn’t going to be cold enough to store my medication correctly. So what did I do? I decided to BUY A FRIDGE and made my poor husband carry it across Manhattan for me.

Travel Tip #2: Don’t Panic And Buy A Fridge

(I married Prince Charming… I know)

To be honest, the stress relief that it brought me was probably worth the $86, but it was a little overboard. But alas, my very expensive IVF medication was now protected! I was in NYC for a week and then realized… duh… I couldn’t bring my fridge as “checked baggage.” I called around to numerous Women’s Shelters and Animal Rescues in the city but sadly no one was interested in my mini fridge. So, I donated it to the hotel instead. They were very excited to have a working fridge. You’re welcome, Cassa Hotel.

Travel Tip #3: Actually, It’s Okay To Do Crazy Things If It Eases Your Stress

If there’s one thing I learned during this process it’s that you can’t prepare for everything. So naturally, there were a few things that threw me for a loop.

The next hiccup in the process was my physical reaction to the injections. I don’t know if I zoned out during injection class or if side effects aren’t very common, but I’ll share my experiences in case you experience something similar:

INJECTION REACTIONS

The first few injections were a breeze. I started to get a little smug thinking “is this what people complain so much about?” Pfft. Well, reality came to bite me in the… stomach. 

1. Bruising
A side effect of my genetic disease Wiskott Aldrich is having low platelets which causes me to bruise like a peach. Spend too much time leaning on something? Bruise. Sit on a chair the wrong way? Bruise. My husband hugs me too hard? Bruise. I run into the door frame trying to find the bathroom in the middle of the night? It looks like I was in a bar fight.

Well, this time was no different. Around Day 4 my stomach started to look like I was slowly turning into a Dalmatian.

2. Injection Site Reactions
Midway through my cycle I began taking a drug called Cetrotide. I figured that it would be just like the Gonal-F or Menopur so I took the first shot like a champ. Driving home from my monitoring appointment, I started to notice that my stomach was getting itchy. I pulled over, lifted up my shirt and realized that I had a large red splotch appearing around the injection site. I was also getting a little mentally fuzzy. Like any millennial, I knew that it was time to consult a doctor – Dr. Google.

As I frantically typed in “reaction to Cetrotide,” several articles popped up warning me of severe allergic reactions to Cetrotide. I immediately dialed the after hours weekend nurse line. When I reached the recorded “triage line,” I started to get nervous. WHAT IF I DIED BEFORE THE NURSE CALLED ME BACK?! So I called the front desk at SGF Rockville which I knew was still open. I explained that I was very likely dying and asked to be immediately connected to a nurse. The receptionist connected me with a nurse who reassured me that I was going to be fine and said that she would review my medications and call me right back.

As my hypochondria went into full effect, I got a call from the nurse telling me to get home, take it easy and call if things started to get worse. Of course the reaction went away after 30 minutes and I went on to live another day.

Travel Tip #4: Don’t Panic… You’re Not Dying.

3. Bloating and Constipation

The bloating is real my friends. Ever wanted to know what it’s like to look 4 months pregnant without actually being pregnant? Go through an IVF stimulation cycle. As your follicles start to grow, your ovaries expand causing you to feel pretty icky. It was particularly bad in my case because I was walking around with THIRTY FOUR follicles.

If the injections, anxiety and travel wasn’t enough, I now couldn’t fit into the only pants I had brought with me this trip and I had to walk around for a week and a half with my jeans unzipped and unbuttoned.

I pouted about it a lot, but I survived.

Tip #5: You’re Not Fat, Your Ovaries Are Just The Size Of Grapefruits

To add insult to injury, just when you start to not fit into your pants, the constipation kicks in. Gross, I know. But don’t worry, this too shall pass… literally. Just eat food filled with fiber and chug water – you’re almost to the finish line, girlfriend!

Tip #6: An Apple A Day… 

THE TRIGGER

Remember that scary trigger shot we talked about in the beginning? Welp, it was time.

