If I had to describe myself, “athletic” would certainly be part of the description. I work in the sports industry and own four different dance schools that I run together with my partner. We’re also in the process of opening a new location. You could say that sports are very close to our hearts. But still, we didn’t have everything our hearts desired: a baby. After an intense fertility journey, we will soon finally welcome our child into our lives!
When I met my partner, it quickly became clear that it wouldn’t be possible for us to conceive naturally. While it’s not impossible for my partner to have children, it is more difficult. So, we decided to try IVF. We told each other: with a fertility treatment, it could work on the first try, or it could be a long process where you just keep hoping it will eventually succeed. Unfortunately, the second option became our reality.
Because I have allergies, which I manage well, the doctors advised me to use fertility medication with the synthetic form of hCG. Unfortunately, from day one, my body didn’t react well to these medications. I gained 20 kilos, retained a lot of fluid, my lymph nodes were swollen, and the day before our holiday, I ended up in the hospital emergency department. The doctors were so concerned they thought I had a form of cancer—I was that sick. It quickly became clear that we wouldn’t be able to have children this way, and after two treatments, I had to stop the synthetic medication immediately. We almost gave up hope and seriously started considering adoption.
At that moment, the doctors advised us to try the natural variant of fertility medication, the one with hCG from urine, despite their concerns about my allergies. They emphasized that there were risks involved, but we were eager to try anything to fulfill our dream of having children. From the moment I started using the natural medication, things improved dramatically. I lost a lot of weight, my lymph nodes became less swollen, and mentally, I felt much better. And it got even better—the first embryo that was transferred resulted in a pregnancy!
I wouldn’t have been able to get pregnant without the natural, urinary form of fertility medications. That’s why there was no doubt in my mind—I’m happy to participate in Moeders voor Moeders and donate my urine. My mother and other women in my family have donated urine in the past, so it’s a tradition in our family as well.
I find it important to share my story to raise awareness about fertility medications and the different variants and their effects. I wholeheartedly support all prospective parents!