Karen’s queer plus size fertility story is a compelling tale of resilience, advocacy, and finding the right support during a challenging five-year fertility journey.
As a queer individual in a sperm-less relationship, Karen knew their path to parenthood would be unique and medicalized.
Their journey, filled with ups and downs, ultimately led to the birth of their beautiful child. Along the way, Karen gathered invaluable insights and advice for plus size and queer individuals navigating similar paths.
A Queer Plus Size Fertility Story
Karen’s journey began with the understanding that getting pregnant would involve medical intervention.
Meeting their partner, navigating assumptions and biases from medical professionals, and enduring an unexpected cancer diagnosis were just the beginning.
Karen faced multiple setbacks, including a reproductive endocrinologist who made assumptions based on their size and prescribed medication without proper diagnosis.
Determined to find the right care, Karen sought second opinions and switched providers until they found a reproductive endocrinologist who treated them with respect and provided evidence-based care.
Their persistence paid off, leading to multiple rounds of intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in-vitro fertilization (IVF), eventually resulting in a successful pregnancy.
Despite the medical hurdles, including a critical decision about a fibroid removal and miscarriage, Karen’s story is one of triumph!
They ultimately gave birth and built a beautiful family!
Advice for Plus Size Individuals
Find the Right Provider: Don’t be afraid to seek multiple opinions and switch providers if you’re not comfortable. Karen emphasized the importance of having a compassionate, evidence-based care provider who respects and validates your individual health needs.
Ask Questions Upfront: Ensure your fertility clinic can accommodate your needs, especially regarding procedures like egg retrieval. Ask about their policies and experiences working with plus size individuals.
Advocate for Yourself: If a medical professional makes assumptions about your health based on your size, don’t hesitate to speak up. Karen shared how asserting their needs and clarifying their health status helped them avoid unnecessary medications and treatments.
Comfort Matters: If certain medical staff or procedures make you uncomfortable, request alternatives. Karen highlighted the importance of having ultrasound technicians who are skilled in working with different body types and requesting specific providers for comfort.
Advice for Queer Individuals
Seek Queer-Friendly Providers: It’s crucial to find medical professionals experienced in working with queer individuals and couples. Ask about their experience and comfort in providing queer-inclusive care.
Educate and Advocate: Be prepared to educate your providers about your needs and advocate for yourself. Karen shared instances where they had to correct assumptions and educate their providers on gender and pronoun usage.
Build a Support Network: Surround yourself with supportive individuals, including doulas, who understand and respect your journey. Karen’s doula provided crucial support, offering evidence-based information and emotional encouragement throughout the process.
Trust Your Intuition: Throughout their journey, alogn with the support of their partner, Karen trusted their intuition about what felt right for their body and their baby. This intuition guided their decisions.
By seeking compassionate care, asking the right questions, and trusting your intuition, you can navigate your fertility journey with confidence and resilience.
Listen to Karen’s full story and helpful advice during episode 217 of the Plus Mommy Podcast.
Recording & Show Notes: Plus Mommy Podcast Episode 217
Transcript happily provided upon request.
Resources Mentioned On The Show
- Listen to more queer plus size fertility and pregnancy podcast episodes and read birth stories.