Elisabeth Röhm’s Blog: Sharing My IVF Secret

People.com
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There are certain experiences that almost every woman looks forward to as a right of passage. Pregnancy is one of them. To me, it’s as big as death, and it seems like an impossible situation when you discover that you will not give birth in your lifetime — or if you do, it will be after extensive medical assistance and cost a small fortune.

It is devastating when you simply can’t do it the natural way and your body can’t function as you believed that it would during your whole young adult life.

I never thought I’d come out and talk about my experience with in vitro fertilization (IVF). It’s not that I’m shy or hugely private — it mainly comes from the subject being socially taboo and very personal. As a woman who has had to receive assistance to be able to carry a child and deliver a healthy baby girl, I am grateful that I had the right to make a choice for my family and regarding my own body.

On the other hand, some of my quiet about my experience has also come from the burden of sadness and frustration. Of course, my closest inner circle knows about my choice to do IVF, and whenever I meet a woman who is struggling and lost in her pursuit of a natural pregnancy, I am very forthcoming. It’s mutually soothing to share this personal experience. We all need comfort and support when we are experiencing personal challenges.

Still, it never seemed like a subject I wanted to be public knowledge. Was I ashamed or embarrassed by my choices, and therefore, unwilling to be revealing? I don’t know. I just know that back then, I had decided that some parts of life are best left private and that was going to be one of them.

I was very lucky that I only had to attempt IVF twice. Many women have to go through the process plenty more times than that, especially if they want more than one child. It’s hard on your body and your mind. I am profoundly blessed that the result of all that manipulation in my body was my healthy and vibrant daughter, Easton.