Emil

Emil's Journey

Emil’s mother was a 41 year old science professor who had never tried to become pregnant when she was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. She was referred to Dr. Chetkowski after lumpectomy and before starting a 5-year course of chemotherapy with tamoxifen. After thorough discussion of the different approaches, she felt strongly that a genetic link to her child was imperative. Moreover, she was ready for motherhood now and did not accept just a chance of having a child in the future. Since carrying the pregnancy was too risky, she chose in vitro fertilization with a gestational surrogate as her best option.

Making all the arrangements for a gestational carrier took about two months during which time the patient was placed on ovarian suppression with leuprolide acetate to minimize the exposure of any residual tumor cells to estrogen produced by her ovaries. In the IVF cycle estrogen secretion was kept low with letrazole. Eight eggs were obtained and 2 embryos were transferred into the surrogate who conceived.

While awaiting the genetic testing through CVS at 12 weeks, the Intended Mother was again treated with leuprolide acetate to minimize the exposure of any residual tumor cells to estrogen produced by her ovaries. Once CVS confirmed that the pregnancy was chromosomally normal, the patient started her 5-year course of tamoxifen.

Emil was born 10 months after his mother’s initial visit to the Alta Bates IVF Program for fertility preservation.