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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by zenhussy on January 17, 2007, at 14:07:52
not to detract from Laurie's incredible thread above (as person of adoption we're very very strongly in support of adoption as option! = ) ) but we've been having discussions with different ppl about harvesting eggs to be frozen. from folks around us we've heard that every year beyond a certain age the increase in difficulty conceiving and increase in potential BDs start to outweigh the positives of having a natural born child (as opposed to one that did not come from one's flesh and blood). we're not sure how we'll feel five years down the road, or ten but if we can take steps now to ensure a greater possibility of fertility then we'd like to explore our options.
we've never really looked into process/proceedure but we know it isn't totally non invasive. owie. also the ethical questions that come with what to do with frozen eggs however long down the line decisions need to be made regarding their future....so many things to consider.
has anyone here had their own eggs frozen for possible future pregnancies? or knows of anyone who has either done it for themselves or to donate to another?
thx in advance.
Posted by happykat on January 17, 2007, at 16:08:22
In reply to for those not yet ready for kids....freezing eggs?, posted by zenhussy on January 17, 2007, at 14:07:52
Hi zenhussy,
BTW you have one of my favorite names! :) I've heard about the option of having your eggs frozen. Me and DH have looked at the option of donor eggs cause the 'use by' date on mine is kinda old. Plus I've got the whole perimenopausal thing going on. I can tell you this, have your gyno check your FSH level. It is critical!!! Something I wish I would have known about long ago.
There are tons of places to donate your eggs to if that's something your interested in. I think the starting rate is around 6000.00. Most IVF clinics have donor egg programs and if you google 'donor eggs' you'll find many independent agencies.
I'm not 100% positive about the criteria for freezing eggs. I know they freeze embryos. For instance if we use a donor and she produces 14 eggs. They will try to implant a few of them and then we are given the option to freeze the remaining ones for possible siblings down the road or donate to science or destroy. There is a mountain of legal forms that you have to fill out.
Definitely find out what your FSH is now. That will help you and your doctor determine whether or not you should consider freezing your eggs. I personally think its a great option.
I know that there is a fantastic clinic in Chicago that does IVF.
I hope this helps.
Regards,
happykat :)
Posted by Phillipa on January 17, 2007, at 17:28:29
In reply to Re: for those not yet ready for kids....freezing eggs? » zenhussy, posted by happykat on January 17, 2007, at 16:08:22
You know it seems to me that more people have trouble getting pregnant today than when I did. At that time no one it seems couldn't get pregnant. One of the reasons I think is we were all having our kids in our late teens and now people are waiting later. Love Phillipa
Posted by happykat on January 17, 2007, at 17:43:05
In reply to Re: for those not yet ready for kids....freezing eggs?, posted by Phillipa on January 17, 2007, at 17:28:29
I absolutely agree with you Phillipa! My mom had me when she was 19. Now I'm trying to start a family at nearly 40. That's why I'm always encouraging younger women to have their FSH tested. It's an indicator (sometimes) of ovarian reserve. It often can indicate whether you are going into menopause early.
I saw in another post you lived in Ft. Lauderdale back in '71. I didn't know you were a south Florida girl!! :)
Regards,
happykat :)
Posted by Phillipa on January 17, 2007, at 19:23:10
In reply to Re: for those not yet ready for kids....freezing eggs? » Phillipa, posted by happykat on January 17, 2007, at 17:43:05
Happycat that was when I was 24 with two kids one 5 and one 2and a half. Only lived there a year. Can you believe that I lived in Lauderhill it was new construction then? Wow just visited oldest Daughter in Jupiter took a ride by and Wow!!!! Love Phillipa ps and a sun worshipper which I'm paying for now. Then back to CT, then VA, then and now NC. Given a choice I was happiest in VA BEach.
Posted by Pfinstegg on January 18, 2007, at 0:22:19
In reply to Re: for those not yet ready for kids....freezing eggs? » happykat, posted by Phillipa on January 17, 2007, at 19:23:10
Not an expert, but I believe freezing eggs for later fertilization and implantation has, at the moment, a rather low sucess rate. It could be hard to find someone to do that. Implanting fresh embryos would have the highest sucess rate, but I think a frozen embryo, implanted later, could be a good choice- maybe a little less chance of success than a fresh one, though.
I was so lucky: I had a second baby at 47, without intending to- it just happened. My Ob-Gyn said, "my definition of happiness is a woman over 40 with a newborn!" He's right!
Posted by Pfinstegg on January 18, 2007, at 21:08:32
In reply to Re: for those not yet ready for kids....freezing eggs?, posted by Pfinstegg on January 18, 2007, at 0:22:19
There are two problems with having kids when you're over 34-5. The first, and saddest, is that you may no longer be fertile- but this is where IVF and embryo transfer- most likely from you and your husband- can come in.
