After fertility struggles, Bay Area woman advocates for PCOS awareness

Marissa Chase never thought she would end up in a fertility clinic. But after nearly a year of trying to conceive with her husband and dealing with growing disappointment, she realized something was wrong.

“You know, it was finally the time. The month. The time to start trying,” Chase said. “And ultimately it was a pregnancy test failure after failure after failure.”

Each negative test brought new waves of uncertainty. Without a clear diagnosis, anxiety set in.

“It was honestly terrifying, wasn’t it? Because you didn’t know,” she said. “Everything goes through your head, like, I’ll never be able to have a family. Among other things. So, it was very scary.”

Chase ultimately turned to RMA of Northern California, a fertility clinic specializing in advanced reproductive care. There, Dr. Jonathan Kort made a diagnosis that had gone undetected for years: polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS.

PCOS affects about 1 in 10 women of reproductive age, according to the U.S. Office on Women’s Health. It is a major and often underdiagnosed cause of infertility.

“So a lot of times our infertility patients have been trying for months or even years at home,” Kort said. “And, often, they’re told to keep trying. But the majority of PCOS patients don’t ovulate regularly. And sometimes, they don’t ovulate at all. So, trying at home, without any treatment, isn’t really effective.”

Kort said seeking treatment earlier can increase the chances of conception, especially when patients don’t see signs of regular ovulation.

This treatment changed everything for Chase, not just once, but twice.

“I’ll never forget it. Never forget it,” she said. “It was the best feeling in the world.”

Today, she shares her story to encourage others facing similar challenges to seek help and remain hopeful.

“It was amazing. Nothing about birth and what they say is understated,” Chase said. “From the emotions, from being scared, to excited, to experiencing this type of love for the first time. I think every person on this planet should be able to experience this type of love. Because it’s completely unique.”

Although her path to motherhood hasn’t been easy, Chase says every step has been worth it.