Hello ladies! This check-in is meant for women who had a lot more trouble than most getting pregnant. You don't have to have done IVF to be part of the group, but we do want this limited to those who were diagnosed as infertile by an RE and were using some kind of medical assistance to get pregnant.* Of course, some of our members had surprise BFPs in between treatment cycles, which is awesome! If any of this sounds like you, join us!
As this is our first check-in, let's just start by telling our stories, including what kind of treatments you were doing, whether you have other children, and if you've had any losses. Also, be sure to tell us how far along you are.

Congratulations to all, and let's pull up the sticky chairs for the next 8-9 months!
Tagging those who responded to the roll call:
@CaterinaC @taahira @chimaerakaren @TeeQ @EssJayCee @KellyA724 @snegde @blueberries8 @hmhansen11 @kyliehopeful@Sha259 @jszy10 @GrailSeeker14 @nppulliam @marshmallowevening @Hpearl @acrotzer @norsern @ang123456 @kflynn81------------------------------------------------
*How does this sound? Can rewrite, but I didn't want people joining who took "six whole months!!" to get pregnant or whatever.
**********************siggy/ticker warning*************************Losses mentioned.*** TTC #1 since May 2012. Me: 37, OH: 41. Ectopic August 2012 => tubal damage.

Stage 1 endo removed June 2013.
IVF #1 Oct/Nov 2013: Long Lupron with Gonal-F. 7R, 7M, 7F. 2 txfer@3d. Nothing frozen. => M/C @ 8 wks.

Selected RPL panel all normal. Very hyper and brittle response to stims.
IVF #2 (antagonist protocol) Feb 2014 => Converted to IUI (Perfect conditions). BFN.
IVF #2.1 w/ new RE June 2014: Antagonist protocol. 33R, 31M, 30F, 19 blasts to test!!! I made it through without crashing!!

Hats off to Dr. Fancypants!! ET of one 5AB blast. BFN.
13 10 CCS'ed snowflakes!
FET #1 PUPO as of 7/29 Betas: 8/7@24, 8/9@97, 8/11@334 (etc.) Two sacs on 8/15, one seen on 8/18 after a bleed. U/s 8/25 (6+3) "perfect": 5.9 mm + HB@120bpm! U/s 9/4 (7+6): 15.9 mm + HB@172 bpm! Please, PLEASE stick this time!!!!
Re: First check in for Infertility/TTTC/IVF grads! August 26th
I'm 8w4d pregnant from our 2nd round of IVF. Jan 2013 - emergency surgery for ectopic and tube removal. Cont. TTC for remainder of 2013. Discovered other tube also blocked. Round 1 IVF Mar2013 FET - BFN
Round 2 IVF Jul2014 FET - BFP
TTC since 9/2012
Ectopic: 1/2013 - tubal damage
IVF #1 (2/2014): 40R / 16M / 1FET - BFN
IVF #2 (7/2014): 40R / 18M / 3FE / 2FET - BFP!
BFP on 8/16/14 EDD 4/03/15
ME - 31, DH - 40
Married 06/25/2011, TTC since 03/2012
BFP #1 on 11/13/12 -- EDD 7/24/13 -- M/C (CP) on 11/21/12
BFP #2 on 7/21/13 -- EDD 3/29/14 -- M/C (CP) on 7/31/13
09/4/13 - 4/16/14 -- IUI #1 - 6 = BFNs
7/13/14 -- IVF #1 w/ ICSI
ER on 7/26/14 -- 20 R, 15 M, 11 F
ET on 7/31/14 -- 1 transferred (4bb); 8 frosties!!!
BFP #3 on 8/8/14 -- EDD 04/18/15
BETA #1: 473, BETA #2: 1009, BETA #3: 1975
** It's a BOY!!! **
*** BFPs and Loss Mentioned ***
TTC since 08/2012
BFP 12/28/12-- EDD 9/19/13-- M/C (d&c) on 1/31/13
7/15/14 -- IVF #1
ER on 7/26/14 -- 15 R, 8F
ET on 7/31/14 -- 1 transferred (4aa); 4 frosties!!!
BFP 8/5/14-- EDD 4/18/15
Beta #1 (14dpo): 223, Beta #2 (17dpo): 898
First u/s -- 8/28/14= 1 beautiful baby with a hb of 131
10/25/14- It's a GIRL!
11/24/14- DX with Complete Placenta Previa (Stage IV)
1/12/15- Placenta Previa has moved to Marginal!! (Stage II)
IVF #1 = BFN
FET #1 = BFN
FET #2 = BFN
IVF #2 = BFP, b/g twins lost at 20w due to partial abruption/PPROM
IVF #3 = c/p 5w2d
Long-shot Clomid/Prednisone cycle before next IVF = BFP, our beautiful, healthy girl born 6/26/13!
