Pre-Pregnancy & My Fertility Journey

As you may already know, I have rheumatoid arthritis (RA). I had been dealing with symptoms for years but finding a doctor who believed me and put the pieces together was a struggle. That’s a whole other story (and a post for another day).

However, it wasn’t until right after my husband and I got married that I started seeing a fertility specialist. We wanted to start trying for a baby, but my irregular periods and other hormonal issues had me concerned. I figured it was best to get ahead of any potential challenges.

The Diagnosis I Didn’t See Coming

At my very first appointment, the fertility doctor reviewed my past bloodwork and test results and casually asked,

“You do know you have PCOS, right?”

I did not know.

PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) is a hormonal disorder that can cause irregular periods, ovarian cysts, insulin resistance, and fertility struggles.

But as if that news wasn’t overwhelming enough, my doctor went on to say:

❌ Because of my PCOS, getting pregnant would be very difficult.

⚠️ Because of my RA, if I did conceive, I had a high risk of miscarriage.

Just what I wanted to hear.

The Testing Phase

For the next two months, I underwent what felt like endless tests to make sure there weren’t any additional roadblocks:

✅ More bloodwork

✅ Ultrasounds to check my ovaries

✅ Ovarian reserve testing to assess my egg count

✅ And my least favorite—the HSG test (hysterosalpingogram)

The HSG Test: AKA, Not Fun

An HSG test is an X-ray to evaluate the fallopian tubes and make sure they’re open for an egg to pass through. Sounds simple, right? Well… let me walk you through it:

1️⃣ I had to lay on my back, feet in stirrups, just like a pelvic exam.

2️⃣ The X-ray tech positioned the machine over my uterus.

3️⃣ A nurse inserted a tube through my cervix (yes, through it) and began injecting dyed fluid into my uterus.

4️⃣ The fluid filled my uterus until it spilled out of my fallopian tubes and into my body (yep, as weird as it sounds).

5️⃣ The X-ray captured real-time images to confirm my tubes were open and not blocked.

Uncomfortable? Yes.

Painful? Also yes.

But thankfully, the results showed that PCOS and RA were my only obstacles—which, at that point, felt like a relief.

“Just Keep Trying”

After all the testing, my doctor gave me the best advice she could:

“Track your ovulation, keep trying, and we’ll go from there.”

So, I did.

✔️ I downloaded every fertility tracking app.

✔️ I bought a giant stash of ovulation test strips.

✔️ I tracked my basal body temperature.

✔️ I mentally prepared for a long journey ahead.

I knew it could take months or even years to conceive.

And Then… The Biggest Surprise

I got pregnant, 1st try!

After being told it would be a long, difficult journey, it happened instantly.

I was in shock. I had spent so much time preparing for an uphill battle that I hadn’t even considered the possibility that it could happen right away.

I know this isn’t the reality for many women struggling with PCOS or RA, and I feel incredibly grateful. But if there’s anything this journey has taught me, it’s that our bodies are unpredictable, and sometimes, they surprise us in the best way possible.

Final Thoughts

I’ll be diving deeper into PCOS, RA, and the struggles of getting a diagnosis in future posts, but I wanted to share my fertility journey in case it helps someone else feeling lost, confused, or overwhelmed by the process.

If you’re navigating your own fertility challenges, just know—you are not alone.