Betty-Ann's Story Posted Nov 21, 2005 My story is so much like everyone else's... and then again, so different. I remember wanting children my whole life; I always used to say "I'm having all my kids by the time I'm 30!". Needless to say, that didn't quite happen. After trying to become pregnant for two years my marriage basically fell apart. He blamed me... I blamed him... It was a big mess. I've had cervical dysplasia* and had to have three different surgeries on my cervix. The same year as my last cervical surgery, I was also diagnosed with Crohn's Disease and Colitis*. The same year I also had to have my gall bladder out due to gall stones. I was very very depressed. My doctor then told me (when I was 28) that if I wanted to have children, I had to have them now or I wouldn't be able to have them at all. I had also developed endometriosis*. I freaked out for awhile, but decided to leave it up to God. I promised myself that if I'm not married again or have any marriage prospects by the time I'm 35, then I will go ahead and be artificially inseminated with donor sperm and have my own child. I did end up meeting the man of my dreams and everything was going well. I told him of my infertility, and we started trying to conceive for a long 22 months. The doctor said that even though I have a lot of medical problems I still have the worst kind of infertility - unexplained. Just weeks ago I had another surgery for endometriosis and the removal of ovarian cysts. While the doctors were in there, they found my intestines have fused onto my left ovary. Just another obstacle to deal with!! They separated it and it took me a while to recover We have been going to a fertility specialist for a year, but I didn't want to get treatment until we got married. We were supposed to get married last year, but now my partner tells me that he's in no hurry... Next week I'm 35 years old and I still do not have the child I've been so desparately wanting. I have come to the decision to stick with my original plan. I've been thinking about this for 7 years. I completed all the proper paperwork and picked out my sperm donor. I plan to be artifically inseminated in October 2005. I'm so afraid it will not work... and also scared it will. I'm so different from everyone else, because I'm alone. There must be other women who are single and had a baby through the use of donor sperm... I wish there were more places to turn for advice/support. Good luck to everyone else out there and God bless you and your babies! ----- Cervical dysplasia - a premalignant lesion associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection which, over time, can turn cancerous. (see source) Crohn's Disease & Colitis - a chronic inflammatory disorder that usually affects the lower small intestine (the ileum) or the colon, but can affect the entire gastrointestinal tract. Endometriosis - Growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus. The tissue may attach itself to the reproductive organs or to other organs in the abdominal cavity. Each month the endometrial tissue inbreeds with the onset of menses. The resultant irritation causes adhesions in the abdominal cavity and in the fallopian tubes. Endometriosis may also interfere with ovulation and with the implantation of the embryo. (see source)