This one is close to my heart. Today's Love Your Story episode is with a past client, Ivona, and I am so excited (and honestly, a little teary) to finally share her journey with you.

Ivona and I have been through a lot together - Zoom calls, tears, and "okay, let's pivot" moments. Her story has endometriosis, canceled cycles, four different fertility clinics, a devastating early miscarriage, a doctor telling her she was "basically in menopause," and a moment where she almost went the donor embryo route entirely. And then - against every odd anyone put in front of her - she got pregnant naturally, gave birth to her daughter Ella, and is here today to tell you the whole thing.

If you've ever been told your numbers don't look good, that you're running out of time, or that this "probably won't work" - I want you to hear this one.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Getting diagnosed with endometriosis and bouncing between four fertility clinics over several years
• Canceled appointments (thanks, COVID), misdiagnoses, and being dismissed by doctors who didn't treat her endo as a real factor
• A heartbreaking early pregnancy loss and the frozen embryo transfers that didn't work
• The specific advice that finally moved the needle - including fertilisis testing, LIT therapy, and finally getting approved for a laparoscopy after being told no for years
• The call where a doctor told her, given her AMH and FSH, that pregnancy was unlikely - and how she and her husband refused to accept that as the end
• Seriously considering embryo donation/adoption before getting pregnant naturally
• Her nine-week scan, her pregnancy after loss, and a birth story that took a dramatic turn with an emergency C-section
• Why she trusts her instincts more than ever now, and the one piece of advice she wants every woman with endo to hear

This episode is proof that "unlikely" doesn't mean "impossible," and that persistence, the right team, and trusting your gut can change everything. Ivona's story is for anyone who needs a little more hope today.

More from The Fertility Fight Club:

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Fertility Coaching Programs

Follow on Instagram: @fertilityblooms

Helpful Timestamps:

• 00:00 Ivona’s Fertility Journey
• 03:38 Trying Naturally With Endo
• 09:45 Chemical Pregnancy After IUI
• 16:39 Canceled IVF Cycle
• 19:18 Egg Retrieval And One Embryo
• 25:32 First Transfer Miscarriage
• 31:00 Natural Pregnancy Loss
• 39:48 Prepping Final IVF
• 49:05 Fighting For Laparoscopy
• 52:51 Fertilysis
• 58:32 Embryo Adoption Option
• 01:01:21 Natural Pregnancy Surprise
• 01:04:28 First Heartbeat Scan
• 01:07:38 Emergency C Section Birth

Today's Love Your Story episode is a really special one for me because I get to sit down with one of my past clients, Ivana, and have her share her fertility journey from the very beginning.

Ivana is genuinely one of the sweetest, most gracious people I've ever met.

But she is also incredibly strong and determined.

Her journey was not an easy one.

There was endometriosis, IUIs, IVF cycles, disappointing embryo numbers, a cycle where they lost every single embryo.

Different doctors, different clinics, changing recommendations, and so many moments of having to figure out what the next step was.

Ivana and I definitely shared our fair share of tears over Zoom throughout her journey.

But eventually we finally got to have the tears we'd been waiting for, tears of joy.

Today I really want you to hear everything that happened before that moment, because I think there is so much in Ivana's story that other women going through infertility are going to really relate to

Welcome to the Fertility Fight Club podcast.

Today, I have a very special guest, Ivana.

She has been a past client for, oh gosh, since I think 2022.

Yes.

And she's has an amazing story.

We had a lot of similarities of failed cycles, endosis starts together, canceled cycles, crazy stories, misdiagnosises, crazy doctors.

The whole thing.

So I'm excited to share your journey with you.

I share bits of it with, clients now when they're losing hope and don't know what to do, Ivana.

Oh, yeah.

Because you are always an inspiration, and how you ended up getting your bundle of joy was truly, like, so inspiring.

And we've shared so much, 'cause we- we've been in tears-

on a lot of Zoom calls together.

Yes.

Yeah.

And we definitely laughed.

And Ivana, you were one of the girls that you did all the things.

You followed my menu plan, as crazy as it, as it was.

You took all the supplements that I was suggesting.

You did all the stress busters.

You joined the challenges.

You supported the other girls so well.

You always cheered everybody on.

Even when you were, like, broken-hearted yourself, you never let that show, and you really tried to help everybody else in the Fight Club.

So welcome.

Thank you so much for being here.

Thank you, Crystal.

Yeah, I, I did try my best to, to support other girls.

I know how hard it is.

It does.

Um- Yeah … and I just wanna say, it's, it's, you know, wild that I'm here, because not too long ago, I was listening to these kind of podcasts.

You know- That's cute … every night when I was washing the dishes, cleaning the kitchen, I had a podcast like this on, and the girl would share, uh, a story.

And I had such little hope, because my situation was really dire.

Like, we had a doctor say, "You have less than 2% chance of naturally conceiving," so I had very, very little hope.

But after hearing these stories or I'm listening to these podcasts, I got, so much hope and so inspired.

So I'm happy- Yeah … that I actually now have a chance, uh, to give back and-

To share

it's just really wild to, to be on the other- Side … on the other side of things- Yeah … really.

So thank you for this opportunity.

No, I'm so excited, 'cause you, you've been through so much.

Hi, I'm so happy you're here listening to my show, The Fertility Fight Club.

I really need your help with something super easy.

It's a huge help for you to like and subscribe on your favorite platform so you never miss an episode.

It's a small thing, but it helps us reach more women like you who need this community.

Thank you so much for being here and supporting the work we're doing.

Now, back to the show.

So let's start at the very beginning.

When you and Max decided to start trying, when did you realize, like, "Oh, maybe we have something going on with our fertility"?

we started trying shortly after we got married in 2018.

and I, I knew that I had endometriosis.

Okay.

but I was seeing a naturopathic doctor and I, and I thought that, you know, I really got ahead of it.

Like, I stopped eating gluten, I stopped eating refined, uh, sugar.

and when I had, uh, ultrasounds done, they couldn't detect any endometriosis.

Okay.

So I really thought I was fine.

So we were trying naturally, for months.

My friends were getting pregnant at the time.

I had, like, three or four best friends pregnant at the exact same time, and pregnant, like, like the day they started trying.

Oh.

So I knew-

That is the fr- most frustrating.

Yeah.

I had that too, and I think- Yeah

that's the most frustrating.

Well, it made me think, like, maybe there's… Like, I'm happy for my friends, but maybe there's something wrong with me.

Like, we're trying, we're trying, and it's not happening.

And I knew I had the endometriosis, and I also knew that women still get pregnant with endometriosis.

Yeah.

But I thought, you know, it's, it's best I see a fertility doctor.

And that was doctor number one, correct?

Yeah.

'Cause you visited several clinics.

Yes, I was… We were living in London, Ontario, at the time.

Okay.

So it was a clinic there.

We were waiting for the appointment.

But the appointment was March 2020.

That, that is one of the problems, right?

Yes.

So- The waiting and COVID.

Yeah, so I was so excited about this appointment.

But then they called me just a couple days prior to say, "You know, the appointment is canceled because of COVID."

Oh.

Oh my God.

Yeah.

So I thought- Oh … you know, no problem.

