This blog post is in collaboration with CCRM Fertility. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The fertility journey—different for every woman and every couple. Some are long, short, heartbreaking, joyful, painful, trying, or triumphant. It’s a winding road of hope and patience. A vision board of maternity clothes, nursery items, and mantras to persevere. The journey is a relentless dream. An optimistic reality. At times, the experience is immensely overwhelming and anxiety-inducing. But by the end, it’s an emotional rollercoaster worth every twist and turn.
MY FERTILITY JOURNEY
The quest to get pregnant is exceptionally personal. But if I’ve learned anything in the past couple of years, it’s that the power of sharing is equally worthwhile. For my husband and me, our path to getting pregnant wasn’t a walk in the park. For most of my late-teens and college years, I didn’t take care of my body. I over-exercised. I under-ate. Ironically, both were in an effort to be healthy. Unfortunately, my perspective was clouded by a superficial desire to have a lean body.
Fast-forward to my late-20s. I eventually made peace with my body. I started nourishing it with a variety of foods and cut back on strenuous exercise. Regardless, I knew something was wrong. My menstrual cycle had always been irregular (circa my my teenage years). Then, throughout college, it didn’t help that I wasn’t treating my body with the support, love, and respect it deserved. It all came to a head when I was 24. During an annual pap, I was diagnosed with a common hormone imbalance: PCOS. Polycystic ovary syndrome affects roughly 5 million American women of reproductive age. Complications from PCOS can include infertility, metabolic issues, depression, miscarriage, and more.
HOW WE GOT PREGNANT despite PCOS
Knowing we hoped to get pregnant in the coming years, I immediately took action. I sought guidance from a functional medicine doctor and holistic nutritionist. I started routine acupuncture. I left a draining, uninspiring job. I put my heart and soul into Wellness with Edie. I said goodbye to unnecessary stress. I started nourishing my body with healthy fats, energizing carbohydrates, and satiating proteins. From food to lifestyle choices, I began healing and repairing my relationship with my body. Its intuitive needs became my focal point.
Despite these changes, I wasn’t ovulating regularly. I needed to take medicine in order to get pregnant. With the support of my OB/GYN, we decided on Clomid. After just two rounds, we found out we were expecting. The joy, relief, and excitement were palpable.
CCRM FERTILITY
For most of my 20s, I had to do a lot of inner-work. I had to slow down. I had to rest. But looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. I learned that healing from a hormone imbalance is not linear. Progress, for that matter, isn’t either. Trial, error, and patience were my guiding lights. I am so grateful for the support I received during our fertility journey.
Speaking of, CCRM Fertility is a global pioneer in fertility treatment, science, and research. They offer access to a national network of award-winning physicians. They also offer a full suite of fertility services, innovative technology, and more. Unlike many other fertility clinics, CCRM Fertility does things in-house. They don’t outsource their specialists and testing needs. Rather, CCRM Fertility has a dedicated team of in-house reproductive endocrinologists, embryologists and geneticists. In turn, they’re able to deliver consistent, successful results. More than 100,000 babies have been born through fertility treatments at CCRM Fertility. They have 11 IVF centers in North America, offering exceptional convenience and world-class care.
THE F-WORD COLLECTION
Although it’s 2021, fertility still remains a taboo topic. To help normalize fertility and empower women, CCRM Fertility is taking a stance. They’ve launched a campaign, all about fertility. Its goal is to encourage everyone to talk about “The F-Word.” To do so, they’re currently offering The F-Word Collection. This is a shop-for-a-cause, online pop-up shop. It features a diverse collection of curated goods and gift items from women-owned and BIPOC businesses. They are passionate about encouraging open and honest discussions about fertility and supporting individuals on their fertility journeys.
The F-Word Collection will be open until August 31, 2021! It includes jewelry from Stephanie Gottlieb, period panties from Thinx (my fave!), Infertile Tees, and more. A percentage of proceeds from The F-Word Collection will be pooled and divided equally among the following organizations that support individuals on their fertility journeys: RESOLVE, Family Equality, Fertility for Colored Girls, and Chick Mission. In addition, CCRM Fertility will match The F-Word Collection sales with a donation of up to $40,000.
There is no shame in talking about fertility. Let’s break the stigma together, one shared fertility journey at a time.
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