Anna's Donor Insemination IVF Story
Posted June 6, 2005 in response to Tanya's story.
Last Updated Oct 28, 2006

I can understand what you may be going through. My husband and I have been trying to conceive since 2002 and have found out that due to vericolie (varicose veins of the testes) that my husband has become sterile. The enlarged veins have cut off his semen supply.

It took about a month to finally talk about a possible donor and at first it seemed a little scary, I felt alone and couldn’t get a straight answer from my husband about if he would want to do it, but finally we sat down and talked about it and we know as well as you do that looking into the eyes of something you carried, experienced, felt all the pain you could possibly handle that there is no mistake it is yours. I believe the same will go for your husband. How could you not love some so precious? Plus he will be going through it with you.

We have both come to the conclusion that if we adopted it would be neither one of ours, I wouldn’t get to experience the joy of motherhood (pregnancy), so what would be any different than to use a donor? At least that way you can experience it from the beginning of its life.

I think my husband decided to do it because for one he wants to have a child with me, but most of all he understands how badly I really want this. I think he is still on edge about it, but wants to make me happy, and he knows what a joy a baby is because he already has two girls of his own.

I ordered my first sample yesterday and it will be arriving on Monday at my doctor’s office, then Tuesday we go in to have an IUI done with the donor. I will let you know how it turns out. Keep your head up! We are never given any obstacles that we can get around -- sometimes it just takes a little patience. I have waited 3 years so I am ready. After a while he got used to the idea and it really doesn’t seem that bad.

Let me know how it goes and I will update you with my results of my first IUI with a donor.

I wish you luck and hang in there! Your husband will come around.

Update from June 23, 2005

Well to give you an update about my IUI with a donor, sad to say it was unsuccessful. I am sure a lot of you know how it feels, but something in me was just hoping that this would be my turn.

Now my insurance, which covers a majority of the costs, has run out and I am finding out that it will cost a lot more than I expected. Just to let anyone know how much it might cost if you are thinking about it, it cost $200.00 for the consultation, $200.00 x 2 for the ultrasounds that will be done, $240.00 for the procedure, and for anyone considering a donor sperm it is around $500.00 for that. (FS - total about $1340)

My current doctor said I needed to wait a cycle since I have done 3 straight cycles already and the clomid has thinned out the lining in my uterus, so hopefully in a couple of months I will be back with a positive outcome. Still keeping my head up, but as many of you know, it is so hard sometimes.

Good luck to the rest of you out there, keep your dream alive.

Updated Oct 28, 2006

This is a continuation of my story from June 23, 2005. It is now October 27, 2006 and I am happy to say I am 6 months pregnant! Last time I wrote I was trying IUI with a donor, but unfortunately it never worked, so my spouse and I decided to save for IVF. Finally in about February of 2006 we had saved enough to start this new journey.

We found a wonderful and professional IVF doctor about 45 minutes from our home. We went in for the consultation ($200) and discussed our options. My husband had enough live and moblie sperm for us to do this without an donor, we were so excited to hear that. The process coming to find out was way longer than I ever expected. I had to start on injections in my stomach in the morning and injections in my butt and leg at night. Very hard, but it got to be painless after a while. Then it was followed by more injections to make me ovulate, totalling 3 months worth of medicine ($3500).

During that time I was monitored by frequent ultrasounds to make sure that my body was reacting properly to the medicine. Finally it was time to take out the mature eggs that have hatched by a extremely long needle. (Don't worry it isn't so bad.) I showed up to the office and they brought me into the operation room and was put to sleep for the entire procedure. When I woke I had mild cramping (like my period was starting) but it subsided soon after. After my husband deposited for the embryologist they took my eggs to be fertilized. 3 days later we went back in and found out that 4 eggs were 100% perfect and that because I was young 2 would imputted back in. ($9550) Well we did it and now I am 6 months along and having a boy. We are so excited.

5 years long awaited and we are so excited. The pregnancy is going beautifully and it couldn't have been easier (so far) I wish the best of luck to all of you out there. I know that it was totally worth the wait. Hope every one of you out there realize that your time will come and it will be entirely so special to you that you will do nothing but cherish it even more. Good luck out there, and if you are looking for a IVF doctor in the Bay area I have a reccomendation for you.