:) Since getting our diagnosis, starting and ending treatments, and adopting Lily, infertile people seem to have come out of the woodwork. Seriously, I can't go anywhere it seems without reading about, talking to, or hearing about someone who is struggling with infertility. Whether it be someone at church or reading about J-Lo in the checkout lines - Is this a growing phenomenon or am I just more sensitive to it now? I'm really do wonder. With all the hormones in our meat and pesticides on our fruits and veggies, are we creating a new generation of people who have trouble getting pregnant?
Now, I am well-aware there are still those obnoxious people who get knocked up just thinking about a baby, but it really does seem to me like it's more and more common. At the wedding this weekend, I was pulled aside by the wife of a friend and she asked me about our situation because she's having trouble getting pregnant. She was trying to be light and make jokes about all the "tricks" to getting pregnant, but the pain was so fresh in her. It really twisted my heart. I wanted so badly to be able to assure her that it would all work out, but that's the thing with infertility - it's impossible to tell someone that. Of course, hearts change and families are grown through IVF and adoption, etc. but until someone is really ready for those steps, it's impossible to tell them going about it the old fashioned way is a sure fire bet. Anyway, she's just really been on my mind for the past few days. I know I've said it before, but isn't it a laugh (or cry depending on the day) to think about all the money WASTED on birth control? I could be in Mexico right now if I'd saved it! :)
Monday, January 21, 2008
Is everyone infertile or is it just me?
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6 comments:
I think I'm definitely more aware of it than pre-family building, that's for sure. I also think that people seek others out who've been there--so that's probably part of it to!
BTW, I just tagged you for a meme :)
I dunno, fresh out of rehab Hollywood starlets sure don't seem to have any trouble, do they?
I don't know if it is the combination of waiting a little longer to try, plus the more difficulty in adoption, or what. Or too many hormones in our milk or something. It does seem to be more prevalent.
I know when I was growing up, we had *tons* of adopted friends. But adopting a baby was so quick and easy, that people tended to forget more I think. And infertility was much less dramatic (for lack of a better word) too - I mean, if you couldn't get pregnant, that was that. There weren't many options. My parents were actually pioneers in that they tried AI in 1966 with the ONE fertility dr in our very big city! But they did it once, it didn't work, they called the agency and had a baby in less than a year. Voila.
So maybe it's not more common, it is just so much harder and takes longer so it seems like more?
??
I've often wondered if the chemicals and hormones in our food are jacking up our bodies. Or maybe people are just more open about infertility these days, then they were years ago. My mom struggled for four years to conceive me, but there wasn't anything you could do back then.
Unfortunately, I think some of the infertility epidemic is caused by birth control, or at least exacerbated by it. The hormones are in our food and water, yes, but way more in the drugs we take to prevent pregnancy. I can't claim that is the case for me since I've never taken birth control and still can't get pregnant, but I know it has been a contributing factor for some of my friends.
I think we're more aware of it because it's something close to home...but I also think there's been a trend where IF/treatments are almost...popular, so people speak out about it more often.
At least that's my opinion, for what it's worth. :)
Part of me definitely thinks the preservatives and hormones and all of that in our food can't possibly be helping, that's for sure. The other part thinks that it's just plain talked about more. I mean, 30-50 years ago no one would have mentioned someone that couldn't have children. These days celebrities are talking about miscarriage and IVF and problems conceiving (I'm thinking of people like Courtney Cox here). Having those people speak out about it has really helped "regular" people see that they're not alone and that it's okay to talk about it. That's my two cents, for whatever it's worth. :-)
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