Infertility Support Group
In vitro fertilization is one of the most common and utilized ways of treating conception problems. This support group is dedicated to those beginning their journey with IVF and needing support. Join the community and share your experiences, advice, and story with people going through similar challenges starting a family.
Hi there. This is my first post ever on this matter. I've been dealing with this issue for years and just recently decided to seek help. To give a little background. I've been dealing with ovarian issues since the age of 13. I was finally diagnosed with PCOS at the age of 17. It took so long to diagnose me bc I don't have a lot of the physical characteristics of PCOS. I'm a petite build (about 115 lbs) so DR's always said there's no way I had it but blood work and ultra sound ended up showing different. I was also diagnosed with endometriosis at the age of 20 which I underwent surgery for as well as the Lupron treatment. I've been pretty much dependent on the BCP to prevent my endometriosis from coming back. I was told multiple times that it will be hard for me to conceive and that it may never actually happen. I'm now 26 years old and although i'm not currently trying to get pregnant (just graduated nursing school & have traveling plans), I struggle on a daily basis, some days more than others, with the fact that I may never experience motherhood in my future. I feel funny joining a support group when there are women actively trying to get pregnant without success and here I am not even ready, but I do still struggle with the thought of it. Almost ten years after my initial diagnosis, i'm deciding to reach out about this issue i'm struggeling with. My significant other is a very supportive person and my best friend. I usually talk to him about everything and anything, but this is the one thing I don't go into detail with and don't really explain my daily struggle to him, as we both aren't ready, so I feel weird discussing that it depresses me. I don't really talk about it with my friends either. This is the one thing I feel very alone with.
I think the other good news is that there is so much technology now that could be helpful...if the last time you talked with a doctor about your chances of conceiving as several years ago, then it may be that there are more options now that weren't available then. And your doctor was probably not a fertility specialist, and a fertility would probably have a better grasp of your chances. I received bad information from a regular ob/gyn before I saw a fertility specialist.
And since you're not ready now, you never know what a couple more years will bring in terms of medical technology to assist reproduction. So I think that is hopeful, too.
If you are struggling now, perhaps you want to see an actual fertility specialist just to talk about your diagnosis and what it means, assuming I correctly understood that you haven't done that. It could provide you a good understanding of the options and maybe some comfort that there's more hope than you think for the future when you're ready.
I really hope it works out for you and I hope you are able to find some peace and comfort. Having not found out about my fertility issues (severe PCOS) until I wanted to get pregnant and knowing how difficult that was, I'm sure having it always loom in the background for years is even harder.
Am 33 years old do not have any rare conditions whatsoever but I want to be your friend so send me an email symington.anita@gmail.com am waiting to begin our talk of strength.
Also am Zimbabwean I hope you don't mind?My name is Anita Symington.
I understand where you are coming from my husband was told it would be hard for him to have kids after his chemo when he was 17. It's always been in the back of my mind as well and because of that we have never done anything to prevent pregnancy. Even though we knew it was a chance, we recently did a semen analysis that confirmed our only chance of conceiving was through IVF. The news was not any easier to take. It's almost like it is never easy news to hear even when you expect it. I'm so sorry to hear about your troubles and I certainly hope you know we are all here to support, listen to, and relate to you.