Being diagnosed with PCOS is mentally, emotionally, and physically difficult. Not everyone’s diagnosis is the same, and not everyone is armed with the same treatment or knowledge to handle it. PCOS is not curable, but it is manageable — and Julia’s story is an inspirational one of resilience and strength.
Early Diagnosis & Years of Struggle
“Growing up, I always knew that I wanted to be a mother. I am the oldest of three girls and loved taking care of my younger sisters. I loved everything about being a girl — from dressing up to playing with dolls. However, there was one rite of passage that never came around for me when it did for all of my friends — my first menstrual cycle.”
“It wasn’t until the summer after my freshman year of high school that it finally happened, and it was long, painful, and awful. I only had one more in the next year, so my mom took me to my primary physician. I was first diagnosed with PCOS when I was about 14 years old, but I was told to go on hormonal birth control and not worry about what it meant until I was ready to have children.”
The Breaking Point
My husband and I are college sweethearts — we got married the year after we graduated, at 24 and 25 years old. When we made the decision after two years of marriage that we were ready to start trying to have a baby, my OBGYN informed me that my path to motherhood might look different because I had PCOS.
We tried naturally at home for months and months. Tracking ovulation and taking pregnancy tests quickly became a heartbreaking experience. I can specifically remember being on cycle day 176 and still having no period or sign of ovulation. I knew I couldn’t go on like that. It seemed like so many of my friends were getting pregnant with no issue, and I longed for that same success. I went into my OBGYN with tears in my eyes. Without hesitation, he stated that it was time for me to go see Dr. Sharara.
Finding Guidance with Dr. Sharara at VCRM
I called VCRM that afternoon and got an appointment for the following week. I was terrified, but when my husband and I entered the office, we were met with kind faces at the front desk and a loving presence from Dr. Sharara and the nurses. He took the time to ask us about ourselves and our goals. We left feeling that we had hope.
I quickly got to work, and I was amazed at how fast and positively my body responded! I lost a total of 50 pounds, completely reversed many of my PCOS symptoms, and ovulated on my own for the first time in almost 8 years!
Moving from IUI to IVF Success
We went through three rounds of IUI, but my body was still stubborn about egg maturation, and the procedures were not successful. When Dr. Sharara suggested moving to IVF, I was initially crushed. But I wanted to become a mother more than anything, and my husband and I agreed this was the right next step.
The process went by quickly: in just a few months, we had our egg retrieval, yielded 6 healthy embryos, and transferred our very first embryo.
In addition to our pregnancy, I gained so much from being a patient of Dr. Sharara's. I lost 50 pounds, restored my natural ovulation, learned how to have a healthy relationship with food, and gained a true understanding of PCOS. The nurses — Jo, Lilly, and Jessica — were always there for me every step of the way. Through all the worries, Dr. Sharara remained confident that we would have success. We really cannot thank VCRM enough!