Patient Stories
Darcey Westcott
Darcey Westcott is like many women. She used birth control while pursuing her communications career. At age 36, she was ready to start a family. She and her husband tried. And tried. “I had no idea I had infertility problems,” said Westcott of Wausau.
Women in their mid to late 30s have about one-third less of a chance of becoming pregnant than women in their 20s, said Obstetrician/Gynecologist Thomas Doering, D.O., of Marshfield Clinic Wausau Center. Chances are reduced by nearly 50 percent among women in their 40s. He recommends couples have unprotected intercourse for one year. In 90 percent of cases, pregnancy will result.
A blood test is the first step in determining the cause of infertility. It is traced to the male reproductive system in 40 percent of cases, and to the female system in another 40 percent, Dr. Doering said.
The most common cause of infertility among women is anovulation, in which only 2 or 3 eggs are released annually. Egg production can be enhanced with fertility medication to stimulate hormone production in the ovaries. Additional tests can detect problems with reproductive organs.
Westcott’s regimen included tracking her temperature and ovulation; taking hormone therapy, which resulted in pregnancy but miscarriage; and laproscropy, which detected endometriosis and fibroids. Her next step was artificial insemination. When the first attempt didn’t work, she was injected with super-ovulation hormones prior to the second insemination. “I turned 40 in July and cried my eyes out. Two weeks later, I found out I was pregnant,” she said.
Her son, Michael Franklin Cornell, was born April 9, 2003. “I feel so lucky that I was able to get pregnant on only the second artificial insemination and to carry the baby to term. I thank God every day of my life.”
Clinic staff provided great support, Westcott said. “Dr. Doering is awesome. I would recommend him to anyone. He gave me all the options. But he always let me make the decision, and he supported the path I chose.”
An increasing number of women are pursuing artificial insemination by sperm donors, Dr. Doering said. Each individual will want to discuss with her physician the best fertility treatment based on age and medical history.
Patience may be the most important attribute, he said. “If they have the financial and mental resources to keep up with it, we can get just about anybody pregnant. But they need to know it takes time.”
