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In Vitro Fertilization After Losing Ovaries

gabs
  • By gabs
  • Posted May 26, 2009 at 10:44 pm · 22 replies
  • In Young survivors
  • Shared with the public
0 Recommendations

I didn't know which section to put this in...

So I'm 23 and had both ovaries removed. I was left with a uterus in case I wanted to have children using donor eggs. From what I know (and I don't know much) I know I have the option of in vitro fertilization. However, I know that the Catholic Church is strongly opposed to that for various reasons.
This may sound like a completely stupid question (and I apologize if it is), but are there any other options? Options that don't involve mixing the sperm and egg in a "dish"? Is it possible to "implant" eggs into my uterus and then hope they get fertilized through intercourse?

Explore topics in this discussion:

Cancer Adoption Donor egg Endometriosis Infertility Ovarian cancer

22 replies

Sandiestar

Hi,

I don't beleive this is possible... my understanding is the eggs are fertalised on the way to the uterus and then implant themsleves there, if you place un fertalized eggs in they will not fertalize.

In humans, fertilization occurs in the fallopian tubes of the female reproductive tract. It takes place within hours following sexual intercourse. Approximately 300 million sperm are released into a female's vagina during intercourse. However, only one of these sperm can actually fertilize the single female egg cell (also called an ovum). The successful sperm cell must enter the uterus and swim up the fallopian tube to meet the egg cell. (got this courtisity of Google)

good luck tho!

Artemis

Of course, you know that you will not be the biological mother of this child?

gabs

Artemis - Yes I know... I would be using donor eggs.

Artemis

I think it would be best to let the child know about his/her real biological history.

Sandiestar

telling the child it is from a donor egg is another subject entirely... and of course something you would address once the child is here and older.

for those of us who do not have any other option, donor eggs make its possible to have children, regardless of being biological or not... you still carry it for 9 months and you have an influence on the child whilst it grows inside you, the bond you form is no different to that formed if the gee had been your own.

blacksea_turtle

MD Anderson in Houston have a doctor, Andrea Milbourne, who works with women with cancer who want to (or are pregnant while ill) have children. It might be a good idea to visit her. Hope this helps.

Elmira

Kathleen4

Good luck with whatever YOU decide to do!

Hugs & blessings,

Kathleen

neenas-1980

obviously u have no idea what u r talking about you didnt spell fertalize correct. and the comment about the process

Sandiestar

I was trying to be helpful... and did state it was what I beleived the process to be

sometimes I spell things incorrectly... a natural human trait... however this does not mean the information is invalid.

I have verified this with my fertility Dr and it is not possible to implant the egg and sperm seperately as they will not fertalise.

Artemis

Neither one of you spelled fertilize correctly. I wish women would quit donated their own flesh and blood for money. Tragic for the child.

mloknitting

Ok, there is a lot of misconceptions I'm seeing here about how IVF and donor works. My ovarian cancer was found only because I was in the process of doing IVF.

First, doctors can in no way, shape, or form implant anything. They transfer a blastocyst or 4 to 8 cell embryo hoping it will implant in your uterus.

As to donor egg. If you carry the child, you are the biological mother. The donor is the genetic mother. It is a very big difference. I in no way advocate not telling a child as within the next few years the average science project in middle school will be "look at the genetic code of your family" and the kid will figure it out.

There are some ethical concerns around donor egg. I would suggest you read up thoroughly on it in the Adoption, Loss and Infertility blogosphere for all kinds of views on this - and practical advice. Some of the women have lost their ovaries, other never had them. A great starting place is:

http://stirrup-queens.blogspot.com/2006/06/whole-lot-of-blogging-brought-to -you.html

There are views from people of all types and backgrounds - even Roman Catholics who have decided to do IVF despite the Church's reasoning and they have posts about why they decided what they decided.

Most of them are not ovarian cancer survivors, but they are a good group to start with to understand what is involved.

Pax.

Sandiestar

thanks Pax for the info :)

In Australia you must know the person donating their eggs as it is law for the child to be aware of where they came from and this means you must know whom the donar was so the child is aware of their genetic history as well as having access to the genetic parent.

there is a full process attached involoving councilling for the donar prior to making any commitment to donate eggs, so they are fully aware of the implications and have time to decide if they are comfortable.

My fertility Dr has suggested one of my sisters or a very close friend.

