Alone Together: One Woman’s Journey Through Infertility & IVF Part 1
Disclaimers:
This episode may contain sensitive topics related to miscarriage, infertility, and infant loss. If these subjects are triggering for you, please listen with care. While there may be conversations about medications or medical treatments, I am not a doctor, and I am not offering any medical advice. Please consult an actual doctor for your own medical care.
For many of us experiencing infertility, the journey can feel lonely. Even with a partner, even with a community, it sometimes feels like no one understands your unique story and grief. But when we open up about our experiences and share them with others, we can sometimes start to feel less alone.
In this episode, I’m sitting down with a longtime friend who has graciously opened up about her infertility experience. She’s sharing her journey thus far and how she’s weathered the ups and downs. We’re both talking about how we often feel lonely even among our community and how we’re learning to advocate for ourselves and our stories.
What’s in this episode:
Introducing my lifelong friend and her infertility journey [1:15]
Making the shift from an OB to an IVF clinic [5:47]
How my friend got started with “mini IVF” [8:36]
Changing medications and making adjustments along the way [12:10]
Making the decision to forgo genetic testing on her retrieved embryos [14:01]
Being pregnant for the first time and experiencing a miscarriage [15:28]
How my friend is feeling at this point in her journey [19:07]
Navigating relationships with friends who are pregnant or already parents [22:06]
Experiencing infertility as someone who hasn’t always wanted kids [26:17]
Why infertility can feel lonely, even when you have a community going through it alongside you [28:19]
How IVF and other infertility treatments can affect your hormones [33:41]
Feeling uncomfortable in the clinic setting and learning to advocate for yourself [39:11]
If you’re feeling alone on your own infertility journey, I invite you to tune in to this episode.
Resources Mentioned
Support us on Patreon here, where 10% of proceeds will also go to support others on their journey through The Stork Foundation.