Know Thyself, Know Thy Uterus
The process of seeking fertility care can be overwhelming. It is also a subject that is hush-hush — no one talks about it. The reality is that you know someone who has used fertility care to become pregnant, but they won’t tell you. No one wants to go to a fertility specialist (aka Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility — REI — specialist). It is the last place people want to be when they want to start or grow a family.
Sex education in schools glosses over the reproductive system, instead preaching platitudes such as, “Don’t have sex, otherwise you will get pregnant or get a sexually transmitted disease.” The human reproductive system is complex; it is important that we all know what and how things work. This is not a shameful subject — it is part of human biology. Knowledge is power. Having the knowledge about one’s body is a powerful way to stay healthy and to know when to seek help.
If you have a heart problem, you see a cardiologist; if you have diabetes or thyroid issues, you see an endocrinologist. There is no stigma attached to either case. So why is it when there is an issue with conception that people gravitate to the Google Rabbit Hole and message boards to get their information? Again, it is the stigma of infertility that people are avoiding. They can seek information in the privacy of their home or with people in similar situations. The main problem is that every body and everybody are different. Fertility care needs to be customized. While the treatments may be similar, there are subtle differences which is where the REI has specialized training to tweak care.
Seeking out a fertility navigator or coach is one of the ways to take the pressure off yourself and gain knowledge from a trained medical professional who specializes in the field. Whether you have just been told by your OBGYN or Primary Care Physician that you will need to seek advice from an REI or you have been through fertility treatments previously, it is a good idea to have someone who can help you understand the complexities of fertility treatments — how your body works, how the treatments work to get you to the ultimate goal for expanding your family.
There are many ways to grow a family if you experience problems: fertility preservation (freezing eggs/sperm for future use), timed intercourse, Intrauterine insemination (IUI), In-vitro fertilization (IVF), egg and/or sperm donors, gestational carriers and adoption. There is no wrong or right way to achieve the goal. Consult with an REI specialist to get your journey started. Feel free to start with my inbox here or on LinkedIn!
Ann Marie Luft has been a Fertility Nurse for more than 10 years, with experience in every aspect of the field. Learn more about how she can help guide you through your reproductive journey.
