The Numbers in my Infertility Journey

While I was at it, I decided to summarize some other key numbers in my infertility journey:

• 4 fresh IVF cycles


• 3 frozen cycles


• 74 eggs retrieved


• 57 fertilized eggs


• 10 embryos transferred


• 3 pregnancies


• 2 miscarriages


• 2 embryos left in freezer


• 3 years of my life


• 42 thousand dollars

but the best part and what makes it all worth it....

• 2 babies in my belly

PS - At some point, I am determined to figure out how many needles I have been stuck with and how many ultrasound cams up my crotch!

Advocacy Day & Infertility Costs

I am getting ready to participate in RES.OLVE's Advocacy Day in Washington DC next week, which I am really excited about. I always knew I wanted to do more to help with infertility awareness, but I was always so broken and battered in my own journey, that I didn't feel like I had the strength to do it...or maybe I wanted to appear that I had my shit together. I finally feel like I am at the place where I am ready to give back. I was debating about participating (taking time off work, battling the DC traffic, dealing with politics, which I generally dislike), but I read the words in the email that was sent that said, "If you don't do it, who will?" and it just spoke to me. I just think it is so important that people/legislators understand the truth about infertility and that we do everything we can to provide financial assistance for treatment. This process has been so difficult for us, and I am determined to do whatever I can to make it just a little less difficult for those who walk in this path after us.

I thought it would be a good idea to pull together the numbers on what I have spent on infertility treatment to date. Here are the mind-boggling numbers:


Doctor’s Visits $ 2,415
Prescription Drugs $ 7,584
Anesthesiologist $ 1,600
IVF $22,000
Lab Work $ 1,703
PGD $ 7,400
$42,702

OUCH!

Tug at my Heart Strings

Being the financial nerds that we are, my husband and I were discussing the cost of our medical bills and tax implications given we are only a few months away from the end of the year. My husband has horrible eye sight and was contemplating getting laser eye surgery. We figured we would do it in a year that we had lots of other medical expenses because once we hit the 7.5% AGI threshold, we can deduct everything beyond that. So our conversation went something like this....

Husband: If all goes well, hopefully we won't have such crazy medical expenses next year, so maybe I should do the surgery this year.
Me: HA! "If all goes well...." We've said that a time or two before! We're probably just getting started on the cost because we're on our last try of shared risk and then we get to pay full freight per cycle!
Husband: Yeah, seriously.
Me: [after seriously considering the question and losing my sarcasm] Actually, we will probably have high medical expenses either way next year. Either we'll be paying for more IVF/PGD or we'll be having a baby [and given we have a high deductible plan since we're self employed, we'll be footing most of that bill] so actually I guess it doesn't really matter if you do it this year or next.
Husband: Well, I was thinking that if we had a baby and I had to get up in the middle of the night, it would be nice to be able to see.

GULP. See - my husband doesn't say things like that. He doesn't think of things like that. He's a tough guy who is busy working, farming, whatever. And the thought that he WANTS to get up... in the middle of the night.... for a baby.... just puts a giant lump in my throat. I'm not really sure why I am so surprised. I mean, afterall, he has been along for this ride for the last 3 years too!