Yes it’s National (or is it international) fertility awareness week. And I couldn’t let it pass without getting back to my roots, and the reason I started on Instagram and blogging.
My names Kelly and I’m infertile! Yes I’m also a mum of one- but this was after two gruelling rounds of IVF. And despite becoming a mum 5 years ago, a miracle hasn’t occurred- yup I’m still infertile!
So so so many people, it’s very annoying; have said ‘they know someone’ (yes we all do- but they’re probably the exception to the rule) that once they had IVF it ‘reset’ them and now they can get pregnant and have had more babies.
But, nah- doesn’t seem that fairy dust has been sprinkled this way. My/our infertility issues have not majestically regressed.
Infertility affects 1 in 7 heterosexual couple in the Uk NICE data and facts ….. and the older you get the more this increases. Despite that, infertility treatments are still very much underfunded and unavailable, unless you have a spare £10-20k sitting in the bank (which of course after the past few years, we all do, obvs)
So it fairly common, it affects your life, and yet treatment isn’t readily available, nor do we receive much (if any) education about fertility or infertility. Yes the majority of our teenage years and our twenties, it’s drummed into us about safe sex, and not having an unwanted pregnancy. This gives us all the false sense of security that we are all super fertile and then getting preggo is easy!!! Well for some it bloody isn’t.
My advice; never assume! If you’re in your twenties and wish to hold of ‘starting a family’ (I hate that term) then invest in some basic tests regarding your fertility- such as your hormone levels (blood tests), follicle count (ultrasound) and AMH (blood test)- this may support your feelings to wait, but may also indicate that your fertility isn’t all you’ve been led to believe. You, of course have options, to consider baby making earlier than planned or by banking/freezing eggs or embryos.
If you’re a guy; it’s similar, get some bloods and a sperm analysis (typically is cheaper and less invasive for men)
Unfortunately very little funded treatment is available on the NHS. So although we have 5 perfect ‘maybe baby’ embryos in the freezer, it’s more difficult to have the several thousand of pounds needed for treatment. But…. If you smoke, drink, take Drugs- and you have health issues related to this; then of course you can get NHS treatment and also medications. Don’t get me started.
Let me know your thoughts……
Motherhood after IVF 