So, my girlfriend and I were looking into invitro, last night (we're thinking a few years from now). Any else ever been through this, and feel comfortable sharing your experience?

It’s a long, scary (in the sense that it is expensive and invasive and has uncertain success), and difficult.

Why are you using in vitro? Unless one of both of you have fertility problems, all you need is a turkey baster and sperm. Ok. It’s not quite that simple, but it’s a lot more simple than in vitro.

Thought about it, never did it.

Way too expensive, and, in our case, it was unlikely to succeed- I seemed to have a problem carrying a pregnancy, rather than getting pregnant.

I’m with @wundayatta on this, AI is much simpler, less expensive and much less invasive. I’m not trying to talk you out of In Vitro, you both may have very specific and valid reasons for wanting that, but remember, that In Vitro involves the use of drugs and hormones to increase follicular maturation (and I can personally tell you that it ain’t no picnic!) and probably a laparoscopy for removal of the ova, which although minor surgery, is still surgery. I had a procedure known as GIFT 23 years ago instead of IVF to have Katawagrey, for various reasons. If you’d like more info on what I did, please PM me.
I’m really excited for you that you’re considering this!

ETA: I’m not recommending GIFT, either, I’m just saying that’s what I did. Sorry if I was confusing.

We were heading down that road when trying to get pregnant with my son. IVF is very pricey. We knew exactly how many chances we would have to make it work. Before we would have to take out a second on the house!

I was on hormones and we were starting to really talk to doctors about the idea, but never had to fully commit. I can tell you that I know that we were very iffy on the idea. I had already gone through a lot of miscarriages. I really didn’t know if I could take the possible (and likely) failure of IVF.)

My brother and his wife tried (un-successfully) for 5 years to get pregnant this way, after SIL had an ectopic pregnancy that destroyed one of her fallopian tubes. They spent most of their life savings, and SIL endured a lot of painful procedures. They became obsessed with trying to get pregnant, which was very hard on their own relationship, and made the rest of the family feel like we were walking on eggshells all the time. After 5 years, they decided to put in an application to adopt. After a year, they ended up with a healthy baby boy. My brother and SIL were in the room when my nephew was born and my brother cut the umbilical cord. My nephew is the joy of our life. He’s now 5 years old and we can’t imagine having any other kid.

Just be aware of all of your options, consider seeing a couples counselor before and during any type of procedure that you end up choosing (whether in vitro, surrogate or adoption). Know that whatever you end up doing, a lot of money will be spent, so figure out now, if you really have the financial means to carry this out, and try to come up with a mutually agreeable plan (now) as to how long you will continue the procedures and under what conditions you will stop the procedures and move on to another plan. It’s really helpful if you have the support and love of relatives and friends during this time, but expect that they will have questions (that are not meant to hurt you, but you or your SO might take as intrusive or insulting). What you do, does impact your family (in both good ways and bad ways).

Good luck to you both, please keep us in the loop. You’re in for a heck of a ride!

My ex and I spent 4 years going through escalating infertility treatment.

We did three tries at AI (every other month). One pregnancy that miscarried at 14 weeks.

Three tries at GIFT (every third month). No luck. We got pregnant during an off month, another miscarriage.

Then we were able to get insurance coverage for three in-vitros. We got pregnant in the off-month after the second IVF try, and a baby boy 8 months later (he was early). He is now 15. The good Doctor claimed he had “primed the pump” with all the IVF preparations.

It is an emotional roller coast for both parents. Lost of disappointments, and it seems like it will never end. It seems to consume your life, that’s all you talk about. Seeing pregnant women or women with small babies feels like a sick joke. Sometimes nothing works. For a while we looked into open adoption.

And all the hormones don’t help. It was not fun waking my wife up every day before I left for work to give her a shot or two in the buttocks.

Good luck, and PM if you have any questions.

@zenvelo : Oh, the butt shots! What a joy those were!