Straits Times, Home | 8 May 2020
I was interviewed recently for a Straits Time article (our main newspaper) for my experience on IVF treatments being disrupted due to COVID-19.
After the interview, I was like s*** - I didn’t want to tell the whole world what I’m up to. One part of me said “it’s private. What did I just do?” And another part said “you go girl.”
The bottomline is it’s not about me. It’s about being of service to others. I know how hard it is to get others to share so I’m taking the first step for brave conversations, quoting Brene Brown, I choose courage over comfort!
Kudos to the ladies who were willing to share.
To summarise the article -
From Apr 24th 2020, MOH (Ministry of Health, Singapore) sent out a circular to fertility centres that advised that only patients who already started an IVF cycle or those who require urgent IVF treatment due cancer treatments or other urgent clinical condition, can continue with IVF. Couples above age of 35 and older with poor ovarian reserve and with poor sperm count can proceed too.
My Story?
I think I’ve been waiting since beginning of the year……. waiting for my menses to become regular since I took Lucrin in Aug 2019, which is a GNRH hormone injection that can increase the chances of IVF by introducing early (temporary) menopause to stop premature ovulation.
And when my menses became regular………. waiting for the next period to start, so I can visit the fertility clinic in KL to potentially start a fresh IVF cycle.
And then the lockdown/ travel restrictions happened…. so I continued waiting.
So no, I wasn't really taken off- guard. Though the news was frustrating and every minute of waiting means I’m minute older.
But what can I do right? It’s out of my control. So I’m taking this opportunity to get myself fertile fit. Like what I said in the article, I’m exercising, taking supplements, chinese herbs..... my list is long-er.
Hold on…. I lied! I've been waiting since 2018 to have a baby. So there!!
Since I can't control the future, I can do what I can with what I have, within my control.
The universe is giving me space and time to begin again and I’m going to give it my best shot.
Photo Credit: Soul Deelight, SG