Infertility Journey

We suffered through MFI, male factor infertility, for 10 years. We were told we have less than a 1% chance of ever getting pregnant on our own. We've experienced two fresh IVF cycles, one frozen transfer, one miscarriage, one surprise miracle pregnancy, and the loss of many embryos along the way. This is our journey from Pargeon party of 2 to Pargeon party of 7.



The Beginning
January 2007 - Pull the goalie
October 2007 - Started charting cycles
January 2008 - Meet with OB to discuss testing options
February 2008 - Semen analysis #1 - Reveals possible issues
April 2008 - HSG - Clear tubes, possible fibroid
September 2008 - Meet with Urologist - Physically all looks ok.
Continue trying on our own

Early Treatment
January 2010 - Get referral to RE, Reproductive Endocrinologist. Discuss treatments and testing. IVF is recommended, but we agree to start with IUI after a few tests and procedures.
April 2010 - Begin acupuncture.
May 2010 - Hysteroscopy - Get the all clear to begin treatment
June 2010 - IUI, Intrauterine Insemination #1 - Negative
July 2010 - IUI #2, with clomid - Negative
Begin saving for IVF

IVF #1
June 2011 - Begin coverage with insurance that covers IVF, InVitro Fertilization
July 2011- Saline Sonogram - Get the all clear for IVF
August 2011 - Start medications to down regulate for IVF
September 1, 2011 - Cycle Day 1, IVF
September 14, 2011 - Egg Retrieval - 20 mature eggs retrieved, 19 fertilized
September 19, 2011 - Transfer two Grade A blastocysts - Freeze 3 blasts.
September 29, 2011 - Beta #1 - HCG levels 277
October 1, 2011 - Beta #2 - HCG levels 698
October 25, 2011 - Ultrasound reveals two healthy embryos with great heartbeats.
May 16, 2012 - Harrison and Brooke are born at 37 weeks

FET
December 2014 - Meet with our RE to discuss a Frozen Embryo Transfer
January 2014 - Saline sonogram - All looks good and we get the ok for our FET.
March 4, 2014 - FET, Cycle Day 1
March 27, 2014 - Transfer Day. We get the devastating news that none of our embryos survived the thaw.

IVF #2
June 2014 - Meet with RE to discuss our failed FET and options for future cycles.
Begin saving for IVF #2. We have 0 insurance coverage this time around, so we have a lot of saving to do. Aiming to begin IVF #2 in March 2015.
January 2015 - Cycle Day 3 testing and semen analysis. Protocol determined. Fresh cycle scheduled for April 2015.
March 25th, 2015 - Start Lupron
April 4th, 2015 - CD1
April 6th, 2015 - Start Follistim and Menoupr
April 19th, 2015 - Egg Retrieval - 14 eggs retrieved, 11 mature, 8 fertilized
April 24th, 2015 - Transfer 2 Grade A blastocysts - Freeze 1 blast
May 4th, 2015 - Beta #1 - HCG levels 230
May 6th, 2015 - Beta #2 - HCG levels 423
May 26th, 2015 - Ultrasound shows two embryos with great heartbeats
December 28th, 2015 - Scarlett and Clark are born at 38 weeks 1 day

FET #2
December 2016 - Meet with RE to discuss doing frozen embryo transfer in January. Find out we have to wait 6 months after international travel due to Zika concerns.
June 2017 - Have saline sonogram preformed and get the ok to go ahead with FET the following month.
July 2017 - Go in for baseline testing. Get put on birth control and have to wait another cycle.
August 2017 - Baseline numbers look good. Estrogen supplementation begins.
August 9th, 2017 - Get the ok for transfer in 5 days
August 13th, 2017 - We transfer one healthy blastocyst
August 17th, 2017 - Positive home pregnancy test.
August 24th, 2017 - Beta #1 - HCG levels 192
August 26th, 2017 - Beta #2 - HCG levels 466
Sept 12th, 2017 -  Bleeding begins in the morning. An ultrasound reveals a baby with no heartbeat. I miscarry later the same day.

Spontaneous Pregnancy
October 2017 - We decide we want to purse natural ways to try and get pregnant on our own. Rob starts acupuncture and a wide array of supplements.
February 2018 - A semen analysis shows numbers haven't improved. We decide to try a medicated IUI cycle in March.
February 26th, 2018 - We get a surprise positive pregnancy test the day before our IUI meds are due to be shipped.
March 21st, 2018 - Ultrasound shows one healthy embryo.
November 1st, 2018 - Penelope is born at 39 weeks. Our family is complete. I undergo a tubal ligation, ending our infertility journey.

Infertility Posts

Getting Here - Our journey to Brooke and Harrison
Doctor's Visit - Visiting our RE
Maybe Baby? - Our decision for an FET
Getting Ready For FET
FET Schedule
Five on Friday - FET Edition - Random facts about our FET
FET Canceled
National Infertility Awareness Week
The Game Plan - The plan for IVF #2
Queasy Feeling - Dealing with the dissapointment and spinning it into a positive light
IVF #2 - Test results are in and we are on our way
Getting Me Ready - How I'm preparing for IVF #2
Medication Start Date
Let The Stims Begin
IVF #2 Update
Egg Retrieval
Embryo Transfer
The Results Are In
Thoughts on Twins x2
Double Trouble
The Lone Embryo
The Lone Embryo Part 2
How To Make A Baby
Ethan Embryo

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