#In this case I'd support its post birth abortion

[pineapplesunsetkiss]

Infertility Treatment Community

Awareness of Infertility should include the emotional toll and lasting repercussions. I state this knowing very well that is not why this Awareness Week was creative. My cynical nature views IA week similarly to the Susan Koman/pink ribbons for breast cancer stuff ...An excellent cause affecting far too many which promotes a feeling of community identity and empowerment using toxic positivity and smothered in capitalism. Almost everything a person can find online regarding Infertility Awareness (besides stats) is informational websites promoting IVF and other fertility treatments, inspirational stories of success or ongoing hope, and positivity merchandise. (I'll probably post about the pineapple later). We don't talk about the *gasp* barren.

That said, I do want to add my voice in support of people seeking fertility treatment. In the US (& elsewhere I guess) financial burdens are a huge barrier to fertility treatments. When I was young it was going to be mostly out of pocket. Why would insurance pay for you to have a child? It won't kill you not to have one. And then they'd have to help pay for the birth to boot. It is very easy for people to go completely broke paying for these services, especially in the difficult cases. Also, I suspect that some clinics could be very predatory in encouraging folks to keep paying into treatments that just have very little chance of working. It's seemed like a risky gamble when I was young. I hope it's better now.

That said, I fear that fertility treatments could become endangered in the US with the rise of Christian Nationalism and it's narrow views on the sanctity of embryos. Fertility treatment is very much an area that deserves funding and vocal support.

I also have the unpopular opinion that we should offer more genetic screening to women before they pursue pregnancy. I was lucky that I found out about my genetic problem before we'd spent money on fertility treatments. The standard of care is (unless there is family history) not to screen for genetic abnomolies until after a fetus is already growing and then having the host decide on an abortion. That would have been devestating to me. If someone is going through the intense physical and emotional stress of fertility aid, a genetic screening should be part of the package deal if they want it. Honestly, I'd like to see the concept of "pre-existing conditions" irradicated so that it can be available to all. I know that sounds ablist but some conditions are just too much. And parents who can prepare and

educate themself of a possible difference in their child will surely be better parents for it. We went through (and continue) training to deal the complications of adopting from overseas and it is invaluable to us.

All of this is to say that despite the fact that my infertility story ended in adoption rather than fertility treatment, I still very much want to elevate awareness of treatment and all of its facets. This includes surrogacy which (like adoption) has its dark side to consider.

Two close friends of mine adopted children around the same time as me and each had their own infertility journey. Both tried fertility treatment before adopting. One had ovarian injury due to adolescent cancer treatment. She ultimately adopted from extended family.

The other (herself an adoptee) and her wife used a surrogate and donor for their first child. Her wife was able to carry their second. There are many ways for an infertility journey to have happy ending.