National Infertility Awareness Week

Did you know that 1 in 8 couples are dealing with infertility? I personally know a handful that did or are. This was and is one of my biggest fears. I can't imagine going through what these couples do. The struggle, the heartache, the tears...I really don't know how I would handle it. My good friend Lo...she handles it with grace, a sense of humor and with a voice. She's making the best out of a crappy situation. She's trying to make a negative situation into a positive...which is awesome. Go check out her blog, Our Crazy Ever After, to read other stories about infertility. You should also subscribe to her blog...because she pretty much will make you laugh with her posts!!!

I am honored to have Tia today tell her infertility story. Every since Lo paired me up with Tia, I've gotten to know her through her blog posts and instantly knew we would get along in real life. Thank you Tia for sharing your story!!!

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Hi! I'm Tia from Hands On. Pants off. 

2014 has become the year I have embraced the idea that maybe what we are going through is considered the dreaded INFERTILITY.
To what extent, I am not sure just yet. We are smack dab in the middle of testing.
But here's the back story.

I have written a decent amount about the ups and downs about trying to get pregnant on the blog.
Like THIS ONE, THIS ONE, and THIS ONE.
Sometimes I get REALLY EMOTIONAL.
And then most recently, I have started included science to FIND ANSWERS.

My most beloved grandfather passed away in June of 2012.
And it triggered this intense desire to have children.
I figured I would be like my mom...never really wanting them.
And then, like her, it just hit me.
From 2012 through today we started doing the whole "not trying, not preventing" thing and "being casual," but the reality was I was tracking my cycles and peeing on all the sticks and all the tests and month after month staring at negative preg tests. I kept thinking that the timing was off, or there was a bigger plan (like we had to move) or anything that would give me a glimmer of hope.
Finally, I decided to make an appointment with my gyno and start testing.
The INFERTILITY label had commenced.
I was heart-broken but knew it was the only way to find any answers.
So, I went in for blood-work this February and it came back normal except for low progesterone.
They wanted me to do the dye test and have my husband give a sample for analysis.
He was less than thrilled.
So we waited a month and had him tested.  Doctors are funny sometimes. And by funny, I mean annoying incompetent. I get a call from them saying that his forms were abnormal and to start antioxidant therapy.
Um...what exactly does that mean? I need to feed him pomegranates?
So I start asking for all the numbers. I need hard evidence people.
I am Queen Googles and want to verify my findings and do my own research.
Turns out....his "abnormal" shaped sperm are borderline, much less of a worry than originally anticipated.
Of the strict criteria, he is 13% of the normal 14%. No big deal.
But then I start reading into the other numbers. Why is his Ph so high? Why is his white blood cell count higher than normal...what does this mean?
What they didn't tell me (and the Googles did) was that he is "fighting" a silent prostate infection.
One that doesn't necessarily need antibiotics, or cause pain, or any other symptoms.
So, he new regime is a slew of vitamins and supplements and we are conscientiously trying to eat incredibly healthy until we start back with testing and TTC.
Oh, I should also mention that I have delayed the dye test.
Why? Because our goal is a spring or summer baby. We needed a break anyways. Two years of hope and hopeless, and my mental state is shot.
Plus, I heard that, fingers crossed and nothing is blocked...the dye test can actually help "clear the tubes."
I have been approved to start Clomid once I'm ready as well.
For now, we wait. I am just about 8 weeks out from gearing up again and just trying to soak it all in.
It is kind of nice not to think about what day of my cycle I'm at.
But it will also be nice to see those two pink lines.
We are hopeful.

You can follow my story with GFC, Bloglovin', Facebook, and Pinterest.

Make sure to stop by my website and enter the BLOGGER DESIGN GIVEAWAY!

PS- Thank you Lauren for setting this up to share our stories, and a BIG THANK YOU to Bridget for letting me spill my guts on her page today!! You gals are the best!

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Thank you again Tia for sharing your story and thank you Lo for initiating all of this!!! Lo, because of you...so many voices have been heard and so many eyes have been opened. I continue to pray for you both (along with all that deal with infertility)!!!

Now go check out Lo's blog to read other stories about infertility.