Beni and I met 2 years ago working together for Banfield in Miami. We began to date once I left to manage my animal hospital in Delray. About a year ago, Beni and I moved in with each other and decided that we wanted to be completely committed and one day get married.
For about 3 years I have been apart of a registry to donate my eggs. In April, I was called as a couple had chosen me to be their donor. I was required to do the preliminary testing to make sure I would be a good candidate. I was not given good new. The fertility clinic told me that I was not very fertile and that I needed to follow up with my OBGYN.
I scheduled an appointment with Dr. Bernick almost immediately as I was very concerned and had a gut feeling that this was going to be bad. When we went in and explained everything to Dr. Bernick, he assured us not to worry and that he would repeat testing and completed a couple additional tests. He completed the following tests:
FSH: Follicle-stimulating hormone test measures the amount of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in a blood sample. FSH is produced by the pituitary gland In women, FSH helps control the menstral cycle and the production of eggs by the ovaries. The amount of FSH varies throughout a woman's menstrual cycle and is highest just before she releases an egg (ovulates). The higher the FSH levels the harder the ovaries are working to produce and egg.
-> My levels were very elevated
AMH: Anti-Mullerian Hormone. It is also called MIS (Mullerian Inhibiting Substance) . Since AMH is produced directly by the ovarian follicles, AMH levels correlate with the number of antral follicles in the ovaries . It has been documented that women with lower AMH have lower antral follicular counts and produce a lower number of oocytes compared with women with higher levels.
-> My levels were EXTREMELY low for someone my age.
After Dr. Bernick saw my results he immediately referred me to Dr. Denker a fertility specialist who gave us the news. * I am in the early stages of menopuase* He diagnosed me with Premature Ovarian Failure. I explained to Dr. Denker that I had expected a diagnoses close to this as I had done some research and that Beni and I expected that we would start to try for a family in about 6-8 months. Dr. Denker simply said, "You don't have 6 months, in 6 months you may not have any more eggs left. Ovarian Failure, once it begins, is a rapid progression and will leave you to become infertile."
Beni and I were is shock (along with Nana who has been my rock through this whole thing). We needed to start buidling a family now? When are we going to get married? How long will it take? Will we have to try fertility treatments? There were so many questions.
OUR DECISION
For those who know me well, they will be reading this and thinking, "she said she never wanted kids!" That is correct, I never thought I wanted them. I always felt as I was to selfish and that my animal were enough. Although, when you are faced with a decision of now or never you perspectives change. I know Beni has always wanted children and a large family at that. I knew as soon as Dr. Denker gave us that information that I had to have a baby. I had to stop being selfish and give my partner what he has always wanted. I knew deep down that a child would bring me so much joy and that Beni and I would make wonderful parents. After speaking with both of our families, we have decided to try to start a family.
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