We'll go back to trying naturally because I'm sure- Yeah

we can do this naturally.

Yeah.

But it wasn't happening.

And then about a month after that appointment was canceled, the doctor called and we had a phone call appointment.

Okay.

Because they were closed down, but the phone call was fine, and we had- Okay … all the fertility, uh, testing done.

And then I eventually ended up going into that fertility clinic and getting an ultrasound done.

And I remember there, there was, like, a, a student sonographer.

Okay.

That's what they're called,

right?

The… Yeah, yeah.

And then there was the doctor, and they were just… And there was a big screen in front of me.

Oh, my God.

This huge screen so I could see, uh- That's- … exact- like, exactly into my body.

It's,

yeah.

And there was these orange spots everywhere.

And I guess that represented endometriosis.

Yeah.

And the student and the doctor were like, "Oh, look, there's another one. And there's another one." Oh,

you thought it was a

good thing.

"Oh, oh, look, there's another one." And they were, like, excited.

Excited.

Because I think they're so used to looking at their textbook and seeing things in their textbook, but now they're seeing it live in action, and they're like, "Oh, there- and there's another one.

Check the size of that one." But every time they said there's another one- It's like my body was, like, shaking.

Yeah.

I'm just like, "I know what this means." Like-

Yeah

… Ivona: I, I know it's … that I might not be able to have a baby and-

Yeah

… Ivona: and oh my God, there's so much endometriosis, like, can they just take it out?

And you knew it was bad because normally we can't… It, it takes a really good, doctor to see endo on a monitor, for those people that are listening that don't know.

Yes.

Yeah.

Like, a lot of time you can't see from just a scan, right?

No, and they could see it.

So you knew it was bad.

They could see it.

They could see it clearly.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So we were really, uh,

we, we really didn't know what to do.

What did they tell you?

Um, they said, "You can't even do IUI.

Like, you have to either do a laparoscopy or do, IVF.

And the wait for IVF is, like, 18 months-" Right … "like, for the funded cycle." 'Cause they…

Yeah.

and I'm thinking I'm getting older.

I, I don't have that kind of time.

Yeah.

And what was the surgery list?

Because you could do lapr- lap, but there was waiting list for that too.

Yes.

Right?

And, and, and we, and we didn't know whether to go down that road.

Yeah.

But we were, we were moving back to Burlington- Okay … so we thought we'll deal with that at the new fertility clinic.

Okay.

So that was in September of 2020.

Okay.

Right in the height of the the-

Yes

… Crystal: of

it.

Yes.

And I was seeing a new naturopathic doctor who recommended this fertility clinic to me.

Okay.

Saying, you know, "This doctor really thinks outside the box, understands endometriosis."

Okay.

So I was super excited.

But it was one of the biggest mistakes, you know, I made

How well did he know endometriosis?

Yeah.

Yeah.

And we're not naming any doctors' names.

We're not throwing anybody under the bus.

We, just from experience- Yes … we know that a lot of them don't understand it.

It's getting better.

It is.

Yes.

Yes.

But we had our meeting with him, and he was saying, "You know, you're a young couple.

You will get pregnant." Like, "Of course this will happen for you." Yeah.

So we were just so happy with this doctor when we first met him, and he said, you know, "You can start with IUI." I was so happy to

hear that.

The easy way, yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So we, we did the first IUI in November of 2020.

and I was so naive to the process.

Like, I would just go to the fertility clinic.

I remember the receptionist asking like, "What are you doing here today?" And- Yeah.

You

didn't know it was a full- I had to say, "I don't know." Like, I was- Yeah … so embarrassed.

But you, you end up learning because you're there like-

Yeah

… Ivona: every other day.

I…

Exactly what you just said, that was me.

My first IUI, I had no idea what it was.

Because they don't explain it.

In, in our defense, they don't explain what an IUI is, right?

Yeah.

You know it's a, a step before IVF, but nobody explains it.

Yes.

Right?

And then n- nobody really explains that you're gonna be here every other day- No … and you're gonna be doing ultrasound and blood work, and we're going to be looking at your follicles.

Yeah,

yeah.

They don't.

Yeah.

So we went through the first IUI, and then I had to do the pregnancy test.

And then they called, uh, to let me know what it was, and they said it is positive.

So I said, "Oh, like, that means I'm pregnant?" But the lady was like very strange.

She, she didn't wanna say I'm pregnant.

She just said, "It is positive."

Oh.

Oh my gosh.

I guess I'm excited.

I like put my camera on on my phone.

My husband came home and I got him and like, "Just stand in front of the camera." I was pretending like we were filming something for my cousin You know, like, "I'm pregnant," and he was, like, so happy.

Mm. We were so happy.

We said we won't say anything right now.

Yeah … but, like, he can, he can't keep it a secret like that.

Like, he- He told his family right away.

Yeah.

And at this point, I'm, I'm, like, what, three, three days I know that I'm pregnant.

Yeah.

But you don't… I think also, why would there be something wrong, right?

Exactly.

Yeah You don't expect it.

You don't.

And I remember going to the store and being, like, so happy.

I'm like, "I've got a baby growing," and, like, people don't know.

It's like this amazing secret.

Yeah.

and then they said, you know, come back to the clinic for another blood test to see if the HCG is doubling.

Yep.

And then I did that, and then they called back to say it is not doubling.

Oh.

Like, it went from 15, which is very low.

Oh, low, low.

Like, in hindsight-

Yeah

… Ivona: I know now- It was low.

Very low.

No wonder they weren't, you know- Excited.

Excited … confident to see that I, to say that I'm pregnant.

Mm-hmm.

And then it only rose to, like, 17.

Ooh.

So the nurse was saying it's for sure a chemical.

Oh.

And I remember asking, like, "Are you sure?" Yeah.

Like, "Can we test again?" Like- Exactly … "How can you be sure?"

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah

… Ivona: but yeah, it was definitely, yeah, a chemical pregnancy.

It's…

And they don't really give you much guidance either.

Like, I didn't know, my first chemical, I had no idea what that meant.

I don't know if they explained that to you, what it was, but I'm like- No … "So am I pregnant?

It's a chemical pregnancy," so that's still, to me, I thought in my head, "I'm still pregnant." Yeah.

How did they explain it to you?

Because to me, I'm like, "Okay, is it gonna work? Is it, there still a chance?"

Yeah.

I think the nurse said that it's only a pregnancy that's detected through your hormones.

Yeah.

Like, no other way.

No.

They can't, it's still, still too early to even have an ultrasound.

Yeah.

But my fertility doctor was really, happy and positive.

Like, he was saying, "This means you can get pregnant." Can get pregnant.

"Look at this," like, "Fertilization happened." Ah.

Like, "You got pregnant." So he got me thinking positively.

I'm like, "I c- I can do it." Yeah, yeah.

And IUI works.

Yeah.

And I'm just gonna do IUI again.

Exactly.

And he's like-

I think this is why our stories are similar.

'Cause our first IUIs, we both got pregnant.

Oh, right.

Right?

That's right.

I wrote-

Yeah … your story.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

So the next IUI, he said, "We're just gonna do more medications, so everything's gonna be fine."

