Infertility

What is infertility?

in·fer·til·i·ty (ĭn'fər-tĭl'ĭ-tē) not fertile; unproductive; sterile; barren
n. 1. Absent or diminished fertility. 2. The persistent inability to conceive a child after persistent attempts over a given period of time, usually one year in humans.

It is all of those things and so much more. It's seeing your friends and family have children when you have none. It's not going to baby showers because you don't want to deal with the hurt. It's people telling you to relax and it will happen. To quit trying and you'll get there. But you don't.

Even worse, it's going though treatments. And temping, and for some pills and shots and procedures. It's a longing in your heart. A painful stab to your soul. But most of all it's heartache.



27 months we tried. A relatively short period of time for me. For some it takes 5, 6, 7, 10 years. Some will never bear a child. Others have children that are born in their hearts instead.

I spent a year going to Dr. B. He prescribed Clomid, and off I went. At the time I had no idea that you should be monitered, and have your lining checked. And bloodwork. I went through several months of taking Clomid at 50mg, 100mg and 150mg. We wasted a year taking pills that did nothing. So I finally changed doctors. My new doctor immediately diagnosed me with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or PCOS.

Polycystic ovarian disease PCOD is an endocrine disorder that affects approximately 5% of all women . It occurs amongst all races and nationalities, is the most common hormonal disorder among women of reproductive age, and is a leading cause of infertility. The principal features are weight problems, lack of regular ovulation and/or menstruation, and excessive amounts or effects of androgenic (masculinizing) hormones. The symptoms and severity of the syndrome vary greatly between women. While the causes are unknown, insulin resistance, diabetes and obesity are all strongly correlated with PCOS.

Dr. W prescribed Glucophage or Metformin (generic name). I had all the characteristics of PCOS without the cysts on my ovaries. She said it was Insulin Resistance. The medicine was terrible. I had a difficult time adjusting to it. For most people it has a laxative effect. But, I kept on it, and it eventually subsided. The first month there was no success. The second month we added Clomid at 50mg, and I had an early miscarriage. The third month we did Clomid again at 50mg, and that resulted in a pregnancy!

I was lucky to find a wonderful group of friends through the internet. Even though the site we all started out on has changed hands, gone and reappeared, we have all remained close. Most I have never met, and probably never will (but I hope to). Support was the best thing. Being able to have someone who understood. Someone who knew it was a medical reason why I couldn't conceive.

If you're struggling with infertility, there are a lot of resources out there. And there is always a virtual shoulder of someone who's been there.

http://www.soulcysters.com/
http://www.pcosupport.org/
http://www.4woman.gov/FAQ/pcos.htm

Some women do find luck with several herbal combinations. Natural Progesterone Cream, and Vitex do seem to help with PCOS. You should check with your doctor for their recommendations.

Tomorrow will be 2 years since Melissa was born. It was such a wonderful miracle when she came into the world. I struggled with infertility for 2 long years before her conception. The pain will never go away.