Real Patient Stories | Fertility Resources

Apr 19, 2023 | Real Patient Stories

Rachel & Chris

One year ago today we transferred one frozen embryo after a devastating loss. We were filled with fear and doubt but also a tiny bit of hope that this would lead us to our rainbow baby! One year later we are forever grateful for Boston IVF’s team for completing our family as Gabriel Dominic is 3 months old. Thank you Dr. Berger and all the wonderful nurses and staff for navigating us through this journey.

Apr 12, 2023 | Real Patient Stories

Chelsea & David

We were married for two years when we started to feel it was time to grow our family. We felt the call to become parents in the fall of 2019 while watching families with their young children enjoying the lead-up to the holidays. It felt like it was time. Plus our dog and cat wanted a human sibling. Making the decision felt thrilling at first. But as time went by without success, we started to fear that we would never be parents. Finally, in the summer of 2021 we were referred to Boston IVF and Dr. DiGirolamo. We were diagnosed with unexplained infertility - a frustrating diagnosis, but Dr. DiGirolamo made us feel confident that she could help us on our journey. Going through IVF treatment was an emotional rollercoaster. Hormones, injections, tests, procedures.

In March of 2022 we experienced an early pregnancy loss which left us grieving and desolate. But just a few months later, in July, we tried another transfer. It was scary and difficult to feel hopeful again. Even when we got that positive beta test and saw the heartbeat on our 7-week ultrasound, it still felt dangerous to let our guard down. But as time went by and we reached one milestone after another, it started to feel more real. Thanks to the expertise, professionalism, and compassion of our care team at Boston IVF, we welcomed our daughter to the world in March 2023. We couldn't have asked for a better group of professionals to help us on our journey to parenthood. Dr. DiGirolamo and her nurses (especially Bryna and Ryan) took the best care of us, answering every anxious question and guiding us through the medical minutiae of IVF with care and competence. Thank you!

Apr 04, 2023 | Real Patient Stories

Sharon & Roy

We decided to begin trying for a baby about a year after we got married. Little did we know that we were starting a journey fraught with heartache and pain. First, there was loss due to a subseptate uterus, which would need to be corrected by surgery. Then, there were a couple of unexplained losses and our general failure to conceive. These difficulties led us to begin our journey into the world of fertility treatments. I began with the required IUIs, and while the second procedure did lead to my getting pregnant, I wasn't convinced that the doctor at the fertility center we were going to at the time was the best for us. I had been talking to a therapist and they mentioned reaching out to Boston IVF, so I did.

I was able to get an appointment with a doctor who immediately made us feel comfortable and set realistic outcomes. Amazingly, he picked up right away that something with my current pregnancy was not quite right. Unfortunately, he was correct; we had another loss, and my life was nearly endangered. During these hectic weeks, he spent time on the phone calming my husband down and reassuring him of the procedure we were told needed to happen while on vacation. He then followed up post-op to make sure all was well! Fast forward several months and our fertility care team and physician set forth a detailed plan to help us try to conceive as quickly as possible. During our 2nd cycle we successfully retrieved and fertilized 2 eggs. We decided to freeze these 2 embryos. During our 3rd cycle, however, 6 fresh embryos were to be transferred. The large number of embryos made the doctor doing the transfer question the procedure, which made us uncertain for a moment. But then we remembered that we had complete faith in our physician, and if he was recommending a six-embryo transfer, then that's what we were going to do.

We're so glad we did! Out of 6, one little fighter stayed, and my uterus became the happy home for a baby after 4 years of trying! 5 years later we made the decision to use the frozen embryos from our 2nd cycle of IVF. We reached out to Dr. Berger at Boston IVF’s Quincy Fertility Center to help with the FET and became pregnant with our son! Now our family is complete with our miracles.

Apr 04, 2023 | Real Patient Stories

Taquisha & Patrick

My husband and I decided to add to our family after we got married in 2018. Little did we know we would have multiple bumps in the road. We reached out to Boston IVF for a consultation after trying to conceive on our own for a year. We felt nervous and excited when we got an appointment right away. Early on we were diagnosed with secondary unexplained infertility. Our first IUI cycle was in August of 2019. When the cycle was a success, we thought we had just graduated from Boston IVF. However, the pregnancy, unfortunately, ended in a miscarriage at eight weeks. With broken hearts, we knew we wanted to try again. We jumped right back into the next cycle and did four more IUI’s with no success. With only one cycle left we weren’t too hopeful, but IUI number six turned out to be successful. Yet again, the cycle ended in a miscarriage, a week before Christmas in 2019.

