Real Patient Stories | Fertility Resources

Oct 17, 2023 | Real Patient Stories

Amanda & Scott

We started trying to conceive in 2018. I was in my late thirties and Scott in his early forties. I suffered two blighted ovum miscarriages and one other unexplained miscarriage. The tissue from one miscarriage was tested and revealed that missing chromosomes caused the terminated pregnancy. After being advised that I was "old" at age 37/38 and should just let it be, I went through four OBs before finding Boston IVF. In 2020, we were slated to start our journey in April. COVID stopped us. In the meantime, I developed some health issues that impacted us once again.

By 2021, I moved forward with two egg retrieval cycles that resulted in one PGT-tested viable embryo. I did a FET in February 2022. During that time, I worked with Rocky Coast Integrated Medicine in S. Portland for acupuncture. I also ate whole foods while avoiding processed and sugary foods. Prior to the FET Boston IVF provided an acupuncture session. He stuck! Declan was born on 11/2/2022 healthy and perfect via C-section due to a breech position during the entire pregnancy. He just turned nine months old. We worked with Dr. Lannon and Tiffany, our nurse. They were easy to talk to, and Dr. Alper did the FET.

Jul 31, 2023 | Real Patient Stories

Ariane & Brent

My husband and I tried for a year on our own and we started with our primary care office that offered infertility. We basically wasted a year and we are so thankful we had Boston IVF and Doctor Resetkova. We had three failed IUIs. We had one egg retrieval but no eggs fertilized. Finally, in the second egg retrieval, we ended up with 5 embryos. We did a natural transfer the first time, and it didn't take. Our second was with hormones throughout to help. Progesterone and estrogen. I genuinely believe without those, we wouldn't have had our daughter. We transferred #3 and then #4 with no success and no hormones. Finally, our last embryo, we did the hormones again and we now have a son! We are truly blessed, and it was an extremely emotional journey, but we are so thankful we didn't give up.

May 18, 2023 | Real Patient Stories

Carissa & Dana

My husband and I met in college at UMass Dartmouth. We started dating in 2010 and got married in 2016. Four years in to our marriage, in 2020, my husband Dana was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer, multiple myeloma. Up until this time, we were not sure we wanted children, but once we were told that if we did not act now, we may not be able to have children, we decided to go to Boston IVF. In 2020, I had polyps removed from my uterus. After this, in 2021, I started the IVF process. I had my egg retrieval and my first transfer. They embryo implanted & I was told I was pregnant.

However, after the first ultrasound after the transfer, we were told the heartbeat was not strong enough & I would most likely miscarry. At 9 weeks, the week after my birthday, I ended up needing a D&C. We tried again with a FET as soon as we could. On May 4th 2022, after the FET I found out I was pregnant again. I was extremely nervous after experiencing my first miscarriage. I was so happy when we went for our ultrasound and she had a strong heartbeat and we graduated from Boston IVF to our obgyn.

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.