#myIFstory: Kristen Lalla

Infertility is emotional and can leave you feeling hopeless and in despair but, with faith, optimism, and the right team of professionals around you, anything is possible. Thank you Kris for sharing your journey with us! Your words speak volumes.

Kristin Lalla and her children

"Our infertility journey began like so many others – 'I'll just take a few tests and if they don't come back perfect, then I'll just take a few pills, and I will be pregnant in no time.' Considering I had no trouble getting pregnant the first time, why should I even think there would be a problem the second? But after six failed IUIs (and many of those aforementioned pills), we knew we had a problem on our hands. It was time to change things up, and certainly time for a new doctor. We had been going to one who had a very good reputation for many, many years, but after our experience with him, it became clear that he was just riding on that reputation and probably getting ready for retirement.

The best thing to happen to us in our infertility journey was meeting Dr. Browne. She was a breath of fresh air from the very first meeting and we knew that if I didn't become pregnant under her guidance, then it was definitely God's will, and we should just give up. That is how much confidence we had in her knowledge, right from the start. And somehow we knew right away that being unsuccessful would not be the case with Dr. Browne in our corner.

Within approximately six months, I was pregnant with our second child, a boy who was born in August 2013. Just over two years later, we returned to Dr. Browne, and after only one transfer with a frozen embryo, I was pregnant with our third, who is due in a matter of weeks.

Everyone's journey is different, and I've learned that so many more people struggle with infertility than you would ever know. Slowly but surely, people came out of the woodwork to tell me about their infertility struggles, since I had been very open with my own. It helps.

IF only I had known that infertility doesn't always happen to 'other people.' Sometimes, just like that, you become other people. But with perseverance, confidence, and one very special doctor, there is always hope."

Male Infertility Evaluation: What You Need to Know

#myIFstory: Anonymous

Infertility is very emotional but when you have a great support system, especially in your Reproductive Endocrinologist, hope and optimism penetrate your heart! 

"We were recommended to see Dr. Browne by my OB/GYN who told us that there was no reproductive endocrinologist more wonderful to work with than her. Infertility is such a difficult thing to go through, but having Dr. Browne by your side is like having a personal cheerleader 24/7. 

My husband and I had been trying for a year and had been relying on ovulation predictor kits which were not working at all! From the moment I spoke with Dr. Browne, I felt like she truly cared. You are not a number to her, like you are to so many doctors in this day and age. When I told her my history, she listened compassionately, never once judging, and gave me back the hope that I had lost. 

Dr. Browne is part of a really lovely practice called Hudson Valley Fertility with another extremely warm and kindhearted doctor named Dr. Daniel Levine. He ended up doing my polyp removal surgery right before I continued treatment with Dr. Browne, and was absolutely fantastic and reassuring!  Hudson Valley Fertility is such a special place. 

Dr. Browne now works in her Somers, NY office, which is very convenient to get to, but honestly I would have followed her halfway across the world to have her as my doctor. She is invested 100% in the care of her patients and their families. Her positive and sunny outlook makes infertility treatments (dare I say) exciting. I used to get thrilled every time I got an email or phone call from Dr. Browne, with an update about my progesterone levels going up, or the health of my egg follicles. It was better than winning the lottery, to have my personal doctor update me on every detail, no matter how large or small. That type of relationship with your doctor doesn’t exist elsewhere. Not only can you personally reach out to Dr. Browne by email or phone, she generally contacts you first before you even have time for any worry to set in! This is a rare gift in this age of factory style medicine, and you would be hard pressed to find this type of care anywhere but the dedicated empathetic hands of Dr. Browne.  And the best part is that she delivers what she promises…we are expecting our little bundle of joy in January 2017!  

After a negative home pregnancy test, I wrote an email to Dr. Browne telling her that I was lying on the couch moping and crying. An hour later, she called after receiving my blood results saying “get your feet off the couch and stop crying….you are pregnant!” I felt her excitement for me every bit as deeply as I felt my own joy!  

If you want the best care in the universe delivered straight from the heart…go see Dr. Browne! If only I had known that monitoring is much more accurate than using ovulation predictor kits, I would have come to Dr. Browne sooner, instead of waiting!"