Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

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Shady Grove Fertility’s Facebook community has become a place for men and women across the globe who have been affected by infertility to turn for support. With nearly 13,000 fans, there is always someone there when it comes to getting through some of the rockiest points while on the fertility journey. In the case of Andrea and Sandi, the support they were looking for quickly became a bond stronger than they ever dreamed of, forever changing their lives.

Pursuing parenthood

Andrea and Mark married in May 2008 and decided to say goodbye to birth control, figuring “whatever happens, happens.” Mark had a son from a previous marriage, and Andrea was young with regular cycles, so they figured conceiving would be no problem at all. When they still hadn’t conceived by June 2009, Andrea and Mark began using ovulation predictor kits and started timing intercourse. Without success, Andrea and Mark scheduled an appointment with Jeanne E. O’Brien, M.D. at Shady Grove Fertility.
It was discovered that Andrea had PCOS, so they began treatment with Clomid and timed intercourse. Their first cycle resulted in a positive pregnancy test, but sadly it was a chemical pregnancy.

When Andrea met Sandi

The fertility treatments were playing hard on Andrea’s emotions, so Mark encouraged her to seek support from women in similar circumstances. Andrea joined Shady Grove Fertility’s Facebook page and quickly connected with a woman named Sandi.
Sandi and her husband, Philip, were also patients of Dr. O’Brien’s at SGF and happened to live close to Andrea and Mark. The women decided to meet for dinner and brought along their husbands. The couples really hit it off!
“We spent several hours just talking at the restaurant that first evening, and we couldn’t wait to get together again,” explains Andrea. From there, a lifelong friendship was started, and both women were there for each other during all the ups and downs of fertility treatment.

Good news!

After several more treatment cycles, Andrea and Mark received the news they had been waiting for – twins! Sandi was so happy for her friend, and over the next few months, the two continued to become closer and closer. Despite her own disappointments with four failed IVF cycles, Sandi remained Andrea’s biggest supporter throughout the pregnancy.
Shortly before the birth of Andrea’s children, Sandi was told that in order to become a mother, she would likely need a gestational carrier. Sandi shared this news with Andrea, who immediately offered to be Sandi’s gestational carrier.
Sandi and Andrea’s story of friendship and courage has been shared on NBC’s Today Show as well as the Herald Mail, the local paper in Andrea’s town of Hagerstown, MD. Catch up with Andrea and Sandi to see where they are now!



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Infertility terms
In vitro fertilization (IVF)
Gestational carrier
Polycystic ovary syndrome

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Dr. Jeanne O’Brien
Rockville, Maryland location
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How we met

I laugh when people ask how Joshua and I ‘met.’ I’m pretty sure I was aware of him a lot longer than he was of me because I was in the same grade as his younger brother. I even watched Joshua play football for our High School growing up. Of course, he was oblivious to who I was, as he was several classes above me. Such is life! But the funny thing about life is, sometimes it all comes around. Joshua and I had several mutual friends and would occasionally run into each other at get-togethers. We really ‘met’ and got to know each other better after he and I began working at a movie rental store. When he found out I was in the same class as his younger brother, I thought we wouldn’t go anywhere because he thought the age difference was ‘weird.’ However, we began dating and never looked back! Joshua and I were married in 2012 and were looking forward to starting a family of our own.

The beginning of our fertility journey

My husband had a son from a previous relationship and we were very excited to give him a brother or sister. Unfortunately, we tried for over a year to become pregnant with no success. We originally went to a nearby Medical Center and were very disappointed as they diagnosed me with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and stated there was no way I was going to be able to get pregnant, and if I did, it would likely be an unsafe pregnancy. We were heartbroken and thought that our journey was over. It took a lot of time to ‘bounce back’ from that devastating news and we took some time to re-evaluate and consider options available to us.
After speaking to a friend, I called and made an appointment with a doctor at a different local Hospital. He was amazing and tried to help my husband and I navigate through infertility. Although we couldn’t get pregnant, we felt as though there was some hope. When we continued trying for two more years without success, it was time for us to seek further help.

