Real Patient Stories | Real Stories

Apr 23, 2025 | Real Patient Stories

Amanda & Joe

In honor of National Infertility Awareness Week (#NIAW), we wanted to express our deep gratitude for Dr. Thornton and the entire BIVF team at the Waltham and Worcester, MA locations. I began my Boston IVF journey in 2022 with IUI's, the second of which was successful, but ultimately ended in an early miscarriage. Then we moved on to IVF with an egg retrieval and PGT-A testing. We ended up with two healthy embryos - one is still on ice and the other is our 15 month old daughter, Adelaide. Pregnancy after loss is not easy - and neither was a high risk pregnancy (hello 7 months of Hyperemesis Gravidarum) but little Addy makes it all worth it. We are so thankful she chose us as her parents.

Apr 22, 2025 | Real Patient Stories

Raeann & Gerald

I always imagined getting pregnant would be easy, so few people talk about the struggles they face when trying to conceive. In 2015 we started trying for our first child, after a year of trying, we scheduled an appointment with a reproductive endocrinologist, little did we know that we would naturally conceive and receive a positive pregnancy test just days before our scheduled appointment and we welcomed our son that following February.

We started trying to conceive another child in 2019, however, life had other plans including job troubles as well as a global pandemic that threw a wrench into things. In April 2022, I found out I was pregnant again, although the joy of that was short-lived as I suffered a miscarriage in June. At that point, my OB/GYN suggested another appointment with a reproductive specialist, although the soonest we could receive an appointment was that January. I wish I could say the wait flew by, but the time seemed to drag on as we continued to try naturally with no success.

That January we were finally able to see Dr. Dawkins at Baystate Reproductive and underwent 4 unsuccessful IUIs and we made the choice to move to IVF. I began my medications for my egg retrieval that September, underwent my retrieval the middle of October and had my first transfer October 20. I remember being so excited to see that positive pregnancy test, and with each blood draw being more and more excited to see my hCG levels increase. Unfortunately, when we went for our first ultrasound, we were told the pregnancy was not viable, and I suffered a miscarriage on Thanksgiving day. Around that time, Baystate was transitioning to Boston IVF, which resulted in a slight delay as new referrals and new patient appointments had to be scheduled.

We were assigned Dr. Korkidakis who was just absolutely wonderful from our first meeting! After some additional testing, we were able to transfer 1 of our 3 remaining frozen embryos on March 31, Easter Sunday. This time I was certainly more guarded despite rising hCG levels and multiple positive pregnancy tests, especially when I went from having multiple full-blown pregnancy symptoms to nothing just a week before my first ultrasound. I remember sitting in the waiting room at BIVF in Springfield crying because I was certain that the pregnancy was not viable, thankfully my favorite ultrasound technician who had been with me through multiple appointments over that year, Anna, was the one doing my ultrasound that day. When she showed me the screen of our little jellybean with its flickering heartbeat, my tears intensified, but this time they were tears of unbelievable happiness.

Thankfully, that little jellybean continued to grow and flourish, and we welcomed our daughter, Alexis, December 8. I cannot begin to express the gratitude I have for my original team at Baystate, most who made the transition to BIVF in Springfield (Dr. Dawkins, Anna, Elena, Paige, and so many more!), as well Dr Korkidakis for helping us complete our family. Thank you!

Apr 22, 2025 | Real Patient Stories

Jessica & Ruben

After trying to naturally conceive for about a year, we were referred to Boston IVF. We decided to go ahead with IVF 9 months after receiving our diagnosis and the first round was a success! Our team made everything go so smoothly, we still laugh about how much fun we had when our nurse was playing music during our transfer. The
good news was given to us on our wedding anniversary and we couldn’t believe it, all the tests, injections and early morning blood draws were all worth it. We can’t thank our doctors and nurses enough that made our little family possible.

