Thomas (30) and Mariella (32)

We’d known each other for ten years already. We had wanted children for the last five, but it wasn’t working. “Too much stress,” is what we’d often hear, or “you guys need to take a break”. Don’t think about it too much, then it will suddenly work! Thanks to all these helpful tips and countless others, we didn’t know what to think anymore.

From month to month, Mariella’s sadness and doubt grew. The days when her period began were the worst. Her gynecologist was trying to comfort her, performed a few ultrasounds and ovulation tests and assured her that everything was fine. We didn’t want to proceed with any further diagnostical testing at this point. We tried relaxation exercises, homeopathy, and acupuncture. We definitely felt relaxed and stronger than ever, yet Mariella still wasn’t getting pregnant.

We had long conversations about our relationship and what having a child meant for us. A friend advised Thomas to at least try going to the Urologist once. Why hadn’t we thought of that sooner? The urologist ordered a semen analysis, and OAT-Syndrome (inadequate amount of sperm and immotile sperm) was the result. My doctor explained that it could be difficult for us to get pregnant with my results. Well, that we already knew!

The results made me feel as if I weren’t masculine enough, which made me feel insecure. Somehow, I had felt as if I had lost my identity. Sex wasn’t fun anymore and we rarely slept with one another, usually only around ovulation time in the hopes that it could still work.

Mariella's gynecologist advised us to consider IVF. We were speechless. IVF—we could need IVF! —that’s a problem that only affects others! A time filled with chaos followed. Who could we trust? Friends, family—what would they think? We gathered all our courage and searched the internet, and finally scheduled an appointment at the Wunschbaby Institute.

Antonia, born June 18th.