Briana and Bradley’s triumph over unexplained infertility
For some, the dream of starting a family seems simple. You find a partner or donor, and expect that when the time is right, the next step – having a baby – will follow. But for countless individuals and couples, this journey is fraught with unexpected challenges and longer timelines. Briana and Bradley’s story is an example of the many paths one can take to experience parenthood.
Briana and Bradley had been married for a few years when they decided to expand their family. However, as days turned into months without a positive pregnancy test, their dream of having a baby began to feel like an elusive goal.
Determined to find answers, the couple sought help from Briana’s OB/GYN. After initial tests, the doctor prescribed fertility medications for Briana. Trying this for three months of her cycle with no success, the OB/GYN ultimately recommended seeking a fertility clinic for more comprehensive testing.
Unfortunately, that didn’t work out. After one visit to a fertility clinic, the couple just didn’t feel at peace in that practice. They put thoughts of fertility treatment on hold for a while.
“We made a consultation appointment at TRM a few months later with Dr. Rink Murray and didn’t look back,” says Briana.
A diagnosis of unexplained infertility begins the IVF journey
Finding the right clinic helped them navigate their journey with more confidence. The couple underwent a series of tests, including hormone evaluations, semen analysis and imaging. As these tests revealed no identifiable cause for the infertility, Dr. Murray made a diagnosis of unexplained infertility.
It is often a hard diagnosis to receive, although not at all uncommon. It is estimated that 1 in 8 couples struggle with infertility, and for about 30% of them, the cause remains unexplained.
Unexplained infertility is a challenging diagnosis due to the lack of a clear cause, making treatment and emotional coping difficult. However, many couples with this diagnosis are able to conceive with appropriate interventions and support.
The struggle with uncertainty and feeling betrayed by one’s body
The diagnosis of unexplained infertility brought a whirlwind of emotions. “I couldn’t understand why something that seemingly happens so easily for most people didn’t seem possible for me.
“Initially, I was angry at my body and myself because I thought that it was failing us. Which then led me to question if we were meant to be parents.” – Briana
Bradley, too, was engulfed by fear and uncertainty. “We definitely had challenges throughout this whole process, in various ways, but the most significant challenge was the unknown and thoughts that even this [seeking treatment] might not work,” he says.
Related Reading: What to expect when you’re not expecting
Many individuals face intense emotions when their bodies don’t function as expected, leading to feelings of frustration and inadequacy. The uncertainty of not knowing if or when pregnancy will occur can add to the stress, making the journey to conceive both emotionally and mentally taxing. Seeking support from a fertility specialists can help manage these feelings and provide guidance on the path to parenthood.
Despite the challenges, the couple found ways to cope with the uncertainty. They leaned on each other for support and explored various treatment options. It helped that they felt supported by their care team at TRM.
Related Reading: Expert advice on keeping your relationship strong through infertility
Their fertility treatment and IVF journey
They first tried medicated cycles with their OB/GYN, a common treatment where fertility drugs are used to stimulate ovulation, increasing the chances of natural conception. As this approach proved unsuccessful, the couple moved on to one round of intrauterine insemination (IUI). In IUI, sperm is directly placed into the uterus around the time of ovulation to facilitate fertilization.
After exhausting these options, Dr. Murray recommended in vitro fertilization (IVF), a more complex and intensive treatment. IVF involves retrieving eggs from the ovaries and fertilizing them with sperm in a laboratory. The resulting embryo(s) is then transferred to the uterus in the hope that it will implant and develop into a pregnancy.
Dr. Rink Murray offers advice for patients diagnosed with unexplained infertility
We know the diagnosis, unexplained fertility, can be hard to hear. With all the testing, technology and expertise available, patients expect that their fertility doctor will uncover something. When we don’t find anything, it can be disheartening. It can shake a patient’s faith because if we can’t tell them exactly why they are not getting pregnant, then how does that patient maintain hope that the fertility treatments we recommend will work?
The good news is that unexplained infertility usually has a good prognosis, meaning that the majority of couples with this diagnosis ultimately will take home a baby!
We don’t know exactly what treatment will work for an individual or couple. However, we do have a pretty good idea on what percentage of couples will get pregnant. – Dr. Murray
Their IVF journey to joy
The wait after the embryo transfer was fraught with anxiety and anticipation. Briana couldn’t bear the suspense, deciding to take a home pregnancy test just days after the procedure. “I was so impatient and excited that I couldn’t wait until our lab testing to know if the transfer had worked or not.”
To her immense joy, the test showed a very faint positive result. She bought a small gift and prepared a special way to reveal the news to Bradley, who had insisted on waiting for the official lab results. “He was very adamant about waiting until beta day to find out,” Briana says. The morning of the beta test – the definitive blood test to confirm pregnancy – she set out the little gift, a heartfelt surprise to announce that their perseverance had paid off.
The news of a successful pregnancy after IVF brought immense relief, marking the start of a new incredible journey. Nine months later, the couple welcomed a healthy baby boy into the world. Holding their son for the first time was a moment worth waiting for.
“The amount of love I felt for him was overwhelming. It was truly the best day of my life.”
– Briana
Briana’s advice to others on a similar IVF journey, or any fertility journey, echoes a sentiment of self-compassion. “Try not to be too hard on yourself,” she advises, recognizing the challenges but also the strength that comes from resilience and proper support.
Their experience illustrates that while unexplained infertility can be a daunting diagnosis, exploring all available treatments and seeking care from the right clinic for you can make a significant difference. Their story is a reminder that with the right information and resources, overcoming infertility is possible.
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