Lauren & Marlon

I was 18 years old when I learned I had polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). I wasn’t really considering children then, so it didn’t matter to me-nor was it really explained to me what it meant and how it would affect me later in life. I met my husband in 2012. We started dating in 2013 and married in 2015. Our story is a little different. We met Dr. Kallen when he was at another fertility clinic and then knew we had to follow him to Shady Grove Fertility.

Beginning our path to parenthood

I was seeing my OB/GYN and doing Clomid, and we were having no luck. My nurse at the time, Sarah, told me about another fertility clinic. We made an appointment in August of 2015 and were introduced to Dr. Kallen. Like me, he shoots straight from the hip, he’s honest, up front and doesn’t pretend with you. I absolutely LOVED that about him.

We did a few intrauterine inseminations (IUIs) with no luck. In January 2016, we did in vitro fertilization (IVF). We had two transfers which both ended in miscarriage. We were still a young couple, so we decided to take a break. We came back in October, transferred our final embryo, and it didn’t implant. I was ready to quit. But after a heart-to-heart conversation with Dr. Kallen, he convinced me to give it one more try with an IUI, and I agreed.

On a November afternoon, Dr. Kallen called me at work to tell me the IUI worked, and we were pregnant. The next 10 weeks went by quickly and I ‘graduated’ to my regular OB/GYN. In July of 2017, I gave birth to a healthy, 7lb 8oz baby boy, whom we affectionately name Caleb. If it hadn’t been for Dr. Kallen’s convincing, Caleb wouldn’t be here.

Finding fertility care at SGF

In 2019 we found Dr. Kallen had moved to Shady Grove Fertility. I was ready to give it another go and knew we would want Dr. Kallen on our team. We tried a few IUIs, but they didn’t work. I was also in college, working full time, and raising an almost 2-year-old. I think Dr. Kallen knew I wasn’t there mentally. He was more than receptive when I told him I needed a break.

When we came back in 2021, Dr. Kallen was there, ready and waiting! We did an IUI or two, and I did get pregnant, but it was in my tubes, and I think we all got scared. Because of my age (41), Dr. Kallen sat me down and told me that it wasn’t safe to continue with the IUIs. He recommended we move forward with IVF. We had a retrieval in October of 2022, did all the appropriate testing, and Dr. Kallen transferred our healthiest embryo on December 17, 2022. In August of 2023, we welcomed Luca, our second healthy baby boy at 6lbs and 4oz.

If it hadn’t been for Dr. Kallen’s commitment and dedication, we wouldn’t be parents. Dr. Kallen kept me motivated throughout the process. He gave me grace when I needed it, he gave me time when I needed it and most importantly, he gave me hope — but it came with no promises.

Holding on to hope

Infertility is stressful. IVF and the hormones and the outcomes are hard to deal with. You have to remain hopeful no matter what. Dr. Kallen gave that to us. That hope has given us two beautiful boys who are now 7 and 1.

I am eternally grateful to Dr. Kallen for his determination and because he didn’t give up on me when I was ready to give up on myself.

I’d tell future patients: Do your research, keep an open mind, don’t give yourself false hope, and don’t settle for a doctor that gives it to you either. Find a support group for you and your partner. Keep the communication open with you and your partner and PRAY!