Yeah.

And we do it, and it's failed.

So I'm like, "Oh, God, this might not work." And then we try again, I think February And that's, like, our third IUI, and it failed again.

Oh my gosh.

And this time, I don't know whether it was the medications or, or something, but I really fell into the biggest depression.

Yeah.

It's always- Like, it was COVID, so I could only see my best friend outside.

So, in the dead of winter, we're, like, taking a walk, and I could not stop crying.

Like, it was, like- Yeah … continuous.

And then I got home, and I continued to cry.

Like, I continued to cry for two days I, I can't e- explain it-

It's-

… Ivona: of, of, of why I was so sad.

I think maybe because I thought there's a chance I might not be a mom.

Yeah.

Like, I just might go through this life without kids.

And because you have fertility doctors that are specialists, and they're not doing their magic, you… I think the media and celebrities portray it that, like, when you go to a fertility doctor, they just do their doctor stuff and you get pregnant.

Yeah.

So when it keeps failing, it's hard.

Mm. And then the realization that, "Will I be a mom?" Right?

Yeah.

It was devastating.

Yeah,

it is.

And then, like, maybe three days later, it was like a cloud was removed from on top of my head and I was myself again.

So I started to think, "Oh my God, these medications, like, these are serious medications."

Yeah.

Like, I'm really sure they put me into a depression, and what am I doing to myself?

Like, before this, I barely took a Tylenol.

Yeah, exactly.

And now

I'm, like, taking shots, all these medications.

Like-

And you're not questioning what they are, right?

You're not asking, "What are the medications?" You just take them like the doctor's gonna fix it.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And then we decided to do a fourth

IUI, only because we wanted to give it one more chance-

Yeah

… Ivona: before doing something as serious and as costly as IVF.

Yeah.

And of course, the fourth IUI failed.

So then we started, to prepare for IVF.

Yeah.

Were you still at that same clinic?

I stayed with the same clinic.

Same one?

Okay.

Yeah.

I thought about switching, but I was already on the list for the funded IVF.

Right.

And that holds a lot of people back right now in Ontario, right?

'Cause they don't wanna switch 'cause they've been on the list.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So you weren't alone in thinking like that.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So, they really scared me at that clinic though, because they took a look at my AMH, which, which I think was, like, nine-point-something.

Yeah.

And they took a look at my endometriosis, they said, "Oh my God, like, you need IVF, like, tomorrow.

Like, you, you're getting older.

Your endometriosis is covering your left ovary.

We can't even-

Oh my gosh

… Ivona: we can't even see your left ovary.

and your AMH is so, so low."

Oh.

At nine they thought it was incredibly low.

so me and my husband, we were like, "Oh my God, we need to, to get this IVF done." So I was on

DHEA- Okay

… Ivona: for, like, a month to improve egg quality- Okay … and I think egg count.

Yeah.

The DHEA, recruits… DHEA, when you're on it at least three months, it starts recruiting more eggs.

So all the ones that are, like, little dormant- Small

ones.

Yeah … they, like,

bulk up your ovaries.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So maybe not so much quality, but

quantity.

Well, not quality, but it bulks up- Budget ones, right … so they could get as maximized.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Like, I don't think I was on it long enough.

Like, I was only on it a month.

Yeah, a month.

Usually they recommend three months or longer.

Yeah.

Yeah.

The good doctors.

We'll qualify.

The good doctors.

Yes.

So then, uh, we did the… w- we started the process for IVF, like, going to all the appointments, taking the shots.

I'm so scared to do the shots.

Yes.

So my husband had to, like, wake me up at 5:00 AM and he would do the formula.

Oh my gosh.

Yeah.

Oh my goodness

but then, you know, I didn't know what to expect, but then I get a call, like, right before egg retrieval, and the nurse says, "We're gonna have to cancel your IVF cycle, because there's only, like, three mature eggs," and the doctor doesn't think that's enough, for egg retrieval.

Oh my gosh.

Was this a funded cycle, or you were just doing

it- This was a paid full cycle.

You were… Okay.

And I went to their finance person, and the finance person said, "You know, I'm just trying to get everything sorted because we really… I've never dealt with something like this. I've never dealt with a, a canceled IVF cycle."

Oh my gosh.

So I just felt like the worst case.

I'm like, "They're… Like, I'm the worst case that they've ever had."

Yeah.

"And this is so

Correct me if I'm wrong, but a lot of staff, and you've been to, like, four, four clinics.

Yeah.

And it's across the board.

The staff need almost sensitivity training a lot because- Oh, for sure … the things that they say, and I hear it daily.

The things that they say to us, they shouldn't say to anybody ever.

Yeah.

Right?

Yeah.

' Cause that goes and now plays in your head.

Right?

I,

I was like, she wasn't thinking- Oh, yeah … before speaking.

I'm like, they've never had a canceled cycle.

Ever?

Like- According to her, no.

Ever.

Yeah.

Oh, oh

my gosh.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So then, we took some more time.

Like, I was on DHEA for, I think, three months.

Okay.

And then we attempted to do IVF again.

Okay.

A paid cycle.

And I only had maybe six eggs that they were seeing, and the doctor said, "You know, that's not ideal."

Yeah.

" Ivona: But with you, like this is all we can get, so let's proceed with the egg retrieval."

Oh my gosh.

That's so expensive for six follicles.

Yes.

Yeah.

And just the medications alone were like overwhelming, like making the vials.

Oh, the Menopur mixing.

Yeah- The worst … all that stuff.

The worst.

there was a medication, I forget the name, but it was to stop ovulation.

Uh, Cetrotide.

Yes.

Yeah.

And I was making that, and it was at a family gathering, so I'm all stressed, and it broke.

So then I only had a- Oh my God … I only had a tiny bit left.

And it was like on a long holiday weekend.

Were you in Connecticut?

I couldn't call anybody.

I didn't know you existed.

I was like, "Let me call you." Oh my gosh.

So I was just out of options.

My fertility clinic would not answer the phone.

Oh my God.

And then after the holiday weekend, I went in for the egg retrieval.

I told the doctor what happened, and he looked worried.

Oh my gosh.

So I'm like, I really messed something up.

But anyways, they did the egg retrieval, and they retrieved four eggs.

Okay.

Which the doctor said he was happy about.

Yeah.

Okay.

And at that time, I'm, I was part of like a, like a fertility group on Facebook.

Oh, yeah.

I remember- Yeah … thinking, "I need to talk to people that… 'cause I can't be the only one going through this."

Yeah.

So it was a-

' Crystal: Cause you do feel like you're alone, right?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

and on, it was wild to join that group because I saw all these girls that I had known in my life, and I remember them years ago talking about their fertility journey, and now I'm seeing them in this group.

I'm like, "Wow, I am joining-"

Yeah

this very sad- World … sad group.

Yeah.

But anyways, I'm going on a tangent.

That's okay.

Uh, this group was helpful because I told them like what happened, and they were like, "You know, you have, four embryos. Like, good for you. Like, they're little fighters."

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

And they cheer you on.

Yeah.

They're- They

cheer you

on

very supportive.

Yeah.

So out of those four, eggs that they removed, three were fertilized, and three were dividing on day three.

