by Linda Robertson

Our story of infertility started in 2001.  My husband (Jim) and I had been married for nearly four years. We decided that we were now ready to embark on the journey into parenthood.

Jim and I had always wanted to have a family (like most couples). But, as young newlyweds, we knew we were not yet ready. Not ready to deal with the huge responsibility that parent-hood involved.

I decided at a young age that I wanted to have a family of my own. Additionally, I often thought about how exciting being pregnant must be.  I don’t know whether it was because it was something I really wanted. But, I had a fear that I would not be able to get pregnant.  After spending years taking precautions against pregnancy, when the time came for us to start trying for a family, I was so excited that I never gave my childhood fears a thought.  The prospect of finally embarking on such a miraculous and rewarding experience was overwhelming.

Unfortunately, Jim and I were soon to find our morale and excitement deteriorating when after 12 months we had still not been able to get pregnant.

No one knew that we were trying for a family. We had been looking forward to surprising our family and friends with our good news. But, we decided to tell them as we now felt we needed their support.  We were given all sorts of advice from family, friends and our GP.  I started charting my basal temperature. I moved into a less stressful job and I had kinesiology and reflexology. Of course, we “tried not to think about it!”

In March 2003 our GP referred us to the Gynaecology Outpatients Department of our local hospital.  Over the next 8 months, I underwent abdominal examinations and numerous blood tests. Another is vaginal swabs, a HyCoSy examination and a coital test.  It was a very testing time. The waiting period between each appointment appeared to drag on for eternity.

At the end of 2003, Jim and I felt the need to take control of other areas of our lives. Additionally, to strive to achieve our other ambitions.  We had been talking about emigrating to Australia for a while. We decided to take the opportunity to go and travel around Australia and New Zealand for 3 months. Everyone, even our Doctor, replied “Maybe you’ll come back pregnant” – no pressure there then!

On our return from our travels down under it took several months, yet again, before we were given our next hospital appointment, at which more blood tests were carried out and I was put on the waiting list for a laparoscopy and hydrotubation test. (An exploratory operation of the pelvic cavity carried out under general anaesthetic).  The laparoscopy test was eventually carried out in July 2004.

We had our final hospital consultation in October 2004. The Doctor confirmed that having carried out all possible investigations they had not found any abnormalities. That he was referring us for In-vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatment under the category of ‘unexplained infertility’. The Doctor asked how Jim and I felt about IVF treatment. I remember replying “It would be nice if we could fall pregnant naturally, but we are willing to try anything”. The Doctor replied, “Well, you will have plenty of time to keep trying as there is a two-year waiting list for IVF.”  Our hearts hit the floor with full force at this news.  We had not been advised at any stage that the waiting list for IVF was that long.

Jim and I made enquiries. We found that we were able to pay privately for an IVF cycle whilst remaining on the waiting list for our one ‘free’ NHS paid cycle. Therefore, we commenced our first emotional rollercoaster ride of IVF treatment in January 2005.

IVF treatment involves using a nasal spray every 12 hours throughout (approx 5 weeks); attending regular blood tests and a daily injection (self-administered) for two weeks (to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple mature follicles).  Once commencing the injections regular blood tests and inter-vaginal scans are carried out to check hormone levels and that the ovaries are responding to the medication.  Once the follicles are of the correct size, an additional injection is given to help mature the follicles prior to egg collection.  Egg collection involves day surgery whereby each follicle is aspirated and the egg within is collected to be fertilized.

Luckily the IVF treatment went according to plan. However, the hardest part was yet to come – playing the ‘waiting game’. This is where each day feels like a week and each hour like a full day. After we had undergone the egg collection we had to wait until the next evening. This is for us to find out if any eggs had fertilized successfully.  We then had to wait a further 2 days to find out if the fertilization process had continued. Additionally, to check if there were any ‘blastocyst’ stage embryos to transfer back into my uterus.  Thankfully there was and we attended the clinic to have two embryos transferred.  Following the transfer, we then had to wait an agonising two weeks until the pregnancy test.

Success….we had a positive pregnancy test on the 8th of March 2005.  We then, however, had to wait a further excruciating 3 weeks until our 7-week pregnancy scan. We were relieved to see a fetal heartbeat present.  Unfortunately, it was not to be long before our hopes were to be shattered.   When attending our local hospital for our 12-week scan we were to be told that the pregnancy had not continued developing and there was no longer a heartbeat.

We had been so excited at the prospect of leaving the hospital with a picture of our beautiful 12-week-old fetus. I could not believe that in fact not only did we not get that picture, but we were to leave knowing that our baby was no longer alive.  I am not able to put into words how Jim and I felt at this time. It was to be another two weeks before I miscarried.

