It started when I went to my gynaecologist for a checkup, and he mentioned that I could get a blood test to determine my ovarian reserve. Although I suffer from endometriosis and have had two laparoscopies to remove it, I didn’t have any other symptoms to make me think that the test would come back abnormal. So I went ahead with the test, thinking it would be cool to know how many eggs I actually have left.
That’s when my whole life changed. Following the blood test, I received the devastating news that I would go through menopause in my early thirties.
I remember that day like it was yesterday. I was walking out the door to meet a friend when my gynaecologist called to tell me the results from my blood test had come back and it wasn’t good news. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing; I was in complete shock, as no one in my family has gone through menopause before the age of 50. Despite how I was feeling I still decided to spend the day with my friend to try and forget about what I had just been told.
It wasn’t until I got home later that night and saw my mum that I completely broke down. It finally hit me that my plan of taking life as it comes was not meant to be. I couldn’t comprehend how I was going to meet the right guy, get married and have children all in five years if I’ve never even had a boyfriend.
That’s when I started to think about freezing my eggs. I knew time was of the essence and I didn’t want to look back in five years time and still be single and regretting not having done anything about my situation earlier.
So after lots of time to think, and after being approved for a credit card to pay for the treatment, I completed my first round of IVF late last year where I was able to freeze seven eggs. I was happy with that number, but I decided to do another round in August this year in hope that I could freeze even more eggs; unfortunately my doctor was only able to freeze two. This was extremely disappointing as the treatment is very expensive and mentally and physically draining.
I didn’t think I would have to do the treatment a third time, but it is recommended a woman freezes 10 eggs to give herself a chance of having just one baby. With this in mind I have decided to do another round of IVF, as I want to give myself the best opportunity possible to have a family of my own. Unfortunately I can’t afford to pay for a third treatment so I have setup a GoFundMe campaign to help with the costs.
I still haven’t come to terms with my condition and it will be a miracle if this all works out, but I’m living proof that miracles do happen.
My mum had trouble falling pregnant naturally and had to go through the GIFT program to conceive me. The GIFT program only has about a 22 per cent success rate of producing one baby and yet she got three babies — that’s right, I’m a triplet. In saying that, if things don’t work out it least I know I did everything possible to make my dream of having a family come true.
I recently saw a quote on Facebook and it really resonated with me: “If you don’t believe in miracles, perhaps you’ve forgotten that you are one.”
You can support Emma by donating to her GoFundMe page here.
Top Comments
I am 36yo, right now naturally 21 weeks pregnant, and was in your shoes last year.
I had an AMH of just 3.6 & AFC of just 4 total - 2 each side. First GP I saw said I'd be going through early menopause too. I grieved. Hard.
I got other specialist advice telling me to work with the eggs I had now, not leave them to run out, even for 6 months. I underwent IVF from Dec-Feb to make & freeze embryos in case this didn't work when we were ready to try (was in a new relationship with a younger partner after being single many years). I did 3 rounds, 10 eggs collected in total and 4 embryos frozen as 'insurance'.
I did loads of reading and research of my own and made changes, and you you know what? The very first month we tried to conceive, we did... at home in our bed in just one weekend. And I have had a smooth, easy pregnancy so far.
I wrote a long in-depth response loaded with my advice and experience to the last article about you on here a few months back. It took me hours to compose and I begged mamamia to publish it - several times - but it never was. I think I may possibly have saved it somewhere in case of that. I'd love to have you read my words somehow.