There’s something people forget to talk about when it comes to infertility struggles – the high cost of pregnancy tests.
For two years, my husband and I were trapped in a never-ending cycle of buying pregnancy tests, taking pregnancy tests, and crying over pregnancy tests that did not offer us two lines, plus signs, or that elusive, little word – “pregnant.”
My childhood dreams of having a child didn’t include the dozens of times I would be peeing on a stick.
They also didn’t include being told my eggs just weren’t viable, or a need for the following website: www.donoreggbankusa.com – but I suppose that sometimes you just can’t predict the path you’ll have to take to make your dreams come true.
Deciding to Use Frozen Donor Eggs
There are so many factors that can cause infertility in women, but after years spent trying to conceive naturally, my husband and I were heartbroken to hear that my eggs just weren’t suitable for conception.
I can still remember the moment I heard that news. My first thought was, “This is it. We’re not going to be able to have children.”
As quickly as he’d announced the news, however, our doctor began to discuss “alternative options.”
Along with adoption, he explained that one of our best chances of having a child would be through the use of frozen donor eggs. While I’d heard of donor sperm, I’d never really considered a woman’s need for donated eggs. I went home that afternoon and started my research.
While the idea of carrying another woman’s biological child seemed a little strange, I was impressed by the information I found on the Donor Egg Bank website. When I called to dig a little deeper, the staff was so sensitive about our situation. It felt as if they had a personal connection to our story and sincerely cared about helping us achieve our goal of having a baby.
Even though I was still mourning the fact that I would not have a genetic tie to our child, the more I learned, the more I felt like this was the best solution to our infertility. DNA aside, I loved the idea that I would still carry this child and have the chance to bond with them throughout pregnancy.
Choosing a Frozen Donor Egg
Selecting the woman who would become our child’s donor was no easy feat. There were so many things to consider.
What did we care about most? A physical resemblance? Similarities in personality or cultural background? Thankfully, the extensive list of donors we were offered to look through gave us peace of mind in an otherwise stressful situation.
Potential egg donors are put through an arduous screening process before their eggs are accepted for donation. This process includes background screenings, physical examinations, medical history checks, and psychological evaluations.
These steps ensure that only the highest quality eggs are received and offered for donation. We felt safe in our decision-making process and were completely satisfied with the donor we eventually chose.
Donor Egg IVF: How Does It Work?
My frozen donor egg IVF cycle began with various blood work, ultrasounds, and tests that provided my fertility specialist with necessary information about my reproductive health and uterine quality.
Once these were completed and our consent forms were signed, it was time to start preparing my body for the upcoming transfer.
For a couple of weeks I was on birth control to help regulate my system and begin my cycle. From there, I moved on to a variety of medications, including estrogen and progesterone, that helped to improve my endometrial lining and prepare my uterus for implantation.
When my body was ready, our fertilized donor eggs were examined and one beautiful embryo was chosen to become our baby.
The day of our embryo transfer, we arrived at the clinic’s surgery center bright and early. I changed into a hospital gown, filled my bladder, and waited for them to call me back.
The transfer itself was one of the quickest and most pain-free procedures I’ve ever experienced. My husband and I watched an ultrasound screen as that sweet, little embryo was placed into my uterus via a thin catheter.
Two weeks later, we arrived back at the clinic for a blood pregnancy test where we learned I was expecting for the first time in my life.
The Answer We’d Been Hoping For
When we started trying to get pregnant so many years ago, I never expected it would be such a long drawn out process.
I may not have known how many negative pregnancy tests I would be throwing in the trash, but looking back I’m grateful for each one. Our difficulties are what led us to donor egg IVF, and that process brought us the most beautiful little girl I could have ever asked for.
When your infertility journey seems endless and impossible, remember that there are options. Your perfect solution could be right around the corner.
– Meredith B.