~~
TTC again March 2014
FET #3 - May/June 2014 - all embryos arrested before xfer - back to the drawing board...
IVF #4 - July/August 2014
Thank you so much for starting this little group. I feel like I have a little space in the A15 group where other people will truly understand the stress and struggle infertility brings.
A little bit about me.
My DH and I have 2 beautiful girls. 14-11, since my youngest was 3 we began trying for our 3rd. After many losses, we seeked helped. It was discovered I have PCOS. We fell pregnant on our last round of clomid iui before moving on to ivf. I'm currently 7w 1d, I have my second scan tomorrow, I'm so nervous I really want to see our baby's heartbeat. This has been such a long journey and I'm praying this will be our little bundle of joy.
Hi ladies!
I'm currently 7 wks 1 day pregnant with our first baby, after trying for over two years. I've never been pregnant before. I have completely normal cycles, and they never found anything wrong with either one of us...we're a classic case of "unexplained infertility."
We got pregnant with our first IVF cycle. We have no infertility health insurance coverage, so the cost to us has been absolutely staggering. We ended up paying for the Attain 2+2 program (so we basically paid double for the chance to do 2 fresh and 2 frozen cycles, and we would have been refunded half of the cost if none of it worked). At this point, I don't care at all that we spent the extra money - I'm just so happy to finally be pregnant! We have seven frozen embryos, so it will take some of the pressure off when it's time to provide this baby with a sibling.
I'm still paranoid that something will go wrong, as I'm sure we all are. I relaxed a little bit after seeing our sweet baby's heartbeat last week, but I'll be super anxious again on Friday when we go for a follow up ultra-sound.
I look forward to getting to know you guys and wish everyone luck!
TTC #1 since 4/2012
3 failed IUIs
IVF #1: 23R / 18M / 14F - 7 frosties!
ET on 7/26 of one perfect blast
BFP on 8/1/14! EDD 4/13/15
Beta #1 10dp5dt: 438; Beta #2 12dp5dt: 864; Beta #3 16dp5dt: 3,226
Hello! I'm 7w 1d today. I have seen the heart beat and graduate to my OB on September 12. This is my second pregnancy.
I had a long struggle with IF for my first child. I was diagnosed with PCOS but also have Factor V Leiden, homozygous. I could not even go through fertility treatment without being on injectable blood thinners. DD was concieved after 11 months of IF treatment and 3 IUI's with Femara and trigger shot. We started trying for #2 immediately in the hopes that my body would get that kick start that some get. After no luck 24 months later, we went back for more. LO was IUI#2!
Factor V Leiden Homozygous, Advanced Maternal Age
TTC #1, 5 yrs, PCOS, Femera + Ovidrel.
IUI#3 BFP, DD 5/31/2012
TTC #2, 2 yrs, PCOS, Femera+Ovidrel
IUI#2 BFP!
Thanks for starting this up, @pblge!
DH and I had been TTC since April 2012 following a late first tri loss of an unexpected pregnancy. I was having very irregular periods with heavy flow 7+ days even before the pregnancy which resulted in loss, and it only got worse after. I was eventually diagnosed with endometriosis and had a laparscopy to remove lesions. My OB had me on Clomid for 4 months before I wizened up and switched to an RE.
The RE diagnosed performed a uterine biopsy (he is known worldwide for his research on endometriosis) and diagnosed me as infertile due to endometriosis and said we should consider moving to IUI for a few cycles before IVF. Since we didn't feel ready for IUI or IVF yet, my RE said we could do a few medicated cycles first. I did a cycle of Femara 2.5mg + Ovidrel trigger, a cycle of Femara 5mg + Ovidrel trigger & booster, and finally a cycle of Femara 7.5mg + Ovidrel trigger & booster. On our last Femara cycle, we were scheduled for IUI. After much thought and prayer, we decided to cancel the IUI (the day before our scheduled insemination) and wait for the next cycle, when we would throw injectables into the mix. I was just feeling burnt out from TTC and needed a break. On previous cycles I had been testing daily, but I had no hope left for this cycle and instead went away for the weekend with a girlfriend, leaving all my tests at home. When I got back from my trip and still could not shake the feeling that I was coming down with something, I took a test. And now here I am... 7 weeks today!
After thyroid cancer and a diagnosis of PCOS it took us almost 2 years and 5 IUI cycles to get pregnant w/our first child who is now 19 months. (letrozole + gonalF+trigger shot)
When we were ready for #2 we went back to the RE and used the same protocol that got us pregnant with our first child. We got PG on IUI#3 this time and I just graduated from my RE to the OB...have my first OB appointment in 2 weeks...woohoo!
