Learning About Fertility Can Be Overwhelming: Where to Start

In one of my groups of friends, there's a "pregnancy package" that was passed around from girlfriend to girlfriend as soon as one of us started trying. It was kind of cool, like a right of passage, you were initiated into the pregnancy and baby circle once you and your husband decided that you were ready to start trying for a baby. There were a lot of helpful books and tons of information, and I of course tore into all of it immediately. I couldn't read the books fast enough! I got to the problems with fertility books though and got completed freaked out! We had just started trying, so perhaps reading about all the things that could be wrong or the very difficult journeys that other women had gone through was a bit premature.

Fertility can be a very exciting and fulfilling journey for some, and a very frustrating and agonizing journey for others. One thing is for sure though, it's a different experience for everyone and a very personal journey. Some women do very well talking about it with others every step of the way, and others keep it to themselves until years later. Whatever your experience is, educating yourself is important. Becoming more aware of everything that is involved in fertility can make the journey a little less frustrating, and it can help you to know what questions to ask.

*First and foremost, remember that the fertility journey is your own. I got good advice from my sister when I was trying to get pregnant--you make your own path. Being aware will help you to be the driver because when it comes to this subject, the treatments and testing can be as aggressive as you want it to be. Most doctors will not even consider you to be in a fertility situation unless it's been a year, but if you're like me then you may want answers sooner.

*Read your books and look online, but don't go crazy. As with anything, there is an overwhelming amount of information out there. There's some great books and websites, but there are some that are less reputable that can do nothing but scare you. Find the information that works best for you and go with it, use it as a reference guide so you know what to expect and foresee possible next steps.

*Know when enough is enough. If you feel as if you are on information overload and are getting lost in a sea of books and websites, then step away from it for awhile. For me, I gathered information but then got overwhelmed and frustrated. My doctor told me to put all the books and sites aside for a couple of months, which helped tremendously.

*Talk to others, but know that everybody's experience is different. I remember talking to friends who got pregnant right away and then those who struggled for very extended periods of time. In each conversation I felt that I learned something, but I also had to recognize that my journey would likely be different. It's really important to take in the information, but not to compare.

*Find local resources that can help. Besides your doctor, there are other options out there. Whether you chose to look into holistic medicine options such as reiki or acupuncture, or work with a local fertility clinic there are specialized places out there that can make your experience a little easier. Don't be afraid if something is out of the norm for you, if you go in with an open mind something like acupuncture can work wonders for you.

*Stay connected to your husband. This is a tough time and though you are working hard to gain awareness, you want to check in with each other and stay on the same page. Trust me when I say that you can quickly and easily get carried away with all of this, but sometimes a quick chat with your husband can keep you grounded.

*Use some of the basic methods to understand your cycle. Depending on where you are in your fertility journey, it's important to know your cycle very well. This sounds basic and becomes inherent as you get further in your journey, but it's amazing how many of us are just not in tune with your cycle to begin with. Taking your temperature every morning, using ovulation predictor kits, and counting your days can make you well informed.

Through it all, gaining awareness and staying informed is important. You have to be sure not to get carried away because it's easy to do. You can't imagine how much information there is out there (much of which is conflicting and therefore confusing), but if you try to keep it in check the experience can be less stressful. Just remember that everybody's fertility journey is totally different.