Liz

Liz has had twins following fifth IVF cycle.

I felt that Caitlin listened to me. She saw me as a whole person, if that makes sense, and not just a woman who couldn’t produce. She gave me time to tell my story. Sometimes I felt that the only time I had for myself and for really telling someone how I felt was in those sessions.

36 year-old Liz had a diagnosis of mild Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and an irregular cycle. Her partner’s sperm count was low in volume and mobility. She had experienced Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) in previous IVF cycles, having to be monitored after producing too many follicles. Women with PCOS have to be monitored carefully as they can be more susceptible to this after taking stimulation drugs as part of IVF.

Liz and Paul had ICSI due to his sperm count but had never received a positive pregnancy test. After five years of trying to conceive and four previous IVF’s Liz was starting to feel that she was nearing the ‘end of the line’. She did not know how much more fertility treatment she could manage, physically and emotionally. She felt she had spent her 30’s concentrating on trying to have a baby, watching friends and family have children and putting her own life on hold, always waiting for the next drugs, the next test, the next IVF.

Liz had acupuncture each week for 13 weeks before her fifth IVF. This helped to regulate her menstruation, replenish her energy and prepare her body for more IVF, which is very taxing on the body. It is a good idea to have at least 2-3 months between cycles to allow the body to recover if possible. She continued with regular acupuncture during her treatment and the acupuncture helped counteract some of the side effects she felt from the drugs she was taking such as headaches.

Liz rang me to say she was stunned as she was pregnant then two weeks later at her four week scan called to tell me she was even more stunned as the scan showed she was pregnant with twins.

Liz safely delivered the twin girls by caesarean section at 37 weeks and all are doing well. She feels she has now completed her family.


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