As many of you know, Ryan and I struggled with infertility issues before we conceived Lucille last Fall. Our story is similar to many other young couples…we watched our friends conceive with ease while we faced month after month of disappointment. Thankfully, we found a compassionate and knowledgeable doctor in Austin, who finally was able to explain what was wrong…and offer a course of treatment.
And of course, as many of you also know, we ended up not needing that course of treatment…because it was in her very examining room at our first appointment that we found out we were already pregnant!
Our fertility issue had resolved itself with time, and we were able to conceive our first child on our own.
However, we have many friends who successfully completed rounds of IVF, as well as other less invasive fertility treatments. It is always especially joyful to watch these parents welcome their little ones into the world because I know the tears and struggles they faced to make their dreams of a family a reality. So when Rinovum Women’s Health contacted me about a new at-home fertility treatment, I was eager to share it with my readers (in hopes that it might be of use to at least one of you!)
Rinovum Women’s Health recently released the Stork and received FDA authorization for the kit in 2012. The Stork is an at-home insemination product that can help aid conception for couples who are facing infertility issues due to low sperm count, motility issues, or a hostile cervical environment (it can also be used for couples trying to become pregnant without intercourse). The Stork kit includes a cervical cap inside a condom-like sheath, which collects semen that can then be inserted via applicator just outside the woman’s cervix. While some couples face fertility challenges that require advanced assistance, there are many couples with problems that can be treated without hormones or costly insemination procedures. It is so important to talk to your OB/GYN or reproductive endocrinologist to determine what camp you fall in. If he or she thinks that the Stork might be a good fit for you and your partner, they can write a prescription…and you can try this natural treatment at home!
The Stork was designed as a natural, cost-effective option to help couples bridge the gap between natural conception and more aggressive treatments. It can be used in the privacy of the home without affecting daily routine (which I love) – both for couples with no known fertility issues and for those who are experiencing difficulty conceiving.
If you want to learn more, please talk to your doctor! You can also find more information by exploring the Rinovum website. And please always feel free to contact me if you want to hear more about my own experience with infertility.
I just recently went back and read your story about how you found out you were pregnant, and what happened is such a wonderful miracle (I think I actually teared up reading it). I’m so so glad Lucy is here with you 🙂 Nate and I want to start trying to have children soon and, like you, I know many people who couldn’t get pregnant for at least a year and some who had to use other measures to aid them. I’m so nervous that I won’t be able to get pregnant right away because I’m already 32 and I feel like I don’t have much time, especially if I want more than one child 🙁 But I guess I’ll just have to hope for the best!
I just wanted to say thank you for posting this here, Monet. It’s so important for people who are not “infertility bloggers” to be talking about these things, too … so that they are no longer taboo, and so that we can support each other better. Hugs to the three of you!
Thanks for sharing this. I think this new natural treatment is great, and hopefully couples using this will never need IVF.
It is SO sweet of you to spread the word about this new product-that’s so amazing!
I’m so very happy you were able to conceive sweet little Lucy on your own in the end, and I can only imagine going through the fear of fertility issues. It’s one of mine and Michael’s bigger fears, but I’m sure we’ll be fine either way. There are so many options 🙂
What a wonderful product! My husband and I were incredibly lucky on this front and conceived easily and quickly (much quicker than we expected!). But, I know others who had to get a little help via medical intervention and sharing in their joy is a wonderful thing! I only have a vague idea of the fertility options out there, but it seems like many of them are very expensive and invasive – I love that this other option exists!
Interesting. I have so many friends that struggled (or are struggling) with infertility. And of course, they are couples that would make phenomenal parents.
What an amazing surprise at the doctors! And what a precious and amazing gift 9 months later 🙂
Very interesting… I had never heard of this system, and think that your write-up might help lots of couples!
it is so nice to come here and see Lucille’s cute face!