Endometriosis: Married with No Kids

In my older blog (Kolourful World of Koolkolourz), I've written a piece entitled "Married with No Kids" enumerating in there all the unhelpful things that people say to me and my husband as a couple with no kids. In this blog, I will focus more on endometriosis and how it affects a woman's married life.

My husband and I got married in 2008, and we were TTC (Trying to Conceive).  As I mentioned in my older post (Endometriosis: It Runs in the Family), having endometriosis does not automatically mean that a woman is infertile.  Like me, for instance, I still ovulate but conception is challenging.  Inflammation, scarring, and adhesion caused by endo usually block the fallopian tubes, the uterus, and even the ovaries.

Let me clarify though, even though we are TTC, we wanted it to be the natural way.  My Ob-gyn did not encourage us to use artificial means of conception because, she said, there is a high probability of birth defects. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine reported on the statistics based on 2 fertility clinics in South Australia. The risk of birth defects in assisted conception is 8%.

As InVitro Fertilization (IVF) is rather expensive, I asked my Ob-Gyn if we can opt for the more affordable means, which is taking clomiphene citrate (most common brand is Clomid). She discouraged me, however, stating that this medication has a high probability of birth defects.  And she was right.  In the same study mentioned above, women who take the med without medical supervision has a 300% risk of birth defects.

So, what is the hope for endometriosis patients?  The first source of hope is always prayer. It is God who is the Giver of Life and it is His will whether or not to give a couple children or not. Second, opt for natural conception by deciding on a healthier lifestyle. Lastly, if you can afford artificial conception, go for it.  But be sure to discuss the pros and cons with your Ob-Gyn.  Ask for a second or third opinion from other doctors.  If you have apprehensions on the morality and spirituality of the artificial means of conception, ask counsel from your pastor or minister.






Sources:
Goodman, Brenda (2012. May 5). Infertility Treatments May Raise Birth Defect Risk. WebMD. Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/infertility-and-reproduction/news/20120505/infertility-treatments-may-raise-birth-defect-risk#1