Infertility treatment can be challenging for anyone going through it. We asked Shady Grove Fertility Graduates to share advice for those beginning their infertility journey, providing others with the knowledge and strength to positively get through treatment and most importantly, never give up.
1. HAVE HOPE
From Amanda and Brian
“I would tell other people going through infertility to stay hopeful and not give up on their goals. Be proactive with your treatment and be an active participant in the process because the more knowledge you have, the more comfortable you will feel. I don’t know if another child is in our future or not, but we will definitely go back to Shady Grove Fertility if we need help again.”
From Ashley and Sam
“You have to remain positive and hopeful that your miracle is coming even when you experience heartbreak or devastation. What helped me the most was having my husband support me and encourage me on the hard days. He constantly reminded me that we would get pregnant and to not give up. My faith in God was what got me through the hardest days when I would see another pregnancy announcement on social media or feel defeated in my journey. He gave me the strength to get through the hardest 4 years of my life. I’m so passionate now about infertility and helping others be encouraged during their journey to parenthood. Also, blogging and connecting on social media helped me meet other women who were experiencing my same, silent struggle. It made me feel like I wasn’t the only one going through it. I loved hearing success stories and happy endings and I pray our story encourages a couple who feels like they are ready to give up. We serve a God who turns impossible situations into possible situations and if he did it for us, he can do it for you.”
2. REMEMBER – YOU’RE NOT ALONE
From Celine and Matthew
“Reach out to people you know who also went through fertility treatment. If you do not know anyone, join online groups or actively search blogs for women who went through it.
Don’t be afraid or ashamed to let the world know what you are going through. By sharing your story, you are making it ‘normal’ instead of feeling like there is something wrong with you.
There is NOTHING wrong with you and it is such a blessing we live in today’s world where we have amazing medicine that can help us reach our dreams.”
From Lauren and Christopher
“To anyone going through this, I want you to know you’re not alone, it’s ok to have bad days as long as you continue to push through and you’re stronger than you know. Don’t be afraid to lean on family and friends. And most importantly, be kind to yourself.”
3. IT’S WORTH EVERY SECOND.
From Denise and Jeremiah
“I would tell future patients to stay positive and always remember that difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations. We are forever grateful to Dr. Sasson, our nurse Erica, and the entire Chesterbrook office.
It is going to seem scary and intimidating at first, but it really is worth all of the tears shed and nights spent awake worrying. It is even incredible to realize how #SGFstrong you can be when you need to be. If you are thinking about starting treatment, it doesn’t hurt to just go talk to a doctor about what your options would be and find out more about the process. That is what my husband and I did and it is one of the best decisions we have ever made.”
4. BUILD A SUPPORT SYSTEM.
From Hannah and John
“My advice to others that may go through this similar situation is to hold onto whatever gets you through the rough times, whether it is faith or an individual, because you will need them. Find a program that will help support you financially if that is what’s holding you back from starting this process. SGF gave us many financial options when we first started. I promise you that every moment you go through emotionally and physically is unimaginably worth it in the end. We are so grateful for our little girl and are very excited for the time when we decide to have another (especially since I only have to do the frozen embryo transfer next time)! Thank you to Shady Grove Fertility and Dr. Reh for everything.”
From Nikita and Scott
“Try to have a support system outside of the clinic. My family and a few close friends helped us get through the emotional rollercoaster. Trying to stay as positive as possible will help, even if it feels impossible. We didn’t know what to expect when we had our first meeting but to this day, it was the best decision we could have made to help grow our family. IVF must have jump-started my system because we are expecting another little one July 2018 and that was all medication and IVF-free! We are so thankful to SGF and it was well worth the tears, money, and time it took to finally meet our little boys! Shady Grove Fertility helped us get our family! Good luck on your journey!”
5. SCHEDULE IT!
From Lindsay and Sean
“Schedule a consult and get those fertility tests done! The testing process can be long, exhausting, and frustrating at times, but it is so important to know what is going on and to understand any potential issues. Once you have your results, you can address them head on. Also, be prepared to make some big decisions about treatment options, but know that there are a lot of different options available. There will be one that is right for you!”
From Samantha and Matt
“My advice to future patients would be don’t wait to seek help! If you want a baby, go to Shady Grove Fertility and get started. Also, be sure to surround yourself with supportive people. My family and friends really helped me through some of the darkest days of my fertility journey.”
Read more patient stories here.
To schedule a virtual consultation with an SGF physician, please speak with our New Patient Center by calling 877-971-7755.
