Treatment

FOX 43 Reporter, Lynda Weed, opened up to viewers about expecting a baby boy this month. However, the pregnancy did not come easy.

Lynda and her husband, Tom, knew they wanted to add to their family right away, but it didn’t happen as quickly as expected. She started using ovulation kits to help predict her most fertile days. After a year of trying and still no pregnancy, Lynda and Tom reached out to a fertility specialist.

Their physician ran the proper tests, and all came back normal. Lynda fell into the unexplained infertility category.

Unexplained infertility is the failure to determine a cause of infertility after a thorough evaluation of both the male and female partner. Approximately 10 percent of infertility is unexplained. True unexplained infertility may be related to egg and sperm dysfunction, among other causes. These conditions are difficult to establish through conventional testing.

Lynda was able to get pregnant through intrauterine insemination (IUI), a process that involves sperm being placed directly into the uterus during ovulation. Two weeks later, Lynda and Tom received the good news that they were pregnant, but the pregnancy didn’t last for long. At five weeks, Lynda suffered a miscarriage.

Losing that pregnancy was devastating for Lynda and Tom. To make things even harder, Lynda hadn’t told anyone in her family that she was having problems getting pregnant.

Lynda’s sister, Heather, was dealing with similar trials. Heather and her husband, Justin, spent over 3 years trying to get pregnant. Like Lynda, Heather tried IUI, but it didn’t work for her. She moved onto in vitro fertilization (IVF) and found out she was pregnant, but unfortunately miscarried.
“It was our first pregnancy and we were so excited,” said Heather. “We told our family. It didn’t last and it was really hard.”

Heather leaned on family and her husband to help her through this heartbreaking time, but it wasn’t enough.

“I would be out at the store and I would have to go home because I would start having a panic attack.”

Heather found a support group of other women dealing with the same struggles.

Two failed IVF attempts later, and Heather knew she needed to make a change. She switched fertility specialists and began seeing Dr. Sasson at Shady Grove Fertility’s Chesterbrook, PA office.

Heather went through the IVF process and five out of six embryos came back normal.

“For Heather, from the group of eggs we got for her, I was expecting only to find 2 or 3 normal ones. She was super lucky. She got 5 normal ones to be able to work with,” says Dr. Sasson.

At the age of 37, Heather now had 5 more chances to get pregnant.

“We put one in, and we are pregnant. We are finally pregnant!” Heather has a baby girl coming this January.

As for Lynda, it did take some time to heal emotionally and physically after her miscarriage. Once ready, Lynda and Tom attempted a second IUI cycle. She is now pregnant with a baby boy coming in October.

Lynda said her one regret through the entire process was suffering in silence.

Infertility is More Common Than People Think

You are not alone—more than one in eight couples have struggled with infertility. It is likely that many of your family or friends have dealt with similar issues, but due to social pressures they have not disclosed their struggles. Rely upon your inner circle of friends and family and remember that you do not owe anyone an explanation.

Many people who struggle with infertility experience self-blame, feelings of hopelessness, depression, anxiety, and sexual difficulties. Please know that in addition to seeking fertility care there are several reproductive mental health specialists who can provide great help to those in need. You can learn more about SGF’s patient support program here. Also, Our Facebook community of 30K strong is a wonderful way to connect with past and current patients and to share stories, tips, and offer words of hope and encouragement.

To learn more or to schedule an appointment with an SGF physician, please call our New Patient Center at 1-877-971-7755 or complete our online form.

What is egg freezing? At the time, I didn’t need to know because I had a husband and didn’t have fertility issues. I was blessed with the ability to have children naturally. However, as the saying goes, “if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.” I unexpectedly lost my husband. I have a young son and never imagined him being an only child. There is nothing wrong with having only one, but I wanted him to have someone to grow up with, especially since it’s now just the two of us.

I had heard of egg freezing but didn’t know anything about it or anyone who had gone through the process. Late one night, I started my research. If I’m doing this, I want the best doctor and the best fertility practice. That’s when I found an article about Shady Grove Fertility. Their closest office was 2+ hours away in Atlanta. I did a phone consult, a handful of tests, and an in-person consult.

I committed; however, I didn’t want anyone to know. I panicked when a large box of injections was delivered to my house. I’m expected to give myself three injections per day?! That’s when I told my mom I made the decision to freeze my eggs. She was very supportive, as I knew deep down she would be, and she became my at-home nurse.

I would be lying if I said it was an easy process, but women are strong, and we can endure just about anything. I was filled with anxiety the morning of my egg retrieval. What if something goes wrong?  What if they can only retrieve a few mature eggs? What if I have to go through this process several more times? The “what ifs” were endless.

