IVF - Endometriosis Success Stories
Endometriosis, and the infertility that often comes with it, are among the worst diseases that any woman wanting to have a child can experience.
However, there is hope to surmount the challenges that come with this condition and achieve pregnancy success through IVF.
Endometriosis is prevalent among women of many ethnicities, regardless of age or background, and its cause is unknown.
It is very difficult to endure this painful gynecological condition without the support, patience and love of our partners, family and friends.
Despite the agony, many women do overcome endometriosis and go on to have children.
Lara and Michelle are two such women who-despite tremendous odds-refused to give up their dream to conceive and in the end succeeded.
Here are their inspiring stories: Lara's Story In less than two years of their acquaintance, Lara and her boyfriend felt they were ready to get married.
Before doing so, they both took fertility tests to determine their chances of having kids, especially since Lara has a history of endometriosis that led to the surgical removal of one of her ovaries, in addition to a damaged fallopian tube, when she was only 21.
According to her fertility test results, endometriosis had found its way to her remaining tube and had completely blocked it.
That left IVF as her only remaining option for possible pregnancy.
Good thing, her boyfriend's sperm analysis came out normal.
After getting married, Lara and her husband gave up drinking and adopted a healthy diet and lifestyle, in an effort to improve Lara's chances with IVF.
In addition, she began using a daily inhaler for hormone suppression and fertility injections to stimulate egg production as part of Phase I of her first IVF treatment.
The injections worsened her endometriosis, making scans and internal exams very painful for her.
But through it all, her husband supported her.
The couple's efforts eventually paid off.
Lara produced eggs, underwent IVF Phase II (egg extraction) without difficulty.
Phase III (egg fertilization) took place in the lab and was successful, but the last phase (embryo transfer) was so painful that it made her cry.
Two weeks after her IVF Phase IV, a blood test revealed that she was pregnant! Lara and her husband were so ecstatic and could not believe their first-time success with IVF.
Three weeks later, she had a scan and the clinic told her to expect twins.
Thirty-seven weeks later, she gave birth to her first set of twins (a boy and a girl) by caesarian section.
A few years later, she took her second and final IVF treatment and bore another set of twins! She then had a hysterectomy.
Now with four children, Lara and her husband could not ask for more.
Michelle's Story Michelle was 42 and afflicted with severe endometriosis.
She had endured two miscarriages and four failed IVF cycles.
She and her partner made the difficult decision to go for one final attempt at pregnancy with a fifth cycle.
She decided to try something different for this cycle by including acupuncture as a complimentary IVF therapy.
After just three acupuncture treatments, the day came for her egg retrieval.
She successfully produced more eggs then she had on any previous cycle.
The acupuncture also served to successfully relax her and increase blood flow to her uterus.
To her surprise, she felt no painful cramping or discomfort after the egg retrieval.
Just before the embryo transfer was to be performed, Michelle went for another round of acupuncture treatments to help regulate her hormones and continue to increase blood flow to her uterus, hoping this would result in a successful embryonic implantation.
Two weeks after the transfer, Michelle was declared pregnant! Taking caution due to her history of miscarriages, Michelle continued to undergo acupuncture therapy in her first trimester.
According to her acupuncturist's advice, the treatments are especially helpful for preventing another miscarriage, especially when women are in their late 30's or 40's when unfortunately it is a much more common occurrence.
Today, Michelle awaits the arrival of the Christmas present she has longed for many years: the birth of her baby boy.
However, there is hope to surmount the challenges that come with this condition and achieve pregnancy success through IVF.
Endometriosis is prevalent among women of many ethnicities, regardless of age or background, and its cause is unknown.
It is very difficult to endure this painful gynecological condition without the support, patience and love of our partners, family and friends.
Despite the agony, many women do overcome endometriosis and go on to have children.
Lara and Michelle are two such women who-despite tremendous odds-refused to give up their dream to conceive and in the end succeeded.
Here are their inspiring stories: Lara's Story In less than two years of their acquaintance, Lara and her boyfriend felt they were ready to get married.
Before doing so, they both took fertility tests to determine their chances of having kids, especially since Lara has a history of endometriosis that led to the surgical removal of one of her ovaries, in addition to a damaged fallopian tube, when she was only 21.
According to her fertility test results, endometriosis had found its way to her remaining tube and had completely blocked it.
That left IVF as her only remaining option for possible pregnancy.
Good thing, her boyfriend's sperm analysis came out normal.
After getting married, Lara and her husband gave up drinking and adopted a healthy diet and lifestyle, in an effort to improve Lara's chances with IVF.
In addition, she began using a daily inhaler for hormone suppression and fertility injections to stimulate egg production as part of Phase I of her first IVF treatment.
The injections worsened her endometriosis, making scans and internal exams very painful for her.
But through it all, her husband supported her.
The couple's efforts eventually paid off.
Lara produced eggs, underwent IVF Phase II (egg extraction) without difficulty.
Phase III (egg fertilization) took place in the lab and was successful, but the last phase (embryo transfer) was so painful that it made her cry.
Two weeks after her IVF Phase IV, a blood test revealed that she was pregnant! Lara and her husband were so ecstatic and could not believe their first-time success with IVF.
Three weeks later, she had a scan and the clinic told her to expect twins.
Thirty-seven weeks later, she gave birth to her first set of twins (a boy and a girl) by caesarian section.
A few years later, she took her second and final IVF treatment and bore another set of twins! She then had a hysterectomy.
Now with four children, Lara and her husband could not ask for more.
Michelle's Story Michelle was 42 and afflicted with severe endometriosis.
She had endured two miscarriages and four failed IVF cycles.
She and her partner made the difficult decision to go for one final attempt at pregnancy with a fifth cycle.
She decided to try something different for this cycle by including acupuncture as a complimentary IVF therapy.
After just three acupuncture treatments, the day came for her egg retrieval.
She successfully produced more eggs then she had on any previous cycle.
The acupuncture also served to successfully relax her and increase blood flow to her uterus.
To her surprise, she felt no painful cramping or discomfort after the egg retrieval.
Just before the embryo transfer was to be performed, Michelle went for another round of acupuncture treatments to help regulate her hormones and continue to increase blood flow to her uterus, hoping this would result in a successful embryonic implantation.
Two weeks after the transfer, Michelle was declared pregnant! Taking caution due to her history of miscarriages, Michelle continued to undergo acupuncture therapy in her first trimester.
According to her acupuncturist's advice, the treatments are especially helpful for preventing another miscarriage, especially when women are in their late 30's or 40's when unfortunately it is a much more common occurrence.
Today, Michelle awaits the arrival of the Christmas present she has longed for many years: the birth of her baby boy.
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