.png)
When it comes to infertility it is never something you expect you would be faced with. Sure you hear about other people who struggle with it, but you...never. The thought may never cross your mind. But in our world today we are seeing it is becoming a very common struggle among women and couples.
What causes infertility?
Not knowing what is causing ones infertility can become very concerning. In a study done by the World Health Organization (WHO), it is estimated around 48 million couples and 186 million individuals globally, suffer from infertility in some way. There are many factors when it comes to what causes infertility. Tubal disorders, meaning blocked fallopian tubes, uterine disorders such as endometriosis or uterine fibroids, disorders of the ovaries such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, and hormonal imbalances that create an unstable environment in a woman to be able to successfully conceive or carry a baby to term. Unfortunately, these are just to name a few.
Are there different types of Infertility?
There are two types of infertility. First there is Primary Infertility. This is when the couple has never been successfully able to conceive a child. Then there is Secondary Infertility, when a couple has been able to get pregnant at least once, but now no longer is able to.
How do I know if I have infertility issues?
When using the CrMS, we would define a couple infertile when they have unsuccessfully achieved a pregnancy after 6 months of fertility focused intercourse or 12 months of random acts of intercourse.
Truly, when it comes to infertility you can be faced with so many unknowns. I know for myself I was definitely one of those women who never thought in her wildest dreams this would be something I would ever have to deal with. I think as women we expect or want to believe our bodies will do what they are meant to do when it comes to bearing children. The sad thing is, for many women this is not reality.
In my infertility journey I learned it can be a long and hard road. The process of figuring out your infertility issues, let alone how to possibly correct them, can be filled with endless emotions. Some days it felt like it was never going to happen for us. After having two perfectly healthy and normal pregnancies, how could my body just quit doing what it was meant to do? My husband and I suffered from Secondary Infertility, something we did not even know existed when we wanted to expand our family.
It wasn't until I came to terms with, my body is not working properly, was I able to finally see the light at the end of a very dark tunnel. I was able to look for answers and we we made a plan of action. My situation ended up being a little complicated and not a common one, but really what it came down to was my body was not able to create the right hormones to maintain a pregnancy. With the help of my CrMS practitioner and seeking medical treatment from a NaPro doctor, a doctor trained in the science behind the CrMS, we were able to find solutions to my issues and work through 3 and a half years of infertility.
As I said, infertility is sadly not uncommon. But as I have witnessed first hand it is so helpful to have people who support you and can guide you along the way. My CrMS practitioner was able to identify my potential infertility issues, simply by looking at my observations on my chart. Once it became clear something was not right, she was able to refer me to a doctor that was able to treat my specific situation.
Knowing what I know now about the harsh and sometimes stressful experience of infertility, has helped me become a better practitioner. I believe that any CrMS practitioner who has faced infertility themselves or helped a couple struggling with it are better able to walk along side of you in this hard season. Us practitioners at Groesbeck are committed to helping women and couples in any way we can through issues of infertility. This journey can feel lonely at times, but it is one that is definitely not meant to be done alone.