Amy & John

I always knew I wanted to be a mom. But I also wanted to enjoy my twenties, finish my education, and work on my career. I also wanted to make sure when I was ready to start a family I was with the right person. I met John in December of 2010 through a good friend.

We got engaged in December 2011 and married in June 2012. We wanted a family right away. John was 40 and I was 34 when we got married so I knew it might not be as easy as it might have been if we’d met 10 years earlier.

Finding a diagnosis

After a year and a half of trying, at the suggestion of my OB/GYN, we visited Shady Grove Fertility. I’ve had friends who have had trouble conceiving so I was petrified. I knew how long and stressful the process to have a baby could be. I was also worried about the diagnosis…would it be low sperm count? Would my eggs be bad? What if it was my weight?

The first appointment was a bit overwhelming but we got the information we needed and felt comfortable moving forward with testing. When everything came back normal (and my husband likes to say his sperm count came back as ‘super sperm’) then I really started to get scared. What does this mean? How will we treat this? Why is everything normal and I still can’t get pregnant?

The staff at Shady Grove Fertility helped calm me down. They assured us that unexplained infertility is actually one of the most common types. They had seen many couples with the same diagnosis have successful pregnancies.

Determining a treatment

We discussed our options and decided to go for a stimulated IUI before moving on to more invasive procedures. In the months leading up to the procedure, I took care of myself by eating well, exercising, and having regular acupuncture.

Leading up to the procedure, I had to give myself shots and go in for regular monitoring. My husband was too scared to give me the shots! But once I got used to it I realized it was not really that bad. Giving myself shots was actually empowering. I felt like I was doing something important and productive in our journey.

Then suddenly (it seemed sudden at the time) I got a call that I had ovulated on my own and I would need to come in for the transfer. I was so worried since I didn’t know how long those three follicles would stick around.

My nurse Stacey called later in the day with the good news. I just couldn’t believe it! We were over the moon excited. Eight months later (she was early) we were able to hold our little baby girl.

The two week wait was tough but I really tried to stay busy with Christmas and then New Years. The night of the transfer we even went to a party! After 2 weeks I went in for my blood test and was convinced that it didn’t work. I didn’t feel pregnant at all.

Advice to future patients

I would tell future patients to try to seek out others going through what they are going through. I found some fertility groups online which were a great support. You are not alone!