Facing the risk of losing her uterus due to large fibroids, she underwent a 5½-hour surgery to remove 9 fibroids. Years later, IVF led to 3 healthy children, including one from a trisomy 16 mosaic embryo.
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📊 Story Snapshot
👩 Age: 39📆 Years trying: 15+
🧬 Embryo: 2 euploids and 1 mosaic (trisomy 16)
🧪 Retrievals: 1
🐣 Transfers: 3
💊 Diagnosis: Uterine issues (fibroids), Male factor infertility
📈 Outcome: 3 healthy babies
For 15 years, we weren’t really trying to conceive. We felt that when it was meant to be, it would be. When I was 39, I mentioned to my OBGYN that my periods were predictable without the pill, but very heavy. He offered birth control, but I explained that my husband and I wanted to have a child. He ordered a transvaginal ultrasound.
The results showed I had a fibroid on the back underside of my uterus the size of a softball, along with several smaller ones. The large fibroid was significantly distorting the shape of my uterus and likely causing my heavy periods. An MRI showed it was partially growing through the uterine wall. My OBGYN wanted to do exploratory surgery, but I declined. I asked him to remove the fibroids, but he told me there was a 1 in 3 chance I would need a hysterectomy. He said it was unlikely I’d be able to have a child and explained the fibroids would continue to grow until menopause, then shrink.
I couldn’t accept the risk of losing my uterus. I was referred to a reproductive specialist by a family member. The first doctor I met with said the surgery was too complicated for her, but she knew someone in the group who might be able to do it.
I was scheduled for an abdominal myomectomy. The doctor took 5 1/2 hours to remove 9 fibroids and repair my uterus. He essentially removed my uterus, repaired it, and placed it back through a C-section type incision. My 3-day hospital stay was on the maternity floor. I kept hearing babies crying and thinking, maybe someday.
I followed up with a fertility doctor, who did bloodwork. Given my age and the odds of conceiving naturally, she recommended IVF. My husband was initially against it, but after many long discussions and trying on our own, we decided to move forward.
My husband’s semen analysis showed low volume and low sperm count. In order for our insurance to cover IVF, we had to fail 3 intrauterine inseminations. Our doctor wasn’t optimistic given my age and his sperm parameters. We went through 3 IUIs, and all failed. We then moved on to IVF.
I was doing all of the injections, medications, and morning monitoring appointments 45 minutes away before work. During my first IVF cycle, my doctor called and said I wasn’t responding as well as expected. She said I could stop and try again in about 2 months or continue, but it would be a gamble. She saw 3 smaller follicles “in the back” that might grow into something, but she couldn’t say for sure. If I continued, some follicles might become too large.
Something deep inside told me to keep going. At the next monitoring appointment, those follicles had grown, and I was scheduled for retrieval. I had 8 eggs retrieved.
I was told that 6 eggs fertilized. On day 5, I had 3 embryos. They were biopsied and sent for PGT-A testing. The results came back with 2 euploid embryos and 1 mosaic. My doctor told me that for every baby, you typically need about 3 euploid embryos. My time was ticking. She said I could transfer or do another cycle.
We transferred the first euploid embryo, a Day 5 5BB. On Christmas Day, I had my first beta test and found out I was pregnant. I delivered a healthy baby girl at 40 via C-section at 38 weeks.
We decided to transfer the second euploid embryo, a Day 5 4BB. We weren’t comfortable discarding or donating it. At 42, I delivered a healthy baby boy via C-section at 36 weeks.
My fertility doctor then asked if I wanted to discard the mosaic embryo (trisomy 16, 6BB). I wasn’t ready to make that decision. I found Embryoman and spent over a year reading through the research.
One day, my daughter told me she had a dream that she had a baby sister. I told her, “I’m too old to have any more babies.” But my husband and I talked about the mosaic embryo and decided we had to give it a chance.
At 45, I gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby girl from that mosaic embryo.
So at 39, I had 3 embryos: 2 euploid and 1 mosaic. From those 3 embryos, I now have 3 healthy babies.
What would you say to someone who’s going through what you went through?
The journey is emotionally & physically draining that words can’t explain. Even against all odds, persevere and get other opinions. Share your journey with someone. I see YOU!
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