Coming to SGF

Our doctor referred us to Shady Grove Fertility. My husband and I felt that we needed to take a small break before going to SGF to give my body time to recuperate from all the previous treatment, so we scheduled a consultation in January 2017. We met with Dr. Roth at the Harrisburg – Camp Hill office and we were blown away by the staff, facility, and how caring and compassionate everyone was. A woman named Caitie was assigned to me as my Patient Representative and she completely changed my life. She was the first person I met that made me feel completely comfortable and truly made me feel as though pregnancy was going to be a reality for us. Dr. Roth, my nurse Tracey, and Caitie were constantly in touch with me to see how I was doing and to answer any questions.

Going through treatment

I was diagnosed with PCOS and began the process of treatment. My husband and I participated in timed intercourse cycles and treatment through medication. I was placed on Progesterone to induce a period, and then Femara to encourage egg stimulation. Unfortunately, my eggs were stimulated but would not mature to a big enough size to be viable for pregnancy. We continued on the same course, but also added Follistem following Femara to help my eggs mature. It was a very tough time for us. All of the different medications, the strict schedule we needed to be on and all of the injections were awful. Joshua was a trooper through it all, giving me the injections I needed because I couldn’t do it to myself. Much to our surprise, the medication worked! We finally saw some progress. Although we were very excited, now the issue of ovulation presented itself. We felt like we were taking one step forward and two steps back.
When trying to find a solution for my inability to ovulate, it was also discovered that I had uterine polyps that were blocking any potential eggs from progressing from my Fallopian tubes to my uterus. I had to have surgery to remove the polyps before continuing with fertility treatment. Following the surgery, Ovidrell was added to the medication that I was already taking to encourage ovulation. It seemed like everything was working and everything was in place for this to finally happen! My husband and I were very excited but were ultimately disappointed that the cycle was not a success. We were asked to try another cycle with all the same medication but told that this would be the last cycle of timed intercourse, as it was our fourth attempt. My husband and I were very anxious because we knew we couldn’t afford IVF and this was our last chance. Every ultrasound with negative results, every disappointing call was devastating but Dr. Roth, Tracey and Caitie were all there every step of the way and despite being nervous, we finally got the answer that we were waiting for.

The good news!

After 4 years of trying, I was finally pregnant! I got the call from Dr. Roth personally in October 2017. The staff at SGF guided me through PCOS, infertility, numerous failed attempts, and the first 8 weeks of my pregnancy with such kindness, care, and compassion, I don’t know what I would have done without them. I remember crying when I was referred back to my hospital because it meant that I would no longer be seeing ‘my team’ and wouldn’t be going to SGF appointments anymore. The transition back to my previous OB/GYN was flawless and they all asked to be kept up-to-date throughout the remainder of my pregnancy.

My baby girl

Our daughter, Presley, was born in June and she is absolutely perfect. I continue to stay in contact with Dr. Roth, Tracey and Caitie and recently took Presley to visit the facility so she could meet those who helped us make this miracle a reality. I now have a beautiful baby girl and can’t express how grateful I am to everyone at SGF who helped my husband and I throughout our journey. Having my daughter, and finally becoming a mother is nothing short of a miracle and the answer to an infinite amount of prayer. Every tear, every failed cycle, all of the medication was all worth it to be able to hold her in our arms, to have her smile at us, to snuggle with her at night. I’m finally a mom, which is something I’ve waited my whole life to be and never thought would be possible. She’s my living proof that miracles do and can happen. It’s hard now to look back at everything we went through, and remember how much pain and sadness we experienced in those 4 years of waiting, trying and failing. But one look from our daughter is all it takes for me to forget all of that. I would do it all over just to be afforded the opportunity and blessing to be her mom.

