Let me start by saying that, no, we are not trying to conceive (TTC) again. There are no more babies for us. I’ve written about when I was diagnosed with PCOS, that it is possible to get pregnant if you have PCOS, and I have two hurricanes for boys.  However, I had never actually written about the full struggle we encountered when we were TTC Thaddeus.

Infertility affects everyone differently, and the journey of TCC can become a success story. One of the reasons I decided to write about our TTC journey and my diagnosis of PCOS is because I know there are other ladies out there who are dealing with PCOS and trying to get pregnant. I wanted to make sure they didn’t give up without trying everything they possibly could to have their parenting dreams come true or come to an end. Hopefully, they’ll be able to have the same success as I had; however, I know that isn’t always the case.

Everyone with infertility issues has their own trying to conceive (TTC) stories, not all of them have a happy ending, however, some have stork stories.

Our TTC journey

We had been married for about three years before we had actively started TTC. We knew at the beginning of our marriage that there could be problems and that it might not happen right away. However, we didn’t anticipate that it would take three years before I got pregnant. I had always wanted a decent-sized family, three to five children; however, I knew that due to everything I had to go through we probably wouldn’t have more than one or two.

Our Treatments

The journey started in 2003, with the help of a great OBGYN. My OBGYN had been very familiar with my diagnosis; he was the one who diagnosed me, and he was ready to help us become parents. He immediately started me on treatments of Clomid. Unfortunately, after a few cycles, he knew that it was not working for me. So, we switched to another treatment. Again, no success after a few cycles and it was time for a break to allow my body to recover from the treatments.

Everyone with infertility issues has their own trying to conceive (TTC) stories, not all of them have a happy ending, however, some have stork stories.

It wasn’t long after that I found out about a trial that was being conducted for women with PCOS who were trying to get pregnant. It was a blind test that involved a lot of testing, record keeping, and visits. Each participant didn’t know what drug treatment we were taking; Clomid and a placebo, Metformin and a placebo, or Clomid and Metformin together. They needed to be thorough, and we had to be sure to keep track of everything they wanted. It was a five-month trial and after a lot of testing, we were accepted into the program. For us, it took four months for our success story to begin.

Today, there are products out there that weren’t available when we were TTC. Products like Stork OTC devices. Although healthy couples can use a Stork OTC device, it is also designed for couples with infertility issues. Whether it is a male patient, who was diagnosed with either low sperm count or motility issues or healthy couples who desire to control the timing.  The Stork OTC is an alternative for those who just are not ready to take the next step in fertility treatments such as IUI and IVF.

What does The Stork OTC do?

The Stork OTC is a home-use conception aid that combines an innovative applicator and an established conception technique — cervical cap insemination. The product can be used in private, at home, without a prescription. The Stork OTC can be a first-step treatment option for couples before more invasive procedures are considered; bridging the gap between natural intercourse and costly, in-oce treatment options (i.e. IUI or IVF). The Stork OTC collects semen into the cervical cap with a condom-like sheath (the Conceptacle) worn during intercourse (or alternatively, donor sperm can be used with the device). The sperm is then delivered to the opening of the cervix by way of the applicator. The cap remains in place for up to 6 hours, after which it is removed with a simple tampon-like pull chord.

Now, I’m not sure how well the Stork OTC devices work, as we have not tried it, and it looks a little intimidating, however, when you want to get pregnant and are actively trying then you can’t dismiss a product that could work for you.  Please consult your doctor before using the Stork OTC device and see if it may be right for you.

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