And then I think on, I think on day five, I only had one embryo left, and they froze it.

And I remember thinking like, "That's a really awful result, but at least I have one embryo."

That's right.

" Ivona: And I have one chance of having a baby."

Yeah.

And I remember all these stories of women just getting- Just with one

… Crystal: pregnant.

All you need is one.

Just with the one embryo, so.

That's right.

I wasn't too devastated.

That's right.

I was so hopeful.

Yeah.

I know, it's a crazy thing how we keep the hope.

Right?

It's, it's very … I don't know how … We all do it.

We all have, like, like, faith that it's gonna … Faith and hope get us through this, I think.

That's the one thing we have.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And I was just, you know, so persistent on just, like, we're gonna find a way to make this happen.

Yeah.

Did you get that embryo tested?

Did you do PGTA on that one?

No.

My fertility clinic didn't think it was worth it because it was just one embryo.

Okay.

Yeah.

And me and my husband thought the same thing.

Yeah.

Like, it's not worth it to pay all this money- No … for one embryo.

Because before, back then, and I think it's changing now, you had … It was a package.

So it's like $2,500 for, like, or 3,000 even-

For

like each embryo at a time … it didn't matter if you had one or eight, right?

Oh,

okay.

And now I think they're doing, like, just one, one embryo at a time.

It's like five-

Oh, so it's gotten better.

It's gotten … Some clinics.

Oh, okay.

Yeah.

But I, I'm with you.

I wouldn't have thought for one embryo.

I wouldn't have paid that.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So we just, you know, kept it frozen because the doctor was saying, "You need … Because you have endometriosis, you have to bank your embryos."

Okay.

"You

have to.

Y- you'd be doing, multiple rounds of IVF- Yeah … and then doing transfers when you have a bunch of embryos."

That's true.

Yep.

What was the grading on that first embryo?

Do you remember?

It was a

3BB.

Okay.

Okay.

Which is, like, not the worst, but not the best, right?

Not the worst.

Yeah.

It's … Yeah, I think it's right on that cusp.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And I remember, like, asking my doctor, like, "What can I do?" And he was saying, "You know, you can't improve egg quality.

There's nothing you can do."

You can't.

Exactly.

You can't improve that.

But I th- That's what they always

tell us.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Oh,

yeah.

And I think he could tell, like, I was desperate for answers, so he said, you know, "Start eating blueberries."

You're kidding.

Yeah.

So to this … Crystal, to this day, I'm obsessed with blueberries.

Like, I … Blueberries are a part of my breakfast- Every day.

… every morning.

I-

I eat them every morning-

Yeah

… ' Crystal: cause they're good for my brain.

But- … so if anything-

I'm so used to blueberries that they are a part of my breakfast- Oh, my God.

I love that … like every day now.

I can't believe that's what he told you though.

That, that- That was- … was probably his best advice- That's- … was eat blueberries.

Okay.

It's not horrible advice, 'cause they are strong antioxidants.

Yes.

Yeah.

They're very

healthy.

Eat blueberries, ladies.

Yeah.

So then we wanted to do a second IVF cycle.

I think in January

2021. Okay.

We heard that we're, we're receiving the funded IVF, cycle.

Okay.

So we got excited.

Yes.

And then we started that IVF in February.

And because I had been on DHEA, I think this is the reason, there was just so many follicles.

Ah.

The sonographer was, you know, saying like 12 on one ovary, like 10 on the other ovary.

Wow.

And I was, I was literally thinking, "You don't have the right chart." Like this- I should have five.

This, I… You're looking at, you're looking at the wrong chart.

This isn't me.

Yeah.

But like throughout the appointments people were saying, "Oh, you have 10 on this side, 12 on this side." It… So I'm just like, "This is amazing."

Yeah.

And then we had the egg retrieval, and they retrieved, I think it was 12 eggs.

Okay.

It's like amazing for me.

Really good for your…

yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And then of those 12, eight were mature.

Okay.

And then six were, fertilized.

Okay.

So it- That's a good- … really plummeted.

Yeah,

but that's a nor- that's a pretty good embryo math.

Is it?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Okay.

and then five were dividing on day three, I think.

And then out of those five they could only freeze one embryo.

And they were- Yeah … still watching three more after that, but they all arrested as well.

Oh.

And that embryo- I see.

And that's why they

arrested.

Yeah.

Why did they say that?

Yeah.

Yeah.

And then that embryo was graded a 5BC.

Okay.

So it was a- Yeah … low quality embryo.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And you froze it.

Yes.

Did it accept it?

That percent.

Yeah.

And that was the funded round.

Yes.

Ugh.

At about that time, I was getting ready to leave, but I thought, that fertility clinic, but I thought, "Let's just give one more chance to do a transfer." Like, to start with our first transfer, we were really eager to do the frozen embryo transfer.

So we transferred the 3BB, and, uh, it came time to the pregnancy test, and I got the call, and they said, "It's positive."

And I thought, "This is our happy ending." Yeah.

Went all the way to IVF.

It worked.

And now I'm pregnant.

This time, we're really not gonna tell people.

Yes.

But we got too excited.

Like my husband told his family right away.

Ladies, it's always the guys, right?

It's always the guys that do it first too.

You know what's interesting is he's the one who's telling me, "Don't tell anybody."

I love it.

But then it progressed a, a little bit, my pregnancy, and it was even before the first ultrasound, we were thinking it's progressing so well, like, "Let's tell the family."

Yeah.

And we did.

Yeah.

Mahooja, it's too bad we did.

Because my family really celebrates.

And then we had the first ultrasound, and the sonographer, like, is just taking so long with it, and then she said, "Well, here's the sac," "but I'm having trouble finding the fetal pole," I think it's called.

Yeah.

she just said, "It's, it's looking like a miscarriage."

And I thought- So she said it, not even the doctor?

Yeah.

Oh

my gosh.

I thought like, "Oh, the Gaumar, why do these bad things always happen to me?" Yeah.

So then I went in to see the doctor, but he was saying, "Well, I see the fetal pole." Oh.

Like, "I can see it."

Okay.

But- "But the baby's just not growing enough, not fast enough. Like it's for sure a miscarriage."

Was there a heartbeat at that point?

And no heartbeat.

Oh.

Yeah Yeah.

So I remember just sitting in that, fertility c- clinic just, you know, starting to cry, but, like, stopping myself.

I'm like, "I'm not gonna cry- Mm-hmm

in this fertility clinic."

So after the doctor told me I had a miscarriage, we waited one week, then I came back for another ultrasound, and that's when they confirmed, yes, for sure it's a miscarriage.

Oh.

And that's when he gave me the misoprostol,

To- To flush it … flush it out, I guess you would say.

Flush.

It's for- The baby, yeah.

Yeah.

I remembered, like, telling my husband, like, "This is serious." I, I'm like, "I'm gonna need you here." Yeah.

And so he ended up, like, canceling going to a birthday party.

How, how many weeks were you at that point?

Seven or longer?

It was like… Yeah, it must have been seven weeks by then.

Yeah.

Yeah.

At least, yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, 'cause I had to wait that extra week, so maybe seven and a half weeks.

Yeah.

