(2) Infertility story
Carol's story
My husband and I, Pete got married in May 2001 and decided to have a baby straight away. We tried but nothing
was happening, after 6 months we decided to see a doctor who said that they will have to do test to find out what the problem
is if any. This was the worst time of out lives as we were constantly waiting for appointments this went on for about 2 years
which was very stressful and finally we were told that we have unexplained infertility, which basically means that we
can not see noting wrong with either of you but we cannot explain why you have not conceived yet.
After all the test were done, the doctor decided to give me some infertility tablets (clomphine) which I
tried for 3 months but still nothing. The next step was IUI which is artificial insemination, weI had 4 goes at that but still
no luck.
So we were recommended to have IVF treatment, however the waiting time for NHS patients was 2 years. We
thought about it and decided to go for it privately. At this point the whole procedure was new to us and I did not know
what to expect. I had the first go for IVF in September 2003. This was the worst experience I have ever had as it was very
painful and traumatising and waiting for the results was a nightmare, the medication is just too much to deal with and the
injections are too painful, the treatment did not work and as a result we were recommended IVF ICIS. The 2nd time round seems
a lot easier as you know what to expect, so in March this year we tried again and that was successful, however I had a miscarriage
at 5 weeks. We were devastated to hear that I was finally pregnant but about to lose it.
After this we were still determined to have our own baby and was convinced that it will work one day,
we just have to keep trying. I have not really considered adoption as for us we had not tried enough to say right that’s
it will give up on trying for our own baby. What I found was a major problem for me was, people saying to me oh don’t
worry it will happen when its meant to happen, that’s the last thing you want to hear because nobody knows what its
like until they have actually experienced it themselves. Also I found it stressful to have visitors round when I was not well
as a result of the treatment and I had to lie about why I was not well, and that is because I only told a few people I
did not want everybody to know. I did not want to speak to anyone full stop! as I was depressed and wanted to be left alone.
I found it difficult during the whole treatment because you still have to live a normal life a do the things you normally
do.
I would definitely be recommending infertile couples to have this treatment done I am now 10 weeks pregnant
and all is going well, thank god and the doctors.
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Jill's story
My husband and I tried for 3-1/2 years to conceive. Consulting our G.P. he told us that sometimes it takes time. I would
bleed for months at a time and the doctor never once thought that this was a problem.
In total desperation I finally had enough and went to see another doctor who started tests and put me on clomid we tried
for another year with this method. Tubes were screened, sperm was tested but everything looked fine.
Finally we went to the hospital and they took one look at my history and at me and said you have PCOS. "OK, what the hell
does that mean?" I thought, they explained and I must admit it was very scary. As we had already been trying for 4 years the
consultant felt that it may be best to try IVF.
After my first harvest I had 15 eggs, out of which were 6 class A embryos. We transferred 2 and froze 4. The pregnancy
test came back positive! We had an ultrasound and we were told we were pregnant with twins. We were shocked that it had worked
as we had set ourselves up for disappointment.
Unfortunately, when we went back a few days later they told us that only one twin had survived and the other one would
just disappear I was more devastated about the one that didn't make it, when I should have been thinking about the one that
did.
It took some time to actually believe I was pregnant. But he is a miracle, and now a year on we are preparing to have more
eggs implanted, fingers crossed!
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