Advice to future patients

I know what some of you are thinking and it is ok. I was the one reading testimonials over a year ago thinking, ‘yeah, it’s great it happened for them but it’s not likely for me.’ What do I want you to know? It is possible! Don’t lose hope! It can happen! We were told that we were never going to get pregnant from the first facility that we went to–99% probability that it would NEVER happen. The staff at SGF are some of the best people you will ever meet and will be there every step of the way to help you through your infertility journey. Take advantage of the staff that is assigned to you. They are more than willing to be a sounding board for you and are there for your questions, worries or concerns. They took that 1% chance that we were given, gave us hope, and our miracle happened. The best advice I can offer is don’t give up. If the desire is there to be a parent, don’t give up on your dream. Even if someone has told you no, and that it’s highly unlikely, go for what you want. If we had given up when we were told no, we never would have enjoyed our now 2-month-old, beautiful baby girl.



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Infertility terms
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Timed intercourse

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Dr. Lauren Roth
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania location
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At the age of 14, I was diagnosed with PCOS. Since then, I have been off and on birth control pills for about 11 to 12 years because of irregular periods and severe menstrual bleeding. In 2002, I left my home country for higher education and I discontinued taking the pills.
After an emergency visit to my doctor due to severe uncontrollable bleeding I started taking birth control pills again, but this time she suggested I get a second opinion from an infertility specialist. The specialist told me that I could be infertile, but at the time, I did not care much about the infertility issues and did not believe I could be the one suffering from infertility.
My medical problems didn’t stop there. In 2005, I was also diagnosed with high levels of estrogen and I had to discontinue the birth control pills. Then in 2007, I had a laparoscopy because of endometriosis and returned to the birth control pills to help regulate the endometriosis.

Trying on our own

I married my wonderful husband in 2009 who was aware of the future problems we probably would experience with trying to have children. During the first year of our marriage, we enjoyed married life and I worked on my dissertation. In 2010, we decided it was the “perfect time” to have kids and approached an OBGYN. He suggested that we try on our own to conceive naturally. We tried and tried every month for a year but were unsuccessful. By the end of the year, I knew I had to use some medications to conceive; so we approached the doctor again.
All indications were that I was ovulating, my Fallopian tubes were open and my husband’s semen analysis came back great. The doctor decided to put me on Clomid to help me ovulate more regularly. I completed six courses of Clomid medication with no results. At this point, it did really hurt day after day and month after month of going through the same routines, emotions and disappointments.
Trying to conceive was becoming an emotional roller coaster. I lost confidence in the doctor who was treating me and decided to switch to another. In my first visit, I remember she explained to me the different reasons for infertility. She said mine was unexplained infertility but I could be successful in getting pregnant. I began to regain confidence that my body knew what to do.
The doctor had to put me back on another three courses of Clomid and Ovidrel medications, but again I was unsuccessful. By this time, my OBGYN mentioned possible ovarian dysfunction and decided to refer me to a fertility specialist — Dr. Sagoskin at the Shady Grove Fertility Center, Rockville office.

Seeing a specialist

I was tired of having intercourse with the intent of trying to conceive and being unsuccessful and was ready to consider alternative treatment options. When we first walked into Shady Grove Fertility, I was confident that I would get pregnant. I remember Dr. Sagoskin welcomed us with a great smile and confidence into his office. Looking into my history he offered two options: IUI or IVF. He explained to us in detail about the two procedures, talked about the success rates and gave us a list of tests to have completed.
After talking it over we decided to move forward with IVF, we were happy with our decision and were looking forward to getting started. During the second appointment, he explained to us the protocol for the first IVF cycle. Like many other times in my life, the protocol called for birth control pills at the beginning of the cycle.
I was called in for the ultrasound during my period and they noticed I had an endometriosis cyst on my right ovary, which was 3cm in size. Dr. Sagoskin said we could proceed with the protocol after the cyst was removed. I returned to my OBGYN and had the laparoscopy to remove the cyst. During the surgery she found several other adhesions, but she assured me that I would get pregnant within the next three months, even though it was stage III endometriosis. She gave me a way to finally focus on some positive energy in the process of getting pregnant.

