New Here and Need Help with IVF Crossroads, please.....Long

Jacque Sills

I posted this on the TTC over 35 and Infertility, and was referred to post over here for more experienced help. Thanks in advance for the assistance to a new-comer.....

Hi Ladies,

I have been pondering over the results of My husband's and my testing results from the RE for about two weeks. Of course, it is good and bad, but how to approach it is where the confusion starts to fog my glasses...

When we went back to his office to discuss the results, he had one of his collegues sit in on our discussion, with our approval. I guess we were confused not knowing, if she was shadowing him or what, but anyways....our doctor began with the good news, of course.... by telling us both that my husband's SA was great at 19.3, and my AMH was 19.8, which equates to US standards as, 2.5, which is great for my age of 43. He says to me, those are the marks of a 37 year old, that was my Botox shot of the office visit! Lol.....So, I have a pretty good amount of eggs to work with but, we will have to do PGS testing to see the quality of them....so, while I have a nice big smile displaying, the other doctor continues to tell me that when reviewing my Sonohystogram, the radiologist,(the lady sitting in the room) and my doctor discussed that I have a rare congenitial abnormality. My smile started to fade and dropped quickly when she got to the part of my uterus being the size of a banana...Now, looking like a disturbed mental patient, they named this abnormality as a Unicornuate Uterus. "I got a Unicorn, what?'

She explained that as I was forming in the womb, that my uterus only formed on the right side, meaning that I only have one working ovary/tube, which is clear and I do have both my kidneys, which is a relief, as I was told that most people with this condition do not.

By the way, I have only had two pregnancies in my life and both miscarried early at around 4-6 weeks...

The end results are that it will be tuff for me to carry to term, lots of miscarriage happen in the second trimester, breech births and preterm labor, but there are many others with this condition that didn't even know it and have had healthy pregnancies, so seems somewhat ambigous...(they did mention surrogates, too)

So, with my ghost face expression, my doctor resumed the conversation pulling out a piece of paper that he handed to my husband. He idenified it as a referral to a top specialist in Colorado at the CCRM, (Colorado Center of Reproductive Medicine) He told us that he has worked with many older couples with these rarities and gave us a 10-15% increase from his 50-57% rate of success for us, but he did warn us that the clinic is quite pricey, meaning at least double the price from our current doctor. (PGS alone was around $18,000.00, but we haven't called as of yet to confirm the prices.) Not including airfare/hotel/etc.

So, since I am not a gambler and the percents are not more, this is a hard decision to figure out, if I would be wasting my time due to age factor with my current doctor or what? I did ask him, if he has worked with people with my condition and how many, he told me of a specific patient that he didn't know she had this conditon til afterwards, but she was a bit younger than me, too. He didn't mention how many others he has worked with, so not sure how to take. So, with my age being as it is and our finances, we are wondering that if, we should try our doctor first round and get the PGS results and if, it doesn't work, we will go to this center in the states. Speaking of the PGS, that is the true reason that my doctor wants us to consider this clinic. It is suppose to be state of the art in new technology in how the embryos are handled and processed. They have an almost 100% rate and they have a money back guarentee for patients under 40 or maybe younger,if they don't get pregnant.... can't remember, but, very impressive to consider.

Does this seem like a logical and smart way to approach this situation for a 43 year old? I will be 44 in 7 months, so not sure. What do you ladies think? I really respect your knowledge and appreciate your time in reading my situation, Thanks for any advice, thoughts and or comments. Sorry for the long story just needing some direction and or confirmation to our dilemma because I am a little nervous and scared.

Regards and Thanks again.....

PurpleIris30

This isn't a board to post on for more experienced help (see post below).  I'm sorry for your situation, and if anyone has advice, we'll find your post over on IF.

Jacque Sills

Point taken... 

I am sure that you read in my post, in the very first paragraph, that I did post over at the TTC over 35 and the Infertility board, first. 

Have a nice day!

kflynn81

PurpleIris30:

This isn't a board to post on for more experienced help (see post below).  I'm sorry for your situation, and if anyone has advice, we'll find your post over on IF.

Ditto to this....but I'm confused. Are you saying the RE told you that CCRM had a near 100% success rate? I could be mistaken but I thought I read somewhere that it was only approx 66%. But, who knows.

Jacque Sills

Yes, my RE's did and his clinic is closely connected with CCRM, with there IVF,egg donor,sperm donors, or surrogate mothers, the success rate is very close to 100% per their publishing under the Director, William Schoolcraft, MD.  In his book, "If at First You Don't Conceive," he states their success rates on page 3 of Chapter One, Understanding the Fertility Challenge. in paragraph 5.  You might be remembering their traditional fertility treatments, which are around 75%.

 I am a little confused, what is this board for?  Is it more advanced questions on IF treatments?   I can understand asking more general question on the Infertiltiy board, I will let the TTC over 35 board know that, so they don't make the same mistake. 

BzeetyD

This board is for women who have been posting regularly on the infertility board for 6 months or more.  

If we feel like answering questions outside of those by board members, we usually do that on the IF board.

Thanks. 

Jacque Sills

These strict regulations have already been explained by the previous posters, I guess you didn't read them.  But, thanks again for the clarity. The lady that referred me over here, I guess she didn't know the rules and regs, like I didn't, but we both, get them now.....

I definately want to frequent a board that wants to help eachother with our fertility issues and lift eachother up, since, we are all in the same boat together, without the timelines, since I don't have six months to wait on this one, like my post says...so, I appreciate the clarity, once again.