So when I took that medication, I started to have, like, this intense, incredible pain.

Like, I didn't know what was happening to me.

I think my body also didn't know what was happening.

No.

No.

And- 'Cause you're forcing something that's not, right?

That you… Yeah.

Yeah.

I remember the doctor saying, like, "If you feel like you have the flu, like, get to a hospital." Oh.

Like, if you have a fever- Okay … I should say.

Like- And I didn't have a fever, but I, I felt like I had a fever, and the pain was just so intense- Yeah

that I didn't feel safe being at home, so my husband drove me to the hospital.

And, like, I would never recommend having miscarriage in the hospital.

No.

It was one of the most horrific experiences of my life.

Like, it was as if I came in there with a paper cut.

Like, I w- I was just- They don't know how to-

in the waiting room-

Yeah, yeah

… Ivona: essentially giving birth-

Yeah

… Ivona: to like a-

And they don't know how to- Yeah … they don't know how to-

In their defense, they're ER doctors, but they really don't know how do you care for somebody going through that.

'Cause I've been there myself, and so many of the girls have, and they just don't know.

They just, yeah.

No I- They treat it like a paper cut.

Yeah, but, like, the staff I think didn't know really what to do with me, but eventually, like, after hours of waiting, we finally got to a doctor.

And he was good.

He said- Did they

put you with the OB department, or where did they-

I think it was a regular ER doctor.

Okay.

Okay, good.

And he said, "It looks like you had a bad reaction to the medications." and he was more empathetic and, like, talked us through what was happening.

Yeah.

so that was our first miscarriage.

we wanted to, to transfer … No, we wanted to do another IVF.

And I think this is the time that I found you online.

Yeah, I think so.

And, and I was thinking-

It was shortly after that miscarriage, I believe.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I knew this problem was a lot bigger than me.

I knew me Googling, was not gonna be helpful enough, and I knew that we're making these really life-altering decisions based on very little knowledge.

I knew that I had to, to go to a third party.

So that's when I reached out to

you.

Yeah, I think so, 'cause it was just shortly after, I believe.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And then, you know I told you I wanted to switch clinics.

You found a great doctor for me, so we were t- talking about, going to him.

A third, with a

third opinion.

Yeah.

So while we're getting ready for that, I found out I was naturally pregnant.

I missed my period, maybe only two days, and I f- I really felt silly taking a pregnancy test.

Yeah.

But it had the two lines, and I was naturally pregnant, so I text- texted you right away.

Yeah.

And we were so excited.

Yeah.

But we were also very cautious again and trying not- Yes

to say anything.

And my HCG was doubling.

All the things.

I went to not a fertility clinic, but like an ultrasound clinic, because I remember at this point I had left the previous-

Yeah … fertility clinic.

And the son- sonographer, again, couldn't find the fetal pole, couldn't find the baby.

But she was really determined, so she had me on the bed for, like, 30 minutes trying to f- to find the fetal pole.

Yeah.

So it was a painful experience.

So you're naturally pregnant.

Yes, for the first time ever.

For the fir- yeah.

Yeah, that

was-

That's right … the first time.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Okay.

Yeah.

So, the sonographer couldn't find the baby, so then we went to a, a doctor.

Yeah.

And I remember on the way to the doctor, my husband was saying, "You know, like, what if this turns out badly for us?"

And I remember saying, "You know, God doesn't create a miracle to take it away." That's right.

Like, I'll never forget saying that.

but then we went in for the ultrasound with the doctor, and he, like, it took him, like, four seconds to say, like, "There's no baby."

Oh my gosh.

" Ivona: There's no babies here.

Like, this is a miscarriage.

However, like, I see two sacs." Oh gosh.

"So I think this was going to be twins." Um, which we would've been thrilled with.

Yeah.

So the doctor's talking about the miscarriage and the process and everything, and my husband's just like… I can see he's crying.

I'm just like, "This is, like, such an awful experience."

Yeah.

And we got out of there, and my husband became, like, so motivated.

He's like, "That's it. We're gonna be pregnant again."

Like, it was like a, like a fire under him.

Yeah.

And-

' Crystal: Cause the guys experience things differently.

It's really… It's a different ballgame for the men.

Yeah.

Yeah.

But, but- Yeah … now he had this intense motivation to make this happen again, which was great because I always had that motivation.

Like- Yeah … I was so persistent.

And like I said, we had hardly any chance to get pregnant.

Like, even some of the practitioners, which, you know, were great, but were- Yeah … like, trying to gently tell me that- Yeah … you know, you probably will not get pregnant.

Just so you know, this probably not gonna work.

Yeah.

So

many times.

But I- Yeah … was so persistent.

Like, every day I did something to, like, move the needle-

Forward

… Ivona: to get pregnant.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And you followed all the things, and you did all the things.

Uh, yes.

You… And- I tried my best,

yeah … and not… And one of the big things that I think made such a difference is, like, for endo, we have to eat for endo, and you were so consistent with that.

And it's so hard to do that, especially, like, say, in the summer when people are having, like, cocktails or, appetizers by the pool.

You would stay so consistent.

Like, you were-

Yeah, I wasn't drinking.

Like- Nah … I, I wasn't even drinking coffee.

No.

Like, it was just, like, my lemon water.

Yeah.

I remember I, I wouldn't put on hairspray.

Like, I wouldn't- I wouldn't even put nail polish on.

Yeah, yeah.

When I saw women wearing nail polish, I was like, "Oh, wow, that must be nice."

Right?

I know.

Yeah.

I

know.

It robs so much of us- Yeah … and our lives in particular.

Yeah.

Fin- financially- Right?

It takes so much … financially too.

Financially

as well.

Yeah.

Yeah, we put everything on the back burner, like vacations- Yeah … renovations.

Like, thousands of dollars were being poured into IVF and, and everything associated with that.

When everybody else gets it for free.

Yes.

Yeah.

It's

so not fair.

It sucks.

So after that miscarriage, we wanted to transfer our last remaining embryo.

That's right.

I remember my husband was no longer interested in doing another round of IVF.

He

knew- 'Cause

he had

hope.

Yeah.

Yeah.

we had one more embryo.

He just wanted that transferred.

So we went to the fertility clinic that was storing the embryo.

So that's- Yeah … essentially our third fertility clinic.

We no longer wanted to deal-

Yeah

… Ivona: with our previous one But that was a long process to transfer that, embryo That was

so long

Yeah, because every-

And in the meantime, we had done a third opinion- with another doctor, and we had a good game plan.

But-

For another IVF, yeah

… Crystal: for another IVF.

And a doctor that actually does specialize in endometriosis.

Yes.

Yeah.

We'll say it like that.

but Mark, and you both wanted to transfer that embryo.

Yes.

Um, so we were following the doctor's advice of the new potential clinic

Mm-hmm

… Crystal: to transfer it.

Yeah.

I should say that the- Yeah

our, the clinic had our embryos, so we needed to transfer it at that, clinic.

Yeah.

So that's why we were there.

Yeah.

And we kept, like, I kept going into frozen embryo transfer cycles, but them being canceled- Yeah … because I could never get my lining thick enough.

Yeah.

It would be, like, I think five.

