Jennifer & Ryan

My husband and I began trying to expand our family after our first wedding anniversary. I was 35 at the time, and when things didn’t happen after seven months, we decided to get fertility testing done. The results were normal across the board, but we continued to get negative pregnancy tests month after month. That is when we turned to Eric D. Levens, M.D., and the care at Shady Grove Fertility in Fairfax for assistance. He previously helped a good friend of mine conceive her daughter a few years prior and came highly recommended.

Answers at last

During workups, my hysterosalpingogram (HSG) test revealed a distal blockage in my right fallopian tube. Dr. Levens suspected that endometriosis was the likely cause and referred me to a local surgeon to have the affected tube removed. This needed to be removed before I could start in vitro fertilization (IVF). Sure enough, endometriosis had caused the blockage. I was relieved to finally have answers. 

Loss, doubt, and being heard

Fast forward another four months, including the surgery and six weeks’ recovery, and I was ready to start my IVF journey. My egg retrieval was successful, yielding five euploid embryos. Over the next eight months, however, my husband and I suffered through one failed frozen embryo transfer (FET), one missed miscarriage at eight weeks, and took time off before heading into our third FET. It was a roller coaster, both physically and mentally. I was happy to know I could get pregnant, but I began having doubts that we would ever get to a live birth. Dr. Levens and his team were exceptionally caring during that time, checking in and also listening to my suggestions for future transfers.

A Valentine’s Day transfer

After taking some much-needed time off and to celebrate the holidays with my family, I was ready to jump back into another FET. We repeated a modified natural protocol adding in some new medications. I also ate a super clean Mediterranean diet to reduce any inflammation. They say the third time’s the charm, and our twins are living, breathing proof of that. Our Valentine’s Day transfer number three stuck. It made the two-and-a-half-year journey completely worth it.

My biggest advice to existing and future patients is to advocate for yourself and to be patient throughout the process. No one knows your body better than you. Share your thoughts and suggestions often with your care team. It took a few long years before we held our twins. However, we are proof that good things come to those who wait. We cannot thank SGF enough for their support.