For Lauren, starting a family was something she had always dreamed about. After meeting the right partner in her mid-thirties, they began trying to conceive naturally. But after months without success, they decided they didn't want to spend years wondering if something was wrong.

After becoming a patient at Collab Fertility, Lauren learned she had several fibroids, polyps, and ovarian cysts—findings she never expected because she had experienced no symptoms. 

Following fibroid removal surgery and IVF, Lauren welcomed her healthy baby after her first transfer was a success. We sat down with her to hear her journey and give others hope for their future family goals.

What led you to seek fertility care?

Lauren: I've always known that I wanted a baby. You just have to meet the right person.

I was actually getting worried because women have that biological clock. I was worried, like, "Oh no, maybe I'm not destined to have a kid."

Then I met the right person, and after we had been together for about two years, we decided we were ready to start growing our family.

We started by getting off birth control and trying naturally, but it started becoming more of a chore. You have to think, "Okay, let's do it now because now is the time." It just takes away the romance. It wasn't working for us.

I was 37 or 38, and my partner is 11 years older than me. We thought maybe something is wrong with one of us, but we don't know. It's better to find out as soon as possible.

If we found out something was wrong, we wanted to know if there was anything we could do instead of continuing to try for years and wondering. That's why we decided to find a fertility clinic before we'd even been trying for a full year.

How did you discover your fibroids?

Lauren: Before we saw Dr. Segal, we started with our regular OB. My partner's sperm motility came back really low, so we were worried. We thought, "Even if I'm okay, maybe we still can't get pregnant."

While he worked on improving his health, I wanted to have everything checked on my side so we wouldn't lose more time.

Dr. Segal did my testing and found several fibroids, polyps, and a couple of cysts. I honestly had no idea they were there. I didn't have any symptoms or side effects.

I had heard of fibroids before, and I knew they could affect fertility, but I wasn't very knowledgeable about them until then.

Why did you decide to have your fibroids removed before the frozen embryo transfer?

Lauren: It really wasn't a difficult decision for me.

It wasn't a surgery where the risk was really high. It was a minimally invasive procedure, and I thought, "Yeah, let's do it."

I had my egg retrieval first and then had the fibroids removed. I had to wait roughly 6 months to heal from that surgery before we could do the frozen embryo transfer.

One thing that came from removing the largest fibroid was that I wouldn't be able to deliver vaginally. My OB explained that because of where the fibroid had been, there was concern that labor could rupture my uterus.

They recommended delivering by C-section between 37 and 38 weeks because, as the baby grew, there would be more pressure on the uterine wall. We ultimately planned my delivery for 37 weeks and 6 days.

What was your IVF experience like?

Lauren: We decided to take every test available to us.

My thinking was, if we're already doing IVF and investing so much into this process, why not make doubly sure everything looks good? If you're already paying for IVF, you want to make sure everything is okay.

I felt very supported throughout the process.

One thing I remember was having trouble getting the correct needle for my progesterone injections. CVS didn't have the right size, and I was panicking because I had to start my injections that day.

Elaine from the Collab team helped call different pharmacies and helped me find exactly what I needed. I remember being so grateful because I was incredibly stressed.

I also knew IVF was going to be hard because I had spent so much time reading other people's stories on Reddit.

After my egg retrieval, I was really careful because I'd read about ovarian torsion. I was honestly scared to move around too much.

For me, recovery was harder than I expected. The progesterone injections were another thing I was nervous about because they're oil-based and thicker.

My partner gave every single injection. Honestly, if it weren't for him, I don't think I would have been able to go through IVF. 

Most of the injections were manageable, but I remember one that was painful. But looking back now, it was all worth it.

What was it like finding out your embryo transfer had been successful?

Lauren: I still get emotional thinking about it.

When I was reading through these interview questions beforehand, I actually started crying just remembering that day. We were waiting for the phone call after my embryo transfer, and I was so anxious.

When I saw Collab calling, I ran over to my partner and put the phone on speaker. They said, "Your HCG level is 185."

We both just looked at each other because we had no idea what that meant. Then there was a pause, and she said,

"You're pregnant."

I just bawled. After that came a whole new set of worries. I remember thinking, "Oh no, now I have to keep this baby alive."

I'd cough and wonder if I startled the baby. I'd touch a Clorox wipe and wonder if it was somehow going to hurt the pregnancy.

One thing that actually helped me was something I read online. Someone said to imagine the embryo like a tiny sesame seed sitting in the middle of a jar of peanut butter. That image reminded me how well protected it was, and it gave me a little peace of mind.

What advice would you give someone with fibroids who is trying to conceive?

Lauren: Dr. Segal explained that removing the fibroids would increase my chances and also make the pregnancy safer. I actually asked if we should try IUI first.

She recommended going straight to IVF. Removing the fibroids wasn't just about helping me become pregnant—it was also about making the pregnancy safer as the baby grew.

One thing I wish I had known sooner… Take stool softeners immediately after your egg retrieval.

I started taking them too late, and I had a really difficult recovery. If I could give one practical piece of advice, it would definitely be that.

What advice would you give someone just beginning their fertility journey?

Lauren: If you haven't started yet, I would say just go for it. You don't want to regret not even trying.

For people who have gone through multiple unsuccessful transfers, I don't feel like I'm in a position to tell them how they should feel because I was incredibly fortunate that my first transfer was successful.

Even with that, it still wasn't easy. The biggest thing I would say is to talk to someone who is going through the same thing.

During my IVF journey, I didn't know anyone personally who was doing IVF, so I went on Reddit.

I met someone who lived in another country. We had our embryo transfers on the exact same day.

We became "twin mamas." Having someone who truly understood what I was going through made everything easier and gave me hope.

This is not the time to be strong or independent and think you have to handle everything yourself.

This is the time to talk to someone and share what you're going through.

What made your experience at Collab Fertility different?

Lauren:

I'm really glad we chose Collab Fertility. I feel lucky that I didn't have to go from one fertility clinic to another trying to find the right fit. I found the right team the first time. Dr. Segal has been so supportive.

She's so easy to talk to, and she never made us feel dumb or like our questions weren't important.

I also remember coming back for my first blood draw after finding out I was pregnant.

The medical assistant was there, and as soon as I saw her, we held hands. I started crying all over again.

Those are the moments I'll never forget.

You don't have to navigate fertility alone

Every fertility journey is unique, and for some patients, fibroids can become an unexpected part of the path to parenthood. Whether you're just beginning to explore your fertility, have recently been diagnosed with fibroids, or are considering IVF, you don't have to navigate it alone.

At Collab Fertility, our team provides personalized, physician-led care to help patients understand their options and build a treatment plan that's right for them. If you're ready to take the next step, we're here to support you every step of the way

Schedule a consultation with Dr. Thalia Segal to take the next step in understanding your fertility. 

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