Is that, I was gonna ask you.

And you need it to be a, like, a- I couldn't remember.

Yeah … eight I think.

S- Technically seven

… Crystal: is

it

seven or eight?

But we like eight.

We like 10.

Oh, yeah.

We like 10 on the Fight Club.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And it's hard.

Lining is a tricky one.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And we kept trying month after month, and finally it got to the point where maybe the doctor was even frustrated and he said, "You know, you can't, you can't get your lining thick enough.

Maybe you're just one of those women that can't get their lining thick enough, and we're just gonna have to go ahead with the frozen embryo transfer." And I asked, "Well, is there still a chance I can get pregnant with thin lining?" Yeah.

And he said yes.

Yeah.

That's true.

So we went ahead with it, and we transferred that embryo.

And it wa- and it never implanted.

It was never a positive test.

Oh.

Like, there, there wasn't even anything out of that transfer.

And all that money.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So I quickly changed to my fourth, fertility clinic with the doctor that does specialize in endometriosis.

Yeah.

What was nice about that doctor is, He, he gave us extra information that the other doctors weren't giving us.

Ah.

For example, he told my husband to stop drinking.

My husband only drinks, like, very occasionally.

Yeah Like, if he's at a barbecue party.

Yep.

And he said, you know, "Completely stop drinking." So he didn't even drink a drop.

Like, I was so proud of

him.

And that was never m- n- mentioned at any other clinic, right?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I know.

'Cause they blamed you and your endo.

Yes, and my age.

Yeah.

And

your age.

Yeah.

So

it

sounds familiar

to me.

Yeah.

With Mark, like, hearing from a doctor- Yeah … you cannot drink, like, he believed that and stopped drinking.

Yeah.

Yeah.

They also said things like, wear loose underwear.

Yeah.

I remember our acupuncturist, she said, "Think Grandpa underwear." Like, it's gotta be, it's gotta be big and it's gotta be loose.

Oh, gosh.

I'm gonna use that now.

Yeah, because, you know- It's true … you think, "Oh, that underwear's fine." But no- No, it's not … you gotta think big Grandpa underwear.

Yeah, Grandpa underwear.

Okay, I'm gonna use that now.

Grandpa.

And I think the best piece of advice he gave us was Outside of your period, you need to have sex every single day.

Yes.

If you can't every single day, like, every other day.

Yep.

And the guy has to ejaculate every day if it's not, intercourse because it's so good for-

Oh, to-

the guy and the sperm.

Yeah

… Ivona: to improve the sperm health.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So- And not many people, not many doctors or people suggest that, right?

Oh, we would never hear anything like that.

Never.

People were just very focused on ovulation.

Yeah.

Like, make sure you're doing it during ovulation.

Ovulation.

Yeah.

And I think this advice was good because I stopped worrying about ovulation because I was thinking if we're, you know, being intimate every single day- Yeah

of the month, I no longer have to be worried about when I'm ovulating.

And that takes pressure off you.

Yes.

Huge.

Yeah, it took a l- a lot- Yeah … less stress off me.

Yeah.

Period.

So we were doing that and, we were preparing for our last and final IVF, uh, cycle.

Yeah.

during that time I also had ovarian PRP.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah.

To make sure that I have, good quality- Yeah … um, eggs.

Yeah.

And that's something totally different.

There's not… Maybe one doctor, two doctors in Canada that do that.

Still.

Oh, really?

Oh.

Lots in the US, but just, yeah, one or two in Canada.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I had to be on a waiting list, and luckily I got in.

Yeah.

Also had a- His- hysteroscopy?

Yep.

Ha.

I forget how you say it.

Before, yeah.

Hysteroscopy.

Yeah.

Just to remove a polyp and I still had, like, miscarriage tissue.

Yeah.

Which nobody checked at the previous clinics before transfer.

They… Oh, before transfer?

Yeah.

Like, they were checking, but I don't think they- They didn't do-

they could tell.

No.

Like, they couldn't find it.

They didn't check the… Yeah.

So then we, we were thinking we'll do our last and final IVF.

If it… It's with a really good fertility clinic.

It's with a really good doctor.

It should work.

That

understands, yeah.

Like, I was thinking, oh, we'll probably have several, embryos.

Yeah.

We won't know what to do with them.

We'll have so many.

I'm so excited to share that I will be leading the Burlington, Ontario walk for the fifth annual Fertility Matters 6K, and I would absolutely love for you to come join me and the Fertility Fight Club in the walk.

The Fertility Matters 6K is a nationwide fundraising movement supporting the one in six Canadians facing fertility and family-building challenges.

Our walk is gonna be such a fun morning.

We'll have a lot of laughs, a little stretching, some snacks, and most importantly, coffee and tea.

Whether you're currently on your fertility journey, supporting someone you love, have been through it, or simply want to help us raise awareness, we would love to have you there.

Every step helps bring us closer to a future where fertility support is a right, not a privilege.

Come walk, laugh, connect, and make a difference with us.

I would love to have you there

And, uh- And

you were on a lot of more different medications for egg quality as well as egg quantity at that time, right?

Yeah.

We decided to get Omnitrope- Omnitrope, yep … I think it's called.

I think it's called.

V- very expensive medication.

Very

expensive.

Thousands of dollars.

Yeah.

But we were like, we need to give it our all so that- So- … it finally works.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Very expensive.

So I was taking all these medications.

And injections.

Supplements.

We had a endo protocol.

Oh, yeah.

My naturopathic doctor- … couldn't believe how many supplements I was on.

Like, she was getting worried.

Like

sh- The list of the endo, we, we have now.

I have it in a document now.

Yeah.

The endo protocol.

It, it's- Yeah … it's intense.

Yeah.

My naturopathic doctor was like- It's intense … "You need to- Yeah … you need to decrease this." So we were, like, well into the, IVF cycle, monitoring the amount of eggs growing, and only, like, five or six eggs were growing-

Yeah

which was very shocking.

Weird,

yeah.

and then I g- I get a phone call from the nurse saying, like, "I think we should cancel your IVF cycle because it looks like you ovulated." And I just remember just getting so- You kind of had

an idea though, right?

Do you remember?

I think you messaged me and you were like, "I feel like I'm ovulating, Crystal."

And I'm like, "You can't. You're on Cetrotide." Remember that?

Yes.

Thanks for reminding me.

Yeah.

I always knew when I was ovulating because- Because you

felt

it … when you're in this journey, you- You

know

your body … you learn your body and- Yeah … and you know what's happening.

Yeah.

And I, when I saw that I was ovulating- Oh, my God

I got really scared.

And I remember, like- Like calling the clinic, letting them know, and they're like, "Oh, like I don't think so, but like we'll have you in for an appointment and we'll check." Everybody

doubts.

It was very emotional, 'cause we kind of actually just brushed over it.

But, but Ivana did so much work from the last miscarriage to get to this retrieval, like huge amount.

So-

Yeah, thanks for mentioning.

Yeah

… Crystal: I don't wanna be m- We both are not emotional girls, but we- Mm-hmm … we're emotional about this.

So you had done so much work.

We, like so… And Mark had done so much work.

Like, you guys both together were like a team fighting so hard.