After that miscarriage, Dr. Elguero ordered some tests to dive deeper into why we kept miscarrying. When we didn’t find any answers, we decided to prepare for IVF. August 2020, we did our first egg retrieval followed by a fresh embryo transfer. More disappointment... the cycle did not take, and we were again heartbroken. Our second embryo transfer we transferred two embryos. One took, but that ended in our third miscarriage. At this point, Dr. Elguero recommended that we remove a small fibroid that was located on the outside of my uterus. In March 2022, during the surgery the doctor found endometriosis covering a decent portion of my uterus. Recovery was a six-week journey, and once we were cleared, we did our third and final embryo transfer. In July 2021, we transferred two embryos. With this being our final round, we prayed and hoped that one would take, and to our surprise one did! We remember getting the phone call that we were pregnant like it was yesterday. We were so excited and prayed that the next three betas would be great numbers, and they were!

Every ultrasound we had we always mentally and emotionally prepared for bad news, but we were pleasantly surprised when each and every appointment there was a beautifully perfect heartbeat. Our baby was growing right on track! In March 2022, we welcomed a beautiful baby girl. We named her Naomi. We are so blessed and so grateful beyond measure for all of the staff at Boston IVF that made it possible.

Apr 04, 2023 | Real Patient Stories

Carli & Tiffany

My wife and I met in 2008, fell in love, and have been college sweethearts ever since. From the very beginning of our relationship, we knew for certain that we wanted to start a family together. The question was, how do we start? In 2021, we attended an informational webinar that helped to educate us on how to begin our fertility journey with Boston IVF. After three rounds of IUI, my wife became pregnant with our son. We cannot put into words how grateful we are to Boston IVF for helping us make our little family possible. THANK YOU, ALWAYS!

Apr 04, 2023 | Real Patient Stories

Veronica & Gregory

Even though it feels like 'a lot'/personal - I promised myself I'd normalize struggles with infertility soon after my pregnancy announcement! IRL we had a long road of testing, 6 IUIs, IVF, holistic medicine, marital strain, tears, 2 lost babies, seeing so many people get pregnant 'easily.' Eventually, 27 eggs somehow boiled down to ONE healthy embryo. I was so concerned, but Dr. Lannon and team reassured me, "all you need is one." We are so grateful to have the financial, social, and emotional resources to lean on some science & a whole lot of faith. (1) THANK YOU to an amazing community of the best women EVER for listening & just being so beautifully, gloriously supportive, (2) If you are struggling with unexplained infertility, please know you are not alone, & (3) We ALL struggle with something(s)- let's be kind to each other.

Apr 04, 2023 | Real Patient Stories

Brittany & Shaughn

My husband and I welcomed our miracle baby in December of 2022. When we got engaged in 2018, we decided it was time to start our family. After 2 years of failed attempts and meetings with my regular OB, we decided to head to your facility. After a year of multiple tests & an honest answer that IVF may be our only shot, we decided to give IUI a try! After our 4th failed, I almost gave up. We were exhausted with meds, shots, etc. My husband's birthday was coming up and the 5th IUI would land on that day, so we chose to try one last time. We honestly didn't have much hope & were prepared to have to start the grueling process of IVF. So, on April 4th 2022 we went in for IUI #5. About 2 weeks later I started to feel more tired than usual but tried not to think about it. On April 21st we got the call that #5 was a success! We were in awe & shocked.

Our miracle had come true. Pregnancy was full of fatigue and nausea but overall was not bad. On December 21st, 2022, we went in for a scheduled c-section due to the baby being breech. During the birth, my placenta ruptured but the baby & I both came out great, we are perfectly healthy! Science works, doctors work, and miracles do come true. Here we are, almost 4 years later, absolutely head over heels in love with our miracle baby. Our baby boy is here and perfect. Thank you, Boston IVF!

