Journey to Parenthood: Overcoming Infertility Challenges and Embracing Hope

On 18/08/22, I underwent a transfer, and I am immensely grateful to share that, after a decade of marriage, I am finally pregnant. Allow me to shed light on our past experiences and the recent events. As some may be aware, my partner's case was rather intricate. In the initial year of our marriage, having children wasn't an immediate consideration. However, upon realizing it wasn't happening by 2014, I, like any woman, assumed the issue was with me. Following advice from a female doctor, it was suggested, "First, have your spouse visit a urologist, and then we'll proceed with your examination." In compliance, I promptly arranged a comprehensive examination for my partner. The diagnosis was disheartening: "Zero sperm." This left both of us bewildered. The doctor mentioned potential blockages, proposing another test and the prospect of surgery if the results remained inconclusive.

Between 2015 and 2017, we underwent a total of 3 micro TESE procedures. The initial two were untreated micro TESE procedures in Germany, and the third, following six months of medication, took place in Istanbul. Each time, the prognosis was bleak: "You won't have a child; there are no cells. Sperm production had allegedly never occurred due to a childhood ailment," they asserted. "You have Sertoli Cell-Only Syndrome. The existence of sperm is deemed impossible!" Despite clear genetic indicators, we resigned ourselves to the belief that having children was not in our fate.

Each experience was deeply disheartening. By 2017, we had relinquished all hope. Our marriage was a source of immense happiness, and despite the emotional toll this journey took on us, it also brought us closer together, prompting us to close the chapter on having children.

Then, in 2019, I stumbled upon discussions about ROSI in various groups - a glimmer of hope. Initially challenging to fathom, I relayed the treatment process to my hesitant spouse, outlining the steps involving medication followed by Rosi, reigniting a sense of hope. Engaging with a supportive community, I encountered numerous individuals confidently asserting the availability of treatments, even in the face of challenging sperm production. The name Celalettin Peru was frequently mentioned in these discussions.

Eventually, we opted for treatment under Celalettin Peru, commencing in December 2019. Hormone levels were closely monitored every three months. While we observed progress after 6 months, the treatment continued.Finally, in May 2021, at Ankara Alife, after several days of tests, we received heartening news when the first signs of sperm activity emerged.

My partner focused on specific aspects throughout our journey:

- He ceased smoking when the treatment commenced, following strict advice from Celalettin.

- He refrained from consuming carbonated beverages like Cola or Fanta.

- Weight loss became a priority. He balanced exercise with a careful diet, knowing that exercise boosts testosterone.

- Avoiding tight boxers or pants for over two years, he diligently adhered to Celalettin’s regimen until the sperm arrived. He faithfully used both prescribed medications and herbal therapy, incorporating a daily spoonful of black cumin seed oil and a 600mg q10 capsule

- In total, I underwent 3 transfers: the first (06/21) involved 2 well-developed 5a embryos, yielding a negative result. The second (11/21) included 1 well-developed 5a embryo, also with a negative outcome.

- Preparing for the second transfer, the injections for my multiple sclerosis (MS) caused discomfort and severe attacks. Cortisone brought relief, but doctors in Germany urged caution, suggesting at least 6 months of MS treatment before proceeding. Consequently, our return to Ankara was delayed until July (2022).

- Prior to our return, I initiated preparations four months in advance,

The daily supplements I took included:

- Q10 200 mg (once a day)

- Omega 3 (fish oil) (1700)

- Black cumin seed oil (1 tablespoon)

- Multivitamin tablet (once a day)

- Coraspin 100 (every two days, one tablet - for the last 20 days, taken daily)

Following the doctor's instructions, I adjusted the usage of Coraspin after our visit to Ankara. I ceased taking black cumin seed oil after the transfer to avoid potential harm during pregnancy.

For the first time in this transfer, I received a recommendation from Osman Hoca to use Oksépar injections. This advice proved beneficial as I discovered genetic results three weeks post-transfer indicating blood clotting issues that could hinder embryo attachment. Consequently, I administered daily Oksépar injections post-transfer and will continue until the 32nd week, which was not part of my previous transfer protocol.

After the transfer, my partner and I altered our nighttime habits, switching our phones to airplane mode and disconnecting the home Wi-Fi to mitigate potential health risks that could affect the developing embryo.

The entire process extended over 20 days in Ankara.

Commencing the injections on August 1st, egg retrieval occurred on August 13th with the transfer of 3 high-quality embryos on August 18th. I spent a night at the hospital but avoided continuous lying down, even heading out for dinner after reading about post-transfer recommendations.

On August 20th, following Osman Hoca's guidance, I underwent genetic testing at Ankara Synevo, awaiting results that typically take three weeks. Until then, the directive was to persist with the Oksépar injections.

Flying back to Germany on August 21st, a distressing situation prompted an early test on August 23rd. The positive result led to subsequent confirmatory tests. A blood test on the same day showed an initial B-HCG result of 36!

Enduring severe pain, hospital visits revealed increasing B-HCG levels, nearly doubling each time, indicating severe OHSS. An emergency surgery was performed due to OHSS concerns. Though anxious about the baby, reassurances from the doctor allayed immediate fears but expressed concerns about the early stage of the pregnancy.

Post-surgery, an ultrasound showed two visible sacs. The following period encompassed a mixture of emotions – fear, pain, and immense happiness. Weekly visits were necessary for OHSS monitoring. A remarkable revelation occurred on September 29th, with the reappearance of two sacs of identical size, indicating the presence of two children, aligning with my frequent dreams of twins or triplets.

The news surprised my spouse profoundly, while I remained filled with gratitude and overwhelming joy.