Anyone consider their beliefs with fertility treatments?

islelily

I'm not here to start a debate on this topic, but am looking for others' experiences. DH and I are in the last leg of IUI # 2 with the 3rd one planned for December if this month is negative. We've been discussing IVF and how we would tell our doctors of our convictions and concerns with IVF treatment.

We've been discussing how we would like fewer eggs to be taken so as not to fertilize a lot and possibly leave them to be stored until later, so that we reduce the risk of the embryos dying from any part of the procedure. We're thinking this might be considered more natural IVF route.

We've also discussed possibly just freezing the eggs once they are retrieved as opposed to the embryos.

We would also turn down any PGD.

Has anyone made similar decisions and how did it go over with your RE?

krissyh21

I think a lot of REs will consider your beliefs in the process, but will also tell you the facts on what you are deciding so you have a clear picture of everything involved.

I think a lot of people (including myself) go into IVF thinking in black and white terms, when there is a lot of gray area to think about as well. I think RE's clear up the gray a little for you.

BRSaugust20

I think there are a couple of ladies on SAIF that did IVF with limited fert.  You might want to cross post there as well.

islelily

BRSaugust20:

I think there are a couple of ladies on SAIF that did IVF with limited fert.  You might want to cross post there as well.

 

Thanks for the suggestion, I will do that!

Hartmaj

Yes, absolutely.  We have not yet been told that IVF is our only good option, although given my DH's varicocele and low morph / motility I'm afraid that might be in our near future.  In order to prepare ourselves for the decision we've been doing a lot of research and talking about what WE believe is morally and ethically the right thing to do.  As of now, DH and I unfortunately disagree when it comes to the use of any leftover embryos.  Here's a link to a thread I started on this very topic yesterday for more details...

https://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/26481405.aspx

The good news is, I have found the women on this board to be smart, educated, caring and a great source of dialogue and support.  Since you're ahead of us on this journey, I would really appreciate hearing updates from you on what you discuss with your RE and ultimately decide to do.  Sorry I don't have more personal experiences to share with you, but let's keep in touch!

hillaree

Yes! When we were looking for our 2nd RE, we decided we wanted to present our religious beliefs in how it relates to IF treatments up front, and see if he would be willing to work with us. We didn't iron out the details, but I have heard of RE's who will scoff at those ideas, try to talk you into fertilizing more, etc. Fortunately, our RE sounded like he would work within our parameters.

If you're interested, we said we would want to do limited fertilization (2-3 since we don't want to freeze any and want to transfer all) and no freezing embryos. We also would consider freezing any leftover eggs for a frozen egg cycle.

Also, I have read posts like this before, and people will post stories about how they had a lot of eggs, fertilized all, and ended up with only one embryo. I feel like *if* we do IVF with limited fert, I have to know that we are lowering our odds tremendouslty. But, I would rather honor God and do what he has convicted me to do than be pregnant...

islelily

hillaree:

If you're interested, we said we would want to do limited fertilization (2-3 since we don't want to freeze any and want to transfer all) and no freezing embryos. We also would consider freezing any leftover eggs for a frozen egg cycle.

Also, I have read posts like this before, and people will post stories about how they had a lot of eggs, fertilized all, and ended up with only one embryo. I feel like *if* we do IVF with limited fert, I have to know that we are lowering our odds tremendouslty. But, I would rather honor God and do what he has convicted me to do than be pregnant...

I feel like this really puts into words what I am feeling. It'll be a few months down the road before we're able to start with IVF (if we discuss details with RE in Dec, they need to get prior approval from my insurance, so it would be probably around March before we could proceed).

 

hillaree

It is such a difficult thing to say, I know. I want to get pregnant SO BADLY, and I'm sure you do to. It sounds like we're both a little ways off from IVF, and hopefully we don't get there and have to face these decisions. Keep me posted!

Pamela05

DH and I have discussed this and decided that IVF is beyond what we believe we can in good faith do while honoring our convictions.  IUI is most likely out as well.  From where I sit right now, 1.5 years into trying and so far unsuccessful, it's hard to think about that there are things we could do that could end up with us conceiving a genetic match, but we don't think it's right for us.

Instead, we've discussed that at some point we will consider adoption.

No matter how far you take the TTC journey, it's always a difficult decision when deciding when to end it because it is so personal.  No doctor should ever take away that decision or force their opinion on you in that respect.

*kendrick*

Yes. We believe in diagnosing infertility but not necessarily in treating it through medical intervention, but we are still working out our end point, step-by-step, test-by-test. We are very open to fostering or adopting, so for us that may be the choice that best honors the leading we feel over undergoing treatment. I understand that many other families of faith make different choices because they feel called to something different, and I am happy to support them through their treatments. I do not think that treating infertility is universally wrong, I just think that I personally probably have been called to look at a different path, so for me it would be wrong. I think it is a very personal choice as to what you feel God is calling you to do.