From Lyn & Jeff

Overcoming age and male infertility factor
  "We knew we were facing an uphill battle from the beginning," said Lyn. Jeff had a vasectomy in the mid-1970’s and was told a reversal would almost certainly not be successful. Being an "older couple" (Lyn was 35 and Jeff 51), all options were not available for them and time was becoming an important issue. But they were united in their efforts to attempt to have children of their own.
  After quite a bit of research and a number of inquiries, Jeff and Lyn settled on Pacific Fertility Center (PFC). This center seemed best equipped to handle their specific needs. After attending a seminar and conducting a phone consultation with Dr. Sahakian, they decided to proceed.
  "We knew ahead of time of Jeff’s situation, and just assumed that everything would be normal with me as I have always been in excellent physical condition and yearly physicals had never shown even the slightest blemish," said Lyn. But during the thorough battery of tests done before any treatment would begin, it was revealed that Lyn tested positive for anti-phospholipid antibodies. This condition could, in and of itself, potentially prevent an embryo from implanting. However, with treatment of heparin, aspirin, and IVIG injections this becomes a non-factor.
  With the battery of tests complete, a calendar was tailored specifically for Jeff and Lyn’s treatment. After several weeks of injections including Lupron, Fertinex, Pergonal, and Heparin, an ultrasound was performed to see if Lyn’s ovaries had produced extra eggs. After determining that many extra eggs had been produced, Lyn received a shot if human chronic gonadotropin (HCG) to ripen them. Harvesting would occur 24 hours later.
  With the egg retrieval, Jeff’s procedure, and embryo transfer all just around the corner, a sneeze of anxiousness begins to take over. There is a little "fear of the unknown", but also a sense of excitement at what the end result may be. "It was important for both of us to stay calm and supportive of one another," said Lyn.
  The day of the egg retrieval was also the day of Jeff’s TESE procedure. Dr. Sahakian performed Lyn’s procedure first and was surprised how easy it went. She had no ill effects from it and was up and about very quickly. He was able to retrieve 12 eggs. Later that morning, Jeff underwent the TESE procedure which retrieves sperm from behind the vasectomy blockage. "It was basically a pain free procedure, much like my vasectomy years before," said Jeff.
  With the egg and sperm retrievals complete, it was time for the lab to do their job. The ICSI procedure was used to individually inject sperm into each egg. For the next 3 days, the embryos would grow in the lab.
  Now it was time for the embryo transfer. Before beginning the procedure, Dr. Sahakian showed us the results from the lab. Embryos which had survived to this point were graded on quality (1-4 with 1 the best) and on cell division (8 is what they’re hoping for after 3 days). We had no Grade 1 embryos which was disappointing. We did have several Grade 2 and 3 embryos with 7 and 8 cells so those were used. We ended with 4 embryos that were implanted. Lyn was again surprised how quickly and easily this procedure went.
  After 10 long days of waiting for the first pregnancy results, we were informed that Lyn was not pregnant. "It’s pretty devastating news. We always knew that failure was a very real possibility, but we tend to be optimistic people," said Lyn. "Jeff said right away that we would try again, but I had my doubts. The emotional investment alone was so great I wasn’t sure I wanted to go through all that again."
  But we talked to Dr. Sahakian and decided to give it another try about 2 months later. He drew up another calendar for us and the only change he made was an increase in our fertility drugs to try and get more eggs. "Having been through the entire cycle once, especially with no bad side effects, made it much easier the second time. Knowing what to expect each step of the way was comforting. But the emotional pendulum kept swinging as the thought kept crossing my mind that this could be my last attempt to have a child," said Lyn.
  This time the egg retrieval produced 16 eggs. Jeff had to undergo the TESE procedure again and experienced more discomfort this time around. "This time was not as easy and the recovery period longer," said Jeff. At embryo transfer time, we had better news. We had several Grade 1 embryos with 7 and 8 cells and several Grade 2 embryos with 7 and 8 cells. Dr. Sahakian seemed more pleased this time around too, and it was decided to implant 4 embryos again.
  After the long 10-day wait for results, we received the news that Lyn’s HCG level indicated that a pregnancy was implanting. Dr. Sahakian also indicated the HCG level was very high which more likely indicated a multiple pregnancy. "It was very exciting news, but I was a bit anxious about the fact it might be multiples," said Lyn.
  "Jeff and I had spent a lot of time discussing the future and what we wanted before we decided to undergo IVF. We had concluded that twins was the most we were willing to undertake and put my body through as well," said Lyn. "We had also make the conscious decision to keep everything we were going through to ourselves. We decided that it was nobody else’s business. Going through something like this is very personal and emotional, and it has strengthened a bond that was already very deep and close."
  Dr. Sahakian performed an ultrasound 3 weeks after the positive pregnancy test to test for a heartbeat in the fetal sac. To out shock it revealed that 4 embryos had taken. We were excited but knew that selective reduction was in out near future. Then, to everyone’s amazement, an ultrasound performed 3 weeks after revealed 5 fetuses! One of the embryos had split into identical twins. This is such a rare occurrence that the entire lad staff was brought in to view the ultrasound! "It’s pretty amazing to start with 4 and end up with 5," said Lyn. "We were in awe of what nature had done," but still knew we had to stick with out original decisions."
  Shortly after that, it was time to undergo the selective reduction procedure. "We never wavered from our original decision, but it still was not a pleasant option," said Lyn. The emotional strain was much greater than the physical that day. There were no bad side effects from the procedure.
  The twin pregnant is now progressing very well. "We recently found out we’re having 2 boys and are very excited, although we really didn’t care what combination it was," said Lyn. Although full term is still several months away, there have been no ill side effects from any of the procedures that have been undertaken.
  It’d been over a year since the seminar and initial consultation with Dr. Sahakian, and quite an emotional one. "The bond between Jeff and I is so strong and we are awaiting the boys’ arrival," said Lyn. "Age and male infertility factor do not have to road blocks to giving birth to your own offspring," said Jeff.
  Please note the names have been changed to protect patient confidentiality.