My doctor called with instructions to “trigger” on Halloween night. It seemed like a cruel joke, so I stress ate a lot of chocolate and mentally prepared myself for an injection into my butt muscle. To make it worse, my husband wasn’t there to help. But I remembered that my injection class nurse told me I could stop by the office the day of the injection and she would draw a big black Sharpie circle exactly where I needed to inject. Fool proof! So to the office I went.

Tip #7: Want To Overcome Your Crippling Shyness? Go Through An IVF Stimulation Cycle. 

As I pulled my pants down in the nurse’s office and she drew a circle on my butt, I realized that I was at the finish line! One more shot before the egg retrieval. Somehow this awkward situation felt like a wonderful right of passage.

I thanked her for her “service” and headed home to get ready for my 1AM “call time.” Your trigger shot is carefully timed to be EXACTLY 36 hours before your scheduled egg retrieval. Often you have to take your trigger at odd times of night. As it got later, I started to realize that I didn’t know if I would be able to do this shot myself. Not only was it nerve wracking, but I am notoriously inflexible and wasn’t sure I’d even be able to twist far enough to see the injection site… and I’d be stabbing a muscle this time – what if I twitched? What if I messed it up? What if…

I had one option left. Ask the person whose house I was staying at. But that person… was my little brother. Yep… I had to ask my little brother to give me an injection in my butt.

I figured that I had let a near stranger see my butt today, why not my little brother too? The nice guy agreed and stayed up with me eating candy until the time came.

1 AM rolled around and I made my way to the spare bedroom. I laid on the bed and my brother gave me a countdown… 3…2…1… go!

Piece of cake. Just like everything else in this cycle, I had worked myself up for nothing. I gave my brother a hug and promised him that if he ever needed a shot in the butt, I owed him one. I brushed my teeth and got ready for bed. Today was the big day… Egg Retrieval!

Continue following Allyn’s IVF journey on Shady Grove Fertility’s Instagram, YouTube Channel and Enewsletter! 

Schedule an Appointment

To schedule a virtual consultation with an SGF physician, please call our New Patient Center at 1-888-761-1967 or submit this brief form.

by

Last fall, we introduced our community to Allyn Rose, a breast cancer previvor, well known women’s health advocate, former Miss USA and Miss America contestant, and full-time model.

Under the care of Dr. Kate Devine, Allyn decided to go through IVF treatment and PGT-M to reduce the risk of having a child with an inherited condition.

Allyn is documenting her journey to motherhood via blogs and videos in hopes that it will lift the veil of the unknown associated with infertility treatment, and also serve as a reminder to women to be their own advocate. “I hope that it will ‘pay it forward’ to other women going through this and help them realize that they aren’t alone either.”

Read Allyn’s first blog about why she decided to undergo IVF treatment.

READ ALLYN’S SECOND BLOG ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT DURING THE IVF PROCESS:

If I learned one thing going through IVF, it’s this:

TIP 1: Prepare FOR ANYTHING.

As a young-ish woman (31 in IVF terms is still a spring chicken) who didn’t have any known fertility problems, I went into the process exceedingly optimistic, and admittedly a little naive…

I felt confident. In my mind, I’d breeze through all of the initial screenings and tests, I’d only need one egg retrieval cycle resulting in more embryos than I could have ever used (unless I went the Octomom route) and who knows maybe I’d even be able to donate my remaining embryos to a family in need!

Enter Stage Left: Reality

The Firsts: Pre-IVF Examinations

When starting the IVF process, you’ll undergo a few initial screening tests. The first batch of tests only require simple blood work: infectious disease screening, testing of hormone levels and your ovarian reserve. (Fun Fact: women are born with all of the eggs that they will ever have! This test is an indicator of how many you have left.). Simple enough. But be prepared to learn several acronyms for your hormones which are thrown at you in succession! FSH, AMH, LH…

Just when you start to get the hang of things, they bring in the big guns: the intrauterine ultrasound and the… Hysterosalpingogram (HSG). Oh great, another acronym.
 
