“Is IVF Right for Me?”—Krissy’s Unexpected Path to Parenthood

Krissy and her husband loved adventure. Their journey took them across the country—from New York City to San Francisco to Chicago—as they embraced new career opportunities and experiences. Through all the moves, they never actively tried to start a family, but they never prevented it either. By the time they turned 38, reality set in: if they wanted to have a baby, time was of the essence.

Seeking Answers

Since they hadn’t gotten pregnant on their own, they decided to pursue fertility testing. Unfortunately, their first experience with a fertility clinic was discouraging. The doctor delivered the news bluntly—Krissy’s fallopian tubes were damaged, and IVF was the only option. It felt overwhelming, like they were being pushed into a decision they weren’t ready for. Unsure and unprepared, they stepped away and started considering adoption instead.

A year later, during an OB/GYN visit, Krissy’s doctor recommended Dr. Hirshfeld-Cytron at Fertility Centers of Illinois (FCI). From the very first meeting, things felt different.

Dr. Hirshfeld-Cytron took the time to review Krissy’s records, confirmed the need for fallopian tube removal, and carefully explained her options. She referred Krissy to a trusted surgeon at Northwestern University, a recommendation that made Krissy believe it was truly in her best interest and strengthened her confidence in moving forward with treatment.

Taking the Leap into IVF

In August 2023, Krissy and her husband got married, and soon after, Dr. Hirshfeld-Cytron recommended starting IVF treatment. The idea of hormone injections and all the unknowns made Krissy nervous. Then, just before beginning, she stumbled across a worrying article about potential risks, making her second-guess everything.

But after conversations with her husband and hearing from her hairdressing clients who had gone through IVF, she decided go through with treatment. In September 2023, she started her first cycle. To her surprise, she handled the injections well, with only mild side effects. Throughout the process, Krissy found comfort in the FCI Glenview staff whose kindness and reassurance made each visit feel more manageable.

“It was the kindness and friendliness of nurses and techs, especially Christina at the Glenview location, who did most of my ultrasounds during monitoring and measurements,” Krissy shared. She also expressed the importance of trusting the process and going with the flow, saying, “My calmness and going into it with a mindset of not stressing too much and taking it one day at a time [helped me through treatment].”

Despite all the effort, the first cycle didn’t result in any viable embryos. Krissy and her husband opted for preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) on the embryos, but unfortunately, they all came back abnormal. It was disappointing, but Krissy stayed realistic—she had done her research and knew setbacks could be part of the process. Krissy continued with treatment, scheduling surgery to remove her fallopian tubes in November, followed by a second IVF cycle in December.

Navigating a Second Cycle

By the time the second cycle began, Krissy’s husband had relocated to Ohio for work, returning every couple of weeks. It wasn’t easy, but a determined Krissy made it work. She leaned on daily phone calls, the support of her family and friends, and her dog—her biggest source of comfort. Having helped raise her sister’s five children, Krissy was no stranger to responsibility, but facing IVF alone was a different kind of challenge.

After the egg retrieval, Krissy remained hopeful, thinking, “All I wanted was just one [healthy embryo]. I don’t need anything to pick from just at least give me one.””

Her resilience paid off. After The second cycle resulted in one viable embryo. “I was very excited when I got the information about one of them actually passing all the tests,” she shared.

Preparing for Transfer Day

Before moving forward with the embryo transfer, Krissy wanted to be sure she was giving herself the best chance for success. She learned about a specialized test used to detect endometritis, an inflammation of the inner lining of the uterus. She brought it up to Dr. Hirshfeld-Cytron, who agreed it was worth doing. The test uncovered an issue that was then treated with antibiotics, improving her odds.

On April 20, 2024, she underwent the embryo transfer. Wanting to trust her body’s natural rhythm, she opted for a natural cycle rather than a medicated one. When her first blood test showed exceptionally high HCG levels, she knew the embryo had implanted well. Instead of taking home pregnancy tests, she chose to patiently wait for each official update. When the pregnancy was confirmed, she was overjoyed—but still cautious, wanting to take things one step at a time.

Welcoming Baby Dahlia

As her pregnancy progressed, Krissy transitioned from the highly attentive care at FCI to a standard OB, which felt like a big adjustment. She also joined her husband in Ohio, adding another layer of uncertainty. But she embraced it all, trusting her body and the journey she had taken.

On New Year’s Day, her daughter, Dahlia, was born—a long-awaited, deeply cherished miracle.

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