NIAW - National Infertility Awareness Week

Infertility refers to an inability to conceive after having regular unprotected sex. Infertility can also refer to the biological inability of an individual to contribute to conception, or to a female who cannot carry a pregnancy to full term. In many countries infertility refers to a couple that has failed to conceive after 12 months of regular sexual intercourse without the use of contraception.

Chances of conceiving within one year In Europe, North America and much of the world approximately 85% of couples will conceive within one year if they have regular unprotected sex. Averages in the UK are as follows (National Health Service):

20% will conceive within one month

70% will conceive within six months

85% will conceive within 12 months

90% will conceive within 18 months

95% will conceive within 24 months

Infertility has humbled me.  I am a completely different person today than I was 4 years ago...  Before all the surgeries, OPKs, negative HPTs, preseed, tears, Fertilitea, advice, more tears!  I have to admit that the above statistics are kind of painful.  The statistics are another reminder that my husband and I are not living among the "normal" couples TTC.  The above statistics open doors for people to ask questions: "How long have you been married... 4 years?  Oh, why don't you have children of your own?" My response?  I usually just kindly say: "we are trying, just hasn't happened yet."

For me, Infertility is a test.  I am reminded daily that my husband and I do not fit into the above statistics but I like to think that I am learning daily life lessons and feel like infertility has changed me for the better.  Afterall, life is full of challenges, it's how you respond to them that makes a difference in your life.