Mar 13, 2023 | Real Patient Stories

Liz & Kristi

Prior to becoming parents to two amazing little humans, my wife and I were the quintessential dog-parent people. About a year before we embarked on our journey with Boston IVF, we had officially made the decision that we wanted to add children to our mix, but we weren’t sure which route we were going to take. After a lot of research into adoption vs IUI, and a conversation with my wife’s endocrinologist about Type 1 Diabetes and pregnancy, we made the decision that we would attempt having our own, and that I would be the one to carry. In November of 2019, we found our sperm donor through Seattle Sperm Bank. Initially we were going to attempt the process on our own at home, but after a little more research and a lot of questions, we scheduled an intake appointment with Boston IVF at the Syracuse center.

From day one the staff were absolutely incredible. Anna at the front desk immediately made us feel welcome and it meant so much that every time we called, as soon as she answered the phone, it was like connecting with an old friend. Abby was wonderfully attentive and answered all of our financial questions and helped walk us through the crazy bureaucracy of insurance. While we had initially started with another doctor, the world shut down in March of 2020, just as we were having all of our initial lab work and imaging done to complete our first IUI. Boston IVF stayed in touch though and continued to update us with regards to when we might be able to begin. In April of 2020 we got a call from Dr. Bove who had taken over our case. She had gone through my lab work and discovered that based upon my AMH and FSH levels, I was presenting with Diminished Ovarian Reserve. She explained everything with an incredible balance of deep knowledge and understanding and compassion, and it was determined that IVF would be a more productive course of action.

Boston IVF was incredibly thorough with giving us all of the information that IVF entailed. From learning modules that explained what was happening and how it was happening, to phone calls and emails with the nurses, we always felt like our questions were addressed. And throughout the stim process, the ultrasound technicians, phlebotomists, and nurses were warm, engaging, comforting, respectful, and friendly. On the day of the egg retrieval, because of COVID restrictions, my wife was not allowed to go into the building with me. After the procedure, Dr. Bove made it a point to go out to the parking lot to introduce herself to my wife and let her know how the whole process had gone. We were all a little amazed that despite the DOR diagnosis, they had retrieved 8 eggs, 7 of which were mature. Of those 7, all 7 fertilized and 3 embryos made it to day 5 and were frozen. On the day of our transfer, Dr. Penzias flew in. Despite that being the first time meeting him, he was efficient but warm.

After the dreaded two week wait, we were informed our transfer was successful and our beta numbers had more than doubled. Around the five and a half week mark however, I began to experience a fair amount of bleeding and we prepared ourselves for the worst. I called BIVF and they told me to come in right away. As soon as I walked into the clinic, Maureen- one of the ultrasound technicians was waiting for me. She immediately just gave me a hug and walked me back to the ultrasound room. She also told me to call my wife and have her come in from the parking lot, just in case. As we waited to hear what we had been dreading, Maureen found a heartbeat. She called in Molly, our PA who confirmed everything was alright. Molly and Maureen demonstrated an extraordinary amount of care, empathy, and sensitivity in what was an extremely harrowing and vulnerable moment.

Ultimately, we were a little heartbroken when we were discharged into the care of my regular obgyn because BIVF had truly come to feel like a family. And thanks to the expertise and astounding work of the team, our beautiful daughter was born at the end of April 2021. Knowing we had two embryos left, we decided to take a shot in the dark and see if we could replicate our success. Our amazing son was born at the beginning of November 2022.

Jan 30, 2023 | Real Patient Stories

Stephanie & Will

We got married in 2012 and knew then that we were going to try for a baby right away. I got pregnant 9 months later with the help of Clomid. When we went for our 12 week ultrasound we discovered that it was a blight ovum pardum pregnancy and I had to have a DNC. After this miscarriage I had 2 unsuccessful IUIs. We then did our first round of IVF in 2020, and I became pregnant. I lost that baby very early. A few months later we did another round of IVF and became pregnant. At 33 weeks pregnant I had a placenta abruption and was rushed to the hospital via ambulance. I stayed in the hospital for 24 days. The longest 3 weeks of my life. I had gestational diabetes and took insulin 4 times a day. After 23 hours I’d labor, I had an emergency c-section. It was terrifying. My pregnancy was difficult, but I’d do it again. I can’t believe we want another baby, but I do.

