04/27/2022
Happy Wellness Wednesday!
April 24-30 is National Infertility Awareness Week. World Health Organization (WHO) defines infertility as a disease of the male or female reproductive tract characterized by the inability to concieve after 12 or more months of regular in*******se. 1 in 8 couples struggle with infertility. It is much more common than people think. Anyone can be challenged to have a family. No matter what race, religion, sexuality, or economic status. This week is dedicated to empowering, educating, and removing stigmas and shame for the millions of Americans who are trying to build a family.
Staring down at negative pregnancy tests month after month can be soul crushing. Or knowing from the start that building your family will be an uphill battle, you need to make sure you have enough information to make the choices right for you. If you are trying to get pregnant, and it’s not happening as quickly as you had hoped, you may want to talk to your doctor. Here are some of the red flags that may indicate a possible fertility issue.
First things first, do you need to see a specialist?
Take charge of your fertility by asking questions, educating yourself and partner and being your own advocate for your fertility. No one knows your body more than you. Start by asking yourself these questions:
❓Are my periods painful?
❓Can I track when I ovulate?
❓Have I had more than one miscarriage?
❓Do I have an unhealthy Body Mass Index (BMI) either underweight or overweight?
❓Has my partner or I ever had a history of STDs?
If you have answered “Yes” to any of these questions, it may be time to talk to your healthcare provider regardless of how long you have been trying to conceive.
According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, if you are under the age of 35 you should consider seeing a specialist if you have been actively trying to conceive after 12 months of unprotected in*******se. 6 months for women over 35.
If you have already been diagnosed with infertility, you know that this experience can cause a range of emotions such as stress, anxiety, sadness, and grief. The process is not easy and is much more of a marathon than a sprint. While there is no magic pill, there are proven ways to optimize your success:
✅ Track your cycles using an app or calendar
✅ Take a prenatal vitamin
✅ Limit caffeine and alcohol intake to moderate use
✅ Use an ovulation predictor kit
✅ Be aware of endorcrine disruptors in your environment. Many of our household cleaning and beauty products are full of harsh chemicals and fragrances that can cause havoc on our endocrine system, affecting our hormones
✅ If you have known factors that can impact fertility, such as endometriossi, irregular periods, tubal disease, etc., see a specialist sooner.
Having infertility can also feel extremely isolating, but please know, you are not alone.Just as there are many stories of heartache and grief, there are also many of triumph and success! Our owner, Cara Rizzoli, experienced unexplained infertility. After trying to concieve for over a year, she and her husband went to a specialist. She was put on an ovulation-enhancing medicine, and after 6 cycles, she got pregnant. Unfortunately, she lost the baby early into the pregnancy. However, two months later, she found out she was pregnant with her first daughter, Madelyn. Cara went on to have another miscarriage 3 years later, but very similarily, within two months, she was pregnant with her second rainbow baby, her son Gavin.
It's important to remember that each person has a story and unique journey to pregnancy and motherhood, and that can look different from one person to the next. If you know someone who is going through infertility, being supportive and compassionate goes a LONG way. Saying things like, "You should..., Stop trying so hard; Just relax, Maybe you could adopt; It wasn't meant to be" are NOT helpful.
Instead, you could say, "I'm sorry you are struggling. I am here for you; What do you need from me?"
This is a topic that needs to be talked about.
Let's come together to:
🧡 join advocacy day
🧡 share our stories
🧡 reach lawmakers to advocate for better access for all
🧡 volunteer in a local support group
