Unlocking Hope: Navigating PCOS and the Journey Through Infertility

For as long as I can remember, being a mom has always been my dream. I never imagined that getting pregnant would be difficult. Honestly, I don’t think anyone who struggles with infertility ever expects it—but once it becomes your reality, it sticks with you.

Before the Diagnosis

After my husband and I got married, we decided I would stop taking hormonal birth control (HBC). It wasn’t necessarily because we were ready for a baby yet, but more so because I had been struggling with side effects: migraines, anxiety, mood swings, and weight gain—just to name a few.

I wanted to focus on healing my body, and if in the process we ended up pregnant, we were open to that. Honestly, we expected it to happen naturally.

One Year Later

A full year after stopping HBC, I began experiencing irregular, painful periods and continued to deal with other hormonal issues. Around that time, my annual OB/GYN appointment was coming up, so I figured—who better to ask for help?

Wrong.

At that appointment, I was completely dismissed. The doctor told me, “You’re young. Hormone issues at your age are normal.” I left with no answers and no direction.

The Search for Someone Who Would Listen

Frustrated, I began doing my own research into hormone health and possible causes of my symptoms. I also started looking for a provider who would truly listen and support me.

One day while listening to a favorite podcast, I heard an ad for Modern Fertility, an at-home hormone test. I figured, why not? I ordered it and had my results in hand—now I just needed someone to go over them with me.

I found a compassionate midwife at a local OB/GYN practice who was willing to listen. She reviewed my Modern Fertility labs, carefully considered my symptoms, and right away suspected Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). She ordered additional labs and an ultrasound, which showed one large ovarian cyst and several smaller ones.

Finally—Some Answers

For the first time in years, I felt heard.

Being the researcher I am, I dove headfirst into learning everything I could about PCOS—how it affects the body, what healing protocols exist, and what lifestyle changes might help me regain balance.

I changed my diet, started exercising, added supplements, and focused on hormone health. And to my surprise, I started feeling better!

But Something Was Still Off…

Even with all the positive changes, my cycles remained irregular. More testing revealed that although I was having periods, I wasn’t ovulating. My midwife diagnosed me with anovulatory cycles and explained that if we wanted to conceive, we might consider using a medication to induce ovulation.

I was grateful a tool like that existed—but it still broke my heart. After all the hard work I’d put into healing my body, it still felt broken.

Round One: Letrozole

We decided to move forward with letrozole, starting in April 2023. I was nervous, but hopeful.

Letrozole is taken on cycle days 2–6, followed by a two-week wait before taking a pregnancy test—the longest two weeks of my life.

When the day finally came, the test was negative. I’d seen many negatives before, but this one hit harder. After taking the medication and getting my hopes up, I was crushed. What is wrong with me? was all I could think.

Round Two

I went into round two with low expectations. I did everything the same as before, but this time, I tried to stay distracted and not overthink it.

The night before I was supposed to test, I told myself, “If this doesn’t work, maybe it’s time to take a break.” The mental and emotional toll of infertility had become overwhelming.

But to my surprise, something I had never seen before appeared on that tiny little screen…

Two pink lines.

I couldn’t believe my eyes. Honestly, it didn’t feel real until I was holding my baby in my arms.

(Check out my birth story post here if you haven’t already!)

The Journey Changed Me

This road was not easy. There were tears, questions, prayers, and moments of hopelessness. But through it all, I found strength I didn’t know I had—and a deeper passion for supporting others on a similar path.

If you’re currently in the trenches of infertility, please know you’re not alone. I’m always here to be a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, or someone to celebrate the small wins with.

My inbox is always open.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.