We now have a healthy, happy 14 1/2 month old baby boy named Bennett William. He is learning to walk and testing out his lungs! I still stare at him in awe! I cannot believe I’m a Mama. We are so grateful to Dr. Alper and Dr. Lannon! We were ready to give up on our dream of being parents. I’m so glad we decided to a 2nd round of IVF. Thank you for everyone who helped along the way.

Jan 11, 2023 | Real Patient Stories

Dani & Dan

Our journey to parenthood began unexpectedly, in the middle of a pandemic, on a sunny Friday. We weren’t trying, and we weren’t not trying. We were just happy 26-year-old high school sweethearts; we had our dogs, we had a future, and nothing needed to be planned out. For a few weeks, I had been feeling off, so I decided to take a test. I paced around my house, shaking as I held that test, which had turned positive almost instantly. I was pregnant. Although our pregnancy wasn’t exactly planned, it was so very wanted. We told our family and close friends. We discussed names. We had an ultrasound that showed only a gestational sac. But we had no fear! It was just too early to see the baby, right? If only we’d know what was ahead.

Our world came crashing down on the Friday of Father’s Day weekend, 2020. Emergency room. Needles. Ultrasound. Hours and hours in a mask in a hospital in a terrifying time. Spontaneous abortion. And so began our journey through infertility. The fear of using the bathroom. The constant worry. The anguish at seeing another pregnancy announcement on Facebook. Going to Target became unbearable. Everything was a reminder of what we didn’t have anymore. We would eventually become experts in grief and disappointment. After that initial loss, we were told “everything happens for a reason” about a thousand times, and somehow that hurt even more. My best friend, who happens to be a grief counselor, helped me change my mindset about that phrase. She said: “it didn’t happen for a reason, but you can find meaning in what happened. You learned that you are ready to start a family.”

I always knew I had PCOS, but it was never officially diagnosed. After nine more months of trying on our own, an official PCOS diagnosis, and a clean HSG through my OBGYN, we were referred to Dr. Brian Berger in March of 2021. Infertility is a test of patience, and it truly forces you to develop coping mechanisms. It was yoga, family time, and Friday night pizza for me. From March through July, we had tests, and I took medicine to help bring down my testosterone levels (thanks to PCOS). We kept busy and stayed hopeful. Beach days, boat days, we even got engaged! And then, finally, it was time. My insurance required 3 IUIs before we could move on. The day of our first one came, and I’d never been so excited to see a speculum. We had a chance! I spent the two week wait, enjoying the last weeks of summer. But beta day came, and it was negative. We were sad but still had so much hope, so we hopped into the next cycle. I got the call at an antique car show; I cried in front of the 1960s-era cars. My HCG was a 3. An embryo had been implanted, but it was most likely not viable. It hurt more than a negative.

Why couldn’t my body do what it was designed to do? Somehow we still had hope, and we hopped into our third and final IUI. Again not the call we wanted. This was the most devastating and traumatic cycle. My initial beta was 31, which fluctuated for more than ten days, leaving me exhausted by the tri-weekly 4 am trips to Quincy for blood draws. I felt so stuck during those two weeks, knowing I was pregnant, but not really. My body couldn’t sustain a pregnancy. Everything was dark and heavy. I felt so guilty for wanting to miscarry that pregnancy. I felt guilty that my body failed yet again. Eventually, I did miscarry, and it was time for our first round of IVF. On the first night of injections, Dan accidentally poked himself with a needle and dropped another on the floor. I somehow scratched a needle down my stomach and had a beautiful scratch to go with my bruises and needle marks. It was a mess; we laughed so hard that tears were streaming down our faces. Infertility brought us closer in a humbling and vulnerable way. On our tenth anniversary, I went in for an egg retrieval. I love that all our children were conceived on our tenth anniversary. On December 22, I was able to transfer one fresh 5AA embryo.

Watching the little air bubble plop down into my uterus on the ultrasound screen was beautiful and magical. We smiled on the rainy drive home. But the thing is, infertility trauma doesn’t leave you, even when good things happen. Even after a voicemail saying, “congratulations, you’re pregnant,” and dancing around the living room with happy tears, the anxiety lingers. What could go wrong? From experience, I can say this: sometimes nothing goes wrong. Sometimes it just works out exactly how you want. On January 24th, I was an anxious mess. We walked into the Quincy office for our ultrasound, and I just about squeezed Dan’s hand off. Once in the room, I stared at the ultrasound tech, trying to read her face. Did she see more than a gestational sac? Was there a heartbeat? Did she blink weirdly? Is that a frown under her mask? Dan is my rock, and he kept my hope and happiness in all our months of infertility. He kept me sane. But on the day of our ultrasound, he sobbed as he saw the perfect 140-beat heartbeat flashing on the screen. The same heartbeat I’d hear at the OB’s office for the next 40 weeks. The same heartbeat is snuggling next to me as I type.

