Don't Take The Doctor's Word for It

I remember a few weeks ago I was watching either The Doctors or Dr. Oz.  The topic of discussion was infertility and women waiting later in life to have children.  They interviewed "experts" that were reassuring women that it is "safe" for them to wait later in life now than what previous studies showed.  They claimed that previous studies showed a decrease in fertility at the age of 35 or higher.  However, more recent studies have shown that women can wait as late as age 40.  One particular woman they used as an example was in her 30's and was overly cautious about her inability to have children if she waited much longer to try.  These "experts" dismissed her concerns and simply stated that she had nothing to worry about.

Needless to say I was absolutely appalled!  I think it's irrisponsible of the show to put a blanket statement out there reassuring women that it's "safe" to wait until the age of 40 to start trying to have children!  There are women out there watching the show that will accept whatever these doctors tell them as the gospel.  And then what happens when these women turn 40 and realize they are infertile??  Let's take my condition, premature ovarian failure, into consideration.  This is a condition that refers to the loss of normal function of your ovaries before the age of 40.  Even at the age of 35 I had little to no eggs remaining.  So how can you say that it's okay for me to wait until I'm 40?  If I had started trying to have children in my 20's, I probably would have been able to have my own.  Now, had I known then what I know now, I still would have waited until the "right time" to have children.  I don't regret waiting.. waiting for the right man and the right time for us.  However, had I known in my 20's that I suffered from POV, I would have frozen my own eggs and saved them in hopes that my right timing would one day come.  So my recommendation to all women who decide to wait until later in life to have children is BE EDUCATED!  We know our bodies better than anyone else.  Ask your ob questions.. demand fertility tests.. know what fertility tests need to be taken.. get second opinions.. but above all... listen to your body and your gut feeling!  There is nothing wrong or silly about how you feel or the decisions you choose.  Whatever you do, don't just accept what some doctor on a television show tells you!!