NIAW - Mythbusters

It is hard for me to believe that it has been 2 YEARS ago this month (April) since we were diagnosed with unexplained infertility and began treatments. I was in the IF closet for many years before that, I thought if I didn't label the problem it would just go away. Always hoping and praying that the next month would be THE month and that I didn't need to see a Dr. (hindsight). It has been almost a year since this blog was opened up to the public -- at the time it wasn't to bring awareness to IF but because I was so tired from fielding the questions of when are/ why don't we have children.

I am glad that I have found a community of women online who are a support for me through their blog posts. I am proud that so many of them are speaking out and want to be advocates for IF. So many women are still suffering silently because IF is so deeply personal -- I want to help bust some myths because chances are besides myself you know someone else who is suffering from IF and you don't even know it. Be sensitive to others -- you don't know what they are going through if you haven't been through it!

What IF from Keiko Zoll on Vimeo.

Taken from RESOLVES website:
Myth: It's all in your head! Why don't you relax or take a vacation. Then you'll get pregnant!

Fact: Infertility is a disease or condition of the reproductive system. While relaxing may help you with your overall quality of life, the stress and deep emotions you feel are the result of infertility, not the cause of it. Improved medical techniques have made it easier to diagnose infertility problems.

Myth: Don't worry so much -- it just takes time. You'll get pregnant if you're just patient.

Fact: Infertility is a medical problem that may be treated. At least 50% of those who complete an infertility evaluation will respond to treatment with a successful pregnancy. Some infertility problems respond with higher or lower success rates. Those who do not seek help have a "spontaneous cure rate" of about 5% after a year of infertility.

Myth: If you adopt a baby you'll get pregnant!

Fact: This is one of the most painful myths for couples to hear. First it suggests that adoption is only a means to an end, not an happy and successful end in itself. Second, it is simply not true. Studies reveal that the rate for achieving pregnancy after adopting is the same as for those who do not adopt.

Myth: Why don't you just forget it and adopt? After all, there are so many babies out there who need homes!

Fact: For many, adoption is a happy resolution to infertility. However, most people explore medical treatment for infertility prior to considering adoption. In addition, traditional adoption options have changed, and adoption can be more costly and time-consuming than expected. It is, however, still possible to adopt the healthy baby of your dreams. There are also many older children and children with special needs available for adoption.

Myth: Perhaps this is God's way of telling you that you two aren't meant to be parents!

Fact: It is particularly difficult to hear this when you are struggling with infertility. You know what loving parents you would be, and it is painful to have to explain to others that you have a medical problem.

Myth: Infertility is nature's way of controlling population.

Fact: Zero population growth is a goal pursued in a time of world overpopulation, but it still allows for couples to replace themselves with two children. Individuals or couples can certainly elect the option to be childfree or to raise a single child. Infertility, for those who desire children, denies them the opportunity to choose.

Myth: I've lost interest in my job, hobbies, and my friends because of infertility. No one understands! My life will never be the same!

Fact: Infertility is a life crisis -- it has a rippling effect on all areas of your life. It is normal to feel a sense of failure that can affect your self-esteem and self-image. You will move through this crisis. It is a process, and it may mean letting go of initial dreams. Throughout this process, stay informed about the wide range of options and connect with others facing similar experiences.

The Daily Dose

It feels good to be doing something proactive...

even if it means swallowing 6 pills on a daily basis.

While reading a(nother) book on infertility I was curious about some of the supplements, herbs and foods that are said to help fertility. I am starting to think I should give a "review" (my opinion) of each of the MANY infertility books that have moved into our house.

There was one section in specific talking about what a cycle should look like and broke down the if you had this then you probably needed to take this supplement sort of thing. Through reading this I decided that my cycle could probably benefit from some supplements and that it couldn't hurt anything. Also I am still trying to track down the elusive Goji berry...

Victory

PETA has removed all references to National Infertility Awareness Week from their "Win a Vasectomy" campaign. I still wish they had given a REAL formal apology for insulting what NIAW stands for and how much it hurt infertiles.

Keiko did a video blog about it.

The hits keep coming

While PETA has taken the "in honor of" from in front of NIAW they replaced it with the word "during" NIAW. This is a slap in the face to those of us who suffer from infertility. In more responses that I have read from PETA they are dismissive, and then go on for multiple paragraphs talking about the poor animals that need saving, and that the overpopulation is harming the planet -- 1) you are an "animal rights" group 2) telling an infertile to "just adopt" is not okay 3) it is still insensitive to have your contest be linked to NIAW!

Read Keiko's updated blog today

--even the adoption community agrees with our thoughts and actions--

A Response from PETA

I personally wrote PETA what I thought about their contest and have yet to hear a response back however my fellow infertile Keiko did get a response to hers. Please visit her blog to read PETAs "apology".

PETA however says that the world is overpopulated and that is why they are giving away a vascetomy, what a slap in an infertiles face! They don't care that we are hurt by this campaign because hey at least we aren't putting more strain on the world by creating life which puts more demands on our planet. ARRRRGGGHH! I am furious!

Here's what you can do! Email them, call them, blog about this, tweet about it, and please sign this lovely petition.

Lisa Goeke got this response from PETA:
Having one’s own child may be a compelling urge, but it isn’t helpful to act on all our urges, no matter how strong. The issue is not whether one is infertile but whether it is responsible to keep adding people to a planet whose resources are already being stretched. In America, most peo...ple eat well, have a roof over their heads, and buy gasoline, but in much of the rest of the world, people are starving, forests are disappearing, and water is running out, and it seems a moral conundrum for some of us to be spending thousands of dollars trying to reproduce ourselves when there are homeless children, including some with disabilities, who want for homes. Since most of the e-mails we are receiving from people who’ve read about our contest on infertility blogs are quite uncivil, perhaps some soul searching needs to be done on the part of those who would rather throw stones than engage in discourse.

Here is what Resolve has to say about PETA

I am not saying PETA needs to stop their contest however, it'd be nice to have an actual apology from PETA. At the very least they need to take the "in honor of NIAW" off their contest. It's completely disrespectful to all of us suffering from infertility!

OUTRAGE!!!!

I just read that PETA is doing a promotion that a man can "Win a Vasectomy" campaign offering a free vasectomy to a man who has his pet spayed or neutered during the month of April!

PETA even says that this is in honor of NIAW (National Infertility Awareness Week)! SERIOUSLY?!?

Please read my fellow infertiles blog about what this contest is, and what you can do to show your support to me and everyone else who suffers from infertility. CLICK HERE!

Also another blog I follow posted what they wrote to PETA, you can read that HERE.

And as the others have asked if you are going to post about this in  your own blog or on Facebook please don't link to PETAs site directly -- just use the screen shot or link to one of my fellow bloggers posts. Thanks.