Lately I have spent far too much time contemplating the ART scrapheap.
Another predictably downbeat appointment with the fertility specialist, more delays and a 45th birthday end date looming large has brought Lifeslurper to even more reflection. I suspect that this time even Wobbles’ unfailing optimism has been brought to heel.
Our baby is floating further out of reach.
Tori Amos once sang; “You think there’s heaven where some screams have gone?” I now wonder if there is a place for all those who have valiantly tried (and failed) IVF. Perhaps What Becomes of the Broken Hearted is a more appropriate lyric?
Continue reading The ART Dung Heap
Lifeslurper has been experiencing the birthday blues particularly badly. Prior to IVF never did I fear the clicking over of another year. Signing up for ART at 42 my age was said to make a successful attempt at IVF unlikely. This week I turned 44.
All along advanced age has been suggested as the ultimate handicap to IVF. Yet logic tells me it can’t be. There are many other impediments in this infertility malarkey; they can be physical, emotional or financial to name just a few. I am merely experiencing one limitation (that I am currently aware of) of which there are countless more.
On any given day my fertility clinic peers are years (decades even!) younger. Some are even older. Many have gynaecological diseases, such as endometriosis, or important baby making equipment missing, such as an ovary or a fallopian tube (or two) due to reasons of hereditary or disease. Others have experienced non-gynaecological disease, such as cancer, resulting in their fertility being affected. Women might also be given the label of ‘unexplained infertility’ which can’t be much of a diagnosis at all to those it is directed.
Continue reading The least worst of IVF
