| The sound of a baby giggling, the soft murmurs of a | | | | on the latest treatments are vital due to the |
| precious baby peacefully sleeping in his crib, the | | | | surprisingly quick pace of medical advancements in |
| unforgettable smell of that newborn baby in your | | | | technologies and methods. If you are not able to |
| arms...these sights and sounds (and smells) are some | | | | understand what is going on, you will not be able to |
| of the most often taken-for-granted joys of being a | | | | make informed decisions. You also should not rely on |
| parent. Unfortunately, there are thousands of women | | | | your doctor to be the only source of information. |
| every year that are deemed infertile and this serene | | | | Though your doctor is a fantastic resource, you are |
| vision of a life that could be is unfairly ripped away. If | | | | your best advocate and staying informed is one of |
| this describes your situation, you have every right to | | | | the best things you can do for yourself. |
| feel pained. It is only natural to feel resentful and | | | | Once the initial shock, stress, and monumental |
| maybe even angry but do not let it consume your | | | | disappointment subsides and you and your partner |
| life. | | | | decide to undergo fertility treatments, set limits on |
| There are options for you fight your fertility | | | | how long you are willing to try, to what extent you |
| problems but first you must be able to face it and | | | | are willing to go and how much you are willing to |
| acknowledge the issue at hand. It does no one any | | | | spend before taking the plunge. Quite often, infertile |
| good, including you, for beating yourself up over | | | | women and couples head to the fertility clinics |
| being infertile. Resist the temptation to blame | | | | without setting these limits only find themselves even |
| yourself. Women commonly do this when they are | | | | more disappointed and more and more in debt. This |
| over the age of 40, have had an abortion, feel like | | | | can put an enormous amount of emotional stress on |
| they could have made better choices in their lives but | | | | you and your partner so it is a good idea to set your |
| getting caught up in these negative thoughts and | | | | expectations before submitting yourself to any |
| emotions only makes matters worse. When you slip | | | | treatment. |
| into having these "should have" or "could have" | | | | Wanting to get pregnant, even if you are over the |
| thoughts, remind yourself that it is not your fault. | | | | age of 40, is a decision that many women make. The |
| Instead, focus your energies on your future and how | | | | idea of having a warm and content baby nursing in |
| you want to deal with infertility. The time and energy | | | | your arms as you look into her tiny eyes and hope |
| spent this way is be much more beneficial than | | | | her future will be bright is completely natural. Again, it |
| languishing on the decisions you made or did not | | | | is also completely natural to be extremely angry that |
| make in your past. | | | | this picture of maternal peacefulness is stripped from |
| One of the best things you can do to address your | | | | you but you can do something about it. Planning and |
| fertility problems is to educate yourself on what | | | | setting realistic expectations for what you want to |
| treatment options are available to you. In vitro | | | | do will be the best way manage your emotions in |
| fertilization (IVF) is a commonly known procedure but | | | | this very stressful time. It is always going to be your |
| be sure to learn what this procedure entails. Fertility | | | | decision to start treatment and stop it. Just be |
| drugs do not all work the same way so educate | | | | realistic with yourself on how much you are willing to |
| yourself on how each of these drugs works with | | | | do for your own sake. |
| your body. Informing yourself and keeping up to date | | | | |