Klara’s Story

Our infertility journey started two years ago. The process has not at all been what we expected and I never imagined we would be going through this. I’m 34 years old and live in Stockholm with my husband. Our journey unfortunately consists of a series of very unlucky events since there is no known cause for our infertility.

Two years ago I got a positive pregnancy test. A few days later, I suddenly became very sick and had to go to the emergency unit. Here, I was told by the doctors that I probably had a ”normal” miscarriage, although they couldn’t confirm it. We left with very little information. Several months later, I learned my diagnosis: PUL (pregnancy unknown location). This meant that the pregnancy had probably been stuck where it shouldn’t be, thus causing the strong symptoms.

Some months later, the same story happened again. A few weeks after another positive pregnancy test, I got very sick again and ended up in the hospital. The doctor told me that I had an ectopic pregnancy and that the pregnancy had caused an internal bleeding and that I needed surgery immediately. It’s sad that we never got the correct information from the beginning and knew better what to look out for. I wish I knew what my body was going through and the associated risks/consequences. We were just sent home and told that ”things will work out”.

Since the ectopic pregnancy, we have been through an infertility investigation only to hear that we have an unexplained infertility. In the fall last year, we also started IVF trials, although these were unfortunately canceled due to receiving too low doses of the simulation medications. I also had an unexpected pregnancy and miscarriage during this period. We’re now waiting to start another IVF again…

The journey has certainly not been easy. It is challenging physically but also mentally. I experience triggers that stir up emotions related to my infertility, such as hearing about the seemingly never-ending pregnancy announcements of my friends and family. I get mentally drained from the quick highs and lows throughout the entire process, never knowing what the next week will bring as I wait in uncertainty. I also have to learn to burden the happiness of my pregnancies and the sorrow of my miscarriages. Plus managing the full medical aspects of the IVF process! And yet - at the same time and despite my struggles - I am expected to function as a normal human being at work with very few people knowing about what I’m actually going through. The situation is not easy with the taboo surrounding all of this.

It has been very helpful to hear other people’s infertility/IVF stories and experiences during my process and to know that I am not alone in this. By sharing my story I hope that it can help someone else and that we can help build a stronger community and support each other. With more awareness and knowledge, it’s easier for family and friends to support someone they know are going through infertility. :) I am sending lots of hugs to all infertility and IVF warriors! It takes some really strong people to go through all of this. We got this! :)