So it was back to waiting our turn on the waiting list rather than paying another £3,000 privately.  So we yet again tried to concentrate on other ambitions.  Jim was invited to apply for a job in South Australia. I had already commenced a college course to enhance my chances of achieving my dream job. To obtain a place on the Bachelor of Midwifery degree course.

In September 2005 Jim had his job offer confirmed. He was invited to take up his new position in South Australia on 1st December 2005. It was ‘all hands to the deck’ preparing for our departure from the UK with only 11 weeks’ notice.  This did however mean that we had to forfeit our free IVF cycle.

On arriving in Adelaide my priorities were to complete my UCAS application form. This is to have a place on the Bachelor of Midwifery degree course. Additionally, to obtain a referral for further fertility treatment.  To my utmost delight, my application to the university was successful. AND we were informed that not only was there no waiting list for treatment at the Reproductive Clinic but that the overall costs involved were significantly less than in the UK.

In March 2006 we commenced the less-invasive treatment of Intra-Uterine Insemination (IUI).

This treatment involves daily self-administered injections (to stimulate the ovaries to produce follicles); regular blood tests to check hormone levels and scans to check the number of follicles.  A further injection is then given to promote ovulation. The semen is then placed into the uterus at the time of ovulation.  Further injections are then needed to help maintain the lining of the womb. This improves the chance of implantation. Unfortunately, after three attempts we had still not been successful. That’s why in November 2006 we embarked on another IVF cycle.

For the second time, our IVF treatment was a success. We had a positive pregnancy test on the 15th of December.  However, our hopes of becoming parents were, once again, shattered. When we attended our 8-week pregnancy scan, on 15th January 2007, we find that a fetal heartbeat could not be found.

I was booked in for a Dilatation and Curettage (a surgical procedure to remove the contents of the uterus) the following day so that extensive tests could be carried out on the removed pregnancy.  The test results all came back ‘normal’.  This was good news but still meant that we still had no answers as to why we weren’t getting pregnant naturally or why I was miscarrying.

Fortunately, we had eight embryos suitable for freezing following this latest IVF cycle. That’s why we commenced our first ‘Frozen Embryo Cycle’ in March 2007.  The Frozen Embryo Cycle does not involve any drugs, just regular blood tests. This is to pinpoint ovulation so that an embryo can be thawed and placed in the uterus at the correct time.

I attended the Clinic for blood tests six days out of eight until finally there were signs of ovulation and I could be given time to attend for the embryo transfer.  Following the transfer, we were back to playing the ‘waiting game’ for two weeks until the dreaded pregnancy blood test.  I was very emotional the day prior to the test and was thinking of not attending, but was eventually convinced that it was best to find out, either way, sooner rather than later.  The test came back negative.

So our infertility journey continues…

Following the negative pregnancy test, I found it harder than ever to pick myself up. It’s hard to find my usual ‘positive attitude’.  I felt very tired, and emotionally drained. I found it difficult to concentrate on anything – which wasn’t good considering the amount of university work I had!

It is easy to forget that you are not going through this nightmare alone.  I often forget to think about how Jim feels and it isn’t until we speak to our families online and find our mum’s and my sister shedding a few tears that we realise how much of an impact it has on everyone else.

I decided to write this article, not for sympathy but to raise awareness.  Moreover, I do not believe there is enough knowledge and awareness concerning infertility.  Although infertility is something that is meant to affect 1 in 6 couples, it often feels like you are the only couple going through all this pain and you feel isolated and lonely.

I want people to hear our story so that they can appreciate what some couples have to endure to become parents (something that most people have been able to take for granted) and also as a reminder for those couples in our position, that they are NOT the only ones.

Although this has been a very emotional, painful and frustrating journey, we are at least in a position to say that we are where we want to be.  I know that there are others who are worse off than us and this helps to prevent us from feeling sorry for ourselves and to keep fighting for what we want.  I would never have pursued my dream job if I had become pregnant straight away and I doubt that we would ever have managed to visit Australia, let alone emigrate here.

The thing that Jim and I find the worst is being asked “Do you have children?” as it pains us that after all this time we can only answer “No”. If the conversation then allows us to mention the fact that we have been trying for a family for over six years, people always respond by saying “It will happen when you least expect it” and try to offer advice.  Whilst this advice is well-meant it does not help and causes further frustration.

We are determined to have a family eventually and I hope that this article can help ignite some fighting spirit in other couples in our position and inspire them to keep trying, but also to remember to take control of other aspects of their life as this is surely what has helped Jim and I get this far.

Thanking our family, friends and all the staff at ReproMed for their continued help and support.