People say the wrong thing to infertile couples all the time. Here are just a few of the things I've been subjected to: What Not To Say... . As a result, I pride myself on being tactful when speaking with people who have not yet begun their family. Maybe, like us, they've been trying in vain for years. Perhaps they haven't given it a second thought yet. Perhaps they're still waiting to meet the right person. Whatever the reason, I know not to ask "So, when are you guys going to try for kids?"
Recently, as my plight for a baby enters its 5th year I find myself wanting to say to people (pretty much anyone over the age of 30) "You know, your fertility isn't going to be around forever!" I don't say it, of course. But I want to. And the only reason is that I don't want other people to find themselves in my position where, despite having no indication that I might not be able to conceive, this is where they end up.
The first thing I'd recommend is for females to go and see their GP and have their AMH tested. AMH stands for Anti-Mullerian Hormone and gives a fairly accurate indication of a woman's ovarian reserve. If you have a low AMH, it can be a problem. It is widely known that AMH decreases rapidly in women as they reach their mid-late 30s. This link will provide some information on it: AMH testing. The test is non-invasive. It's a simple blood test that your GP can arrange for you to have done on the spot, with results back soon after. It costs around $70 and is not claimable on Medicare. But for the peace of mind I think it's worth it. I'm not suggesting that every female in their 30's should race out and have their AMH tested, but it is one thing that you can do. If the results are concerning then there are lots of options that could then be considered. If not, that's great.
For what it's worth, AMH is not one of my fertility issues. I actually have really high ovarian reserve, bordering on PCOS. (This was good in that I was not in danger of 'running out of eggs', but it does put me at risk of over-stimulating during an IVF cycle, hence my relatively low doses of Gonal F) At my first test in September 2010 (age 32) my AMH was 45.5. I recently had the test done again and am waiting for those results. I will be interested to see if the fall has been significant now that I am heading towards the age bracket that all Fertility Specialists dread - my mid-late thirties!
My point is this - if you are in your 30s and are delaying a family for whatever reason, please consider having this simple test done. You never know the heart ache it could save you in the future.
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