Hello and welcome to the Fairfax Cryobank Family Forum!
The forum has a new look and the Fairfax Team is so excited to create the best experience for our users.
To Note:
Private Donor Groups and Private Sibling Connection Groups are now located under the category "Groups". Search the donor number in the search box and you should find exactly what you're looking for!
Questions about your forum access? Email forum@fairfaxcryobank.com
Follow these steps to join a private donor group:
1) Press "Join" at the right of the group
2) Once prompted to confirm your request please list this information so we can verify your information:
Name (under which the vial was purchased)
Email
Clinic Name
Donor number
Child Date of Birth
*If you are looking to start a private group for a PRS donor please email forum@fairfaxcryobank.com with the above information and that you are looking for a PRS group*
If you have any questions about the verification process please email forum@fairfaxcryobank.com
The forum has a new look and the Fairfax Team is so excited to create the best experience for our users.
To Note:
Private Donor Groups and Private Sibling Connection Groups are now located under the category "Groups". Search the donor number in the search box and you should find exactly what you're looking for!
Questions about your forum access? Email forum@fairfaxcryobank.com
Follow these steps to join a private donor group:
1) Press "Join" at the right of the group
2) Once prompted to confirm your request please list this information so we can verify your information:
Name (under which the vial was purchased)
Clinic Name
Donor number
Child Date of Birth
*If you are looking to start a private group for a PRS donor please email forum@fairfaxcryobank.com with the above information and that you are looking for a PRS group*
If you have any questions about the verification process please email forum@fairfaxcryobank.com
My Introduction & Story to Help & Share with Others...
rivencap
Junior Member Junior Member
Greetings! Welcome! Good Luck to all of you!
Quick introduction to my situation: I am currently 30yrs old, have a very regular menses cycles, have a 10yr old Daughter from a previous situation (victim of date rape), and have been trying to concieve for almost 10yrs with my wonderful Husband. After many years of grieving, gastric bypass surgery for myself (I was almost 400 pounds, down to 200 pounds currently), and still blaming myself for infertility (when we knew it was my husband); we finally went to an RE (Reproductive Endocrinologist) a year ago. My Husband, who is currently 32yrs old, has a very low sperm count due to a Hernia in his one testical when he was a tween. He also found out at that time the other testical was undergrown, and the only testical producing any sperm. My husband and I did IVF (In-Vitro Fertilization) last Memorial Day 2010. It was our only option to have a biological child.
The IVF, on my part, went fairly well. Started with Lupron injections, then Menopur and Braville injections, then HGC trigger shots, to Progestrone vaginal suppositories with oral Estrogen and baby Aspirin medication. Tons of ultrasound and blood work appointments flooded my calendar on my Blackberry during my cycle. I had 29 Follicles sucessfully stimulated, but only 10 eggs were retrieved (was in a car accident the day before my egg retrieval, which I do not think helped any). All of the eggs fertilized beautifully, but then started dying one right after another. The Fertility Clinic rushed me back in to implant the last two viable eggs.
Unfortunately, the IVF did not work or I would not be here. At our follow up appointment with our RE, he stated that the embrologists made lots of notations about abnormalities in the very few sperm that "looked healthy and active". We took the summer and fall 2010 off from treatments. We needed time to grieve again and think about our options and see the Ferility Center Psychologist. She thought we would be great canidates to be foster parents, as we felt adoption in the USA is very expensive and looking to maybe adopted overseas. My Husband was open to Donor sperm first, as he knew this would be a real possibility due to knowing his infertility. I finally came around and open to Donor sperm around Thanksgiving 2010 and my Husband could not be more excited.
We went through the three major sperm banks in the USA, as our RE recommended. We choose Fairfax mostly because of all the testing/prescreening with their Donors. Especially the HPV (Human Papillomavirus)! Due to my Date Rape and I was lucky, I contracted the HPV virus only but battled it for almost ten years and had to have a LEEP (Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure) surgery in March 2010, before my IVF treatment. We went through the Fairfax search tool and picked out 6 Donors. It was nice to pick out Donors that represented my Husband of course. Finally, we decided to purchase childhood photographs of our top 3 donors. With this option, we were able to pick the exact Donor as soon as we saw the photograph. It was spooky to see the resembalance to my Husband and his Father on our Donor pick.
As you see above in my story, I do not need to to do IVF with Donor sperm, but I will be doing my first IUI this week with Donor sperm. I go in tomorrow (day 14) for my ultrasound, blood work and HCG trigger shots tomorrow. By the way, I was on Clomid days 3-7 of my cycle. So needless to say, I am excited and scared to the bone, but trying to stay as relaxed as possible. My IUI is scheduled for Tuesday/Wednesday, and I am doing two inseminations, one vial each time.
What I can pass on to all of you: Is know your insurance coverage so you do not get any surprises. I knew my benifits inside and out through my health insurance, but got a surprise that even though it is a speciality, all my fertility medications went through my prescription insurance. Needless to say, I have do not have great coverage on the medication/injections part. Also, get messages, acupuncture and some time type of meditation. Any stress relievers are a must! I wish I did more in that area. I thought I could handle the stress, as my life is pretty stressful. I was not prepared for the stress of an IVF cycle. Remember, it is okay to take breaks in between treatments. Especially if you have a miscarriage. Your body needs to heal and you and your partner need to have a grieving process. In fact, a grieving process is needed even from a disapointment of failed cycle. And last but not least, do an intermediate Family Medical Leave Act if you can. Most employers will count Infertility and this protects you from any unexcused tardies or absences. I work for a huge Chicagoland Hospital/Medical System and they have strict tardy/absent policies.
