Getting Pregnant Again – Overcoming Secondary Infertility
Sadly, even if you didn’t struggle to
conceive in the past, your plans may not be going as smoothly this time
around. Many infertility specialists
hear the same story:
A woman or couple comes into their office
and says they got pregnant the first time without even trying. They’ve been
tracking ovulation cycles, using natural
infertility treatments, and giving the situation time – but nothing
seems to be working.
Given the circumstances, it’s natural to
feel frustrated and disappointed.. Fortunately, there are still other ways to
give your child or children a sibling.
When individuals and couples have tried
everything else, frozen donor egg IVF can be the ideal solution.
Are Frozen Donor Eggs Right
for You?
There are many reasons a woman might
experience infertility after successful pregnancies. For example:
·
Advanced Maternal Age
·
Deteriorating Egg Quality
·
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
(PCOS)
While IUI and traditional IVF can be
effective treatments for these conditions, they don’t always work. In some
scenarios, a woman may find out her eggs are no longer viable for pregnancy. If
this occurs, donor egg may be the next best alternative.
The benefits of egg donation are vast. Not
only do you achieve your dream of adding to your family, but you also have the
opportunity to experience pregnancy and delivery again.
Many women dream of not just having children, but carrying them. They yearn to watch their
bellies grow, feel little kicks from inside, and deliver their sweet child into
the world.
Pregnancy is indescribable – when a woman
chooses to use donated eggs, she won’t miss out on this process.
How Do You Choose an Egg Donor?
After an individual or couple weighs their infertility options and decides to
undergo frozen donor egg IVF, trying to understand what’s involved can be a
little overwhelming
The first step is to choose an egg donor.
For an egg donor program to accept a donor’s eggs , she must pass a rigorous
screening process. This step involves:
·
Drug Screenings
·
General Health Examinations
·
Psychological Evaluations
·
Background Checks
Once collected, her eggs are flash-frozen
using an advanced technique called vitrification. This technology prevents egg decay
and ice crystal formation during cryogenic storage.
Prior to making a decision, potential
parents are able to view information on a wide selection of donors. This data
often includes physical attributes, medical history, and educational and
professional backgrounds. After hopeful parents pick a donor, their chosen egg
lot will be sent to the fertility clinic of their choosing to await thawing and
fertilization.
What Takes Place During a
Frozen Donor Egg IVF Cycle?
Before her IVF cycle begins, the egg
recipient will undergo a series of initial tests to determine her baseline
reproductive condition. She’ll receive blood tests and ultrasounds, amongst
other screenings.
Using this information, her doctor will
prescribe a regimen of medications – like progesterone and estrogen - to boost
her uterine health. These drugs will ensure her body is in the best state
possible for the forthcoming embryo transfer.
While taking these medications, nurses will
monitor her progress with blood tests and transvaginal ultrasounds. When her
doctor determines she’s ready, they’ll schedule her embryo
transfer.
This painless procedure takes place at a
local surgical center. The developing embryo is placed directly into the
woman’s uterus under the guidance of a thin catheter and ultrasound technology.
Two weeks after the embryo transfer has occurred,
a blood pregnancy test will be given. This test measures the levels of human
chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the woman’s system. HCG is a hormone produced
in a woman’s body during pregnancy.
Its presence will tell the woman something
important – she’s pregnant.
Secondary Infertility Isn’t a Deciding
Factor
For many of us, the hope for a family
doesn’t end with one child. Many people dream of multiple little ones running
around the backyard. They want brothers and sisters playing together, picking
at each other, and loving one another.
Secondary infertility can put a hitch in
that dream – but it’s not the final word on the subject.
Our society has come leaps and bounds in
terms of medical technology. Infertility treatments are more successful than
ever, and donor egg usage is a widely accepted option among the healthcare
community.
If getting pregnant the second or third
time around isn’t as simple as before, don’t give up. There are still solutions
to be found with frozen donor egg IVF.