An ultrasound seemed easy enough – I have them at the gynecologists office from time to time, but I really had no idea what the heck an HSG or “tubal patency” test was. To keep it simple, many IVF facilities require an HSG to see if there are any issues with your Fallopian tubes. You may be asking: “Why do they care about my Fallopian tubes if I’m doing IVF (which doesn’t require the use of the tubes). The HSG outlines the internal shape of the uterus and shows whether the Fallopian tubes are blocked. If they are blocked, it’s likely a result of another issue that may cause problems during the IVF process. Feeling extra confident about the shape of my Fallopian tubes, I practically skipped into my German doctor’s office.
 
If the German medical system wasn’t uncomfortable enough…I was placed into a large room with a single exam chair, asked to undress from the bottom down and told to sit in the exam chair. I looked around… there was no paper covering. So there I am, exposed for the entire world with no privacy screen. That’s when I see a swarm of students come into the room. I remember… oh that’s right… this is a teaching hospital…

I shook off my initial insecurity and remembered that I likely had the Vitruvian Man of Fallopian tubes and thought to myself – this is a teachable moment.

I was warned prior to the exam that I may experience some “slight discomfort.” Even though I pride myself on my high pain tolerance, wanting to be extra prepared, I took two ibuprofen prior to the exam… just in case. Spoiler alert: the HSG was about as gentle as a kick in the head. As the dye was injected into my Fallopian tubes, I felt a pressure that kept increasing. “Oh that hurts… wait… no… that really…. dear God when will this be over?!” What felt like an hour was probably only 1 minute. Nevertheless, it was… unpleasant. After the test was over, the doctor stoically looked at me and said, “Both of your Fallopian tubes are completely blocked. You won’t be able to conceive naturally… good thing you’re doing IVF. Have a nice day, goodbye.”

The Firsts: The Emotions

How could this be?! I was the spring chicken, remember?! I was the “prime candidate!” I took my checkout sheet and made what felt like the walk of shame back to my car. I’m not an overtly emotional person but I broke into tears. As silly as it is, I felt like a “failed woman.” I wasn’t able to do THE ONE THING that my body was biologically primed to do. I was young. I was healthy. I flossed and took a multivitamin. What more was I supposed to do? I summoned the courage to call my husband to tell him the news – his wife had inferior Fallopian tubes. It felt like my world was over.

I thank God every day for my calm, cool, collected German husband because he simply replied: “Calm down. Everything is fine. No matter what, we will figure it out.” And then finished the call by saying “See you at home… my Fallopian beauty.”
 
I decided to get a second opinion and this time I went to the pros at Shady Grove Fertility. I called Dr. Devine and asked if it would make sense to be tested again. Because I was at a very low risk of having tube issues, she recommended that I try again at their Rockville facility. I walked into the appointment and it was like a spa treatment compared to the animal at a zoo situation at the university hospital in Germany. The nurses and doctors were warm and friendly and I experienced significantly less pain this time around. I’ll be honest, it’s still pretty uncomfortable, but it was a hell of a lot better than the previous torture chamber. The result: one completely clear tube and one that appeared to be “blocked.” But it turns out the “blockage” wasn’t actually a blockage, it was a spasm of the tube and I was perfectly fine! Whew! I was so happy that I got a second opinion. I was back to feeling confident! Bloodwork was clear, ultrasound was tip top, tubes were A-okay!

The Firsts: The Injections

Now all that was left were the first injections. I totally wasn’t scared…

Okay, I was scared. There’s nothing less natural than stabbing yourself with a needle in the stomach. What made it even more difficult was that I would be “on the road” for work and not in the comfort of my own home. And this wasn’t a normal work day… I was scheduled to appear on Good Morning America.

No pressure right… I just took a deep breath and said to myself that I was incredibly fortunate to undergo a procedure like IVF with PGS and even if I had to start in an “unconventional way” I would still be okay. So I took a seat in my hotel room, set my shots up next to the Keurig and got started.