Hope this helps and once again, best of luck! Any questions or stories, please feel free to comment and share!
PS: I just wanted to include that all the stories I have read here, touched my heart and has brought tears to my eyes. Not only do I work in an OBGYN Doctors Office and see more Female Infertility, but my circle of family and friends have also been Female Infertility. It brings some comfort to know and see other couples/families struggling with Male Infertility and we are not alone. Please keep sharing! Good or bad experiences! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Quick introduction to my situation: I am currently 30yrs old, have a very regular menses cycles, have a 10yr old Daughter from a previous situation (victim of date rape), and have been trying to concieve for almost 10yrs with my wonderful Husband. After many years of grieving, gastric bypass surgery for myself (I was almost 400 pounds, down to 200 pounds currently), and still blaming myself for infertility (when we knew it was my husband); we finally went to an RE (Reproductive Endocrinologist) a year ago. My Husband, who is currently 32yrs old, has a very low sperm count due to a Hernia in his one testical when he was a tween. He also found out at that time the other testical was undergrown, and the only testical producing any sperm. My husband and I did IVF (In-Vitro Fertilization) last Memorial Day 2010. It was our only option to have a biological child.
The IVF, on my part, went fairly well. Started with Lupron injections, then Menopur and Braville injections, then HGC trigger shots, to Progestrone vaginal suppositories with oral Estrogen and baby Aspirin medication. Tons of ultrasound and blood work appointments flooded my calendar on my Blackberry during my cycle. I had 29 Follicles sucessfully stimulated, but only 10 eggs were retrieved (was in a car accident the day before my egg retrieval, which I do not think helped any). All of the eggs fertilized beautifully, but then started dying one right after another. The Fertility Clinic rushed me back in to implant the last two viable eggs.
Unfortunately, the IVF did not work or I would not be here. At our follow up appointment with our RE, he stated that the embrologists made lots of notations about abnormalities in the very few sperm that "looked healthy and active". We took the summer and fall 2010 off from treatments. We needed time to grieve again and think about our options and see the Ferility Center Psychologist. She thought we would be great canidates to be foster parents, as we felt adoption in the USA is very expensive and looking to maybe adopted overseas. My Husband was open to Donor sperm first, as he knew this would be a real possibility due to knowing his infertility. I finally came around and open to Donor sperm around Thanksgiving 2010 and my Husband could not be more excited.
We went through the three major sperm banks in the USA, as our RE recommended. We choose Fairfax mostly because of all the testing/prescreening with their Donors. Especially the HPV (Human Papillomavirus)! Due to my Date Rape and I was lucky, I contracted the HPV virus only but battled it for almost ten years and had to have a LEEP (Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure) surgery in March 2010, before my IVF treatment. We went through the Fairfax search tool and picked out 6 Donors. It was nice to pick out Donors that represented my Husband of course. Finally, we decided to purchase childhood photographs of our top 3 donors. With this option, we were able to pick the exact Donor as soon as we saw the photograph. It was spooky to see the resembalance to my Husband and his Father on our Donor pick.
As you see above in my story, I do not need to to do IVF with Donor sperm, but I will be doing my first IUI this week with Donor sperm. I go in tomorrow (day 14) for my ultrasound, blood work and HCG trigger shots tomorrow. By the way, I was on Clomid days 3-7 of my cycle. So needless to say, I am excited and scared to the bone, but trying to stay as relaxed as possible. My IUI is scheduled for Tuesday/Wednesday, and I am doing two inseminations, one vial each time.
What I can pass on to all of you: Is know your insurance coverage so you do not get any surprises. I knew my benifits inside and out through my health insurance, but got a surprise that even though it is a speciality, all my fertility medications went through my prescription insurance. Needless to say, I have do not have great coverage on the medication/injections part. Also, get messages, acupuncture and some time type of meditation. Any stress relievers are a must! I wish I did more in that area. I thought I could handle the stress, as my life is pretty stressful. I was not prepared for the stress of an IVF cycle. Remember, it is okay to take breaks in between treatments. Especially if you have a miscarriage. Your body needs to heal and you and your partner need to have a grieving process. In fact, a grieving process is needed even from a disapointment of failed cycle. And last but not least, do an intermediate Family Medical Leave Act if you can. Most employers will count Infertility and this protects you from any unexcused tardies or absences. I work for a huge Chicagoland Hospital/Medical System and they have strict tardy/absent policies.
Hope this helps and once again, best of luck! Any questions or stories, please feel free to comment and share!
PS: I just wanted to include that all the stories I have read here, touched my heart and has brought tears to my eyes. Not only do I work in an OBGYN Doctors Office and see more Female Infertility, but my circle of family and friends have also been Female Infertility. It brings some comfort to know and see other couples/families struggling with Male Infertility and we are not alone. Please keep sharing! Good or bad experiences! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Comments
When I went in for my Ultrasound on Monday 01/24/11, my three biggest Follicles were: two at 12.5mm and one at 14mm. So, my inseminations dates are delayed until Friday 01/28/11 and 01/29/11. I go in tomorrow 01/27/11 for another Ultrasound to double check my Follicle growth.
Hopefully all will be good, keeping fingers crossed!
Good luck!