Didn't mean any disrespect just needing some knowledge and thought this board being more experienced would be filled with caring and helpful women, like, on any of these boards.. 

megs3084

We do help and support each other. The timeline is what establishes us at veterans as well as multiple failed cycles. Most of us dual post on IF as well but hang here with people in more similar situations.

NMscubagirl

Jacque Sills:

These strict regulations have already been explained by the previous posters, I guess you didn't read them.  But, thanks again for the clarity. The lady that referred me over here, I guess she didn't know the rules and regs, like I didn't, but we both, get them now.....

I definately want to frequent a board that wants to help eachother with our fertility issues and lift eachother up, since, we are all in the same boat together, without the timelines, since I don't have six months to wait on this one, like my post says...so, I appreciate the clarity, once again.

Didn't mean any disrespect just needing some knowledge and thought this board being more experienced would be filled with caring and helpful women, like, on any of these boards.. 

So when you said "I am a little confused, what is this board for?" just one post above BzeetyD's explanation you just wanted what then? an explanation would be the reasonable assumption, but then you jumped all over her when you got one. And all of this just one single thread after the one asking people to not do exactly what you are doing. I don't think you wanted anything but to start drama. Please go away.

AmCheri

NMscubagirl:

Jacque Sills:

These strict regulations have already been explained by the previous posters, I guess you didn't read them.  But, thanks again for the clarity. The lady that referred me over here, I guess she didn't know the rules and regs, like I didn't, but we both, get them now.....

So when you said "I am a little confused, what is this board for?" just one post above BzeetyD's explanation you just wanted what then? an explanation would be the reasonable assumption, but then you jumped all over her when you got one. And all of this just one single thread after the one asking people to not do exactly what you are doing. I don't think you wanted anything but to start drama. Please go away.

I wholeheartedly agree that OP intended to stir the pot.  This was made most clear to me by the pronouncement that CC.RM has a near 100% success rate with DE. No clinic does. (And how are you defining "success" anyways?)

 I join others in referring OP to the IF board and I would add you should spend some time educating yourself about statistics at sa.rt co.rs online. 

Jacque Sills

Thank you for the link. As you were once new to this journey....I am seeking any and all information I can get to learn more about what I am dealing with, just like you did without getting poked in the eye or bullied to get out.  

Yes, I will definately not bother you gals anymore.  So, please don't leave ugly and hurtful post on here either.  I made a mistake by listening to another person that answered my original post that I made over there, I am not sorry for being new to this, just sorry that I had to deal with this kind of ugly behavior from other woman that are dealing with the same issues that I am and to think that I have been on this site longer than a lot of you....go figure. 

Have a nice day and wish you all the best in your IF issues, honestly....

megs3084

With 290 posts it hardly seems youve be around longer than some ladies. There is no way a clinic has a near 100 success rate. Theres still the 50/50 will it work. Our first ivf the re chalks up to bad luck. Sometimes even if conditions lining, embryos etc are perfect, ivf can still still fail. I know you've had all these great numbers thrown at you, but ivf can always fail. Ladies, correct me if im wrong but isnt ccrm selective who cycles w them, tjus skewing their results?

liz4paws

Jacque Sills:

Thank you for the link. As you were once new to this journey....I am seeking any and all information I can get to learn more about what I am dealing with, just like you did without getting poked in the eye or bullied to get out.  

Yes, I will definately not bother you gals anymore.  So, please don't leave ugly and hurtful post on here either.  I made a mistake by listening to another person that answered my original post that I made over there, I am not sorry for being new to this, just sorry that I had to deal with this kind of ugly behavior from other woman that are dealing with the same issues that I am and to think that I have been on this site longer than a lot of you....go figure. 

Have a nice day and wish you all the best in your IF issues, honestly....

I'm sorry for what you're going through, but I'm defending the ladies on this board. No one was ugly to you.  

kflynn81

megs3084:

With 290 posts it hardly seems youve be around longer than some ladies. There is no way a clinic has a near 100 success rate. Theres still the 50/50 will it work. Our first ivf the re chalks up to bad luck. Sometimes even if conditions lining, embryos etc are perfect, ivf can still still fail. I know you've had all these great numbers thrown at you, but ivf can always fail. Ladies, correct me if im wrong but isnt ccrm selective who cycles w them, tjus skewing their results?

 

How long someone has been around these boards is not the point. The point is, that on THIS board you need to be an active poster for at least 6 months on the Infertility Board. Its not to belittle those who haven't "put in time" with infertility....its just because we don't know who you are. Simple as that.

Like Liz said, we're very sorry you're going through this, no one should have to deal with IF its not fair but the IF board is open for anyone and that is the best place to be at this time for you. Thats all....nothing ugly about that.

BTW ...here is the latest CCRM success rates. https://www.sartcorsonline.com/rptCSR_PublicMultYear.aspx?ClinicPKID=1902

And Megs I've heard that about CCRM also that they cherry pick cases....if they feel they can do something different and have success they'd take the patient. Of course, that's just what I have heard and I haven't really heard of anyone NOT being accepted by CCRM so could be true or not. 

PrideandJoy29

PurpleIris30:

This isn't a board to post on for more experienced help (see post below).  I'm sorry for your situation, and if anyone has advice, we'll find your post over on IF.

*siggy warning*

I agree with this.