Alongside these injections I’m on another drug – a steroid
which is meant to supress my immune system.
I hate steroids as they come with all manner of side effects, but if
they’re going to help me conceive - dammit I’ll do it! Researching this particular steroid and its
uses in IVF has led me to think that my clinic is thinking there’s an
immunology reason behind the failure of my first cycle. The thing is the NHS doesn’t do immunology
testing and the steroid drug prescribed is only a small part of the treatment
should this be a reason for my unexplained infertility. Immunology testing is quite taboo and very
expensive when done privately and the treatment carried out includes an IVIG
transfusion alongside steroids during IVF, and if successful for at least the
first trimester of the subsequent pregnancy.
There’s a lot of talk in the press lately about NHS trusts
not following the NICE guidelines and giving people the recommended 3 rounds of
IVF on the NHS. Some people get 1 and
some none at all which is so unfair! I
hate when people automatically assume that IVF should not even be given on the
NHS – if you have never experienced infertility or known someone who has you
have no idea how this isolating and depressing this illness feels. It is an illness and it can and should be
treated. I’ve mentioned this previously
in another post – but I’m lucky enough to live in the ‘right’ postcode where I
get all 3 rounds. However after the
failure of the first cycle I was in such a low/depressed state I never thought
I would be back here. Even walking into
my clinic yesterday felt like an out of body experience. Last time I was full of excitement but this
time I was full of anxiety and nerves.
I’m terrified of it not working again and this is completely the wrong
state of mind to be in during treatment.
I’m going to yoga tonight and I’ve booked reflexology for tomorrow to
get myself back into a positive zone!
I’m increasingly worried about my peers - my age and
younger, who are led into a false sense of security about their own fertility
because they see celebrities like Halle Berry giving birth to her second at 46,
Gwen Stefani pregnant with her third at 44 and Rachel Zoe just gave birth to
her second at 42. Whilst I’m an advocate
for older mothers I’m very sceptical that there was not a helping hand along
the way for some older mothers. Of
course I’m not saying it’s impossible to conceive naturally in your forties –
but the likelihood that it will be as easy as would have been in your twenties is
not true. I urge every female delaying
having a baby for whatever reason to have their fertility checked out. Just to be sure that everything is working
ok. You don’t want to get to forty and
find out there are issues. I know
first-hand that a regular monthly cycle is not a guarantee that you’re fertile. It’s not a myth or a scare tactic that female
fertility declines with age – it’s a fact.
Never forget that as women we are born with our ovarian reserve of eggs,
from the moment we have our first monthly cycle we lose one or two every
month. The older we get, the less eggs
we have and the poorer the quality. A
fact that more women who delay motherhood need to be aware of. No - I’m not suggesting you rush out have
unprotected sex to see if you can get pregnant!! I’m suggesting you visit a private
gynaecologist (I don’t think these tests are available on the NHS yet) and have
some simple fertility tests done and maybe look into freezing your younger eggs
until you’re ready. Its advice I wish
someone had given me in my early thirties.
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