Our parenthood through medical intervention journey began during the height of COVID lockdowns in 2020. Masked appointments, virtual consultations, and delayed procedures became our new normal. Going to the doctor felt like crossing a minefield (sometimes literally crossing borders): temperature checks at the door, socially distanced waiting rooms, and the constant uncertainty of whether clinics would even stay open. Yet we pressed on.
To qualify for insurance coverage, medical interventions required a formal diagnosis of infertility, normally defined as at least one full year of unsuccessful attempts at natural conception. We met that threshold long ago, but the paperwork and waiting felt endless. Anyone can pursue IVF without those steps, but for us, involving insurance was crucial. Once the diagnosis came, we were referred to a specialist and began the process that would change everything.
Given the long duration of unexplained infertility and the thorough testing that ruled out obvious medical barriers, our doctor recommended starting directly with in vitro fertilization (IVF) rather than continuing with less invasive options like IUI (in vivo fertilization) or medications alone. She explained that IVF gives the highest chance of success in cases like ours by bypassing potential issues in the fallopian tubes, sperm-egg meeting, or early embryo transport—issues that might not show up on standard tests but could still be at play after so many years.
What is IVF?
In vitro fertilization, or IVF, means “fertilization in glass” (the Latin “in vitro” refers to a lab dish instead of inside the body). Normally, during a natural menstrual cycle, one egg matures in the ovary, gets released (ovulation), travels down the fallopian tube, meets sperm, gets fertilized, and—if everything goes right—implants in the uterus to start a pregnancy.
- Ovarian stimulation — The woman takes hormone medications (usually injections) for about 10–14 days to encourage the ovaries to produce multiple mature eggs at once instead of just one.
- Egg retrieval — Under light sedation, a doctor uses ultrasound guidance to gently collect those eggs from the ovaries with a thin needle (a quick outpatient procedure) but still, Ana has to go under for this part.
- Fertilization — In the lab, the eggs are combined with sperm (from the partner or a donor). The sperm and egg are either placed together in a dish (classic IVF) or a single sperm is injected directly into an egg (ICSI, a common variation). This creates embryos.
- Embryo development — The fertilized eggs (now embryos) are monitored in an incubator for 3–5 days as they divide and grow into blastocysts (a more advanced stage).
- Embryo transfer — One or more healthy embryos are placed into the uterus using a thin catheter. Any extras can be frozen for later use.
- Pregnancy test — About two weeks later, a blood test checks for pregnancy.
Life of an Embryo 