In Vitro Fertilization

[doodlebug 3]

What a surprise to me and my childrens father when I learned that I was pregnant at the age of 35 for the first time. Even a bigger surprise the following year when I popped up pregnant again, while on birth control.

Oh wow!! You give me hope!!!! lol. So you actually got more fertile the older you got???

[dalegg 143]

It's funny you bring this up now. I was contemplating whether I should have my vascectomy reversed or try the In Vitro method. My insurance actually covers in vitro but not the reversal. The only problem is that it seems our success rate is better with the reversal and multiple In Vitros could actually cost me more. I also don't want to take any chances with multiple births!

Anyhoo, I've got my initial consultation with a doctor this week. I should have answers by the LA VJ hookup dinner.

[Dawny&Tommy 0]

"Grandmother's conceiving "

I'm a grandmother myself (My grandaughter is my avatar pic) I've had my tubes tied(Well they are clipped actually) for almost 15 years, I have 3 kids 19, 17, and 15 and i'm going to go the tubal reversal route myself. The longer you have your tubes tied, and the older you are, does lessen the chances of success, but even if it's a 5% chance, im going to grab it with both hands

Dawn.

P.S. I'll be 38 next month.

[rebeccajo 14]

Why do you want more kids?

I think it's a valid question you should ask yourself. Sure, we'd all like to give our husband a child, especially if we've had 'em and they have not. I'd recommend however you fast-forward in your brain about 10 or 15 years and try to think about this a bit more.

How much physical energy do you think you are going to have in your late 40's? Enough to do the 'soccer mom' thing? How about your patience? Sure, when you get older you have maturity. But the narly attitudes of teenagers are a lot less palatable as you get older.

I've got a friend who adopted in her late 30's - twice. Her honest hindsight to me is that she is not as good a parent now as she was when she was younger. Not enough energy, time or patience. Plus as each of her two oldest children have 'aged on', she still has the financial responsibility of the younger ones. It's draining emotionally as they approach 50 and find college expenses staring at them when they would rather be focusing on planning for retirement.

Just some food for thought.

Edited June 10, 2007 by rebeccajo

[aya*abouelnasr 0]

Yes, my mom referred to my pregnancies as "change of life babies". LOL Yes, they definately changed my life, but I am now 48 with no sign of menopause coming on yet. I still ovulate like clockwork. This gives my husband hope that maybe we "could" have at least one together, but we have both decided to leave that up to God. If it happens, it happens. I do agree with needing extra energy, though. I guess that would depend on how "old" you are, and I'm mot talking about a calendar age. For me, I think it's harder because I have always done the parenting alone, while taking care of a home, working full time, and taking care of my parents now. For me to have another child now IS still an option, even if I could be 70 by the time he or she graduated from high school. My mom is 72 and still going strong despite an ongoing heart condition and diabeties. So, I guess it's all up to the person having the child as to if they have the 'energy' to start all over again. I had a friend who's husband was 23, with a brother 21, a sister 13 and a two yo and 1 yo brother! LOL Talk about energy! LOL

[Reba 2]

holy #######!!!

Guess i'd better rethink this. $6,000 to get it reversed and then no fertility drugs since I do ovulate right on schedule each month vs. prolly over $24k and beatchy as heck every single day while undergoing all the surgery.................................hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

do you actually know that you ovulate, or do you just still get a period same time every month and assume that you ovulate? You don't have to ovulate to have a period. I don't ovulate but maybe 3 or 4 times per year (if that), and I get periods more than that.

I suggest you speak to a GYN or fertility specialist for more information on your options, and for an exam to determine the viability of any remaining eggs you may have.

Remember, we're born with what we get, we don't continue to develop eggs as men develop sperm. Not only are they numbered, but they die, so we never do get the opportunity to use them all. At age 41, even without obvious signs of menopause, you may not have many viable eggs left. An exam could tell you that. They could also draw blood to test your hormone levels.

In the meantime, chart your basal body temperature for about 3 months. This would help tell you if you do actually ovulate. Take the chart to your GYN, they can help you interpret. There are also ovulation kits you can buy at the pharmacy. Info can be found at the AFA website. Spend $20 now on a kit and a decent thermometer could save you thousands later.

[dalegg 143]

Why do you want more kids?

I think it's a valid question you should ask yourself. Sure, we'd all like to give our husband a child, especially if we've had 'em and they have not. I'd recommend however you fast-forward in your brain about 10 or 15 years and try to think about this a bit more.

How much physical energy do you think you are going to have in your late 40's? Enough to do the 'soccer mom' thing? How about your patience? Sure, when you get older you have maturity. But the narly attitudes of teenagers are a lot less palatable as you get older.

