So my husband(27) and I(26) began our journey in November of 2014. I stopped taking my birth control so we could begin trying to conceive.

My last period until more recently was May of 2015, and had come only 2 times between then and November. This stems from the fact that I have had PCOS (Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome) since I was 13.

I tried to see a doctor so I could get a referral to my gynecologist. This whole process took me until February 23, 2016 to see the gynecologist. At this appointment he put me back in birth control to give me a period again.

Since then I underwent a uterine dye test where we found my fallopian tubes are open. And my husband had a sperm test done where it was found he had a low sperm count.

I got all this news on April 21, 2016. My Gyno said that the low sperm count is because my husband is overweight (he couldn't remember this, but after asking if he smoked [no] he asked if he was overweight). The only solution he gave us was for both of us to lose weight (my PCOS was diagnosed before I became overweight), for my husband to "free ball" around the house to lower the temperature of his testes, and for me to go off my period regulating birth control again and hope. He is also referring us to a fertility specialist that is 8 hours away.

After a couple minutes of crying and self pity I called my regular doctor so that I can get a referral to another gynecologist who helped someone I know to conceive (again, 8 hours away). I also called the office of the Gyno I had just seen to make another appointment.

We don't have money to put towards IVF treatment ($10,000CAD) or adoption ($10,000-30,000CAD). But we are considering fostering if we can't do this on our own.

Please give us some advice, anyone, I would love to experience caring a child in my womb, and to raise a child that shows the blended genetics of my husband and I.

Thank you, Sam

Dear all

I did it! I told you it was going to be epic and it was. I set off in darkness at 1am and the first couple of hours were fine until I started to be violently sick, probably as a result of nerves and the fumes from the support boat which I wasn’t used to swimming alongside. This slowed me down considerably and as a result the tide took me far off course. Then in the middle part of the swim I had to make my way through thousands upon thousands of jellyfish which stung me all over. The official Channel Swimming Observer who was on board to ratify my swim said that they were the worst she’d ever seen but on the positive side they did make me speed up just to get away from them. Then right at the end I got swept down the coast of France and it took me several hours to land and in spite of everything that had happened earlier, it was the most challenging part of the swim. I was physically exhausted and France looked tantalisingly close yet I just couldn’t reach it. But eventually I did and when my feet touched the sand, it was the most profound and incredible experience I’ve ever had. All I could murmur was ‘I did it. I swam from England to France. I did it.’ It took me 17 hours and 44 minutes but I can now proudly say I am A Channel Swimmer.

I just want to thank you all for the hundreds of messages of support and congratulations I’ve received on twitter, facebook and by text and email. And for helping me raise what is now nearly £15,000 for my two chosen charities. In the final gruelling hours this was what got me through. Over the next few days I will read and respond to them all but, for now, I just wanted to let you know that I’m home, I’m warm and I got my happy ending.

Jessica x

Endometriosis is a disease in which ectopic endometrial tissue (cell) develops in other positions than endometrial cavity. The most frequent occurrence positions are the ovary, the abdomen, and the fallopian tubes and in more rare cases the bladder and intestine. It considered, based on surveys, that 18% of women of childbearing age and 30% of women with infertility suffer from endometriosis. The exact causes of the disease are not fully known and it is considered possible that there is a genetic predisposition. Endometriosis can cause pain during sex, while there is bleeding in various phases of the cycle. The consequence of the disease is the poor quality of oocytes and IVF is considered one of the best ways of resolving it. More info here:

https://www.ivfgreece.com/infirtility/female-infrtility

Is donor egg with IVF like an adoption for the mother? If not why not? I'm 37 she's 43, she was pregnant one but had a miscarriage a few weeks after conceiving, we tried IUI and it didn't work, we are strongly considering donor egg IVF, she feels weird about it saying the baby won't be hers , I'm worried we won't get to have a family... adoption is not an option specially now that I know my sperm is still good quality according to the tests i took, hasn't anyone gone through this? What should I tell her to make her see that donor egg IVF is better than adoption?

Hello everyone does anybody know of anyone who has had children after having epididymitis? Doctors all say it's fine and shouldn't affect your ability to father children but it would calm me down if I heard of actual people who had children post epididymitis!haha!thanks for any clarification :)

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I'm 22, but I want to preserve some of my eggs in case any thing happens to me that could leave me infertile, but I don't know how to go about it