Meet P.J.
Meet P.J. McLaughlin, an Embryologist with Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago. P.J. started at AFCC as a lab technician performing hormone checks during ovarian stimulation cycles, before progressing to andrology where she performed semen analyses and preparation for intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF). She was then trained as an embryologist. Today, she leads the egg retrieval process, fertilizing eggs in AFCC’s lab, tracking their development, and freezing or transferring those embryos to patients.
P.J.’s goal from the beginning was to work with embryos and perform preimplantation genetic testing (PGT).
“I studied genetics in college. My mother was a high school biology teacher and because Marfan Syndrome ran in my family, she introduced me to genetics very early on. I was most interested in PGT and how that could help families like mine. I am fascinated by both patients with family histories like mine as well as PGT-A testing for older patients to decrease miscarriages.”
P.J. underwent egg freezing and became a known donor for her cousin, Brittany, who has Marfan Syndrome. This is her story.
P.J.’s Fertility Journey
Freezing Her Eggs
When I was turning 30, I was unsure about whether I wanted kids or not. At this point, I had been seeing patients for years who were running out of time to have children and I didn’t want to miss my chance because I was unsure. I decided to freeze my eggs to give myself and my partner more time to decide either way.
When I did my initial hormone testing and ultrasound, it turned out that I have a mild case of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), so there was potential for me to have trouble conceiving anyway.
I was nervous about all the needles involved with the actual stimulation, so the nurses here helped me with my first few injections. The needles were so small that it wasn’t a problem at all. I barely felt the injections. I really enjoyed doing the ultrasounds to track my progress as well, because that is a part of the process that people in the lab don’t get to see.
The actual egg retrieval worried me as well because I had previously only had an IV and anesthesia when I had broken my arm cheerleading. With an egg retrieval, I was much more aware of getting an IV administered. The anesthesiologist was very gentle and comforting during that process.
With the anesthesia, I was completely unaware of the procedure. I remember being put under and then I woke up in the recovery room. I had cramping from the needle. My stomach also hurt because they had to push on my ovaries to hold them in place. It hurt a little more than a period, but it wasn’t bad at all.
Once the process was done, I had enough eggs that I am confident if I want children, I can have them. It was like a weight was lifted off of me. I didn’t feel the pressure to make such an important decision before I lost my chance.
I was also lucky that I did all this about 2 weeks before everything shut down for COVID. It was such a relief then because we didn’t know how COVID would affect fertility and how long everything would last. I didn’t have to worry about trying to have a baby in the middle of a pandemic. It’s been 4 years now and I’m still not certain whether I want kids, but I’m still not stressed about it because I know I still have plenty of time.
Becoming an Egg Donor
My cousin, Brittany, is one of my best friends and has wanted to be a mom. She helped to babysit her sister’s kids and works as a behavioral therapist for kids with autism. She married a very nice man who worked with adults with developmental disabilities. I knew that they would be amazing parents with how patient and involved they are.
My cousin came to me to ask about her options. She decided she did not want to do PGT-M to test for Marfan Syndrome because it is a disease that she has lived with and didn’t feel right about discarding embryos that have a potential for a happy life like she has had. She would also not be able to carry a baby because of the risks associated with Marfan Syndrome. They decided to try to adopt and had been fostering children, but their foster kids eventually returned to their biological parents, which was very hard for her. She then came to me again, ready to try for a baby.
Since I knew that she didn’t want to discard embryos with Marfan Syndrome and I do not have the disease, I volunteered to donate my eggs. Her older sister volunteered to be her surrogate.
I was not worried at all about the donation process. I had already had an egg retrieval at this point and knew that that process wasn’t that bad. I just wanted Brittany and Greg to have a family of their own. I was a little concerned about how my parents would feel about it, since I am still unsure if I want children of my own. They were very proud of my decision.
We had a few hiccups in the whole process. The first embryo we transferred miscarried at 16 weeks. Brittany had just announced the pregnancy and was devastated. I felt horrible. It took 3 more frozen embryo transfers (FET) before we were able to get baby Levi. It was hard to see them struggle and know that we at AFCC were doing everything we could to get a baby. I think that we all agree that Levi was worth it though. He is such a sweet baby, always smiling. I got to be there for the birth, and I was worried that I would feel like he was my baby, but I didn’t. He was always Brittany and Greg’s little boy.
I think the most unexpected thing for me was how difficult it ended up being to get little Levi. I knew from my egg freezing that I had enough good quality eggs to make a baby. We did PGT-A to decrease the miscarriage rate and still there was a miscarriage and a biochemical pregnancy before we got Levi.
My only advice to patients is to not give up. Egg freezing was a relief for me. I don’t feel like I’m going to fail my partner if he decides he wants kids. I don’t feel like I need to pressure him or myself to decide. I would also encourage anyone who can donate to do it.
It is so rewarding to see these people I love and who are so deserving get the family they have always wanted.
They are also considering donating the remaining embryos to a couple they know. I do not know this couple, but I would be happy to help as many people as possible.
