Today, I want to share my successful experience with IVF, a journey filled with challenges, hope, and patience. Through this experience, I aimed to achieve a long-awaited dream: having a son.

Introduction:

I am from Iraq, 47 years old, and my husband is 52. I wanted to undergo IVF using donated eggs due to severe ovarian reserve issues related to aging. Although I already have daughters, this time I wanted to have a son.

 

 

We traveled to Iran and contacted the “Safe Med Tour” company, which connected us with Dr. Shamsi. I underwent an ultrasound to check my uterus. Given my age and previous uterine issues, the doctor suggested surrogacy. I was also open to this option, as I had faced many challenges in my past pregnancies.

All necessary tests were conducted, and my husband provided a semen sample, along with a chromosomal analysis (karyotype) for the sperm. I am attaching a picture of this test.

Finding an Egg Donor:

Since we hadn’t coordinated with the company in advance to find an egg donor, this process could take two to three weeks. We couldn’t stay in Iran longer as our children were waiting for us in Iraq. Therefore, we decided to freeze the sperm for later use during fertilization, and my husband granted the company a power of attorney to complete the remaining procedures. We returned to Iraq.

 

 

It took about a week to find a female donor whose blood type matched ours. They sent us a photo of the donor, but her appearance wasn’t important to us; we were more concerned with the doctor’s assessment and the donor’s ovarian reserve. Once we approved her, the donor started taking ovarian stimulation medications for two weeks. The egg retrieval and fertilization were successfully completed.

Due to the Nowruz holiday (the Iranian New Year), the process of determining the type of embryos was delayed by about a month. In total, we had 26 embryos, including 13 male embryos and 6 female embryos.

Finding a Surrogate:

It took a month to find a surrogate. However, just a day before the embryo transfer, the uterine lining shed, and the transfer was canceled. The doctor requested to find another surrogate.

It took some more time to find another surrogate, who needed to take medications for two weeks. Eventually, the embryos were transferred in mid-July. We were among the fortunate ones who received a positive result in the first cycle.

 

 

Pregnancy Blood Test:

A pregnancy test was conducted two weeks after the transfer, and thank God, the result was positive. The test was repeated twenty days later, and the beta hormone levels had risen; everything looked good.

Ultrasound Checks:

• First Ultrasound: The first ultrasound to check for the heartbeat was done after 35 days, and thankfully everything was fine.
• Second Ultrasound: We waited until the third month for another ultrasound to check for limbs, belly, back, and other organs. At this point, we confirmed that the baby was a boy, and I was overwhelmingly happy.
• Third Ultrasound: This ultrasound was for week 18 of the pregnancy. Thank God, the baby was healthy without any issues. However, in the surrogate’s blood test, it was found that her fasting sugar levels were slightly elevated, likely due to her diet the night before. The doctor prescribed a special diet without any medication and agreed to recheck the levels after about ten days. In the second test, her sugar levels were normal.

 

 

Now, the surrogate is in the sixth month of pregnancy, and we eagerly await the arrival of our precious baby in three months, God willing, healthy and safe.