The second is birth defects. These do rise steadily with your and your husband's ages. For example, by age 47, my chances of having a child with Down's Syndrome or a number of other even more serious problems was one in 15- pretty high. So you do prenatal testing, and could have to face having an abortion.And you are treated all through pregnancy as high risk. My hormone levels were monitored 3 times a week to make sure they stayed high, and I had numerous ultrasounds to check that the blood flow in the placenta was good. The whole pregnancy was uneventful, and delightful, but the doctor still did a C-section because he thought it was safer for the baby.
Now we have a beautiful 6 year old, loving, so handsome, and (I shouldn't really say this, but I will to encourage you) with an IQ of 152. So the risks do keep increasing, but so have medical measures to help make it safe, Even if one is REALLY old to have a baby, like me, you can have a terrific one!
Posted by happykat on January 19, 2007, at 12:27:24
In reply to To clarify, posted by Pfinstegg on January 18, 2007, at 21:08:32
Pfinstegg,
I appreciate hearing good stories. My FSH is high and all the docs told me to fuggedaboutit and do donor. But alot of other women have told me they've done acupuncture to lower FSH and have gotten pregnant over the age of 40 naturally. I do understand the risks are high though. Was your pregnancy really difficult?
Regards,
happykat :)
Posted by Pfinstegg on January 19, 2007, at 13:06:08
In reply to Re: To clarify » Pfinstegg, posted by happykat on January 19, 2007, at 12:27:24
Hi Happykat! I wasn't aware that acupuncture can lower FSH; it would certainly be worth a try. Also, just because your FSH has begun getting high doesn't mean you don't have eggs, does it? You may need medication to ovulate reliably, if you aren't (you still may be). They always seem to start with the easiest thing, and progress to the more complicated ones. That makes sense, except that women in these situations may only have a fairly short time when things will work. But,there's so much more that can be done now; think of Elizabeth Edwards giving birth at 52 and 54. You just KNOW that she had every possible thing in the world done to make that possible.
The "old" pregnancy was so easy, and apparently, risk-free. I kept on jogging thhrough the first half of it, with my doctor's permission. It was the "young" one that was harder- but only because of a lot of morning-sickness.
I didn't develop a depression until the younger boy was 3-4, and I think it was triggered by the deaths of my parents and younger brother all within a few months. I sort of went numb, and didn't know how to grieve properly. Actually, I think for lots of women, all the pregnancy hormones make them feel wonderful- that was true for me.Are you planning on trying to get pregnant soon?
Posted by happykat on January 19, 2007, at 15:57:31
In reply to Re: To clarify » happykat, posted by Pfinstegg on January 19, 2007, at 13:06:08
Hi Pfinstegg,
I'm trying to get pregnant ASAP! :) I failed to also mention that I went for over a year without a period so one doc said I was perimenopausal and one said I'm in menopause. :( Since starting acupuncture my period returned but according to the ovulation tester I'm only ovulating every couple of months. I've been told my egg quality and quantity are probably poor and been advised to do donor. But I still from time to time hear about women w/ high FSH who get pregnant.
I'm really glad to hear that your second pregnancy was easier. I keep reading how pregnancy when you're over 40 can be rough and that has scared me a bit.
I'm really sorry to hear about your parents and brother. That is really tragic! :( It's hard to imagine anyone knowing how to handle that kind of grief. I'm glad that the pregnancy hormones can make you feel better. I've been severely depressed in the past too and have been worried about whether pregnancy would retrigger or cause another depression.
It's funny that you mention Elizabeth Edwards. I was just reading some articles about her online, last night. Very inspiring! :)
Take Care.
Regards,
happykat :)
Posted by Pfinstegg on January 19, 2007, at 21:22:42
In reply to Re: To clarify » Pfinstegg, posted by happykat on January 19, 2007, at 15:57:31
I'm so glad to hear it! If you don't get pregnant naturally, which you could, can't they retrieve your own eggs and fertiiize them externally with your husband's sperm, then implant them in you with appropriate hormonal support?
Pregnancy at any age is really easy and natural; our bodies are made for it, and it's a wonderful experience. You really don't need to worry about it health-wise, as serious complications are very rare. I'm assuming you're about 37-40, so the hardest thing might be that they will want to do a C-section. Those aren't too bad. they make a four-inch horizontal incision at the bottom of your tummy. You are up and walking the next day, and after about three weeks feel back to normal. In between, you have pain in the incision, but you feel otherwise well and can do everything except maybe not lift very heavy things.
Good luck to you! It would be wonderful to see a post that you are pregnant, by whatever means!
And thank you for your empathic comments about the deaths in my family. I am doing my best to find a way to grieve in my therapy, and I have made progress and developed better coping skills. Still, I often just go nto a sort of blank, dazed state about it all.
This is the end of the thread.
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