It was, like, intense.

Mm-hmm.

So when you th- said you're ovulating and then nobody at the clinic thought, no, there's no way,

yeah.

That early.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So- So they called me and they said, "You know, we're probably gonna have to cancel."

And I'm like, "How could… I have ovulated. Like, how could you have let this happen?"

Yeah.

Like, I actually said that.

Yeah.

and I'm like, "How many… Like, did I lose an egg because I ovulated?" And they're like, "Yeah, it looks like you ovulated an egg." Yeah.

I'm like, "How many more, how many eggs are left?" And they said, you know, "There's four, but they're not mature.

So you would have to be on medications for another week, and then maybe those four would be mature, but we're not sure."

Yeah.

" Ivona: So it'd be, like, another $1,000 to do that." We had already wasted- And we're gambling … $8,000.

Yeah.

I really felt like a gambler- Yeah … at that point.

Exactly.

Yeah … so we were talking with my husband.

I remember we were talking with you.

You were trying to get a hold of the doctor who was- Yeah … traveling.

Yeah.

Like, we were spiraling.

And thank you for that.

Like, you were- Yeah … calling us throughout the weekend trying to see if we were- Yeah, it was the weekend.

I remember that.

Yeah, trying to make sure if I was okay.

Ugh.

And then we just decided to cancel it-

Yeah

… Ivona: because-

Yeah

… Ivona: there's only- It didn't make sense … four eggs left, and they might not even be mature in time for the- Yeah … retrieval.

Yeah.

And then I think that Monday you got the doctor on the phone with us.

You were- Yeah … on the call, too.

Yeah.

And he was explaining that my body was just reacting very strangely.

Like- Yeah … the eggs would grow, and then they would stop- Stop … growing, even with this amazing medication, even with the Omnitrope.

Yeah.

And then I ovulated with no warning.

Just happened out of nowhere.

So I remember just saying to him, like- 'Cause

your LH never peaked.

It, it… Like, there was no indication in blood work that you were gonna ovulate, right?

Yes.

He was

saying those things.

Like, usually the… They have, like, a indication- They have a warning … or sometimes when you do the blood work, they'll make you, extra dose of Cetrotide or something just to catch it and stop the ovulation.

But there was no, no warnings.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So I remember saying to the doctor why did this happen?

Like, I was so frustrated.

I'm like, "I'm a healthy person." Like, like we were saying.

I don't drink.

Yeah.

I, I don't even drink coffee.

Yeah.

You did

all the

things.

Like, like I eat, nutritious food.

I'm active.

Yeah.

Yeah.

How?

How and why?

Like, why is this happening?

And he said, "It's your endometriosis."

Yeah.

And it's like when he said that, you should have seen the motivation in me spike up.

Like, I was like, never again.

I want this terrible disease out of my body.

Like, let's stop thinking about getting pregnant.

I want this disease- Out … totally out of my body.

Yeah.

I always wanted to do a laparoscopy, but the doctors in this journey stopped me throughout.

Yeah.

Like, they kept telling me, "No, you can't do a laparoscopy because it could damage- Damage

your eggs and it could decrease your egg count, and you're trying to get pregnant.

It's very important that you maintain your egg count."

Yeah.

You know, what they were recommending for me to do was to do IVF first and then- And then surgery … a laparoscopy.

Yeah.

And then an embryo transfer.

That was our new plan.

I think, but previously they wanted to transfer without the laparoscopy, and what happens is with endo you need that surgery before you transfer as well, right?

Definitely.

That was the frustrating part.

Yeah.

Like, they weren't seeing it.

They weren't treating you like you had endo.

They were treating you like every other person.

Yeah.

I remember saying to my first fertility doctor, "You know, I have this horrible endometriosis.

Do I need to go to a doctor to resolve that and have- Yeah … a laparoscopy?" And he said, "No, you're going to me.

And we're gonna do IVF.

And because you were gonna do IVF, you don't need laparoscopy."

Wow.

Wow.

And like I'm trying to think of the proper analogy, but like, it's like you want to run a marathon, but you have a fever.

Like, how are you- Yeah.

How are you gonna run … going to run a marathon with a fever?

Exactly.

And then they're giving you Tylenol and saying, "There's a chance- … that you could finish the marathon with your fever and- Exactly … and some Tylenol."

Yeah.

Like, of course- In a good

time.

Yeah.

Of course it wasn't going to work.

Like, I was only getting, like, one embryo, right?

Yeah.

And I was reading stories about other girls, and they were also getting one embryo.

Yeah.

It didn't make sense.

So yeah, the- So

now you wanted- Do the lap

Yeah.

Now I just want that lap, and I'm going to stop listening to doctors, and I'm just gonna get it.

Trust my gut.

Yes.

Yeah.

I wish I trusted my instincts because my instincts are always- Always

right

… Ivona: they're always correct.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Our spidey senses.

Yeah.

Yeah.

But I had a new challenge with finding a doctor that was willing to give me the laparoscopy.

Yeah.

There's so many women, as you know, that have endometriosis.

Like, I think maybe 2 million in Canada.

Oh my gosh.

It's… Yeah

So the lists are huge.

Huge.

so I was trying to get a doctor to do this, and I would hear things like, "Your endometriosis is not serious enough.

You don't have enough pain." When they told me I don't have enough pain- That- … like, I was thinking, "What are you talking about?"

Like, I have miscarriages.

I have physical and emotional pain-

That's-

… Ivona: from endometriosis.

Yeah,

yeah.

And they would also tell me-

And the reason why your body didn't act like a normal endo person with, like, buckled-over pain all the time is because you were managing it with all your lifestyle choices.

So that was dismissing.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

I should say I did have that horrible pain- Yeah … when I was younger.

Exactly.

Yeah.

' Crystal: Cause you didn't… Yeah, yeah.

And they were also telling me, you know, pregnancy is not a good enough reason to get a laparoscopy.

Like, it's only if you have, like, terrible, terrible pain.

Wow.

I know.

So then- It's

just so disturbing

I was, like, so persistent.

I was turning over every stone, and I remember thinking, you know, my nurse… Can I, can I say her name?

Yeah.

My nurse, Lindsay, is very helpful.

Like, maybe I should at least ask her.

So, Lindsay thankfully, referred me to an OBGYN-

Yeah

… Ivona: in her area.

Yeah

… Ivona: and yeah, I had to wait maybe more than six months, but I think that's-

Yeah

a short amount of time- That's a short amount, yeah … to what I'm hearing.

Yeah.

And-

Yeah

… Ivona: like in November of 2024, I think it was, I see his name pop up on my caller ID.

And I had forgotten about this doctor.

Yeah.

And I was like, "Oh my God, look at this.

Look who's calling me." And I answered the phone and, and they're like, "Yeah, we know you need a laparoscopy.

When would you like to come in for the consult?" Like, I was in, in the consult like a week later, and then the doctor, amazing doctor-

Amazing

… Ivona: said, "You wanna get pregnant? Well, that is a very good reason for a laparoscopy." Right?

And I- Finally, a

doctor listened.

Yes.

Yeah.

I al- I almost wanted to hug him.

And he's like, "Well, I'm gonna speed things up then."