I didn’t die. It didn’t hurt. It was really a lot easier than I expected. I kind of felt silly for being so anxious about the whole process because it was over in less than a minute. I kept waiting to feel more pain or to have a crazy side effect. But that was it! Really as simple as two little pin pricks!

I was off to a good start and couldn’t wait to see those little follicle friends grow! Check back for more from my IVF journey soon!

Continue following Allyn’s IVF journey on Shady Grove Fertility’s Instagram, YouTube Channel and Enewsletter! 

Schedule an Appointment

To schedule a virtual consultation with an SGF physician, please call our New Patient Center at 1-888-761-1967 or submit this brief form.

by

Dr. Cori Tanrikut, Reproductive Urologist at SGF

How do sperm really swim? Dr. Cori Tanrikut, Reproductive Urologist at SGF, shared her thoughts in a recent Smithsonian Magazine article about a breakthrough study on the swimming direction of sperm, upending roughly 350 years’ worth of assumptions about reproduction.

Using 3-D microscopy and advanced mathematical analyses, an international team of researchers from the University of Bristol in England and the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico discovered that the human sperm tails’ snakelike movement is an optical illusion. Rather than moving side-to-side, sperm tails actually turn in only one direction.

Without other adjustments, a one-sided stroke would result in sperm swimming in circles and never reaching their destination, the female egg. To compensate, the scientists found, the body or head of the sperm rotates independently in a corkscrew-like motion in the opposite direction, enabling the whole cell to move forward in a straight line.

“The more accurately scientists can understand the fundamental molecular biology of sperm motility, the better doctors may be able to address motility issues associated with infertility,” explains Dr Tanrikut. She hopes that knowledge gained from future work in the field will help her offer patients less aggressive fertility treatment options, or even improve their chances of conceiving without assistance.

HOW COMMON IS MALE INFERTILITY?

“Male infertility is really quite common, perhaps more common than the general public realizes,” says Dr. Tanrikut.

While infertility is often regarded as a female problem, the male partner’s role is equally as important, as 40 to 50 percent of all infertility cases are due to male factor infertility.

SGF’s Center for Male Fertility, led by Dr. Paul Shin, Dr. Cori Tanrikut, and Dr. Russell Hayden offers a range of male services including basic evaluation and testing to state-of-the-art microsurgical techniques including varicocele repair, and vasectomy reversal, as well as sperm injection and extraction techniques that have nearly eliminated infertility among couples with a severe male factor. The Center offers no-scalpel vasectomy services as well.

WATCH: MARIA AND AREEN’S PATIENT STORY: OVERCOMING MALE FACTOR INFERTILITY

When Maria and Areen Movsessian of Rockville, MD, tied the knot, they had no idea they would face years of infertility and heartache when they were ready to start building their family. They also had no idea that their struggle to conceive would lead them to uncovering a diagnosis of azoospermia, a rare condition characterized by the absence of sperm in the semen. After trying for years, the couple was blindsided to learn of Areen’s unexpected male factor infertility and wondered, “Is it ever going to be us?”

For more information about overcoming male factor infertility, watch SGF’s Male Fertility Webinar On-Demand.

To schedule a virtual consultation with an SGF physician, please call our New Patient Center at 1-888-761-1967 or submit this brief form.

by

Infertility treatment can be challenging for anyone going through it. We asked Shady Grove Fertility Graduates to share advice for those beginning their infertility journey, providing others with the knowledge and strength to positively get through treatment and most importantly, never give up.

1. HAVE HOPE

From Amanda and Brian

“I would tell other people going through infertility to stay hopeful and not give up on their goals. Be proactive with your treatment and be an active participant in the process because the more knowledge you have, the more comfortable you will feel. I don’t know if another child is in our future or not, but we will definitely go back to Shady Grove Fertility if we need help again.”