Finally getting starting

We were able to finally start the protocol for the first cycle of IVF in October. During my stimulation there were so many ups and downs emotionally. Everything was new and I always had that curiosity that would leave me wondering what would happen at the end. The protocols were new to us and we followed them religiously. During the entire procedure, the team at Shady Grove Fertility was available seven days a week to monitor the progress of my growing eggs and updated me with the newest instructions.
I was not scared of the egg retrieval, egg transfer or the needles. Out of six retrieved eggs, I had one embryo transferred. Unfortunately, that cycle was not successful, but I was very encouraged about what my mind could tell my body to do. We took a break for about a month and went back in January.
This time Dr. Sagoskin suggested a couple of changes in the protocol based on the results from our first cycle. We started off with the fresh second IVF cycle protocol in February 2013. I was very optimistic about this cycle and continued my stimulation, along with several sessions of acupuncture. After I started the medications I tried to create positive atmosphere around me. I had my own conscience and prayed for positive results. I had eleven eggs retrieved at my egg retrieval and eight embryos fertilized. On the day 5 transfer, I had two embryos transferred. We requested not to freeze any more embryos. It was the end of the cycle and the two week wait started.

The finish line

I kept myself busy doing crochet, meditation, listening to music, etc. I did not give any room for negative thinking. My nurse, Paige, gave me a lot of support during the whole treatment. She also gave me a two-week wait coping card on the day of my embryo transfer, which really helped me get through the wait. I never had any pregnancy symptoms but kept myself positive. I knew I was going to make it this time.
I was called in for my beta test on March 4th. I remember it was a Monday. We walked in early at 6.45am for the blood work. By 10:30am my nurse called. I remember her saying “Are you ready for your happy times?” –it finally happened… I was pregnant.
My husband was at work and I thought I would surprise him by stopping by, but called instead and told him “Congratulations daddy!” He was so excited and responded with “Congratulations mommy!”
We are so grateful to Dr. Sagoskin and his team. On the day of our first ultrasound, he said “Congratulations, you made it. I am so happy for you both” and gave a very warm hug to both of us. The protocols and the entire process seemed to be strenuous and stressful but at the end they really paid off.

My advice to a friend

Now, I am in my second trimester and due in November. My journey was awesome even though at times it was hard. My advice for the others who are trying to conceive is never feel like you are alone, they are so many people around us who also struggle with infertility.
When starting IUI or IVF treatments, have confidence in yourself and your medical team, together you can get through it. The entire Shady Grove Fertility team from the front office to financial counselors, nurses, and doctors are well coordinated and cater to the needs of each patient. Try not to browse the Internet and relate your problem with the others, who might have other issues, everyone is different.
Do not get discouraged when a family member or friends ask about getting pregnant. I had to overcome answering many of my acquaintances too. I used to be upfront with them and never lost my perseverance.



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Diagnosis and treatment

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Infertility terms
In vitro fertilization (IVF)
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Endometriosis

Receiving care

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Dr. Arthur W. Sagoskin
Rockville, Maryland location
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Craig and I met at work, the first job out of college for both of us. We were in sales on competing teams and were forbidden from dating. So we had to hide our relationship at the office. We bring out the best in one another and knew within 3 months of dating that we were going to get married.

Coming to Shady Grove Fertility

My story with Shady Grove Fertility really began when I was a teenager, newly diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) with the advice that I would need assistance when Craig and I were ready to have children. When that time came, I made an appointment at Shady Grove Fertility.
I first worked with Dr. Osborn. I was immediately comfortable with her and felt that we were going to tackle this together in a systematic way. It helped me so much to understand this was a learning process, where each test gave us a hint about which way to go. Each patient has a unique story and it is not a “one size fits all” treatment plan. Our first round of treatment gave us our first daughter via intrauterine insemination (IUI). Our second round gave us our twin daughters via in vitro fertilization (IVF). Dr. O’Brien actually did my transfer for our twins, and she was my physician for my 3rd go-around as a gestational carrier.