There is no exchange of money aside from covering the costs for the IVF and any medical bills. The person who donates is doing it out of the goodness of their heart so people like me may also be able to experience the joys of being a parent.

skallar

On inspire there is a resolve site that is all about infertility. The women there could give you a great deal of information about the options and procedures, as well as feeling about DE, reactions from family, telling children, etc. I highly recommend checking them out.

Laura

skallar

oh and I also know that in the past at least I have seen discussions on Resolve about different religious teachings, beliefs and feelings about those. It is a board that tries to be very respectful and supportive of all, even though everyone has very different beliefs, backgrounds and reasons for IF.

Laura

Bootyjig5

It's been awhile since I've been to this site but I must say this... WOW Artimis, this may have hit somekind of SOUR note with you, but this woman is talking about hopefully HAVING a child someday. You're stating about poor child this and not the mother that, I would like to think that if you are THAT pro-life you would be one of the first people to say...
**YES...give this life a chance to live!!!**
donor egg or not. That was just pretty much harsh and MIZPELLINS' or not I think that you would owe Gabs some kind of apology. The women on this site come here for support and to be ABLE to ask those "silly" questions...not to made feel like a fool for asking.

Artemis

I am not pro-life, and I do not think a woman with cancer should get a donor egg and have a baby that is not hers. Just that.

mloknitting

There are a number of Australians in the IF blogosphere. I know that like in the US, each state has a different set of criteria and laws governing what happens in regards to reprotech.

If you are cleared by your physicians, there is no reason not to pursue becoming a parent. The ethical issues surrounding donor egg are more akin to those around adoption. There are added issues if you use a relative and have a genetic predisposition towards OvCa. The studies around fertility drugs seem to be leaning towards the underlying infertility being the cause of the OvCa rather than the drugs themselves. (Ovarian endometriosis being seen in studies from Sweden, Japan, and Korea as a precursor to serous ovarian cancers.)

Only you know what you are comfortable with doing. Don't let people like Artemis turn you off because they have had something bad happen to them - or became parents easily - and thus are very judgmental of those who choose different family-building paths. (I have seen this kind of trolling on other bulletin boards and even some blogs.)

My advice:
- Read up on the issues online via blogs, RESOLVE, fertility clinic sites, and get books and articles. (Please be aware that many of the books available are incredibly anti-tech and do manipulate the statistics to emphasize the worst results without talking about what happens in "naturally occurring pregnancies." As a history major, I can assure you that tech scares people and then they figure out that it didn't destroy the world almost every time.)
- Talk first with your husband and make the decision with him. Make sure you are on the same page before moving forward in any way.
- Talk openly and frankly with any potential donor about all of your feelings around this and what is involved.
- Write a contract with your donor that specifies everything. Go beyond what is required so there are no misunderstandings later.
- Pray for guidance.

Pax = Peace,

MLO / MLOKnitting

sckada

Artemis,
I have an adopted son ( I adopted him before I knew I had cancer). My son was adopted from Guatemala, but I show him pictures of his birth mom and talk about her all the time. She had no means to take care of him. If he wants to contact her when he is older, I will make sure I do everything in my power to make this happen.

Being raised by a biological family is not everything. There are plenty of bio moms who do unspeakable thing to their children. I guess you think these children should stay with their bio parents not matter what so they don't lose that connection.

Some studies show that adopted children are better adjusted then children who are not adopted. Amazing when they must suffering from losing that connection to the bio family.

I have a dear friend who was abused by her bio family and finally gotten taken away as a young teen. The foster family that took her adopted her . She considers her foster family her real family and her bio parents an egg and sperm donor.

You have not given any valid reasons why you are so against the ladies on herw adopting or even using donor eggs. I hope you will open your heart a little and stop hurting these ladies who just want a chance at having a family.

Bonnie

darlingclem

You seemed to have received a lot of helpful links from others and I hope that you are referred to a fertility specialist soon. I know they helped a lot with questions I had concerning having children later on.

As for all the moral discussions here, I hope you know that this is your body. Whatever you decide to do your opinion is the one that matters. I'm sorry you had to experience this at such a young age and I hope that everything is going well for you.

PS: I love Laughingnikki XD Also, if you ever need to talk to another "young survivor" please don't hesitate to message.

dollycat6

Thanks Laughingnikki I needed your posts after some of the spine tingling things I was reading.

dollycat6

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