So nice to know there's a community of IFers here. I was pretty active on the 3T board while trying to conceive my first, but haven't been back there as I don't want to be disrespectful and know that many of those women are trying for their first babies. Nice to meet you all!
3 IUIs to get BFP w/baby #2
Lost baby #2 at nearly 12 weeks (D&C on 9/19/14)
@staciealfie - I'm so very sorry for your loss. It must have been hard to try again after that experience.
@norsern - Wow, you must have just found out you're pregnant! Congratulations! I'm also sorta PCOS.
@melissatee.t - I had an ectopic, too, and my other tube is useless.
Hi @CaterinaC - I love the miracle pre-IVF BFPs.
@jszy10 - I know you, too! ;-) We're both going for third time's a charm! So glad your scan went well!!!
@jlb902 - Eep!! Good luck tomorrow! Come back and let us know how it goes!
@blueberries8 - Wow, you have really been through a lot! Same goes for you--good luck and let us know how your scan is!
@Sha259 - Wow, Trinidad! That's cool.
@taahira - That's a long time to try for #3! And there are tons of scans tomorrow. Good luck to you, too!
@KellyA274 - I know a lot of women who got pregnant through their first Attain cycle. I'm sure there are some mixed feelings there, also I also several who got their money back. It's always a crap shoot right?
@topaz7777 - Those blood thinners seem more and more common these days. I've been on baby aspirin for ages, although I know they're pretty different. Are you still on them now? Will you have to be for the whole pregnancy?
@EssJayCee - Wow, a BFP from a cancelled IUI - that's cool! It looks like your husband is in the service, too?
@GrailSeeker14 - I had a tiny crush on my first RE, too. It was pretty embarrassing, as I suspect he could tell since I have one of those faces that gives everything away (terrible liar, too). It's so awkward to have a crush up near your lady parts!
@nycitygirl - Congratulations on graduating! It's too bad because I think a new TTTC board has been started for those working on a sibling. There were problems, but I think the people who were worried about being sensitive were NOT the source of the problems! They never are...
AFM, my story is in my siggies, but here's the barebones: I'm almost 37 and started trying for my first in May 2004. Got pregnant quickly, but it was an ectopic and ruined what was apparently my only good tube. I carry many diagnoses: mild endometriosis, mild PCOS, mild hypothyroidism, and not-at-all mild tubal factor. The first time I took an injectable they wanted me to transition to IVF, but they also learned that I'm "brittle" which means my follicles crash at the first unpredictable breeze. After two cancelled cycles, and one cycle that went badly and ended in a MMC at 8 weeks, I finally switched to a new fancypants clinic and was wildly successful in our fresh IVF 2.1 (or 3, depending on how you count things...it's complicated). The cycle was BFN, but we got tons of genetically tested blasts, and this pregnancy is from FET #1.
We're 6+4 today and everything looks great, which is new for me. I'm feeling pretty confident, although trying not to get ahead of myself. I think my last scan with this RE is 9/4 (unless there's a problem), although I'll be taking Estrace and PIO shots for the rest of my freaking life...at least it feels that way.
Btw, wanted to say that I hope I won't be the only running this group until April. Perhaps we can trade off? Monthly? By trimesters? When I/other people get busy? And it's definitely open to change based on group preferences, so if you have a suggestion or gripe, post it here or PM.
Congratulations to everyone!!!
***Losses mentioned.*** TTC #1 since May 2012. Me: 37, OH: 41. Ectopic August 2012 => tubal damage.
New posts!
@snegde - I know EXACTLY what you mean. I've been pretending like babies don't exist for years. I have so much to learn!
@marshmallowevening - I hope your LO was just in need of a growth spurt. Those early scans can be a bit off, especially if you have a titled uterus. Good luck **Thursday**!!
***Losses mentioned.*** TTC #1 since May 2012. Me: 37, OH: 41. Ectopic August 2012 => tubal damage.
DH and I have no children except our fur babies! We had been trying to conceive since his return from Afghanistan in 2008!
Finally in 2011 we were sent to a specialist ! DH was diagnosed with low sperm count ( zoo something lol)! After saving all the funds we were able to start treatment this summer!
This was our first round of ivf we put back two eggs and got out BFP at the end of July! We go on the 8 of September for our first ultrasound and are so excited to start a family!
I can't wait to spend the next months with you lovely ladies and hearing all about everyone!