As I was awaiting my retrieval, I was greeted by the kindest and most supportive SGF staff. They didn’t rush me, and they let me ask questions like, “are you sure I’ll wake up after the procedure?” After all, I’m now an only parent and have to be careful about the decisions I make for the sake of my 3-year-old son.

I woke up after the procedure, which only took about 30 minutes. I had the best nap when I got home, and I went back to work the next day. The nurse called the following morning to tell me the retrieval was a success and I now had 14 frozen eggs. I was on top of the world!

I went from telling nobody to telling everybody that I froze my eggs. I want every woman to know about this incredible option. The hardest and most prohibitive part for many people is paying for the procedure. I had a platinum insurance policy, and I was on my own to pay a lot of money out of pocket before the process even started. Trying to remain positive, I thought about the thousands of rewards miles I just racked up on my credit card!

Egg freezing is an investment in the future and probably the best one I’ve ever made. I no longer have to worry about my biological clock ticking as I rebuild my life. No matter how old I am if or when I decide to have another child, my eggs will always be 36. As my eggs wait to be thawed one day, medicine continues to advance, and the statistics continue to improve. How lucky are women to have this gift?!  As I prepare for one more cycle, the only regret I have is that I didn’t freeze my eggs sooner.

To learn more about egg freezing at Shady Grove Fertility or to schedule an appointment, call 1-877-411-9292 or submit this brief online form.

This is Jordan and Josh’s story of overcoming premature ovarian failure at a young age and welcoming a baby girl through donor egg treatment at Shady Grove Fertility:

I was diagnosed with premature ovarian failure at a very young age, but officially diagnosed at 26 years old. Prior to my diagnosis, it was always my biggest dream to have children. When I initially learned why I would need an egg donor, I was absolutely devastated. Years went by and I saw various doctors, but none of them seemed inclined to help me or give me any hope. After I married my husband, Josh, we got more serious about starting a family, and decided to go straight to the best. We sought out treatment with Dr. Bromer at Shady Grove Fertility.

Right away, I felt comfortable, understood and excited for the first time since my diagnosis. Dr. Bromer took such care and time to guide us and always went the extra mile. He explained that he could give us our best possible chance by using donor egg and believed it would be a viable option for us. We felt encouraged by our treatment plan and took Dr. Bromer’s advice. And how THRILLED we were that we did.

Our treatment plan was made very clear and we felt supported throughout. We were so happy to have a chance, finally, at a family of our own. Our first transfer was on March 20, 2017, and it worked the first try! I sobbed with happiness; I could barely believe it. We had our miracle baby girl in December 2018, and plan on using another of our 3 remaining embryos to give her a sibling in the future. She is the light of our lives, our greatest gift from God, and our reason for existing.

If I could go back in time years earlier, hopeless and beside myself with sadness, I would tell myself that there’s nothing to be sad about because the greatest joy you’ve ever known is just ahead. I would tell myself to hang in there and have faith. I would never trade our story for another. Our little girl is perfect in every way, and I am SO happy that we had this beautiful chapter in our lives. I am grateful every single day, and never take it for granted.

If you have the option to use donor egg to complete your family, I encourage you with all my heart to seek it out and open yourself up to the possibility that it’s the best thing you’ll ever do. We can’t thank Dr. Bromer, our nurses and the Shady Grove Fertility staff enough for all of their help. We can’t wait to work with them again in the future. This has been the best experience and I am so glad that God brought us to SGF! We were meant to be parents in this different, but beautiful way. And our lives are more amazing, rich and indescribably happier for it.

For the first time in my life, I can say that I am glad I have premature ovarian failure. Without it, I would have never gone down this path that led us to our little girl. There are no words to describe the gratitude and love that we feel. And I’m confident that you will feel the same way. Sending love your way as you embark on your family’s journey. With Shady Grove Fertility by your side, you will feel confident knowing you are being guided in the right direction!

Read more patient stories: here.

To learn more about donor egg treatment or to schedule an appointment with one of our physicians, please contact our New Patient Center at 1-877-971-7755 or complete our brief online form.

 Dr. Brianna Schumacher, who sees patients out of SGF’s Philadelphia and Chesterbrook offices, joined Fox 43 News to explain why egg freezing is such a beneficial option for individuals and couples looking to preserve their fertility.

“I will ask how many kids they want. They say we will be happy with one.” However, Dr. Schumacher says she wants to give couples a chance to have their ideal family.

Patients range from those who went through IVF and have extra embryos they want to save for the future, and women who want to save their eggs now.

“A lot of women that come to me will be single women or women who are in a relationship or have endometriosis,” said Dr. Schumacher. “They know they want children someday, but it might not be the time.”

