I have a lot of girl friends in their early-to-mid thirties who have yet to try to get pregnant. Some are still single and waiting to meet the right man. Others are married, but have decided to wait a little longer before trying to conceive. Given what I now know about fertility and infertility, there are a few things I’d want to tell them.
Dear Friends,
I hope with all my heart that when the time comes, you’ll have no trouble conceiving and carrying a healthy-child to term.
However, infertility affects 1 out of 8 couples trying to conceive, so it’s very likely that some of you will come to know the same heartache I’ve experienced these past two years. I hope you’ll take into consideration some of the lessons I’ve learned while you wait for your time to try to conceive.
Start Tracking Your Cycles Now
Some of you may already keep track of when your period begins and ends. However, I’d encourage you to start taking notice of other fertility signs. Do you know what a luteal phase is and how long your is? It can affect your future fertility! Do you know if and when you ovulate? Figuring out these things before you start trying to have a baby can take a lot of stress out of the process when you do try. It can give you valuable information about your body that may potentially save you from wasting months or years of trying on your own or at the wrong time. Toni Weschler’s Taking Charge of Your Fertility is one of the best books on the subject. I’ll keep my copy until menopause!
Learn About the Signs & Symptoms of Infertility
Many people with painful periods assume that’s simply part of being female. I did. I now know that very painful periods can be a symptom of endometriosis. If you want conceive a child one day, learn everything about you can about infertility and reproduction now. Again, Taking Charge of Your Fertility is a great resource learning more.
Know Your Options for Fertility Preservation
I’m not telling you to freeze your eggs. But I am telling you to at least be aware of your options for doing so. Egg freezing is a complicated, expensive procedure, and it’s not a decision you want to make quickly or out of desperation. There’s also no guarantee that freezing eggs will lead to a future pregnancy. Figure out what you think about it before you’re under the gun to decide to do it. If you’re concerned about declining fertility as you get older, talk to your doctor go see a reproductive endocrinologist (fertility specialist) and educate yourself. The USC Fertility Center has helpful information.
If you decide egg freezing isn’t your thing, at least take the time to learn about how to optimize your fertility. RESOLVE has a webpage with some great resources.
I hope you’ll never have to deal with fertility issues, but knowledge is power. So learn as much as you can now!
What would you tell your friends who haven’t yet started trying to get pregnant? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
P.S. Are you looking for more encouragement during infertility? Be sure to check out my free infertility prayer calendar and my 31 Days of Prayer During Infertility series.
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