Don't Ignore Infertility

This post is for National Infertility Awareness Week.  I'm participating in Resolve's "Don't Ignore..." prompt.  Please feel free to link to this or to send it to people outside of the infertility community.

So please, Don't Ignore Infertility.

Don't pretend that it doesn't exist.

Don't believe that because babies are born every day, that thousands of other couples are not struggling to realize their hopes of having a family.

Don't think that it's rare.  Or that it only happens to young cancer victims, or people over 40.

Because I am infertile.

And so are many of my friends.

• My sister had a miscarriage before her current 36 week pregnancy.                                             

• My good friend from high school struggled for almost 2 years and then had a miscarriage before  conceiving her daughter.  

• Another high school friend had her first while on birth control at 22.  But it took her over two years to conceive her twin boys afterwards.

• My co-worker had a miscarriage in between her two healthy baby girls.  The 2nd time took 8 months.

• My other co-worker has been trying for over 2 years and is taking a break from the meds and IUIs.

• A good friend and her husband tried for 2 years before having a successful 1st IVF.                  

• My BFF has been NTNT for about 18 months now.

• Another friend tried for over a year (without intervention) and was totally shocked when she actually got pregnant after about a year and a half.

• Another couple we are close to has tried for over a year with 2 miscarriages.  They have done Clomid + IUI and are looking at IVF.

Facebook is telling an even bigger story although usually through kind of cryptic posts.  I found out today about 1 Facebook friend who had a miscarriage and there's another that I'm pretty sure has had one.

It's scary to talk about personal issues in the real world.  But the more people like Giuliana Rancic talk about their struggles with infertility, the easier it is for the rest of us to say that we too struggle.

Infertility hurts me every single day.  Even on the days when I'm happy.  Even on the days when I'm not sticking needles into my belly.  It hurts when I see women with their babies.  It hurts when I hear pregnancy announcements.  It hurts when I re-imagine my future with my husband potentially without a child.

As humans, we have a biological desire to procreate.  To see our genes live on in another.  Adoption is great.  But it doesn't solve this most human of urges.

As a teacher, I have taught over a thousand students over my career.  Is it too much ask that I have my own child to teach?

Please, don't forget me.

Additional Resources:
http://www.resolve.org/infertility-overview/what-is-infertility/
http://www.resolve.org/national-infertility-awareness-week/about.html