Becoming a gestational carrier

With three fabulous girls, we thought we were done having babies. One day, I got a call from my close family friend, Katie, who had an unusual life-changing question for me. Katie and I have known each other our entire lives. Our mothers were best friends, we grew up together in the same town, went to the same school, and sang in show choir together.
She desperately wanted to complete her family but was unable to carry another child on her own. So, she wanted to know if I would be willing to help her and her husband have another child via gestational carrier.
Honestly, one of my first thoughts was, “I know just who to call – Shady Grove Fertility!”
In many ways, the GC process was easier than before because I was familiar with what was going to happen. I had done all of these tests before, so there were few surprises. And because I was doing this for Katie and Joe, it was actually less isolating. There was a bigger group of us pulling for this to all work out!

Giving birth to Grace

Katie lives in NYC and had come down to Maryland a few days before I went into labor, so we were able to hang out together as families. The birthing process was smooth, and I was SUPER proud that I was able to push her out naturally since I had a c-section in the past. My husband was right beside me helping me push and Katie was watching for the moment Grace joined the world. As soon as she was here, I think we all just cheered, and they gave her to Katie and Joe. It was awesome to hear her cry. The first time they laid Grace down, she stuck her little foot way up in the air the SAME exact way she had been doing inside me for the last few months! Katie and her bonded right away, and little Grace is a nearly identical copy of Katie as a baby.
Katie and I are closer than ever. We live in different cities, and we’re both busy people of course, but this experience helped us solidify that we are really family and we’re here for each other no matter what. The family photo you see here is of my three girls, Grace, and Katie at Grace’s baptism.

Advice to those considering becoming a gestational carrier

I know our situation is a bit unique since we knew each other, and it was easier for me because I had been through the process before. My advice would be to make sure you’re laying the groundwork for committing to the process, which includes finding your own legal representation. Get through the icky part of clarifying all the “what if’s” on paper and it will be an extraordinary foundation for the rest of the experience. It’s important for your partner as well as yourself. You will all be able to move forward without second thoughts or questions.
Second, talk with one another about how much communication you each expect throughout the process and throughout the pregnancy. The staff at Shady Grove Fertility will be sharing all the medical information as necessary, but it’s also important to talk about how much detail you want to share with each other, like how often to send pictures and ultrasound printouts. As a GC, I believe you play a part in making sure that the parents feel connected to the baby before it’s born.

More words of advice and encouragement

My story with Shady Grove Fertility has resulted in 4 beautiful children: 3 of my own, and one that I carried as a gestational carrier.
Honestly, one of the biggest compliments I have for Shady Grove Fertility is the EFFICIENCY of the process. Treatment can be a huge pain because timing is so important, there are many check-ins along the way and a lot of moving parts. Nonetheless, the staff at Shady Grove Fertility has your back. They are there to make sure you don’t miss a step and will find a way to make each step fit into your life.
Fertility treatment is hard, and it can be frustrating. And it is one of those things in your life where you just have to trust the process, trust these doctors, trust these professionals. They are doing their absolute best to help you achieve your goals and there is no doubt about that. I owe so much happiness to the team at Shady Grove Fertility.



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Diagnosis and treatment

We understand you may have questions about infertility and how it’s treated. Gain answers from the diagnosis and treatments shared in this story.
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
Gestational Carrier

Receiving care

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Dr. Barbara Osborn
K Street, Washington, DC location
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Just after meeting my husband Dan, we found ourselves working together in Lucca, Italy. Though we had only been dating for six months, we already knew that we were soul mates. It was in Lucca that we began to dream of all that our lives would be together…including someday having a child. A child we had decided to name Lucca, after the city where our love and dreams as a couple were captured.
In the summer of 2006, we began trying to have a baby. I knew there may be some complications with conception but I didn’t realize the full extent until my husband and I began to try to have a child.
When I was in high school, I had a large ovarian cyst that had to be surgically removed. As a result, my doctor had to take out a portion of my ovary and fallopian tube. After the surgery, I was placed on birth control pills in an attempt to prevent any future cystic growth.

