Episode 180 Part 1 on Infertility

[Lyssa]

Loved it!!!!!! I can totally relate to the emotional roller coaster the guest was on. I also want to be open w/my experience--I can't believe how even in the waiting room of the doctor's office women are not talking and getting to know each other and share their stories! I did chat up several women and am now very good friends with one I met right there in the waiting room.
This problem is GROWING as we wait longer to have babies and for the myriad of other reasons that women have difficulty conceiving. The good news is that the technology is improving as well!
My advice is to do what I did not--get moving QUICKLY! I procrastinated in learning about my options and acting on them and it cost me valuable time. No matter which route you choose to motherhood--if you are not getting pregnant on your own, it will likely take TIME. Adoption included--if adoption is a consideration, you probably know already that it is a long, arduous process.
Good luck to all the fertility-challenged Mommas out there, know that there are women who would be more than happy to listen to your frustrations and understand your sadness!

[piscesgirl]

Thanks so much for addressing this issue on Pregtastic! After taking birth control pills for 15 years, I never imagined that I would struggle with infertility. I waited until I was married at 30 to try and have children. After a year of trying on our own (going through all the madness of OPKs, temping, crazy positioning, etc.) I saw my doctor who referred me to an OB. We did all the tests and it turned out my tubes were severely blocked with scar tissue. The OB then referred me to my RE. He couldn't tell me why this happened but he did surgery to try and break through the tissue. It was unsuccessful so he removed the tubes so they wouldn't cause more issues. IVF was our only option after that. IVF was very hard on my body and I actually developed severe OHSS and had to be hospitalized and my embryos frozen for future use. We were finally able to transfer 2 blastocyst embryos in July of 08 and got pregnant with a singleton. My little boy was born April 1, 2010. I love being a mother and want desperately to give my boy a sibling. So we have our next FET planned for Sep 23.

I was very open about our struggles with friends and family and received some great support. It was amazing at how many people I told who would then tell me of their own struggles and successes. And most of them saw my same RE! I also found many friends on online forums like this one and many of them I still keep in close contact. Infertility is a lonely struggle and I wish people wouldn't be so afraid to talk about it. Our insurance covered none of our treatments so we are deeply in debt. When you are starting a family, that's never a good place to be in. I feel that if IVF and the disease of infertility had more media and political coverage, then there would be more laws on mandating coverage.

Nicole

[Lyssa]

Nicole--Good luck with the FET! (Frozen Embryo Transfer)
I couldn't agree more! Infertility needs to come out of the proverbial closet and gain some momentum politically so that more insurance companies will cover it!

[piscesgirl]

Thank you Lyssa! And all the best to you!

[KCpodcaster]

It's funny, interesting, sad that this is really a common problem yet we share it with so few. Since sharing our struggle (look for a blog post) with friends I've been inundated with questions and comments from so many of my friends going through it now.
I think sometimes the hardest bit is feeling inadequate and worry about what is 'wrong' with me. We all grow up to think that our bodies will do what we ask/tell them to do and when they don't we are afraid to 'get help' if it deals with fertility yet if we have medical problems with anything else, we have no fear of getting help or sharing our story with others. Something about conceiving becomes a private issue and maybe a negative social stigma...???
I believe with more woman sharing their story, infertility will be accepted more and the hopeful mother will be embraced.
Those are just some musings.... :)
Congrats to you both! Your stories are super special. Thanks for being so open on the forum with them!