Lauren’s IVF Journey

My journey is really just beginning, but this is my story so far.

It started with the consultation for infertility in October 2020 for my 35th birthday. We had a great experience with Dr. Pena and the office staff at RMA patchogue. They sat us down and explained everything, they looked over our odd insurance (my company is self insured and just this year elected to cover IVF), and went over in detail our medical histories. My husband and I had been trying for 6 years to get pregnant, with not even the tiniest hint of ever being successful. We had both gotten basic testing in 2016 and were told nothing was wrong and to just keep trying. During our consultation Dr. Pena explained that something was most definitely wrong and scheduled us both for a round of tests over the upcoming month.

Fast forward a couple weeks and I found out I had a rare form of cervical cancer that was on the uterus side of the cervix that hadn’t been picked up by any normal testing before. RMA and my awesome gyno immediately got me into an oncologists office the next day and I was scheduled for surgery the following week. They were going to try everything they could to keep me intact to be able to have children, but it wasn’t promising.

Dec. 29th I had surgery to remove as much of the cancer from my cervix as they could. During the upcoming 2 weeks while the tissue was mapped I was the most stressed I had ever been in my life. January 13th I received a call that they believe they were indeed able to remove all of the cancer and I wouldn’t have to go through chemo/radiation, or another surgery that would not leave me able to carry my own child. I have never been so happy, I couldn’t believe it. If I hadn’t gone to Dr. Pena’s and he hadn’t ordered all the testing they wouldn’t have found the cancer until it likely would have spread too far. As it is I will likely have to have a cervical stitch when we complete the IVF process but I’m just so happy that it was found, and though I have to go through IVF now as natural or even IUI isn’t a possibility, being pregnant and carrying my own child is a possibility for me .

RMA also went over and above in trying to get my prescriptions worked out with my insurance and I took delivery of the meds and couldn’t be happier to FINALLY be able to start my IVF journey. Thank you for reading thus far and it’s just nice to type it out and tell people who would understand how much this all means to me and my husband!