I’ve learned more about myself and my body in these last few months than I had growing up and in my early adulthood. I will admit, I had my own opinions on what I thought IVF was and who it was for and never did I think it would be me. I was ignorant and completely misinformed. I hope if you’re reading this that it at the very least makes you reflect on your own health or allows you to start a conversation about it with someone you love. Whether you’re just a chick in her late twenties chilling at home on a Saturday night who can’t get a text back and is scrolling on IG while eating fries or are actually looking to start a family soon – this post is for you. You are your biggest investment at the end of the day and it’s important to know your options as well as reflect on what’s best for you. I was at a routine 6 month trans vaginal ultrasound check up in the midst of COVID when my journey began. 

My gynecologist/oncologist who performed an emergency surgery on me 3 years ago right before my 25th birthday to remove a borderline cancerous tumor as well as my ovary had called me with my latest check up results. I was sent for an MRI the following week where my remaining ovary would be the subject of investigation. I had another concerning cyst on my remaining ovary years later. In the last few years I felt so frustrated with the lack of connection to others like me when it came to my borderline cancerous tumor at age 25. I felt like I had no control and no sense of certainty but knew that I had a great team of doctors around me. All of my google searches on high anxiety days led to articles or studies in women who were over 40 and who had children already. I didn’t let it discourage me, instead I advocated for myself because I needed to have answers. Once my MRI results came back and I was told I would continue to be monitored I asked about fertility. A few pressing questions led to me being referred to a fertility specialist.  

At the end of August, my fertility consultation was an hour and a half long virtually (thank god because I was stressed and benefitted from being at home in my safe space!). I was asked a lot about my medical history and family medical history and the specialist thoroughly went through reports from my previous routine ultrasounds. I was shocked to learn at this moment the very importance of my fallopian tube. I feel like this was something I should’ve learned about growing up or even been told about prior to my surgery to remove my right ovary. She told me that I had fluid in my tube ( we still don’t know how much or if it’s from scar tissue form my previous surgery – one thing at a time). When I questioned why this was important, she shared that if its blocked sperm cannot travel through therefore making getting pregnant difficult or dangerous. This can apparently happen to women who have had pelvic surgery or appendicitis (again, shit I wish someone shared with me earlier at some point). She also gave me a run down of what to expect in the weeks to come and that based on my MRI report we would be doing emergency fertility preservation. This basically meant that the specialist considered me to be a patient whose fertility was at risk. 

For many this is due to illness, condition or treatment you’re going through that is believed to cause a threat to fertility. For me, I may or may not need to have my other ovary removed in the future due to how it progresses. But this was just the start. To be continued…