After battling endometriosis for two decades, Emily is now a proud mother of two. Her journey to motherhood, filled with challenges, took a turn for the better thanks to surgery and IVF.
The Early Struggles
“I started my menstrual cycle just two weeks before I turned ten, and from the beginning, it was accompanied by excruciating pain. Some days, it was so debilitating that I couldn’t get out of bed or attend school. I visited several doctors, but they continually dismissed my symptoms as just heavy periods. By the age of twelve, I was prescribed Mefenamic Acid and Buscopan; by sixteen, I was taking Diclofenac Sodium, and by twenty, Codeine was added to the mix.”
The Diagnosis
When I got married to Tom, we eagerly began our family planning journey. However, after three years of trying with no success, we were referred to our local hospital. It was there that Dr. Mark Ellis finally took my symptoms seriously. After a not-so-pleasant scan, he diagnosed me with endometriosis—just like 1.5 million other women in the UK. This meant that tissue similar to the lining of my uterus was growing in other areas. Because I had suffered for so long without treatment, surgery was necessary to give me a shot at conceiving naturally, although it wasn’t guaranteed.
The Path to IVF
The surgery helped ease some of the pain, but unfortunately, it didn’t lead to natural conception. So, we turned to Oxford Fertility for IVF. The staff there were amazing, providing us with guidance and support every step of the way. To our delight, our first IVF cycle was successful, and we welcomed a lively son, Alex, into our lives.
The team at Oxford froze two embryos for us, allowing us to try again later. After relocating to Birmingham to be closer to family, we returned to Oxford for another round of treatment. They thawed one of our embryos, and I was thrilled to become pregnant with our daughter, Mia, born in 2015.
Continuing the Journey
Fast forward two years, we decided to have another go for a third baby. The team at Oxford defrosted one of our remaining embryos, but this time it wasn’t of good quality, giving us only a 50:50 chance of success. Unfortunately, I didn’t conceive, but I felt a sense of peace knowing we had tried everything possible and received all the information we needed with care.
Raising Awareness
I’m now passionate about raising awareness regarding endometriosis. Had I received a proper diagnosis sooner, I might have avoided years of pain and possibly even achieved a natural conception. As this condition can have genetic links, I’ll make sure to inform Mia about its symptoms when she’s older. I encourage any woman facing menstrual issues to familiarize herself with endometriosis symptoms and ask for testing if there’s any uncertainty.
Resources for New Parents
If you’re preparing for a new arrival, be sure to check out our guide on nursery organization space-saving strategies for your baby’s room, which is one of our other blog posts. And for those looking to boost fertility, make sure to explore the fertility booster for men offered by an authority on the topic. Also, for excellent resources on pregnancy and home insemination, visit this helpful site.
Conclusion
In summary, Emily’s journey through endometriosis led her to motherhood through IVF, highlighting the importance of awareness and timely diagnosis.