Navigating BRCA Testing and IVF: Three Women's Journeys

The journey through fertility can be complex, especially for women diagnosed with BRCA mutations that increase breast and ovarian cancer risk. For some, like Sage Silverstein, the adventure begins with shocking news and critical choices surrounding their reproductive futures.

From Diagnosis to Decisions

At just 24 years old, Sage Silverstein was faced with a life-altering diagnosis: Stage 3 breast cancer. Her family history weighed heavily on her; her grandmother had succumbed to the disease at 60. Having already discovered she carried the BRCA2 mutation, Silverstein was determined to take action.

“I was advised to freeze my eggs, as it could open up options for having children in the future,” she recounted. This advice came from Dr. Jaime Knopman, a reproductive endocrinologist at CCRM Fertility in New York, who supported Silverstein in preserving her fertility during her cancer treatment.

Silverstein underwent two rounds of egg retrieval, amassing around 28 frozen eggs. After completing her treatment, she was ready to start a family with her fiancé. However, the thawing process did not go as planned. The first batch of eggs resulted in zero viable embryos, and while the second batch produced three chromosomally normal embryos, all were BRCA-positive.

The Road to Motherhood

Determined not to give up, Silverstein underwent several more IVF cycles, ultimately obtaining seven viable embryos, with just two not affected by BRCA. Now 32 and working as an IVF nurse at CCRM, she is on the cusp of motherhood, with a surrogate due soon. However, her path has been filled with mixed emotions.

“I feel a sense of responsibility to eliminate BRCA from my family’s lineage,