Many women venture into infertility treatments hoping for a pregnancy within a year. But, many women find they may strive for years and spend thousands upon thousands of dollars (see: “Funding the Babychase: How to Pay for Infertility Treatments”), only to have to resign themselves to exploring adoption. This means, for many couples, four or more years may go by before they are parents since the adoption process can take a long time as well. (See “This Baby’s Mommy”).
E. M. Mee is a woman who now refers to herself as a certified expert in infertility treatments. She is quickly becoming an expert in navigating the paperwork and application process when trying to adopt a child from China as well. Since E.M. has been through years of infertility treatments, she kindly agreed to share what she has learned to help others who are beginning their own journey.
Laura: How long have you been going through infertility treatments?
E.M.: We started about three and a half years ago. In the world of infertility, three years is hardly a long time. I was thirty-three when we started, so everyone was very optimistic. I had a laparoscopy very early, after only a few months of trying. My husband is older and we didn’t want to waste any time. The lap confirmed that I had stage-four endometriosis. The reproductive endocrinologist (RE) explained that I probably wouldn’t get pregnant without IVF (in vitro fertilization), but he recommended a few IUIs (intrauterine inseminations) since my insurance covered IUI. My husband was skeptical and thought we needed a second opinion. I had a short-term job in California, so we went to an RE there, thinking it would be easier to get an honest opinion from someone who wouldn’t actually be treating us. She was a lovely woman who confirmed the first RE’s opinion and suggested skipping the IUIs altogether. I’m grateful we took her advice. We went straight to IVF. Two failed complete cycles. Two no-start cycles because of ovarian cysts. (For a thorough explanation of IUI and IVF see: “Fertility Treatments, Demystified”)
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