When I got pregnant with my eldest child, it was almost as simple as clicking my heels, making a wish- and letting mother nature gift me with what I believed was a rite of passage that I was not only entitled to but would accomplish with pure ease and joy. I was very lucky. As my daughter was nearing the three-year-old mark- and my husband and I started to feel that itch to add to our brood we figured we’d treat ourselves to a romantic candlelit dinner and yes a good old-fashioned romp in the hay– and that once again the fertility gods would smile down on us and bless us with another child.
Unfortunately that first, second and third romp in the hay led to nine months of trying, waiting, hoping and praying. I remember sitting in the bathroom each month right around the time I was supposed to get my period and talking to myself, as I unwrapped the pregnancy test from its package- almost willing it to render a positive outcome. It was beyond my comprehension that something as natural as getting pregnant, was simply beyond my reach. Why was my body failing me- what had I done wrong. I began racking my brain trying to come up with a reason behind my inability to conceive… was it the cigarettes I smoked in college- had they done some damage to my reproductive organs, was I drinking too much coffee? Not exercising enough- eating the wrong foods?
And the constant questions from friends and family, just seemed to compound my feelings of inadequacy. In their defense many had no idea that I was actively trying to get pregnant, they simply saw a couple with a toddler and thought the natural progression for us was to add another kid to the mix and when they asked about it- it took every fiber of my being not to either burst into tears- or pointedly tell them, “Actually I’ve been having sex 24/7 and unfortunately nothing is working.”
We decided it was time to take the next step and visit a reproductive specialist to get to the bottom of my challenged ovaries. It was a hard pill to swallow- having to seek medical intervention and undergo a battery of tests to conceive- something that I thought should’ve been a natural expression of the love my husband and I shared. I basically had my fallopian tubes snaked and when no obstructions were found we proceeded with fertility medicine. When that didn’t work we went on to shots in the abdomen, which my husband lovingly administered… each time soothing and reassuring me that this was going to be our month. This time it was going to work.
Waiting, hoping and praying I remember sitting in the doctor’s office, for my daily blood tests, to check my hormone levels and time my body for intrauterine insemination. Believe me there is NOTHING LESS SEXY than having to transport your husband’s sperm in a cup to the doctor’s office in under 15 minutes to be inseminated! Getting there at the crack of 6:30 am I figured perhaps I’d be sitting in a waiting room with a handful of other hopeful women. Instead the waiting room was packed with women just like me yearning for that moment when their dream of a child would become a reality. I sat there and smiled weakly at each of them, lost in my thoughts silently praying and making pacts with g-d.
I was one of the luckier ones and was spared having to take our infertility struggle to the next step and undergo IVF. But working so hard to have my second child… my beautiful, dirty-blonde rambunctious now 10-year-old son gave me an entirely new appreciation for the process of pregnancy and that it is a privilege, a gift and not by any means a given.
I also know that having ANY extra HELP while I was trying to conceive would have felt like having an ally in this very personal journey. And I would have LOVED to have had a product like Astroglide TTC which is a specially formulated for couples who are trying to conceive, Astroglide TTC supports fertility with adjusted pH levels, compatible osmolality and a consistency similar to your body’s cervical mucus. Each package contains 8 pre-filled disposable applicators that make it easy to coat the inside of the vagina, supplementing natural fluids and enhancing comfort.
Just how does it work? When trying to conceive, it is vital to provide an environment where sperm has a chance of survival. Environmental conditions are affected by pH levels, osmolality (the concentration of substances like sodium and potassium) and the consistency of egg white cervical mucus. While traditional lubricants may affect these conditions and inhibit sperm motility, studies have shown that Astroglide TTC is compatible with sperm, oocytes and embryos and allows sperm to move freely. TTC is specially formulated with adjusted pH levels, compatible osmolality and a consistency similar to that of your own cervical mucus, making it less likely to hinder sperm motility than traditional lubricants. TTC also contains galactose, which is found naturally in semen, as well as fructose, the main source of energy for sperm. Like all Astroglide products, TTC also temporarily relieves vaginal dryness during sexual activity.
I know it doesn’t SOUND all that sexy- but when you are trying to conceive SEX morphs into a different kind of experience- no longer just a way to connect and show love for your spouse but it becomes this singular way to produce a product of your love and yes it can be just a tad bit like a mission-like chore.
Trying to conceive, in a society where the pressure to have a child, can feel like the weight of the world upon your shoulders when each month your period arrives, rather than a positive pregnancy result, can be both a grueling on a woman’s psyche and take a toll on her marriage. To all you brave moms and moms to be out there trying to get pregnant–I am here to tell you that you do not take this journey alone.
Astroglide TTC™ sponsored this blog post. The opinions and text are all mine
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