My Story.

In Surrogacy a woman carries a baby for an infertile couple, either by using her own egg ("Straight" Surrogacy) or by having the infertile couples own embryos transferred into her, ("Host" Surrogacy)...

I myself have reached the end of the road, In my Infertility treatment, after 16 years of trying, and after a number of tests,drugs, & operations, to remove cysts from my ovaries. I turned to Surrogacy..

I have what is called PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrome, I have only known this for the previous 6-7 years, as before that the hospitals couldnt find anything wrong.

I never saw a period, from one month to the next, and had to take, Medro-Progesterone, which induced me to have a Period, although this was only artificial. Then on my 2nd Day of my period, would have to take Clomiphene Citrate, 50mg to start with, and in a lot of cases this dosage is enough to induce Ovulation, but no not me, mine was increased by 50mgs at a time, over the years, until it finally reached the maximum dosage of 150mg, you take these small white tablets for 5 days, starting from anytime between day 2 to day 6 of your cycle (period). Well, 150mg seemed to work well for me.

After one operation, They had to remove a Dermoid cyst from my left Ovary, It was the size of a cricket ball.

Then just 6 months later, I started getting really bad pains, in my lower abdomen, I could hardly walk, I put up with the pains for a couple of weeks, and put it down to having another cyst, I had an hospital appointment coming up, and thought that I would get it checked out then.

On the day of my hospital appointment, I was given a routine pregnancy test, and YES it was positive, I was in shock, I couldnt believe it, but soon became worried as I had been getting the bad pains, I told the Specialist but there wasnt a lot they could really do, and had to make another appointment, to arrange for the scan etc. It was estimated that I was 6 weeks pregnant.

I was over the moon, but deep down, I was worried, I could feel in myself that things were'nt right, sure enough, later that Evening, I started bleeding, and went to the Casualty Department, there was nothing they could do, even though my test still showed positive, the doctor said that there was a possibility that I had miscarried one, but the other was still trying to hang on But it was to early to tell, because my hormones would still show up as positive, and I was to early in pregnancy for the embryo(s) to show up on a scan, so I was sent home, I was gutted, after all the treatment etc, I had been through, I thought they would of kept me in hospital, just to watch over me.

I had to goto the Early pregnancy unit a couple of days later, and It turned out that I did have a complete miscarriage.

But this proved to the hospital that I was getting my timing right, I could get pregnant and that the treatment was working,

After more Scans,and Xrays, etc, they found I had another Cyst, this time on my right Ovary, and asked my permission, for them to remove my Ovary!, and tried to reassure me, that It was still possible to become pregnant with only one Ovary!.

The thing was, I already had damage to my left ovary from the last operation, and the fact was, I was having trouble getting pregnant with two ovaries let alone one! So there was no way I was going to agree to them removing my right ovary, and after they had tried to persuade me to sign the consent form, I decided it was time for me to go home and walked out the hospital, and made another appointment, to see a different Gynaecologist, that could do the operation, leaving my ovaries intact.

6 months later, I had the operation, and it was a success. They also found an unusual blood vessel, which had attached itself from the wall of my stomach to my bowels, they hadnt seen anything like this before, and put it down to scar tissue from my previous operations.

It is only usually recommended for someone to take Clomiphene Citrate, for a Short period of time, as the after effects can cause Ovarian cancer, Hirsutism, and Alopecia.

But when you yearn for a child, something that is such a natural thing for most women, you will try anything, and now after being reffered to St Marys Hospital in London, my Infertility treatment has come to a standstill.

It seems that Clomiphene is causing my cysts, and now they want me to lose some weight before they can put me back on them. When I was refferred to St Marys, I was told that they would start me on injections, but because Clomiphene worked well for me, they wanted me to lose weight, as a precaution and of course would be better for me in the long run. When I started Infertility Treatment I was half the size I am today, and really dont believe that my weight has anything to do with it, I am of medium build, and the hospital have said that with Polycystic, they dont know if it is that, that causes you to put on weight, or if its the weight that causes Polycystic, so thats one of the reasons, I think they would like me to lose weight.

But now, I am so disheartened by it all, I just havent got the get up and go, anymore.

I have been totally drained by all the high hopes, and travelling, etc.. and not only that, I am 32 now, and time is running out for me. Theres nothing to state that I cannot get pregnant, even now, and for once in my life I have been having periods regularly for over a year, and naturally. but thats just another dream....

Two Years ago now my friend, someone I have known, since I was about 4 years old, came round to my house, and out the blue, said , to me and my husband Ian, that she had been thinking about it for a long time, and would like to have a baby for us, either using my egg, or by her own, we were taken back by this, and at the time, I was still attending the hospital, and after a lot of talking and thinking, we all decided to see how things went for me first, at the hospital, then if nothing happens, we would go ahead..

For a few months we did nothing but talk about this kind gesture, and three months ago, we all decided to go for it, I got intouch with an Organisation, called C.O.T.S. UK, and asked them if it was legal for my friend to artificially inseminate herself, with a Syringe, using my husbands Sperm, in order for her to become pregnant, to have a child for me..

Yes, it was legal, and C.O.T.S, could offer us all there support, If we joined up with them, for the registration fee, of £100.00, This would give us a Chatliner, An experienced councillor to telephone each of us, once a month, throughout the pregnancy, to discuss any problems, etc, that may arrise.

What my friend is doing is classed as "Straight" Surrogacy, and am pleased to tell you she is now 7 weeks Pregnant, it worked on her first attempt. My husband said it was the most embarassing thing he has ever had to do,(Smile). And my friend is very proud, that she can gives us, this most wonderful, precious gift.

We did consider "Host" Surrogacy, but we just couldnt afford the IVF treatment, and around 5% to 10% of Surrogates can miscarry, as do women in "normal" pregnancy.

So we all decided , that "Straight" Surrogacy was for us, and that the money that would be saved, would go towards the babies needs, and also the costs of our friends maternity needs, such as maternity wear, extra food, etc.

Surrogacy really has to be the last resort. The hazards are innumerable, the rewards unbelievable. It is something you both have to desire equally and you have to be strong enough to cope with the strain..

My Surrogate Mum, Is doing this for us, out of..... Sheer compassion, she is a single mum, with four children, 2 girls, 2 boys, and says she is very content, and has her hands tied, her youngest is Robert ,4, a real cute little lad, with lovely brown eyes, then theres Tina,12 and Kelly,10 again two pretty littles girls, each with there own, remarkable little personallities, and last but not least there Stuart whos 14, who will make a very lucky young lady a brilliant husband and father one day.

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Family Thru Surrogacy

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Karen.