I've got a friend who adopted in her late 30's - twice. Her honest hindsight to me is that she is not as good a parent now as she was when she was younger. Not enough energy, time or patience. Plus as each of her two oldest children have 'aged on', she still has the financial responsibility of the younger ones. It's draining emotionally as they approach 50 and find college expenses staring at them when they would rather be focusing on planning for retirement.

Just some food for thought.

For me it's the opposite. When I was younger- with my first wife- I was only beginning in my career and my wife had none, so money was tight, hence our stress levels and patience were tested. Now, nearly two decades later I am much further along in my career, Nicole has her own career, and finances are not as much an issue so I think I am much more relaxed. My kids are both teenagers now- living with me- and I don't find myself yelling at them as much as I did when they were say 8 and 10 and fighting with eachother.

I am nearly 41 years old, but I don't feel older than 30. I think a lot of people these days are like that too. 50 is the new 40 they say. I can certainly chase a toddler around for 5 more years!

[Marilyn. 340]

my parents are still raising 3 younger kids (12, 14 and 16) , my parents are in their early 50's now... my mom keeps telling me that they are better parents now then when they were younger

I guess me and my other 2 brothers were just the practice run...

[Bootylicious!! 2]

Javi and I will probably be going the IVF route. We did 3 months of medicated cycles to try to get pregnant but it didn't work. I don't ovulate at all and I still get my cycle just like clock work. Plus, Javi has some issues with motility so that's probably why our cycles didn't work. I don't know about the 100 plus pounds reba was talking about gaining from the hormones and injections you take. I took them for 3 months and lost weight. Not that losing weight is any better of a scenario but I'm just saying I think the hormones effect each woman differently. Javi and I have discussed adoption but he really wants to try everything we can before we go that route. Also, the fertility clinic I go to has a "payment plan" for IVF. Basically you pay for so many "tries" and if it works the first time you get the rest of your money back. I'm not sure how many "tries" they give you for the $10,000 but that's what it starts out at. My insurance doesn't cover any of the fertility treatments I have received or will receive which is why we aren't doing IVF right now. Once we get the money saved up, we'll go for it. My cousin just recently had it done and it worked for her on the first try. And she is having only one baby. I'm very hopeful that it will work for us too. If not, we'll try other options.

[doodlebug 3]

I have been charting my cycle using the basal thermometer and using fertilityfriend.com and I definitely ovulate like clockwork on day 15 of my cycle so that is how I know.

As for do I really want more children, well I've always wanted three but my exhusband forced me (ok threatened to leave if I didn't) to get the tubal done so there went that dream. In the end it was a blessing at that time since he left me anyways but I really really really want a boy. Sure I won't have as much energy as I used to but I'll do ok.

I just really really really only want one more though and he really really really wants at least two so that is going to be a really really really big discussion when the time comes.

Being a soccer mom is kind of easy though. I don't see anything hard in it. I'm a softball mom though so maybe that's different? I mean what energy does it really take to just go to a game, sit and drink a latte for a couple of hours with the other moms?

[doodlebug 3]

"Grandmother's conceiving "

I'm a grandmother myself (My grandaughter is my avatar pic) I've had my tubes tied(Well they are clipped actually) for almost 15 years, I have 3 kids 19, 17, and 15 and i'm going to go the tubal reversal route myself. The longer you have your tubes tied, and the older you are, does lessen the chances of success, but even if it's a 5% chance, im going to grab it with both hands

Dawn.

P.S. I'll be 38 next month.

Well then this should give you some hope........Dr. Berger is a doctor that I sent my records too and if I decide to get the reversal done he will be the one to do it. He has a message board and they post successful pregnancies from their patients each week. Here is the listing from this week:

30 3/2/07 Bipolar cautery 6.0/3.5

33 3/2/07 Lig/res 5.5/4.5

46 1/29/07 Falope ring 7.0/7.0

37 11/6/06 Hulka clips 7.5/7.5

39 1/31/03 Pomeroy 4.5/5.5

39 9/29/06 Lig/res 4.0/4.5

40 3/19/04 Pomeroy 4.0/6.0

40 5/24/06 Bipolar cautery 4.5/4.0

34 4/22/05 Lig/res 5.0/4.5

39 1/22/07 Bipolar cautery 4.0/4.0

38 11/4/05 Bipolar cautery 6.0/6.0

It shows age/date of tubal reversal/type of ligation that was performed/length of left and right tubes.

Notice how many over the age of 35! (and that is just one week...here is the link to the board http://www.tubal-reversal.net/ubb/ultimate...hp/forum/9.html )

[Dawny&Tommy 0]

Tommy and I have researched lots about Dr. Berger actually, and thank's for the info

Dawn.