From Ashley and Sam

“You have to remain positive and hopeful that your miracle is coming even when you experience heartbreak or devastation. What helped me the most was having my husband support me and encourage me on the hard days. He constantly reminded me that we would get pregnant and to not give up. My faith in God was what got me through the hardest days when I would see another pregnancy announcement on social media or feel defeated in my journey. He gave me the strength to get through the hardest 4 years of my life. I’m so passionate now about infertility and helping others be encouraged during their journey to parenthood. Also, blogging and connecting on social media helped me meet other women who were experiencing my same, silent struggle. It made me feel like I wasn’t the only one going through it. I loved hearing success stories and happy endings and I pray our story encourages a couple who feels like they are ready to give up. We serve a God who turns impossible situations into possible situations and if he did it for us, he can do it for you.”

2. REMEMBER – YOU’RE NOT ALONE

From Celine and Matthew

“Reach out to people you know who also went through fertility treatment. If you do not know anyone, join online groups or actively search blogs for women who went through it.

Don’t be afraid or ashamed to let the world know what you are going through. By sharing your story, you are making it ‘normal’ instead of feeling like there is something wrong with you.

There is NOTHING wrong with you and it is such a blessing we live in today’s world where we have amazing medicine that can help us reach our dreams.”

From Lauren and Christopher

“To anyone going through this, I want you to know you’re not alone, it’s ok to have bad days as long as you continue to push through and you’re stronger than you know. Don’t be afraid to lean on family and friends. And most importantly, be kind to yourself.”

3. IT’S WORTH EVERY SECOND.

From Denise and Jeremiah

“I would tell future patients to stay positive and always remember that difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations. We are forever grateful to Dr. Sasson, our nurse Erica, and the entire Chesterbrook office.

It is going to seem scary and intimidating at first, but it really is worth all of the tears shed and nights spent awake worrying. It is even incredible to realize how #SGFstrong you can be when you need to be. If you are thinking about starting treatment, it doesn’t hurt to just go talk to a doctor about what your options would be and find out more about the process. That is what my husband and I did and it is one of the best decisions we have ever made.”

4. BUILD A SUPPORT SYSTEM.

From Hannah and John

“My advice to others that may go through this similar situation is to hold onto whatever gets you through the rough times, whether it is faith or an individual, because you will need them. Find a program that will help support you financially if that is what’s holding you back from starting this process. SGF gave us many financial options when we first started. I promise you that every moment you go through emotionally and physically is unimaginably worth it in the end. We are so grateful for our little girl and are very excited for the time when we decide to have another (especially since I only have to do the frozen embryo transfer next time)! Thank you to Shady Grove Fertility and Dr. Reh for everything.”

From Nikita and Scott

“Try to have a support system outside of the clinic. My family and a few close friends helped us get through the emotional rollercoaster. Trying to stay as positive as possible will help, even if it feels impossible. We didn’t know what to expect when we had our first meeting but to this day, it was the best decision we could have made to help grow our family. IVF must have jump-started my system because we are expecting another little one July 2018 and that was all medication and IVF-free! We are so thankful to SGF and it was well worth the tears, money, and time it took to finally meet our little boys! Shady Grove Fertility helped us get our family! Good luck on your journey!”

5. SCHEDULE IT!

From Lindsay and Sean

“Schedule a consult and get those fertility tests done! The testing process can be long, exhausting, and frustrating at times, but it is so important to know what is going on and to understand any potential issues. Once you have your results, you can address them head on. Also, be prepared to make some big decisions about treatment options, but know that there are a lot of different options available. There will be one that is right for you!”

From Samantha and Matt

“My advice to future patients would be don’t wait to seek help! If you want a baby, go to Shady Grove Fertility and get started. Also, be sure to surround yourself with supportive people. My family and friends really helped me through some of the darkest days of my fertility journey.”
Read more patient stories here.

Schedule an Appointment

 
To schedule a virtual consultation with an SGF physician, please speak with our New Patient Center by calling 877-971-7755.

2026 Shady Grove Fertility

Also of interest