When you decide to pursue motherhood through assisted reproduction, one of your first and most crucial decisions is choosing the right fertility doctor. I approached this like I would any major business decision – with thorough research, interviews, and a clear understanding of what I wanted.
After careful consideration, I chose Dr. Andresen in Newport Beach, CA. What drew me to their practice was their scientific, data-driven approach to fertility treatment. While emotional support is crucial in this journey – and I was fortunate to have that through my therapist, Dr. Jett – I wanted my medical team to focus on the science and success rates.
Given my age, I made the strategic decision to pursue external insemination (IVF). This wasn’t just about increasing chances of success – it was about being proactive and thorough. External insemination would allow for comprehensive testing of embryos, helping eliminate potential problems before they arose. Sometimes the most systematic approach is also the most sensible one.
The journey began with egg retrieval, and here’s what that actually looked like:
- Daily Injections
- Morning and evening shots to stimulate egg production
- For someone who’s always been comfortable with needles, this wasn’t as daunting as it might sound
- The real challenge wasn’t the shots themselves but their after-effects
- Physical Changes
- The injection sites would become extremely firm
- I managed this with hot patches to help relax the muscles
- The firmness persisted for about a month after the retrievals
- Results
- I completed two retrieval cycles
- These cycles produced approximately 21 eggs
- All eggs were immediately flash-frozen to preserve their viability
One thing that surprised me was how smoothly the entire process went. From the daily injection routine to the actual retrievals, I experienced minimal complications. While I know this isn’t everyone’s experience, I think it’s important to share that these procedures can go smoothly and don’t necessarily have to be traumatic.
In retrospect, the clinical phase of my journey was remarkably straightforward, perhaps because I approached it with clear expectations:
- I wanted science-based care from my medical team
- Emotional support came from my therapeutic relationship with Dr. Jett
- I maintained a practical, systematic approach to the process
For those considering this path, remember that you can separate your emotional journey from the medical process. Having different sources of support for different aspects of this experience – medical, emotional, and practical – can help make the journey more manageable.
In my next post, I’ll share about the next phase of the journey – selecting a donor and preparing for embryo transfer. If you’re considering this path and have questions about the egg retrieval process, feel free to reach out in the comments.
