Yay! A new success story! Lovin’ that while we’re in the midst of ICLW! Also, today marks the first day of NIAW! Get your myths busted!
Today, meet Sara. She blogs at My Infertile Confessions. Read on for her incredibly inspiring story…
2. What did you go through (as far as treatments, different doctors, adoptions agencies, etc.)?
Once we got off BCP’s we were so excited to start trying for a baby. It was exciting, new, and scary all at the same time! A month went by and I didn’t get my period. I took a test… BFN! Another month, no period! And another BFN! I started having cramping pains in my pelvic region so I went to the OB. She sent me to get a pelvic ultrasound done. My results came in and my OB wanted me back for the results. She took out a pad of paper and started drawing… my uterus! I had a Bicornuate Uterus! This still didn’t explain my irregular cycles, however. It just meant that it was going to be VERY difficult for us to conceive and to make it to full term when/if we did. She sent us on our way to TTC on our own.
Six months later and about two or three periods, I was back at the OB’s. We had not one BFP during this time and I was still wondering what was wrong with me. I had PCOS in the back of my mind, because of my irregular cycles and acne that was flaring up since stopping the BCP’s. I got a referral to my first reproductive endocrinologist, Dr. D. Dr. D informed me that 9/10 times a Bicornuate Uterus is really a misdiagnosed Septated Uterus and the only way to tell is by going in
laproscopically. He also did a pelvic ultrasound and confirmed polycystic ovaries. I had about 30-50 follicles on each ovary!
Surgery number one was performed. I was diagnosed with a Complete Septated Uterus (a septum going down the middle of my uterus and
creating, essentially, two wombs) and therefore he was able to remove the thick wall that went completely down to my cervix.Once healed, we decided to try on our own, for anniversary number two, while traveling abroad in Italy. I began taking my basal body temp during this time too so I can see when I ovulated. No bambino! We returned to start our first injectables (Follistim) and IUI cycle. We had two follicles, C had 100 million + great motility. BFN! Cycle two we had four follicles, great sperm, BFN!
I was emotionally drained so we decided to try on our own again along with temping, OPK’s, and acupuncture. BFN! I get put on Metformin 1500mg by a regular endocrinologist… the missing link? After a three month break we go back to see Dr. D. He wanted to check my uterus again and so we scheduled an office Hysteroscopy. The septum was BACK! The tears began…Surgery Two… he removes the remaining septum! Once healed, we have another office hysteroscopy, all CLEAR (one beautiful uterus)!
Follistim/IUI cycle #3… I ovulate 5-6 eggs (praying I’m not Jon and Kate!), C has great sperm! BFN! I am devastated and come to the realization that children may not be in our future. I google everything and think may I have empty follicle syndrome or God forbid, bad eggs, maybe C’s sperm can’t penetrate my eggs? Dr. D thinks IVF is the next step…
We take a break for the summer. I also go back to see my endocrinologist. He ups my metformin to 2250mg, because acne is still bad and testosterone is still elevated. Go to Kauai for anniversary number three! IVF comes up in conversation and we decide once we get back to get a second opinion. We also try one unmonitored Clomid cycle just for fun while we’re away. BFN!
I found Dr. R through lots of research. Dr. R was nominated #1 Dr in LA magazine! We meet with him and he thought we should try a couple Clomid cycles before moving onto IVF. He believed there shouldn’t be any reason we can’t get pregnant we are both young (me, 29, C, 31). I just had my
period now I’m waiting for a new cycle… it never started! We were tired of waiting and I felt IVF was what we were supposed to do! I was put on BCP’s, then Lupron, and then began the stims (menapur and Gonal-F) on Dec. 4. 2011. On December 15, I had my egg retrieval and they took out 29 good quality, mature eggs! C gave them over 100 million good quality sperm. Everything looked perfect! The following day we get a call for a fertilization report. Dr. R is on the phone (not good!). We had ZERO fertilize! But, we finally got our diagnosis! C’s sperm didn’t like my eggs! We were devastated to say the least. My eggs were now 24 hours old, but they performed Rescue ICSI. I googled and googled… we had about a 7% chance of any of them making it to a live birth. We both prayed and prayed!
The next day… 5 miracle embryos (scheduled a 3 day transfer)! The next day… 13 miracle embryos (pushed to a 5 day transfer!)! On day 5 (really 6 from my egg retrieval), we had two Blasts… one 4aa and one early blast. The embryologist came in and was so excited to meet us because “nothing like this ever happens!” She couldn’t explain how we got blasts! I said “I know… prayer!” She said, “well, keep praying and I want to meet your babies when you have them!”
On December 31, 2011, my first Beta test… 176! Second beta two days later… 692! 5 week ultrasound TWO SACS!!!
We are now 20 weeks pregnant with twin BOYS and we couldn’t be happier! It has been such a long hard road, but I wouldn’t change it for the world! It has made me a stronger woman, who is more than ready to be the BEST mom I can be! God is so good!
3. How did you handle disappointments through your cycles (natural and otherwise) or months of waiting?
Prayer, prayer, and more prayer! Plus some breaks mixed in! I honestly don’t think we could have done this without God. We felt He led us to the right doctors, and led us to do the right procedures! However, it is easy to get so wrapped up in IF and Doctors that you put more faith in them than in God. It was a constant battle.
4. What were the ‘stress-free’ techniques that you tried that helped you get through the cycle or time (yoga, meditation, acupuncture, support through family, friends & on-line, etc.)?
I was working full-time as a teacher so a lot of my time I was working. But I tried to stay active, nightly walks with my husband and dog, going to the gym, we tried acupuncture for 6 months (it was relaxing, but I ended up hating all the appointments), but my blog was my biggest release. I was able to write my thoughts and feelings down. I also fought depression while going through my second surgery, so I saw a counselor who helped me process all we were going through, that was a huge help.
5. If you could give advice for couples going through infertility now, what would it be?
Be your own self advocate. Do your own research. Know its okay to take breaks. Make sure to have date nights and enjoy your partners. Having a healthy and strong
relationship is so important when you DO bring that miracle into this world!
Thanks so much Sara! Follow Sara’s story into into motherhood on her blog.


















1. How long did you struggle through infertility? I’m 39 now, an American living and working in the UK, and 18 weeks pregnant via known donor.



