Mar 28, 2025 | Real Patient Stories

Sara & Thomas

Leading up to our wedding in April 2023, I expected that Tom and I would need some form of medical intervention due to my history of fibroids. After eight months of trying naturally, my GYN told me that my fibroids were clearly the issue and advised me to stop trying to get pregnant because “not everyone is meant to be a mother.”

This, of course, ignited a fire in me to understand what was happening with my body and to find a team that would truly support us. I was quickly connected with Dr. Bortoletto and his amazing team in Waltham, including research nurse Sara M. Dr. B quickly reassured me that we would figure this out and that Tom and I would become parents one day soon.

After comprehensive testing and multiple hysteroscopies to remove the fibroids, we completed a round of IVF with egg retrieval last March. Our frozen embryo transfer (FET) was in July, and our very first little embryo stuck! Cole Thomas joined us on March 11, and our hearts feel so complete. We are forever grateful to the team at Boston IVF for making our dreams come true.

Nov 18, 2024 | Real Patient Stories

Meghan & Chad

We were fortunate to find Boston IVF the Syracuse location after not having the greatest experience at another place. We got the privilege to work with Dr. Klein and his amazing team. Klein was the absolute best he showed compassion, understanding and determination. He never gave up and reassured us that we will figure it out. We felt very comfortable and confident at Boston IVF and it definitely paid off we had a successful transfer in January of 2024 and now have our perfect miracle baby!

Sep 27, 2024 | Real Patient Stories

Angela

Hi, my name is Angela. I am 35 years old. At the time of my infertility journey I was 31 years old. After 3 years of trying on my own without success I knew something wasn't right. I decided to seek infertility help.

After some lab work and tests, I was found to have Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR). My treatment plan was to make my body produce a lot of eggs and then make embryos with donor sperm. The 1st egg retrieval, I had 2 embryos and I had them tested. They were both great grades and both to be boys. Neither of them became a pregnancy. I had another egg retrieval done and had 3 embryos. I did my 3rd transfer with no success so I decided to change doctors and I went with Dr. Digirolamo.

I had 2 embryos left from my 2nd egg retrieval, and this doctor says let's try doing double embryo transfer. The chances of becoming pregnant are higher but also a risk of multiple pregnancy. I was afraid, but that meant if this was true it would of been a double blessing or triple blessing and went for it. I took the chance.

I did become pregnant and was expecting to have twins, but at 10 weeks the ultrasound showed there was only 1 heart beat. My heart was shattered, but I still had 1 baby making it, and I was still blessed. It was such a hard situation to be happy and sad at the same time. My whole pregnancy I was so afraid but on December 11 I gave birth to a beautiful healthy baby girl who decided to come into this world 3 weeks early! She was only 5lbs 6oz, preemie, but very healthy.

So ladies don't give up and hold onto faith, hope, and most importantly don't give up on your dreams. Miracles do happen daily!

Sep 27, 2024 | Real Patient Stories

Ellen & Brendon

Before our infertility journey began, my husband and I had been married for almost a year. We love to travel, spend time with family, friends, and our French Bulldog Zoey (our first baby). I always knew I wanted children from a very young age, and I always had a fear that for some reason I wouldn’t be able to. We started trying in December 2019 and experienced our first pregnancy and early loss in August 2020.

We got pregnant again in October 2020 and found out at our first ultrasound that we were having mono mono twins but there were no heartbeats. I had a missed miscarriage of baby girls with Trisomy 13. This loss hit hard, especially knowing the details of what could have been - this miracle of identical twins and beautiful little girls. You never truly get over loss or grief, you just learn how to deal with it better and find strength in yourself you never knew you had. I experienced another chemical pregnancy in January 2021 and knew it was time to seek help and more answers.

We started working with Dr. Resetkova in February 2021 and had our first medicated IUI in May 2021. I took Letrozole and a trigger shot that month. Unfortunately it was unsuccessful, but we weren’t going to give up. Our second IUI I had the same medications, but my Letrozole dosage was increased. On June 19, 2021 we had our second IUI which resulted in our incredible baby boy, Luca.