*** BFPs and Loss Mentioned ***
TTC since 08/2012
BFP 12/28/12-- EDD 9/19/13-- M/C (d&c) on 1/31/13
7/15/14 -- IVF #1
ER on 7/26/14 -- 15 R, 8F
ET on 7/31/14 -- 1 transferred (4aa); 4 frosties!!!
BFP 8/5/14-- EDD 4/18/15
Beta #1 (14dpo): 223, Beta #2 (17dpo): 898
First u/s -- 8/28/14= 1 beautiful baby with a hb of 131
10/25/14- It's a GIRL!
11/24/14- DX with Complete Placenta Previa (Stage IV)
1/12/15- Placenta Previa has moved to Marginal!! (Stage II)
TTC since 2012
Me 35, DH 32 -DH SA all clear
8/97 severe perotinitis infection as a result of ruptured appendix. poss abdomen/tube scarring
1/12 HSG all clear!
2/12 Multiple fibroids diagnosed, 2 submucosal
3/14 Hashimoto diagnosed, began treatment
3/14 first RE appointment
5/14 successful lapriscopic myomectomy via power morcellation
as of 7/14.....not so patiently waiting
poss IUI/IVF fall 2014 BIG Surprise BFP Aug 2014!
Feeling good and loving being pregnant. Morning sickness hit yesterday and I wouldn't have it any other way!!!!! Oh and I love that we have a group for this!!!
I am so happy for all of you! There is something extra special about our little miracles :x
Cliff notes: TTC for 10 years. 2 failed adoptions. We adopted embryos, as I am not supposed to be able to produce my own due to very poor quality eggs (1 of 3.5 factors in our difficulty). As we were awaiting my cycle so I could do an FET, I got sick one morning while working out and discovered that afternoon that I am pregnant!!! For ten years, we had not even a "maybe," and when we were finally ready to start hormones, there was a miracle transpiring.
I don't use the term "miracle" lightly. We went to the RE yesterday because I couldn't stand the 10ww for an OB visit. They are all in disbelief. We loved hearing them talk in the hallway trying to figure out how this is at all possible.
We saw the baby yesterday via ultrasound and heard the heart beat. Baby is doing great so far- 134 BPM and only measuring 4-5 days behind what we thought.
This is incredible - congratulations!
TTC #1 since 4/2012
3 failed IUIs
IVF #1: 23R / 18M / 14F - 7 frosties!
ET on 7/26 of one perfect blast
BFP on 8/1/14! EDD 4/13/15
Beta #1 10dp5dt: 438; Beta #2 12dp5dt: 864; Beta #3 16dp5dt: 3,226
@KimL725 - Another dodge of IVF miracle! Congratulations! Hope the cyst works itself out, preferably in a low-pain kinda way!
@kyliehopeful - Wow, that's great! It's interesting that donors are scarce in Australia. I'd love to now how that compares.
@TeeQ - Congrats and thanks to your OH for his service! That's a long time to TTC #1.
Thanks to your OH, too @EssJayCee !
@HPearl - I understand the difficulty in letting go and not feeling broken. I had actually just recently started seeing a therapist with expertise in infertility, and I've decided to keep seeing her for a while to work through all the garbage that's built up in the past few years. The last time we were pregnant we got far enough along that we went to an informational session for our local birthing center, and she told us that she loves seeing how "healing" a healthy pregnancy can be for those who suffered the trauma of infertility. I really hope so, cause these feel like deep wounds!
@teambabystone - Wow, congrats on TWINS! And, congrats on the m/s I guess?
@JuneBug629 - What were your numbers? Would you be excited about twins?
@Nittycola - Congratulations on graduating from your RE! And this is your CCS'ed embryo, yes? I've been wondering how much of the prenatal testing is recommended for women pregnant after PGD, so we'll have to compare notes.
@acrotzer - Wow, that really sounds like quite a story! I think you *should* write that book. How funny that you flummoxed the RE like that!
Tomorrow actually is Thursday, so I hope we get lots of good updates about scans!!!
***Losses mentioned.*** TTC #1 since May 2012. Me: 37, OH: 41. Ectopic August 2012 => tubal damage.
Late reply, but just wanted to check-in as well. This is my first natural, non-IVF pregnancy. I am mother to two, 2 1/2 year-old boys conceived through FET, roughly 3 years after we first started trying.
This pregnancy came as a wonderful surprise, since I've never thought I'd ever see a positive pregnancy test without thousands of dollars of intervention and an entire surgical team. Now is kind of a rough time though, because 1) I had pretty substantial bleeding after exercising yesterday morning (went in to the OBGYN and they saw a gestational sac, yolk sac, but no fetal pole; and 2) I am still having very light cramping and unfortunately I've been reading too many internet posts about the odds of miscarraige.
