“Saved By In Vitro Fertilization”
The Schneider family and their little miracle, Hazel; Ramsey, MN

Hazel, Hazel. That name is so sweet. That girl is so sweet. I must be the happiest woman alive. It has not always been this way. For a time, I was deeply depressed, and thought there would be no end to my sadness.

My name is Anita, and I would like to share with you the story of my husband, James, and my journey into parenthood. I can only hope that by sharing my story, I can reach a couple out there beginning their struggle with conception to show you that there is always hope, no matter what the situation. There is always a way, and the journey there will bring you closer as a couple and make you grateful as parents.

A few months after marrying, James and I decided we were ready to become parents. I knew it could take several months to conceive, but as Biologists, I felt we had an advantage. My husband teaches Anatomy and Physiology, and I had taken a class specifically on reproduction. We knew reproduction and development inside and out.

Time passed. The failure of each month brought my spirits down little by little. It hurt to see other women with big round bellies and glowing faces. And I felt that everywhere I went, there were young children, babies, and pregnant women.

The months moved on. It was nearing one year of failed attempts at pregnancy, and Mother’s Day. This was probably the peak of my depression. I wished the day was never invented. Why do others get pregnant so easily, or unintentionally, while I get to sit at home and cry my way through the holiday? It seemed totally unfair.

I became obsessed with our inability to have a family. I would go online and read magazine articles about infertility. They all claimed the definition of infertility was “the inability to conceive after a year’s time.” That was it. We had the label. I had the label. I was infertile. At least now, I felt like I could do something about it.

I made an appointment to see my family practice doctor; but to my surprise, she would not put me on stimulation drugs until we could rule out my husband. James made the appointment, and had his semen analyzed. About a week later, a letter arrived in the mail. In sloppy handwriting read “recommends a Urologist.” His count was low, his motility was low and his morphology was poor.

When my husband met his urologist, the doctor was in shock to read a count of nearly 200,000; less than one third of one percent of a normal count. After a physical exam, the doctor was stumped. His diagnosis: severe oligo asthenoteratospermia. The cause: unknown. The doctor could do nothing more for us.

We consulted a local reproductive endocrinologist. He gave it to us straight: it is hard to correct male-factor infertility. Today’s technology allows us to treat women. We can increase the number of eggs ovulated, thus “increasing the number of targets.” We tried one month of stimulation drugs and three months of stimulation drugs plus artificial insemination. We had no luck and were exhausted.

We needed a fresh start. I had read a book on the Traditional Chinese Medicine approach to infertility treatment, and, decided to consult a holistic doctor. We spent thousands of dollars on acupuncture, kinesiology, herbs, vitamins and teas. We changed our diets to a strictly organic, high vegetable, non-dairy, strictly planned regimen. Many months passed, and still no baby.

What were we to do? Adoption? But we wanted our own children, our own DNA. In Vitro Fertilization? We thought we could never afford that; plus, I am deathly afraid of needles! But, no harm could be done by inquiring.

On January 11, 2007, we attended an orientation session at Reproductive Medicine and Infertility Associates (RMIA). The clinic had a few spots available in a research study. In return for donated eggs, they would provide us with the stimulation drug, Bravelle, free of charge. We decide this was our opportunity; it was something we not only were willing to try, but needed to do. Month after month and year after year of failed attempts grows on a couple, and you change. You are emotionally drained, your relationship strains, you may even question whether life is worth living. At times like that the only thing that keeps you going is hope. We had found new hope.

From day one at RMIA, I knew we were in good hands. We met Dr. Jacques Stassart and his smiling staff of nurses, doctors, and technicians. They explained the process to us, gave us a tour of the facility, and even introduced us to an on-staff psychologist.

On March 2nd, I started on medications with excitement tempered by trepidation. Appointment after appointment and step after step it was a very challenging process, but we were cared for by reassuring professionals who also happened to be very nice people. The years of infertility didn’t seem to matter anymore. We had a focused plan with attainable goals. I looked forward to the next blood draw or the next ultrasound. I was a bit nervous to have an IV for the first time, but my husband was very supportive and the nurses were very gentle.

On April 18th the doctor retrieved fifteen eggs, fertilized them with my husband’s sperm using Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) and three days later, transferred two fertilized eggs to my uterus. One of them implanted successfully. And, on December 30th, 2008, I gave birth to a healthy baby girl, sweet baby Hazel.

Let’s face it; you may have experienced horribly trying times. You may feel like the world is against you. You may have lost hope. Don’t! There is always hope. In about four month’s time, I went from being depressed, fearful and hopeless, to ecstatic and pregnant!

There is hope. You could be here in a year’s time, writing your own essay. You too can be holding your very own Hazel, looking in to her eyes and wondering how life existed before parenthood. Don’t give up. Go for In Vitro Fertilization. You have nothing to lose. You may even conquer your fear of needles, as have I.