I got married relatively late, and after nearly a year of marriage without getting pregnant, I didn’t think much of it. Then a friend mentioned she had taken an AMH test, and also mentioned she was evaluating whether to undergo IVF. She suggested I take the test too if I had time. Little did I know, that was the beginning of my journey to conceive.
The first time I took the AMH test was at a well-known hospital with a famous infertility specialist recommended by my friend. However, that doctor had an overwhelming number of patients — I waited for 3–4 hours but barely spoke with the doctor for 30 seconds. The result came back very low, only 0.76. He recommended I try IUI first. After careful consideration, I went to another hospital for further testing. Thankfully, I only had low AMH — no issues like blocked fallopian tubes, fibroids, or endometriosis. My husband’s sperm was also very healthy.
We live near Wan Fang Hospital, and I discovered they had a fertility clinic too. With a nervous heart, I went for a consultation and met Dr. Hsu. I immediately felt his warmth. He patiently listened as I shared the test results and advice from other hospitals, then suggested I repeat the AMH test (this time it was 0.23 — still very low). Considering my age and the risk of early menopause, we decided to proceed directly with IVF and skip IUI.
Dr. Hsu started me with a half-dose of Leuprorelin to suppress my period for one month, followed by ovulation stimulation injections. I forget the name of the meds (they were a liquid and powder combo), but I’ll never forget how painfully sharp the injections felt.
During the egg retrieval, only two eggs were mature enough, and one was still too small. But to increase our chances, the doctor retrieved all three. By the time of implantation, only two embryos were viable. The two-week wait to see if implantation had succeeded felt endless. I lay carefully in bed every day, barely moving. My husband would prepare all my necessities by the bedside before work and bring lunch home for me. I didn’t step outside at all.
On the tenth day, I was desperate to know if I was pregnant, so I asked my husband to buy a test. I took it and—wow! Two lines!! I was so excited I screamed. On the day of the follow-up appointment, I was still anxious waiting for the test results, but finally heard the doctor say, “Congratulations, you’re pregnant.”
However, the first trimester is critical. Even after confirming the pregnancy, I had to take progesterone suppositories, hormone pills, and injections. Knowing how precious this pregnancy was, I spent the full three months lying flat in bed. I didn’t leave the house unless absolutely necessary. By the time I got my maternity booklet at 12 weeks, I had gained nearly 10 kilograms. Dr. Hsu gently joked, “You’ve used up your 10-month weight quota already.”
During the preparation for IVF and the wait for results, I also received traditional Chinese acupuncture to balance my body, visited temples to pray and chant due to my religious beliefs, and received blessings and good luck charms from friends and family. With Dr. Hsu’s expertise and the support from his assistants Ke-Ni, Wan-Ching, Hsin-Chieh, and embryologist Ming-Fang — all incredibly kind and professional — I was truly lucky to succeed on the first try. I’m deeply thankful to everyone and to the heavens.
The moment I saw my son, I knew everything was worth it. The pain of childbirth made me think I’d never want a second child. But as he grew older, I began wondering if I should give him a sibling. Then suddenly, I had very light periods. After a check-up, my AMH had dropped to <0.13. Dr. Hsu said it was a sign of early menopause. My husband and I decided to try IUI first. When that failed, we tried IVF again—and once again, it worked on the first try.
I’m truly fortunate. Dr. Hsu is not only skilled and kind, but also deeply ethical. He always takes the time to answer questions patiently. That’s why I chose to undergo IVF with him at Wan Fang Hospital.