Listening to others stories and also sharing my own helped me so much during my journey. It’s not easy to open up about loss or infertility, but it helped me realize that I’m not alone. Of course we all know infertility is way too common, but in those darkest moments it can feel so isolating and you forget that you’re not alone. Going to the Boston IVF facilities gave me so much hope. All of the nurses, doctors and other patients were amazing. Sitting in the waiting rooms and realizing even more so that you’re not alone and that infertility doesn’t discriminate helped push me through. I secretly wanted to cheer everyone on in there, hoping that they were about to find out some good news or give them a hug if they needed it. I don’t wish the infertility club on anyone, but just know if you ever find yourself in it, you are certainly not alone and you have some amazing support waiting right behind you to pick you up when you need it.

Aug 14, 2024 | Real Patient Stories

Lyndsey & Nick

My husband and I had our daughter in 2020. We were able to get pregnant on our own with her, and figured we would be able to conceive a sibling quickly as well. However, our journey to baby #2 was quite different.

We lost 5 pregnancies, had 2 D&Cs, and ultimately were referred to Boston IVF in Syracuse. We did one egg retrieval and then two frozen embryo transfers and now have our precious miracle baby boy. We never thought we'd have to do IVF and at first really didn't think we had it in us- the process seemed so daunting and overwhelming. But, every single person we encountered at Boston IVF helped us so much and made the process so manageable. We will forever be so very thankful!

May 14, 2024 | Real Patient Stories

Jyoti & Jonathan

My husband and I were trying for a baby naturally for almost 2 years without any luck. We didn’t understand what was going on, and each month we would get our hopes up to just be disappointed. We called Boston IVF in September of 2021. We had our first consultation appointment with Dr. Pauli scheduled for December . After our first meeting with Dr. Pauli, we felt some hope, we went through the necessary testing thinking we would go through 3 rounds of IUI first.

Our test results came back and our follow up appointment with Dr. Pauli in February, it became clear that IVF was the best route for us. That following March 2022, we started STIMS, we were so excited at the prospect of a fresh transfer. Unfortunately, the best protocol was a frozen transfer due to my estrogen levels rising so much. We went for our egg retrieval and I had 21 eggs removed! We were amazed!

After Egg retrieval, I developed OHSS which further delayed our journey. Come May 2022 We went for our frozen transfer, we did all the superstitions from pomegranate seeds to eating pineapple to eating Mcdonald's french fries after the transfer. We were so happy when we got the phone call that our little embryo stuck! We were even happier when we kept getting phone calls that my HCG levels were rising and we got to see our little one at our 7-week ultrasound. We went for our 8-week ultrasound where we got the worst news ever, “I’m sorry but there’s no heartbeat.”

This was one of the hardest times we have gone through. We went through the D&C and found out through genetic testing that our baby had an extra chromosome and ultimately would have had a hard life or not have made it if they had come to full term.

We went through another transfer in October of 2022. After beta, we found out our little one stuck! We went for our 7-week ultrasound to see our little one’s heartbeat and then found out that I had a subchorionic hematoma. Dr. Pauli sent us to a specialist to look at my subchorionic hematoma, where it was determined that it was smaller than most and would hopefully pass on its own. At 10 weeks, the bleeding started and the fear of losing our little one began again. We went for an ultrasound the next day and saw our little one’s heartbeat!

Luckily for us, everything has been smooth sailing since then, except for the morning sickness! At 35 weeks our baby boy was born on May 27 2023 at 3:50 am. He weighed 5 pounds 2 oz and was 18 inches long. He stayed a week in the special care nursery to help with his feeding, oxygen levels, and jaundice. We brought him home and he has been thriving ever since! We couldn’t thank Dr Pauli and his team enough for helping us bring our little boy home!

