I just found out it is National Infertility Awareness week
and this is so near and dear to my heart.
So many women struggle from infertility and the thought of some of these
women struggling to get pregnant literally hurts my heart. When I had miscarriage after miscarriage,
after miscarriage, I too thought I would never hold my own baby. But then deep down in the bottom of my heart,
I knew I would. I knew that I would do
whatever I had to do, to have my baby.
And I did. I never gave up on my
chance. We first found out we were
pregnant in December 2005 and after much struggle and loss, my baby was finally
born in June 2009. It took a while
(almost 4 years) and it was mentally draining on me, but it was worth the wait,
that is for sure. The truth is I truly
wonder why infertility seems to be so prevalent these days. Maybe now, we have a voice so we are talking about
it more. We have such a huge support
system now as well. Couples used to have
to struggle behind closed doors in the past.
Now, there are groups, websites, doctors, friends, loved ones, etc who
have information or who have gone through it.
And now…we aren’t afraid to talk about it.
Infertility
statistics
- One in six couples is
infertile. In 40 per cent of cases the problem rests with the male, in 40
per cent with the female, ten per cent with both partners, and in a
further ten per cent of cases, the cause is unknown.
- Fertility problems strike one
in three women over 35.
- One in 25 males has a low sperm
count and one in 35 is sterile.
- For healthy couples in their
twenties having regular unprotected sex, the chance of becoming pregnant
each month is 25 per cent.
- The chance of conceiving in an
IVF cycle is on average around 20 per cent (but varies due to individual
circumstances).
There are so many
words that come to mind when thinking about infertility, anger, sadness,
denial, exhaustion and guilt. Couples,
especially women, feel so much guilt when they can’t get pregnant. They feel like the one thing they are ‘born’
to do in some sense, makes them feel less of a woman. Not everyone feels that, but most women who
really want a baby and can’t get pregnant, can have these thoughts. That is how I felt actually. I felt like a failure. I felt stupid. But then I started to read about infertility
and saw that 67% of people treated for infertility will go on to have a baby. So, I thought to myself, I have options if I
need them. I have hope. It isn’t the end. Thankfully I didn’t have to do IVF treatments
but that is not to say I wouldn’t do it if I had to. I would have.
I would have shot up my stomach with every shot I could get my hands
on. I would have done it all. I would have done it over and over again and
spent every dime in my pocket.
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If you are sitting with your child tonight, hold them
tight. We all should appreciate what we
have. And if we can, help someone who is
having trouble with our love, advice, hope and encouragement. I know I will, because there was once a time
in my life when I thought I would be watching TV on my couch without 2
monitors sitting on my coffee table.
Good Night.
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