After receiving an unexpected diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome, a fertility patient shares her journey to conceiving a baby with the help of IUI.

After receiving an unexpected diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), Natalie shares her experience conceiving a baby with the help of IUI, what’s next for her family, and everything she and her husband learned along the way.

In this article:

After the very first month that the couple started trying to conceive, Natalie missed her period. “I thought – wow, we got it on the first try,” she recalls. But after realizing she wasn’t pregnant and consulting with her doctor, Natalie received some unexpected news: she had polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Finding out this information at the age of 26 was devastating for both Natalie and her husband. “We never thought something like this could happen,” she says. “We were unaware and uneducated about what issues might delay two young people trying to have a baby.”

As they learned more about PCOS and how it can impact fertility, they felt completely defeated. They even began to wonder if their dreams of having a family would ever come true. But they weren’t ready to give up.

After Natalie’s PCOS diagnosis was confirmed, her doctor urged her to call around and explore the local fertility clinic options. Natalie did her research and read countless reviews, eventually landing on Illume Fertility.

“I didn’t want to accept the fact that I needed fertility treatment,” Natalie shares. “But once I went in for my first appointment at Illume, I saw that it wasn’t just me, there were tons of women going through the same journey.”

Although the stigma around infertility is slowly dissipating, it is still a topic shrouded in secrecy. It’s easy to think that you’re the only one experiencing fertility struggles if you aren’t surrounded by friends and family who discuss it openly. But coming to Illume gave Natalie some comfort. “I learned that you’re never actually alone,” she says. 

In 2020, after consulting with their new Care Team at Illume, Natalie and her husband decided to begin with intrauterine insemination (IUI), a commonly used fertility treatment method that is often successful for those with PCOS.

“It required a lot of early mornings, a lot of support, and a lot of testing,” Natalie says. “There was a point where my oral fertility medication wasn’t working, and we had to move on to injectable medications – that was a little scary for me because I hate shots!”

With the help of lots of coffee and perseverance, Natalie attended early morning monitoring appointments for two months as she and her doctor tried to create the perfect environment for pregnancy.

Finally, the couple got the green light to move forward with their first IUI procedure. 

“Waiting for my pregnancy test results after that IUI was the longest two weeks of my life,” Natalie says. Thankfully, all their hard work paid off, and that first round of IUI was successful. 

“It is taking much longer this time,” she shares. “I even had to have a surgical procedure to resolve some issues that were standing in our way.”

Although their path to Baby #2 has been more challenging than anticipated, Natalie says they still have hope that their family will grow again. Even though the couple are trying to remain optimistic, there have been moments where Natalie has felt like giving up.

Natalie’s experience is a perfect example of just how different each fertility journey can be. “We are just going to keep trying and hope that we can give Ava a sibling,” she says. 

Now that she has been through multiple fertility treatment cycles, countless tests, procedures, and appointments, Natalie has a new perspective on the process. “I would say the toughest part of this is going through all of it and not knowing if you are going to be successful,” she admits.

“Hearing you have PCOS is so tough – it’s easy to wonder why me, why did this happen?” Natalie adds. “To be honest, I had no idea PCOS even existed until I was diagnosed.” 

Through it all, she has discovered what’s really important: having a supportive partner, as well as friends and family who are there for you. “Some days, you just need to hear ‘It’s OK,’ because you don’t always get the answer you were hoping for,” she says. Another helpful tool? Distraction, Natalie says. “Have other things to focus on to help distract you from fertility treatment!” 

As the couple continues to work towards their dream of giving Ava a sibling, they now know that they are far from alone in the world of infertility. 

 

2. we knew after five years of marriage traveling buying a house in Fairfield where are we strongly wanted our kids to grow up and go to school we knew it was the right time.

 

3. My doctor recommended calling around, and I saw great reviews of a illume fertility. I didn’t want to accept the fact I need a fertility treatment, but once I went in, I saw that it wasn’t just me tons of women are going through this journey and you’re never alone.

 

4. My husband and I knew we really wanted this and we were going to do whatever we could to make this happen with God support, Doctors and family support our daughter Ava is now in our lives.  We did IUI with Ava, and we actually were successful during the first round. it was a lot of early mornings a lot of support and a lot of testing. There was a point where my medication didn’t work and we had to move onto shots which was a little scary but luckily she’s here and healthy. with the help of lots of coffee, I was at the appointments early every morning for a good two months. After the IUI, it was the longest two weeks of my life waiting for the results.   Unfortunately her sibling is taking us a little longer, but we have hope that we will get there. 

 

5. I would say the toughest part is going through all of it and not knowing if it was going to be successful with Ava we were so lucky that the first cycle we got her hearing you have PCOS is so tough you wonder why me and why did this happen? to be honest I had no idea about PCOS until it happen. I’ll admit I tough part of it too. Was the shots I hate shots!

 

 6. It’s really important to have a supportive partner through this journey, as well as friends and family some days you need to know it’s OK because you don’t always got the answer you were hoping for. I would say have something else going on that will help you distract yourself.  just know it’s possible know you’re not alone. With my family right now we are trying to give you a sibling and there has been moments where I feel like giving up. we are going to keep going and hope that we can give Ava a sibling.