Della Meredith joined the world on September 21, 2022, after 42 weeks and two days of growing. She’s the love of our life, and we genuinely have Boston IVF to thank. Dr. Berger, Donna, and Angel guided us through treatment. And Dr. Ryley did our embryo transfer. Without these professionals' care and compassion, we wouldn’t have had hope, and we wouldn’t have our sweet Della girl. The trauma of infertility doesn’t leave you, ever. I still feel the sting of pregnancy announcements. I enjoyed every bit of my pregnancy but needed so much reassurance. Going through IVF and having success has taught me much and changed my life. Today I try my best not to live in the what ifs and would be, and I find peace knowing that sometimes things work out with a bit of hope, perseverance, and science.

Jun 10, 2022 | Real Patient Stories

Caysie & Kevin

Kevin and I were married in October of 2019 and knew that starting a family was incredibly important to the both of us. Throughout our relationship, we would dream up names for our future children and discuss all the experiences we hoped to create for our family. After trying for about a year on our own, we realized that we would need some assistance as my monthly cycle was incredibly irregular (and sometimes nonexistent) after I stopped taking birth control.

Among a constellation of other factors, I was diagnosed with PCOS in late 2020. Of course, when receiving new health-related information, my first instinct was to search the internet for stories and statistics like mine, hoping that a PCOS diagnoses wasn’t the end of our parenting dreams. Because of Boston IVF, this diagnosis was only the start of our journey to parenthood. What I appreciated most about working with Dr. Alper is how much he allowed for hope and positive thinking to be part of our treatment. I am not sure what I was expecting, but the fact that he continued to point out the positive aspects of each step and allow a little room for hope within the science, meant the world to us.

We first met Dr. Alper in January of 2021. Throughout the Spring and Summer of that year, we prepped for and engaged in our first round of IVF. Our Egg Retrieval procedure yielded 9 eggs which allowed for the creation of 5 embryos. After testing and waiting to see how many embryos matured, we ended up with 1 healthy embryo. I remember feeling incredibly nervous and a little dejected that after countless injections, a range of emotions, and all those months, that we only had one opportunity for our first cycle. I remember clearly during our appointment to discuss next steps, Dr. Alper said, “It only takes one”. With science and hope (it is difficult to even find the words to properly express) that our Max is our miracle, ONE embryo. We had our Embryo Transfer on August 4th, 2021 and a week or so later we received our first positive pregnancy test.

Jun 02, 2022 | Real Patient Stories

Jean & Chris

My husband and I were married in September 2018 and started for children right away. It didn't come easy; we were getting negative pregnancy tests month after month. Then July 2019, we got our first positive; we were over the moon. Then, heartbreak happened in September 2019 when we suffered a miscarriage. I had a D&C, and we started trying again as soon as we were given the all-clear. But my period wasn't coming. Instead, I was getting cyclic cramps, something was wrong, and my OB was not concerned.

I decided to go to Boston IVF for a second opinion, and then it was found that I had a band of scarring in my cervix, which was removed. I also found out I had low AMH. We decided to do a round of IUI, but due to COVID was pushed back. In April 2020, my first IUI was successful, but in June 2020, I again had another miscarriage. Fast forward from August 2020 to Feb 2021. I had a round of IVF which only yielded one embryo. I had surgery to remove endometriosis and fix a hydrosalpinx. We transferred that embryo in Feb 2021, and it failed. It was realized that my hydrosalpinx came back, and in March 2021, I had my left fallopian tube removed.

In May 2021, my husband and I decided to go with donor eggs due to the miscarriages and to be a terrible responder to IVF. Our first batch yielded no embryos, and we got a replacement lot. In July 2021, we bought a lot of 8 donor eggs, and 6 became blasts! Our first transfer was a success, and our daughter Logan Charlotte Bull was born on March 19, 2022.