41 truths about infertility - Robyn Birkin

41 truths about infertility by Robyn Birkin at Modern Day Missus

The Science

1 in 8 couples will struggle to fall pregnant after trying fall or 12 months
80% of infertility cases have a known medical cause
More than 1% of Australian babies are born with the help of assisted reproductive technologies
The science is still young. Improvements are being made every day
…but many are reluctant to pour money into researching it, because nobody dies from infertility

You’d stand on your head after sex, while singing the alphabet, wearing only pink, between the hours of 5.30pm and 6.30pm if you thought it would help
You’re pretty sure you’re keeping the pregnancy test companies afloat just with your purchases alone
You can’t help but interpret every single symptom as a possible pregnancy symptom
You become an expert in how to fall pregnant, even though you can’t
It doesn’t take two to tango…. You have a whole team working on getting you pregnant

Some days it feels like nobody understands what you’re going through
There is no such thing as not trying
Some days you feel like the one thing you’re supposed to do as a human, have children, is impossible
Infertility is an incredibly lonely journey
…. Even when you spend most mornings in a crowded fertility clinic
It’s impossible to NOT know where you’re at with your cycle
Everything takes longer than you think it will
The two week wait feels like the two month wait… every time
It hurts, even if you’ve been down this road before
The specialist tells you that twins carry a higher risk to it is better to implant only one egg, but secretly you’re hoping it will be twins so you never have to go through this experience again

Infertility causes stress, stress doesn’t cause infertility
People telling you to stop stressing, is your number one cause of stress
It feels like everyone around you has decided to have children right when you can’t
You always get asked why you don’t just adopt
… or about surrogacy
… or who is at fault…. Like it matters

You feel like you know a different language because you learn all the different fertility acronyms like TTC, BFP, AF and CM
You’ve met the ‘dildo ultrasound’
You shelve it several times a day…. And I’m not referring to books
You inject yourself like it ain’t no thang
You don’t have PMS, you have everyday-crazy-woman-on-fertility-drugs-syndrome
Talking about your bowel movements with your male acupuncturist seems legit
Your nickname is pin cushion
You feel like you’ve opened your legs for half your town
You’ll never look at raw egg whites the same again
Your bedside table is filled with crystals, good luck charms… and a sharps container

Everyone’s journey is different
Not everyone will have a happy ending
… but many do
… and you are more than your struggle. You are a brave warrior, and baby or no baby…
You WILL get through this, I promise

Can you add any truths to this list?