A couple’s story struggling with infertility

Guest Blog by Courtney, who writes our Pathway to Parenthood blog

My name is Courtney. My husband and I married on June 13, 2009. We met by chance at the lake in 2007, were engaged in 2008, and married exactly one year later. When we vowed, “in sickness and in health,” we did not expect all of the trials and tribulations that would be brought on by Infertility. Luckily, our faith in God and our love for one another holds us together.

I began blogging in Spring 2010. In the beginning, it served as a place for me to vent about the frustrations of everyday life. In Summer 2010, my husband and I began trying to have a child. Early in our journey, I made it known on my blog that we wanted to expand our family. For the most part, my posts consisted of me complaining about not ovulating. I used my site as a safe place to chronicle the vast array of emotions I felt. Never did I think that it would take so long for us to conceive.

Throughout our journey, we have been tested each step of the way. Brandon was diagnosed with Testicular Cancer in 2002. He underwent surgery and chemotherapy. Luckily, his doctors suggested banking sperm. When we began trying to conceive, we waited eight months before having Brandon’s sperm analyzed. During that time, I only had two or three ovulatory cycles. Needless to say, his sperm analysis did not look promising, and we were recommended to see a Reproductive Endocrinologist(RE) just after the devastating tornadoes rampaged our state of Alabama in April 2011. The clinic required much screening and tests, and my first Hysterosalopingogram (HSG) showed a uterine septum which required immediate attention. We waited for surgery coverage for three months. After my procedure, we attempted an Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) which resulted in a chemical pregnancy. Our doctor thought we should continue to move onto In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), but we chose to freeze more sperm for a second IUI attempt. My body failed to respond on the second round, and we were forced to cancel our cycle. We then chose to begin seeing a new RE at a different fertility clinic. They required me to have yet another HSG that further revealed my uterine septum was still dividing my womb. I underwent another surgery, follow-up HSG, and Saline Infusion Sonogram (SIS) to confirm that my uterus was suitable for pregnancy. We are currently proceeding with IVF.

My blog continues to provide me with much support. Many other women on the internet also write about their fertility, adoption, and infant loss struggles. They have all been extremely supportive of me. Being able to share my story with others gives me great comfort. I knew very little about Infertility before being diagnosed, and my hope is that others reading my blog will learn more about this disease.