May 14, 2024 | Real Patient Stories

Amber

I have always known that I was meant to be a mom. I have also said that by the time I was 40 if I was not in a relationship, I would have a child on my own. I started my fertility journey with Boston IVF in October 2022. I decided that I was going to have a baby using donor sperm. Given that I had low body weight and had not had a menstrual cycle in 3 years, I was convinced that I ruined my body and would never get pregnant. The doctors at Boston IVF reassured me that getting pregnant was possible and even though my journey was quick (I got pregnant in April 2023), it felt like 5 years.

I remember crying to Dr. Sandy Li that I would never get pregnant, and she said, “Maybe the third time is a charm”, referring to the third IUI. And the third time was a charm! I got pregnant with the third IUI, not even needing to get to IVF or use eggs that I had frozen 2 years prior. I had a great pregnancy and delivery and now have my son Bailee Pat, born on January 6, 2024. I cannot thank all the great nurses and Dr. Sandy Li at Boston IVF enough for this priceless gift!

Oct 17, 2023 | Real Patient Stories

Ashley & Greg

After dealing with devastating recurrent miscarriages, I turned to Boston IVF for some help and answers. Dr. Seidler came up with a plan to do PGT-A testing with our embryos. In August, I had an egg retrieval. In December, we had a successful transfer of our sweet girl, Quinn. The whole pregnancy was filled with anxiety based on our past experiences, but on September 1st our daughter joined us and forever changed our world. We will be forever grateful for everything Dr. Siedler did to help us along the way and get us to this point. “Thank you” will never be enough!

Oct 17, 2023 | Real Patient Stories

Amanda & Jesse

Life leading up to treatment was so happy. We traveled, made advancements in our careers, got married, and set ourselves up to become parents. Shortly after we were married, my husband and I started trying for children. At the time, many of my friends were getting married and starting their families. Year after year, we were not successful. I watched my friends have their first and second children while I still could not conceive. I found that I was losing friends because they were moving on with their families and making mom friends. I felt so left behind.

I had to stop going to baby showers, because I would cry for days after, mourning the baby I had yet to meet. I felt this overwhelming sense of missing someone that I hadn't met yet. The process of getting diagnosed and treatment took so long. After two years of being unable to start our family, we contacted our doctors. My husband underwent a barrage of tests only to be told there was no reason he couldn't have children. So, we started our journey at Boston IVF. The Boston IVF team diagnosed me with endometriosis (stage four) and PCOS. My ovaries had fused to the side wall of my abdomen, and there was such significant scaring on my fallopian tubes that there was an almost zero percent chance that I could conceive. I underwent three rounds of IUI with no success. With the third failed IUI, we decided to take Dr. Lannon's advice and start IVF. It was such a harrowing process involving shots, surgeries, and so many internal ultrasounds. But it was all so worth it. We were finally pregnant and on the first round, no less! We were told we only had a 30% chance of conceiving, especially on the first try. I remember crying after the implantation procedure because I finally had an embryo inside me.

I told my husband, "I don't care what anyone says or even if this one doesn't take... I'm finally pregnant." We hugged each other and cried right there in the parking lot. A few weeks later, it was confirmed that I was pregnant. I have never felt such joy and relief in my life. I would finally become the mom I always knew I was supposed to be. Throughout this journey, I was so fortunate that my best friend had her child via IUI and could understand the feeling of isolation and loneliness that comes with infertility. I had so many loved ones that wanted to help but didn't know how to. I hate being pitied and that is how I felt so often. I went through IVF during the height of the pandemic so there were no support groups, and I couldn't meet with providers in-person unless a procedure was happening. I could not have my husband with me when going through egg retrievals. I'm still working on healing the psychological stuff, but I am so happy today and so grateful. We say my son will never go a day wondering if he was wanted. I am grateful for Boston IVF and especially the nurses.

There was one nurse who was so kind and loving to me when I was doing my egg retrieval. All I can remember were how pretty her eyes were and how kind her words were. I couldn't have done it without her. Thank you to everyone there. I have a wonderful two-year-old boy, Jude, thanks to everyone there, and I am starting the process of having another child with Boston IVF's help.