The cause of infertility

We tried everything from ovulation predictor kits and fertility watches to homeopathic doctors and fertility specialists all around the country. After seeing many specialists, we learned the ovarian cyst removal surgery shocked my body into a pre-menopausal state.
We tried fertility drugs and intrauterine insemination (IUI), and finally we were told that the only way that we could conceive was with donor egg treatment. We continued to work with other fertility specialists. Unfortunately, they did not have their own donor egg bank; instead, they collaborated with a local bank. We were than told that they didn’t have any current donors and we would have to wait for them to send us emails as donors became available. After months of sending frustrated emails asking to be sent any possible donors without much response, we knew something was not right and that we needed to look into our other options.

A chance encounter

As luck would have it, my father spoke with a friend that had also been told he could never have children. It was the second opinion that led him to Shady Grove Fertility. He couldn’t help but glow as he spoke about the beautiful daughter he thought he would never have. That’s when I began researching Shady Grove Fertility.
In my research, I came across a news story about Shady Grove Fertility Center’s donor egg program. They were offering a free donor egg seminar near our home in Philadelphia. I immediately registered Dan and myself for the event and attended the following week. We were awestruck by the science behind treatment and hopeful after learning about the success rates and financial programs. We made the decision to seek treatment with Dr. Eric Levens. We had been very happy with our current fertility specialist, but the moment that the elevator doors opened at our first visit to Shady Grove Fertility I turned to Dan and said “THIS is where babies are made.”.

Preparing for donor egg treatment

At first, I honestly didn’t know how I felt about donor egg treatment. I found it difficult to talk about so I found myself researching…and researching. Until one day it was as if a switch flipped as I read an online blog. I ran in to tell my husband, “An egg is just an egg without my blood, without my oxygen, without your sperm to fertilize it. We could take that single cell and turn it into our embryo. We were giving life to that baby.”
When we met the Shady Grove Fertility team, I immediately knew that they cared. Our team, which we now call our Shady Grove Family, wanted to move heaven and earth to make our dream of having a child a reality. In particular, Angela on the donor team was so kind and understanding. She listened to our wishes for a donor and never stopped for one second in her search for the “perfect donor” for us.

While we were looking for the perfect donor, we met with Amy, our financial counselor at Shady Grove Fertility, to plan financially for our treatment. Insurance did not cover any of our expenses so I immediately began applying for any grants that might be able to help with the cost. Dr. Levens was so supportive; he took the time to write letters to each of the foundations that we submitted applications.

By late October, I had heard from every grant except one…they had all decided to award their grants to other couples. But in a few short days our lives would be forever changed.

Accidental fate

They say it is always darkest before the dawn… That week we were reminded of just that. On Monday, Hurricane Sandy hit. On Wednesday, as the horrible devastation to the East Coast was unveiled, we realized that my parents’ home was destroyed. It was a place that held some of my most cherished memories; a place where I felt a sense of peace and comfort and suddenly it was all gone. Yet that very same day we had such a ray of hope within a very sad time. Since beginning our journey to have a child in 2006, we finally saw a glimpse of our happy ending within a phone call. It was Angela saying she thought she had found us the perfect donor. I ran to the computer and cried as I read the profile because I knew that this woman who took such care to understand our hopes and wishes was right. Angela had found us the perfect donor!
The next day, my mom and dad were admitted back into their neighborhood to take pictures for their insurance claims. I remember the day so clearly, it was incredibly hard for them. After realizing their home was considered a total loss, I remember my mom’s words exactly, she just said… “We will hold onto the memories and make even more when we rebuild. We are okay and your miracle will be coming soon …and that is all that matters.”
As my mom was talking, I noticed our landline ringing, of course I didn’t pick up. Then my cell began to ring, and when I looked at the caller ID, I realized that I recognized the number. It was the name that I had addressed a grant application. It was Pay It Forward Fertility. I remember thinking after so many emails saying that we didn’t get all of the previous grants, why would this grant call? I quickly answered and it was Lori Moscato. She called to tell us that we were being awarded an $8000 grant to use toward fertility treatment. You can’t imagine hearing such news at such a sad time. It felt like such a roller coaster of emotions.

