First Steps

So first things first. This is a huge journey, and for the time being, I did keep it to myself. I didn’t know what people would think. And I wasn’t aware how common this actually was. I knew of sperm donors, but thought these were mainly used for the LGBTIQ communities, or for couples with fertility issues.

However, when speaking with my psychologist, I found out that another client of hers had done the same thing. She offered to get me in touch, and facilitate communication between us (of course if the other party permitted). Now I will admit, I haven’t contacted this other woman just yet, but I still will look into it down the track. One step at a time I think.

Before all of the fertility clinic appointments were to even start, I need to look after my health, both mental and physical. I had been on some sort of hormonal birth control since I was 17. Doctors put me on the pill due to severe period pain. I remember getting an ultrasound but nothing coming about from it, just that I needed the pill. I was not sexually active at the time but I did what the doctor said. This was also a male doctor. Not that this should make a difference, but looking back on it now, perhaps I should have tried to see someone with a bit more knowledge of the female reproductive system. Not something you should have to think of, but it’s a sad fact that your standard male GP, and sadly, female GP’s, will not look any further, just prescribe hormonal birth control and leave it at that.

So I came off the pill January 2020. I decided to give my body some time to get back to normal after that. It did not. My periods were irregular and painful. I was seeing a GP at the time who I thought was great. She ran some blood tests when I told her of my plans, and she came back with a diagnosis of PCOS. I highly recommend having a look at Jean Hailes website and research the symptoms of PCOS. There are soo many people who just get dismissed. Research and ask for the test. Insist on them. We woman know our body’s better than our doctors and tend to know when something is not right!

So I was placed on Metformin for the insulin resistance and sent to a dietician and exercise physio. I know I don’t eat healthy all the time. I like my occasional take-out, love a good old Macca’s cheeseburger. It’s not the end of the world. But I don’t eat it all the time. My diet is pretty good, so I found the dietician of no help. And I had already been going to the gym on the regular at Orange Theory Fitness and the coaches there are amazing. They help you out. It’s so similar to personal training and they help you with injuries and technique. So the physio wasn’t of much help either. They were free (Medicare rebated), so it wasn’t much more than a waste of my time, not money. No harm done.

So I kept going, waiting for my body to regulate, which it did. So the metformin did eventually work, but it was a slow process. Then Covid hit. Everything got put on hold. Even my feelings about wanting a child in a chaotic world. I re-thought everything. Like most of the world, 2020 was a bit of a write-off. I was lucky enough to continue working, and found I really enjoyed working from home. Life went on. We are so lucky here in Australia. We have managed to escape the severity of what everyone has seen in Italy, USA, India, UK, China. My city didn’t even mandate mask wearing. I think I have worn a mask about 4 times. Very very lucky.

Thank you so far for reading. I’ll get to the rest in another post. Much more to come.