About 3 steps to fertility

My story

Family In 1996 just after I got married I discovered I had been silently suffering with endometriosis. It was discovered during a laparoscopic investigation, which showed adhesions around my fallopian tubes and ovaries. The consultant told me that if I hadn’t yet considered starting a family I should do so soon as the damage may prevent conception. This news came as a bolt out of the blue. Simon and I had discussed having a family in the future; suddenly the decision was made for us to start trying straight away.

My story is like thousands of other women in the world who are faced with the news that having a baby may not be as straight forward as they initially thought. From that day I embarked on a journey to understand every facet of infertility, why it happens and how conventional and complementary therapies can assist women in increasing their chances of having a baby.

My interests

My interest in the human body started at a young age and led me to complete a BSC (Hons) in Human Biological Sciences at Loughborough University. I remember my entrance interview very well. The tutor asked me why I wished to study human biology. My answer was simple and stands true to this day ‘ The human body is amazing – it gives us the miracle of life’. Since then, reading about the human body has been my hobby especially with the new and exciting Eastern therapies becoming more widely available in the Western world.

The facts

Even today the most sophisticated modern technology of creating a test tube baby (IVF) only achieves an average success rate of 25% in the UK. 75% of couples walk away without any success and are only offered a glimmer of hope for the next time. There are now 1 in 5 couples in the UK reported to have some kind of infertility problem. There is a need to continually learn more about the human body, how it functions and what we can do to help maximise our chances of having a healthy baby.

The journey

Over the last seven years Simon and I have learnt a lot about the medical profession, the field of infertility and above all about each other. We have experienced two natural pregnancies, five invitro fertilisation (IVF) attempts, two ectopic pregnancies, one miscarriage, one near death experience and the ultimate joy of bringing baby Bruno into this world. It has been one hell of a ride! I could never have anticipated this happening 10 years ago but we came through it by taking one day at a time. We feel like we have climbed to the top of Mount Everest and are now enjoying the wonderful view; the joy of parenthood. It is because our journey is like many other people faced with infertility that we wish to share our experiences and knowledge so you too can have the immense pleasure of bringing a baby into this world.

Why a book?

My diagnosis seven years ago led me to study the conventional; the unconventional; the scientific and the spiritual practices that exist today to help us maximise our chances of conceiving. If I had read a book seven years ago that gave me a complete overview of Western and Eastern practices, I would have been better informed to make the right decision for us to have a baby. As it happened, I had to read many books, research the Internet and try out each and every treatment myself to find the right one for Simon and I.

This book was written to give you the head start I wish I had. This book will help you understand what is available to maximise your chances of conceiving a baby. We are all different people in different situations and what suits one couple may not suit another. You may be more comfortable starting off looking at your nutrition and diet rather that administer fertility drugs straight away. You may prefer to look at the psychological barriers you may have to having a baby versus stimulation of your ovaries through acupuncture. This book will give you hope while you find the right approach for you and your partner. There are no guarantees that you will conceive a baby but by reading this book you will be more open to all the treatments and be better informed to progress on your journey.

This book aims to combine conventional and complementary approaches to achieve conception – the dream!

Wishing you much success!

Marina