These non-assisted pregnancies really suck. I'd stick myself in the ass again with a 4-inch needle - no problem - if I knew it would help this little bean stick.
***Losses mentioned.*** TTC #1 since May 2012. Me: 37, OH: 41. Ectopic August 2012 => tubal damage.
Coming over from IF and PGAL
We were trying for almost 2 years and finally have made it this far, 8 weeks today, on our first IVF. My history is in my siggy. Definately still nervous and thankfully relieved at each weekly U/S. We should graduate from our RE next week and the week after I scheduled my first appt with an OB. I hope I like him, since he was the only one to get good reviews close by that is in network for me.
Me: 34, DH: 32
TTC Since September 2012
Dx-PCOS, Anovulation, highly irregular cycles
March 2013 Comid 50 mg+ TI #1: BFN
April 2013 Clomid mg + TI #2: BFN
IVM#1 Aug 2012: BFN
20 FEB 2014: CP
IUI #1 Clomid 100mg 24 FEB 2014: BFN
IUI #2 Clomid 100mg 21 MAR 2014: BFN
IUI#3 Follistim & trigger 21 May 2014: BFN
IVF #1 Follistim & Menopur: 14R, 9M, 7F, transfered 2 day 3 8 cell embies
Beta #1: 7/30: 41 Beta #2 8/1: 96 Beta #3 8/4: 796 EDD:4/9/15



All WelcomeWe went on to adopt three children from 2010-2012.
Since we couldn't get pg we weren't using BC. Turns out we are now pg and I am now 8 weeks. Surprised us all.
I LOVE reading all the stories! It's so exciting hearing all of the sad stories have happy endings. I almost feel like I shouldn't be here. My IF journey has been as easy as IF could be. My husband and I were diagnosed with IF before we even really started trying, so I was spared that heartache! I have PCOS but MFI was our biggest issue. We did round 1 of IVF right after our diagnosis. We have 2 year old twin girls from that cycle but had nothing frozen. We knew we wanted more children, so we did round 2 of IVF. I am 8w5d with 1 baby. But we have 10 high quality embryos frozen...yes 10!
I feel very thankful for our journey. Although, IVF was definitely more difficult than conceiving on our own, I feel so very thankful for how our IF journey has turned out!
@KylesBride - Wow, you are the mythical "just adopt" person! I don't think I've ever met anyone who actually got pregnant own their own after having given up TTC and adopting, even though we all get told it's the magic trick. Huzzah!!! Hope you're ready for at least one more in your house!
@taahira - Great news!
@lyndsey13 - Wow, you're the A+ IFV student! Your RE must love you. We have ten still frozen, too, although this would only be our first kid.
***Losses mentioned.*** TTC #1 since May 2012. Me: 37, OH: 41. Ectopic August 2012 => tubal damage.
Hi ladies!!!! Here's the still not so short version of my history...
Diagnosed as a child with "Growth Hormone Deficiency" and had to take daily GH shots to grow as a child. Unfortunately they thought supplementing my other hormones would make growth stop sooner so they didn't get me anything. Ended up having a non-functioning endocrine system as a result (no period, no ovulation, wonky metabolism/hypoglycemic episodes, etc.) At the age of 17, I knew I'd need an RE....which helped I guess but I sat on that one for over 10 years, yeesh.
I also have Factor V Leiden (clotting disorder) and have been off bcp since July 2009.... we wanted to "see what happened" from then until March 2011 when we started diagnostic testing. In Oct 2011 we saw our first RE and March 2012 we got started with all the drugs!!!
We did :
1 round of Clomid- no response
2 injectable IUI cycles- BFN
5 IVF cycles (1 cancelled, 4 retrieval and transfers)- BFN
and 1 FET to get our little Jack....who we lost at 20 weeks last December due to a brain malformation and my early severe onset of preeclampsia and HELLP. No one can tell us for sure why I got so sick.
FET #2 brings us here today with baby at 8 weeks 3 days along and so far chugging along nicely
Looking forward to checking in with you all!
NTNP 2009-2012 TTC since 2012:
Jack has handpicked his sibling up there
My blog about IF and loss ... Kate's IF Blog
NTNP 2009-2012 TTC since 2012:
Jack has handpicked his sibling up there
My blog about IF and loss ... Kate's IF Blog
Factor V Leiden Homozygous, Advanced Maternal Age
TTC #1, 5 yrs, PCOS, Femera + Ovidrel.
IUI#3 BFP, DD 5/31/2012
TTC #2, 2 yrs, PCOS, Femera+Ovidrel
IUI#2 BFP!