Introduction
I have found that in general most people make one of two assumptions when they hear that someone is childless.
- They must be selfish
- They must be infertile
Now those are two very quick judgement calls that are often misguided and as far from the truth as is possible. Of those who chose not to have children there are a myriad of reasons for which I am not qualified to write about or make assumptions.
A high percentage of those who are childless are so “not by choice” and infertility is just one of multiple reasons for not becoming a parent. Today’s posts are a selection of some of the ways a person can find themselves childless not by choice.
These articles are personal accounts that bring the reality of the facts and figures to life.
Stephanie Phillips
Founder of World Childless Week
Sperm Count, Morphology and Motility
After some time of trying to conceive with my girlfriend at the time, now my wife, we thought it would be beneficial if I had a Sperm Count Test to see if I had any problems with male infertility. So my doctor organised a sperm test at my local hospital, so I could provide a sample for analysis.
Unexplained Infertility
I realised something was wrong when I first started tracking my cycle about six months into the process of try to conceive. My basal body temperatures were much lower than the baseline on the chart I was using. This continued for four cycles until I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and started on levothyroxine. I thought this must be the problem and thought I had a fix. I was wrong.
Early Menopause
I was diagnosed with premature menopause in January 2012.
I had moved to London the previous March after a 2 year stint working in Shanghai and I hadn't managed to navigate the NHS and get set up with a GP so I was seeing the GP at work. I consider myself fortunate that my diagnosis was quick, some women have spent months or even years being misdiagnosed or battling with their GP for tests to confirm what they already suspect themselves but the GP I was seeing ran tests very quickly.
Negotiating Fatherhood
Dr Robin Hadley
The un-held hand
I am a man. I am not a father. In some cultures such a status brings direct condemnation and in others, the judgements are more indirect. My interest in not-being-a-father started my when having to select the research subject for my Master’s in Counselling dissertation, in 2008. The criteria for a suitable subject was clear in that it had to be something related to your own experience, and I, casually, said, ‘I was very broody in my mid-thirties.’ I recall my supervisor saying she had not heard of any research in that area and that it would be an interesting read. So began my interest in involuntarily childless men.
Uterus cancer
This year, an estimated 61,380 women in the United States will be diagnosed with uterine endometrial cancer. Uterine cancer is the fourth most common cancer for women. The incidence of endometrial cancer is rising, mostly because of a rise in obesity, which is an important risk factor for this disease. It is estimated that 10,920 deaths from this disease will occur this year. It is the sixth most common cause of cancer death among women.
Medical Menopause
I was diagnosed with severe endometriosis December 12th 2007 aged 31 after a laparoscopy and many years of pain.
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