Lori Moscato and the Pay It Forward Foundation changed our lives. I struggle with ways to fully articulate just how grateful we are to them for what they did for us, for what they continue to do for so many couples. Every time I look down at my little angel, I am reminded of Pay It Forward…our guardian angel.

After we were awarded the grant, the process went so smoothly. It was as if it was our sign that it was meant to be. In late November, I began my hormone shots and by late December we had our transfer. Two weeks later we got the news and were so excited to be spending the New Year celebrating my pregnancy!!!!

I knew this was our time

After such a long journey, I knew this was our time. My pregnancy was a magical time. It was such a gift to feel the miracle of my son growing inside of me…to feel his sweet, little hiccups and strong kicks…to hear his heartbeat! On August 31st, 10 months later, I held my miracle thanks to Pay It Forward and Shady Grove Fertility. My husband couldn’t stop crying when he saw him. He just kept repeating, “He’s so beautiful…He’s so beautiful…” And when my husband brought our son to me for the first time he said, “It’s Lucca. This is Lucca.” Of course the name meant so much to us because of our time in the city but what meant the most to me was the meaning. His name means ‘bringer of light’. It couldn’t be more perfect. He brought us our light. I will be forever grateful to Pay It Forward and Shady Grove Fertility for giving us our miracle, our light.
From one beautiful name, Pay It Forward, to another, Lucca… I feel an utter calling to help educate people about the angels amidst my journey. The angels that make it their life’s work to help others who are struggling with their excruciating journey through infertility to finding their “Lucca”, their bringer of light.



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Diagnosis and treatment

We understand you may have questions about infertility and how it’s treated. Gain answers from the diagnosis and treatments shared in this story.
In vitro fertilization (IVF)
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Donor egg treatment

Receiving care

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Dr. Eric Levens
Fairfax, Virginia location
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We got married Aug 4, 2012. As soon as we got married we started trying for a baby. Well by March 2016 we still were not pregnant and couldn’t figure out why. So I called Shady Grove. We made an appt for Aug 2016. When we walked in we met with Dr. McKeeby.
Within the hour we had with him he diagnosed me with PCOS and told us that we will have a baby. We left the office filled with so much hope! We decided to try IUI first. Our first try in September failed. So we tried again in November which also failed. At that point, I was so emotionally broken and decided to take a break for the holidays to avoid depression.
In February of 2017, we called and told them we wanted to pursue 1 IVF treatment. It was my final chance and if it failed I was ready to accept that I would never give my husband a baby. We did a 5-day transfer in Mid March and went home to pray for the best.
On March 28th (which was also my husband’s birthday) we found out that after 4.5 years of trying we were finally gonna have a baby! We both cried. It was the best day of our marriage.
We had a few small complications during our pregnancy but then on November 29, 2017, I gave birth to an 8lb 2.5oz baby boy!
The most beautiful baby boy I’d ever laid my eyes on. He’s just absolutely perfect in every way! And I can’t thank the team at Shady Grove enough for everything they did and for giving me that extra push when I was ready to tap out! Thank you for completing our family!



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Diagnosis and treatment

We understand you may have questions about infertility and how it’s treated. Gain answers from the diagnosis and treatments shared in this story.
Infertility terms
In vitro fertilization (IVF)
Polycystic ovary syndrome

Receiving care

Assemble your fertility care team close to home. Explore our different locations and physicians who will provide guidance along your journey.
Dr. Jeffrey McKeeby
Annapolis, Maryland location
Find a location near me

2026 Shady Grove Fertility

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