Yeah.

Like, you- I

remember you calling me right after that conversation.

Really?

Yeah.

Yeah, so that was amazing.

Yeah.

So then later they called me and they said, "Are you able to come in for surgery on December 31st?"

December 31st.

I know, I

remember.

So I thought, "There is no better way to spend my New Year's Eve than to get that awful disease out of my body."

Like, that is the

best-

100%.

That is the best New Year's Eve.

Yeah.

So my husband and I drove, like, two and a half hours to get to the hospital that- Yeah … this particular doctor was working at.

Yeah.

I was one of the last surgeries of the day because they had other emergencies.

Yeah.

And they got most of the endometriosis out.

There was, like, a little bit left in, like, a dangerous-to-operate area.

Okay.

But they got most of it out.

Yeah How bad did he say it was?

He said it wasn't that bad.

Okay.

Yeah.

Okay.

He thinks it was, like, between stage two or three.

Okay.

That's probably from all the work you did.

Maybe.

Yeah.

Yes.

Yeah.

Yes.

So he- Wow

got a good chunk of it out.

Good.

and then I just kept, uh, trying.

Yeah.

I remember you talked to me about fertilisis.

Yeah.

That's

right.

I brought up fertilisis testing to my husband, Mark, and, you know, he was looking at me like as if I had four eyes.

It- It … A lot of people do.

Yeah.

And, and for people that don't know what fertilisis is, fertilisis is specialized testing that we check the microbiome, and we check natural killer cells, and your antibodies, and things that could be killing off the sperm.

If her uterine microbiome is off, vaginal microbiome is off, that could be killing the sperm, right?

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

Immune issues, all those things.

Yeah.

Yes.

And it's expensive.

Yes, that was the thing.

Like, when Mark heard about this, you know, he was thinking, "We've wasted, like, thousands and thousands of dollars on IVF, and now you're bringing me this fertilisis thing?"

but finally you said something like, "The doctor is upset we didn't get fertilisis."

Yeah, yeah.

And

then- 'Cause he's like, "It doesn't make sense. This could be what's going on." Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So that really motivated the two of us.

Yeah.

We were like, "Let's just do this fertilisis thing."

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

so we did it, and

I- 'Cause he kept saying, "That's the missing piece."

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah,

and- It, it really was, yeah.

So we did the fertilisys testing.

We got the results back.

I should mention that, you know, our blood work and everything went to Greece, so we had to- Yeah

to wait a few weeks maybe.

Yeah.

And it came back, listing all these problems, like microbiome problems and immune problems.

Yeah.

Basically, my body was rejecting, anything- Yeah … that my body thought was foreign.

So it was killing sperm.

It was killing, embryos.

Embryos, yeah.

Like, no wonder I was having-

Miscarriages

miscarriages.

Yep.

It was just, like, such an awful report.

It was awful, but it shows us, like, "Ah, we have an answer."

Yes.

There- Right?

I should say, there is a section there where it says treatment, and then they tell you, Yeah … you exactly what to do, and you go- Yeah … to your doctor with that.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So that's-

Sometimes

it's antibiotics.

Sometimes it's immune therapy.

Sometimes it's LIT. There is so many different things.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

For me, with the microbiome issues, those were really easily taken care of- Yeah … with just, like, antibiotics.

Hardcore antibiotics, not just.

You know what?

You're right- Yeah … that it was hardcore- Yeah, they're hardcore

because I almost fainted- Oh, yeah … on the one antibiotic- There are a lot of antibiotics … the doctor had me on.

Yeah.

Yeah, and they destroy your microbiome, and we build it back up with probiotics after.

Oh, okay.

But they are hard.

They're harsh, yeah.

Oh, yeah, it was so- Yeah … harsh.

Yeah.

And then with immune therapy, do- the report recommended the LIT therapy-

Yeah

So that my immune system would stop attacking-

The sperm.

… Ivona: s- sperm and embryos.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So I got the LIT therapy, I think the first one in January and then the next one in February.

I should mention I was also seeing an acupuncturist.

Yeah.

And you recommended an acupuncturist after the doctor told me that I'm really getting really old and I'm about to-

have menopause and it's just very unlikely that I'll be pregnant.

I remember that call.

I did not like that call very much.

I like-

Yeah.

'Cause your AMH from, if you remember-

Was low, right?

Yeah, 'cause we hadn't checked it for a while, and we had been going through all these things.

Like

suppression.

And then we're like…

Yeah.

So we're like, "Let's check the, everything," and we ran your AMH again and it was drastically lower.

Yeah.

Because I

think- It freaked everybody out, including the doctor.

Yeah.

But I think it's because I took that medication, and I'm sorry, I don't remember the name.

The Lupron.

You know?

Lupron.

Lupron.

Yeah.

I think it's because I took Lupron- Yeah … which essentially puts you in menopause, right?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So it dangerously lowered my AMH.

Exactly.

And then my- Yeah … FSH was really high.

Yeah.

How, how high was it, do you

remember?

I think it was, like, at 17.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So he was saying, you know, "You're about to go into menopause.

You know- Yeah … it's really unlikely that you'll get pregnant," and then ended the call.

And I, like, burst into tears.

I was, like, crying- … like, nonstop, and you called me- … and totally calmed me down.

I, yeah, 'cause sometimes… I think I had, like, another call with the doctor right after, so I couldn't call you right away.

And I don't even remember, like, the next call with the next client and the doctor.

No idea what, what was said, 'cause I just wanted to get on the phone to make sure you were okay, 'cause, yeah.

Thank

you.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Thank

you.

It was rough.

'Cause I thought that was really the end.

I'm like, "Okay, this is- Yeah … the end of our fertility journey."

Mm-hmm.

But there's never the end with Crystal.

I find a way.

Yes.

So.

Yeah.

So-

We came up with a plan.

Yeah.

A new plan.

You came to me with, like, five different options.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I, I was really- I like

options

… Ivona: I was really impressed- Yeah … actually with you- … with, with all those options.

We are not giving up.

We're having a baby, Ivana.

We're figuring this out.

Yes.

And I was just, like, so persistent.

I was like- Yeah … "It's gonna happen."

Yeah.

So I gave you a whole bunch of options.

Mm-hmm.

And one of them was donor eggs, donor embryos, donor sperm.

Donor eggs in Canada is, like, so expensive.

Yes.

And can you remember all the, the options?

But you said, "You know what? Maybe embryo donation is the way to go."

Yeah, the doctor had, had said things like, "You need, donated eggs or a donated embryo- Yeah … because it's just too tough for you to be pregnant with, endometriosis.

Yeah.

So at that point we really came to terms.

We really thought we're never going to have a biological, uh- Yeah … child.

Yeah.

So you, gave me the name of a podcast to listen to.

Yeah.

I think it's from Markham Fertility.

Can I say that?

I think so.

Was that?

Yeah.

Yeah, I think so.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, I think that's where it was from.

Yeah.

And, so I learned about embryo adoption.

Yeah.

I told my husband all about it, and he was for it.

Yeah.

I contacted the adoption agency.

They're called New Beginnings.

Yeah.

They sent me all the information, all the costs, the process.

And so we- And