Bust an Infertility Myth Blog Challenge

“What is the biggest infertility myth and how has it effected your life?”

Okay so there are plenty of infertility “myths” out there...some of them you just have to laugh at, some make you mad, and some just plain hurt your feelings. Here are a few...



Myth: You’re so young! You don’t need to stress out about having kids yet.
Fertility Fact: Fertility begins to decline in a woman starting at age 27, and fertility treatments cannot reverse the effects of age related infertility.

Myth: If you stop trying, just relax and stop thinking about it, then you will get pregnant.
Fertility Fact: Infertility is not a psychological disorder. Infertility is a physical disease, not one that will not resolve on its own if you vacation in Hawaii.

Myth: You must be “doing it” wrong...try to put a pillow under your butt!
Fertility Fact: Infertility cannot be cured with a pillow under your butt or with the missionary position. C’mon people! Seriously....

Myth: If you use IVF, you'll end up like "Octomom".
Fertility Fact: 78.2% of successful IVF cycles result in a single pregnancy, 21% lead to a twin pregnancy, and only 0.8% lead to triplets...Notice no quads, and certainly no octuplets are listed here. They are extremely uncommon.

Myth: It’s easier and cheaper to adopt than to use fertility treatments.
Fertility Fact: Adoption isn’t as easy as people assume. You can’t just walk into an orphanage and pick a child to take home the same day. Adoption takes months, even years...and can cost up to $30,000 (or more). Adoption is a beautiful way to build a family, but it is not a simple choice. Even if a couple decides to pursue adoption, it does not take away the pain of not being able to have a biological child.



Alright, so honestly all of the things that people say are irritating. The thing is I know that people (generally) mean well when they say these things...they are just trying to give comfort, or sometimes they don’t know what to say so they just say whatever. I get it. And these days it just doesn’t bother me at all, after so many years I can just move past it.

Here’s my advice to all....don’t ever ask the question “Are you going to start trying for kids?” if you aren’t prepared for the answer “Yeah, we have been for a year (two years, three years, four years...).” And if you do get that answer, most of the time the very best thing to say is “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that” or “We’ll keep you in our prayers.” For us, that will always give the most comfort (and will help you avoid the awkward conversation) :)

National Infertility Awareness Week and PETA

Perhaps it is coincidence that Mark and I are (finally!!) doing our IVF during the 2011 National Infertility Awareness Week (for more information click here: http://www.resolve.org/national-infertility-awareness-week/home-page.html).

Because we will be busy making babies during that week (yeah, I said babies....here’s to hoping for twins! LOL), I have decided to post about it this week. The organization RESOLVE, which is devoted to promoting, encouraging, and empowering the infertility community (http://www.resolve.org/about/) has asked that for the 2011 NIAW all of us Infertility Bloggers unite and Bust an Infertility Myth.

““Bust a Infertility Myth Blog Challenge” is brought to you by RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, the largest nationwide non-profit improving the lives of people diagnosed with infertility.  The goal of this challenge is to bring together bloggers from the infertility community as well as other bloggers interested in the topic to answer the question: What is the biggest infertility myth and how has it effected your life or the life of your friends and family members?”

I’m going to simmer on that idea for a little while, and post about it later this week. But until then, I’d like to share my outrage, disgust, and pissed-off-ness (yes, I just made that word up) about PETA’s "Win a Vasectomy" campaign IN HONOR OF the National Infertility Awareness Week. It’s just sick...to make fun of, to make light of, and to further victimize the infertility plight of millions in this country.

I can’t even tell you how irritated I am by this statement from PETA describing why they are honoring NIAW by giving away a vasectomy...the idiots stated:

“Human overpopulation is crowding out animal life on the planet, and dog and cat overpopulation is creating a euthanasia crisis that is a crying shame. Disappearing wilderness, vanishing water resources, and pollution is the price that future generations will pay for more human births...”

I honestly cannot even write anymore about this I am so pissed (hmm...maybe these hormones are finally getting to me haha). I will not do PETA a favor by linking to their site, as visiting their site will only satisfy them. Instead, you can take a look at this fellow blogger’s page: http://hannahweptsarahlaughed.blogspot.com/2011/04/open-letter-to-peta.html

If you feel so inclined, email Ingrid Newkirk, PETA President, directly at ingridn@peta.org to express your outrage. Although, from what I hear PETA has stopped sending out responses because they have been flooded with emails from the infertility community.