[Stronger]

I guess it's not a huge deal, but it does make me feel a little worthless sometimes. I don't have a husband yet, but I've always wondered if some guys won't want me because I can't get pregnant...

I've always wanted to be a foster parent for teens (when I finish college). Does anyone have any experience with fostering or adopting they want to share?

Or infertility experiences?

What's the point of having a uterus and having to deal with monthly hell if my uterus doesn't even do what it's designed to do

It's a huge deal if you think it is.....

Personally, I wouldn't want to marry a man who's main criteria included "human incubator". If he loves you, he will want to find a way to have a child with you, blood related or not.

I don't have any personal experiences, but know that science makes advances every day.

[technigal]

I have severe PCOS. I was told at 16 that I would never get pregnant, for someone who loves babies it was hard to hear. Fast forward 16 years and I met my husband. He didn't really want kids and so my infertility was not an issue for him but he did agree to try. I got pregnant without fertility drugs when I was 35, our son is now 8.5 years old. I lost another baby when I was 40. We did try again and with fertility drugs but I became severely allergic to the medication. My infertility has caused me a lot of heartache over the years, for some people it is not an issue but for me it was.

We are looking at adopting in the future. I was in the foster-care system and adopted when I was 5.5 years old, so my only personal experience is as a child.

[JLarissaDragon]

Reality is that some of us cannot get pregnant anytime we want. In my case I could get pregnant but only was able to carry one of my 4 pregnancies through to term. The other three I miscarried in the first 2 months.

I know the maternal instinct is strong in most of us, but sometimes worrying too much about it in advance makes it worse. If a guy really loves you and cares for you, he will accept you whether or not you can produce babies.

[hamster-bamster]

Metformin increases the chances of conception as well as prevents diabetes. I take it for diabetes prevention, but by chance found out that it also increases the chances of conception (not relevant for me) without the side effects of major infertility treatments. It is not considered an infertility treatment, possibly because it does not increase the chances that much, but - something is better than nothing. I would go see an endocrinologist and ask for a trial of Metformin. If you do not have side effects, you can take it for the rest of your life simply to keep the blood sugar in check. Metformin was developed in 1920's, so it is by now proven safe and is very cheap.

[Strive4health]

I also have PCOS and I have received a lot of criticism lately about how "bad" it is that I don't have children. Most of the time people don't care to learn about your health issues and how they affect your ability to plan and have children. Over time I learned I have to figure out a way to live with my infertility and health issues and not let anyone make me feel less than a person. It's so hard though.

Originally Posted by Strive4health

I also have PCOS and I have received a lot of criticism lately about how "bad" it is that I don't have children. Most of the time people don't care to learn about your health issues and how they affect your ability to plan and have children. Over time I learned I have to figure out a way to live with my infertility and health issues and not let anyone make me feel less than a person. It's so hard though.

I imagine that the comments affect you in a way that goes very, very deeply. They must be almost two separate issues.

As an aside, thank you for making me more careful in what I say and how I say it.

[tealBumblebee]

I was just recently diagnosed with PCOS in December and, though i'm young and not married or looking to get pregnant now, I too loooooove kids (always have planned to have 5) and it was a blow to my confidence. I don't know about your particular experience but I have heard about many people, with PCOS at least, still being able to have children (though it takes a little longer) and my doctor ended up having a set of twins with his wife (who also has PCOS). I now have more hope that I may just be graced enough to at least have a child of my own but I look at it this way - i've always said that I wanted two of my children to be adopted (like you and your foster care) and maybe - what if that is what we were put on this earth for? Maybe not necessarily to conceive on our own, but to be the source of compassion, safety, healing and nurture to the lost and forgotten souls (children) out there who deserve the kind of love that maybe only someone in our situation can give. I do believe there is a purpose to all things, and I do believe that you can/will find someone who will cater to your heart and love you beyond your uterus.