RUSKIN, Fla. — Olivia Pariag, three months, is the center of attention in her home. 

The little girl is loved very much, and her mom, Suzie Prashad will tell anyone that Olivia is a blessing on many levels. 

“I mean, she is my little miracle child," said Prashad, laughing. 

What You Need To Know

  • 1 in 8 couples experience infertility 

  • Brown Fertility is offering free sperm analysis for men referred by a physician/specialist

  • Male infertility accounts for 30% of all infertility cases

  • Only three percent of those experiencing infertility require IVF 

This family of four was a family of three for a long time. 

The journey into parenthood began a few years after Suzie married Christopher in 2006. In 2011, they had their son, Jayden. 

“We were like, 'Ok, we are going to wait a few years before we decide to have another one,' but we weren't doing anything to prevent, you know," she said with a smile. "So it was just like, if it happens, it happens.”

When one year went by, they didn't think too much of it. But then two years became three, and three neared a decade with no pregnancies at all. 

Prashad, a 37-year-old, decided to find out what was going on.

She went to Brown Fertility in Tampa, and learned through testing In Virtro Fertilization, or "IVF," would be their best and only real option to conceive. 

“Honestly, if I didn’t look into it, I would definitely have regrets because of the 'would have, could have.' Could I have done this and done that?" said Prashad. "I mean honestly, I never thought I would be in the position that we would have to do IVF.”

Like so many things, no one ever thinks it will happen to them until it does. Prashad and her husband took two of their fertilized eggs and implanted them. One took, and resulted in Olivia. 

“Yes, it was like surreal, I mean, I am just like, there were so many failed pregnancy tests in the past, for them to say, 'Hey you are, you are positive,' like, you are pregnant, it was just very emotional," said Prashad.

“It is very rewarding to see them when they get so excited about an early pregnancy," said Dr. Daniel Duffy, Reproductive Endocrinologist at Brown Fertility.

Dr. Duffy remembers the moment well. Displaying an early scan, he reminisces on the happiness. 

“That is what we want to see. And that is when she was six weeks and one day," said Dr. Duffy.

He recommends if people have gone three to six months without conceiving, or they are concerned because of something in their medical history, to go get checked. 

“What I tell everybody, is get in and get your evaluation done. There are four basic tests that we do, and then after that, we can have a discussion and decide whether or you need any treatment, or want to pursue any treatment or want to continue trying on your own," said Dr. Duffy.

Male infertility accounts for 30% of all cases.  

In fact, Brown Fertility is encouraging men to get tested this month, offering a free semen analysis with a doctor or specialist's reference. 

“When somebody is ill, they come in and we help them get back to where they started from. But with reproductive medicine, you help them advance their lives in a way that they didn’t ever anticipate they were going to have this problem for," said Dr. Duffy. 

Only three percent of those experiencing infertility require IVF. Most other issues can be treated with conventional therapy, like medication or surgery. 

“This is Jayden and Olivia, and this is our complete family," said Prashad, pointing to the latest family portraits. 

Picture perfect, and family complete as she said. She and her husband, are now looking forward to making memories with their two children.