After my husband and I had been married for almost two years, I went off the pill and started charting my cycles. I figured it might take a little time for the effects of the pills to wear off since I had been on them for over 12 years.

After 5 months and no pregnancy, we started timing sex hoping that would help, but still no luck. So after being off the pill for a year, we went to an infertility specialist for some testing. My husband was fine, but I had some issues with a thin uterine lining and thick cervical mucus. I tried aspirin and viagra suppositories, but they didn't do anything. My doctor told me my chances of getting pregnant without medicial intervention (hormones, insemination) were very low. My husband and I had agreed before trying to get pregnant that we didn't want any major medical intervention, so I told the doctor I didn't want to go any further. I left his office very upset but not convinced he was right. I was frustrated that he didn't even try to figure out what the problem was and wanted to go straight to hormones.

I tried to stop focusing on getting pregnant and stopped charting. After 15 months I knew my cycle pretty well. I started looking into other natural methods to increase fertility and even started looking into adoption. About 5 months later, I noticed my breasts were sore. Didn't think much about it. Just figured it was PMS. It took a week to dawn on me that I could be pregnant... and 2 pregnancy tests to convince me that it was true.

I guess time was I needed after all. I was very happy to go back to my doctor and debunk his diagnosis. I had a very uneventful pregnancy and now have a happy healthy 10 month old son. We just started trying for number 2. Hopefully things go a little faster this time!

Nikki's Story

We've been trying to conceive two-and-a-half years. Early on we knew there was some kind of problem with my husband's sperm. A year ago, I got pregnant spontaneously, but miscarried in the 6th week. After the miscarriage we decided to get serious and start IUI (intra-uterine insemination).

During the pre-IUI testing, we the problem with the sperm was more severe than we had thought and our doctor recommended that we skip IUI and go straight to IVF to avoid wasting time.

I insisted on trying naturally as long as possible and I truly believed that if we were patient enough we would succeed. I refused to take hormones. After just two IUI's, I got pregnant... only to discover that the pregnancy was ectopic. The pregnancy ended with bleeding in the sixth week and then with a D&C I could have lived without.

We took two months to recover before getting back on the roller-coaster. This time my doctor was able to convince me to take just one shot... It caused me to have terrible mood swings and nausea. And I didn't get pregnant.

It was time for something new, so we went to Safed, where we had heard about Eyal Politi. He too was not optimistic about my husband's sperm, but was ready to give us two months to try naturally before sending us on to IVF. After two weeks of taking the herbs he had prescribed, we went for IUI. Amazingly, the sperm quantity and quality was 50% better than it had been before. Still nothing to write home about, but definitely looking better! The IUI failed and we decided to take a break and work on our relationship that had taken a turn for the worse during the last several months.

During those months, we kept the doctor happy by showing up for the semi-daily ultrasounds, but slyly skipped the IUI's... We were just sick of our sex-life being taken over by doctors and labs.

And then, just when I told my husband that I was sick of it & that despite my age I was ready to quit and didn't care even if it would take another year... and I ate like a pig, drank, and smoked like there's no tomorrow... everything I shouldn't do... It happened!!!

I had really bad PMS and still no sign of my period... Two days late... I picked up a home pregnancy test & there they were -- two pink lines!!!!!

We're still at the beginning of the pregnancy - first ultrasound just a week ago (in the beginning of the 7th week) and we already saw a tiny pearl with an even tinier heartbeat!

So, there you are! Sending all you TTC's lots and lots of baby-dust...

Terri's Story

My husband and I started trying to conceive even before we were married (I was 31), within 2 months I was pregnant, but miscarried at 6 weeks (blighted ovum). I fell pregnant again naturally 3 months later and once again miscarried at 7weeks ( there was even a heartbeat). Completely devastated I approached a fertility specialist who ran all the test and discovered my FSH level was 21.

A month later it shot up to 40, the Dr then informed me that I was in premature menopause. At first I disagreed, as I was still having regular periods, although they had become a little scanty, but he advised me that there was nothing he could do aside from egg donation. I was lucky to find some one and within 3 months of my "diagnosis" I was pregnant with twins. To my horror, at 5 months I lost one of my precious boys (who would have thought that i'd have to go through more loss?). I managed to carry his brother till 38 weeks with some prem labour and lots of bed rest. My beautiful son is 15 months old and thriving.

I breastfed for 4 months and had to go back to work. I fell pregnant naturally the following month. Again, I miscarriaged at 7 weeks. My period had been quite regular but scanty. My gynecologist mentioned a young patient of hers who had come to her diagnosed with POF (premature ovarian failure), with FSH levels in the 70's and in full menopause (no period, hot flashes and confirmation of her condition by at least 3 doctors), but who had then gone for regular acupuncture and reflexology and within 2 months had a period and the following month she fell pregnant, she now has a healthy 2 year old daughter.

Needless to say I contacted the patient, got the number of the homeopath and started my sessions. I'm some what of a sceptic when it comes to alternative medicine, but I reckoned I had nothing to lose. I started in December and by the end of the month I had a much heavier period. Again in January my period was heavier than it had been for ages (I must admit I was a quite disappointed when I wasn't pregnant in January). By March the 21st, to be exact, I was pregnant. Three months of nervous, freaked out hell and we discovered I am going to have a boy, I am now 18 weeks pregnant and everthing is looking great, still slightly anxious-can't wait for the birth). The point is not to give up, quite honestly I had resigned myself to only conceive with donated eggs or adoption....goes to show you never know.