10dp2dt

Cat Strawbridge - 24 Jan 18

I am currently 10dp2dt. You’d be forgiven for thinking that means I’m a new Star Wars’ character playing alongside R2D2 and C3PO. For the (luckily) uninitiated what it actually translates to is that I am 10 days post a 2 day transfer. The transfer of 2 tiny, little 2 day old embryos. I’m currently in the ‘dreaded’ Two Week Wait, waiting to find out whether my fertility treatment has worked.

This is my 3rd round of IVF, the culmination of 6 years of trying to conceive. Almost my entire married life. In fact, it crossed my mind for the first time recently that my husband and I have been doing this together longer than we haven’t.

With IVF, or any fertility journey, comes a lot more than people would imagine. The mental health implications alone are staggering. Recent studies have shown that 90% of people consider themselves depressed, with 42% going so far as to say they feel suicidal. One of the reasons normally happy and healthy men and women end up feeling like this is because there is a stigma surrounding fertility treatment. People are embarrassed to tell their friends, and they don’t know where to look for support.

Recently I’ve been working with Fertility Network UK. The National charity supporting men and women at any stage of their fertility journey from natural conception, assisted treatment, donor, surrogacy, adoption and the one no-one wants to consider, living a childless life.

Given that 1 in 6 couples experience fertility issues – which unfortunately means that’s you or someone you know – it is incomprehensible that people are still suffering in silence. That’s where we all come in. You can help your friends by telling them about Fertility Network UK. You can also explore the resources for friends and family that will help you to understand more about what they are going through.

In short, Fertility Network UK do the following

– Offer practical and emotional support for men and women, whatever their experience of infertility.
– Campaign for equitable access to NHS fertility treatment in the UK – based on medical need and not postcode. Did you know that some areas now receive no funding at all for IVF treatment!
– Offer education projects which raises awareness of the importance of fertility education in protecting and maintaining future fertility and highlights some practical steps young people can take to help protect their future fertility.

That’s me for now. The key to the 2WW is distraction, so you’ll probably hear from me again before test day. In the meantime if you want to follow my story come and check me out on Instagram @tryingyears. More importantly though, go and give @fertilitynetworkuk a follow.

More information about Fertility Network UK can be found at www.fertilitynetworkuk.org

Cat Strawbridge

Cat and her husband have been trying to conceive (TTC) for almost 6 years of their 10 year relationship. Following her second IVF miscarriage in 2015 they decided to take time off from seeking assisted help and focus on themselves and their relationship - along with a bit of natural 'trying' here and there! This was time well spent because their fertility treatment had taken their confidence, self esteem, savings, jobs and most importantly their passion, -for everything. Now, feeling back on top (mostly) Cat is working with Fertility Network UK to help break the taboo of fertility so that the 1 in 6 people who are dealing with it don't feel ashamed or alone in their journey. Cat and Bob are still trying for their family although have recently received a negative result from a recent round of IVF. The choice now is to keep trying or to stop and accept a life without children.

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