The best time to have a baby is an incredibly personal decision and one that takes significant thought and consideration. As part of this decision-making process, you may choose to freeze your eggs for the following reasons:

• Timing: There are a multitude of reasons you may not be ready to start a family. Some of the reasons frequently cited by egg-freezing patients are school, career, travel, and—very often—not having met the right partner yet.
• Future Family Planning: You may already have a child, but you know that by the time you’re ready for more, you may be older and your ovarian reserve (egg supply) may be affected. By freezing when you’re in your early- to mid-30s, your fertility at that point in time will be preserved for the future.
• Uncertainty: You may not know if you want children, but freezing your eggs provides you with the possibility later on if you change your mind.
• Known Medical Conditions: Certain medical conditions may impair your ability to have children: endometriosis, family history of premature ovarian failure, or treatment for cancer, to name a few. Egg freezing can help to keep options open for the future.

Dr. Schumacher recommends making the decision to freeze your eggs as early as possible.

“When women are younger, less than 35, we expect most of their eggs to be normal and have the correct number of chromosomes.”

Younger women are becoming more proactive about their fertility. Women are also becoming savvier and more inclined to have their fertility tested to see where their fertility stands in order to preserve their options through egg freezing before the inevitable decline in egg quality and quantity. Many women who freeze call the endeavor “a gift for your future” or a “security blanket” that offers them options for their future.

[READ: Talk Show Hosts Experience “Aha Moment” After Dr. McCarthy-Keith’s Egg Freezing Explanation]

Choosing Shady Grove Fertility

Shady Grove Fertility has been freezing eggs using vitrification technology since 2009, performing hundreds of cycles each year, giving us substantial experience with the process. Furthermore, enough time has elapsed to allow the accumulation of data for pregnancy outcomes in women returning to use their frozen eggs.

[Read: Meredith’s story about her egg freezing journey at Shady Grove Fertility]

[Watch: Egg Freezing On-Demand Webinar]

Getting started is simple. To learn more about egg freezing at Shady Grove Fertility or to schedule an appointment, call 1-877-411-9292 or submit this brief online form.

Dr. Shayne Plosker, who sees patients at SGF’s Brandon, FL location, joined ABC’s The Morning Blend in Tampa Bay to explain the IVF process and how it’s changed over the years. In the last decade, advanced freezing technology has allowed more patients to have multiple children as a result of one IVF cycle, thereby reducing the cost and easing the process for patients.

Watch the full segment: here.

Host: What is IVF and how are you able to help patients build their families?
Dr. Plosker: In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a process where the woman is given fertility drugs. The goal of the fertility drugs is to get the ovaries to release as many eggs as they possibly can during that particular month. In normal circumstances, women will release one egg at a time and have one baby at a time. The goal here is to get as many [eggs] as we can. We do ultrasound monitoring and blood testing, and with that, we can determine when the eggs are mature. Once they’re mature, we retrieve them in a 15-20 minute procedure, fertilize them with her partner’s sperm, and at some point in the future, transfer a certain number of fertilized eggs back into the uterus. Usually in this day and age, that’s one fertilized egg at a time.

Host: Are you seeing more people seeking out IVF?
Dr. Plosker: Without a doubt, more people are utilizing IVF. If you look at the number of IVF cycles in the United States annually, it’s well over 200,000 now. And I can remember not so long ago, 10 to 15 years ago, when it was closer to 100,000 or even less, so it’s become a much more accessible treatment.

Host: How has the IVF process changed and improved over time?
Dr. Plosker: Huge improvements. I’ve been around since the beginning of IVF actually. Back in the mid-80s, the procedure to get the eggs was a laparoscopy so it required general anesthesia, and a couple of little abdominal incisions. It was very uncontrolled.
We were at the mercy of when the woman was going to ovulate. Back then, it wasn’t beyond the possibility of sitting there at two in the morning doing an egg retrieval. Things have improved tremendously. Even in the mid-80s we were able to do ultrasound-guided retrievals, which is a much less invasive procedure for the patient.

Host: Do women have to go through the retrieval process multiple times?
Dr. Plosker: It’s possible, although that is one of the other improvements. As technology has become more sophisticated, it’s not beyond the realm now that women will go through one retrieval, get all of the eggs they need, and then have those embryos available to build the rest of their family. So, they have their baby and there are some frozen embryos available and they’re able to come back and have another embryo transfer with the frozen embryos, so that is one of the improvements that we’ve seen.

Host: When is it time to seek help from a fertility specialist?
Dr. Plosker: If you’re under the age of 35, I think it’s reasonable to try for a year on your own before seeing a physician. Between 35 and 40, I probably wouldn’t give it much longer than 6 months. And once you’re 40, in my opinion, it doesn’t hurt to call and get an evaluation.

To learn more or to schedule an appointment with an SGF physician, please contact our New Patient Call Center at 1-877-971-7755 or complete this brief online form.