Fertility Socks

Much as many doctors may be dismayed to learn that one of their patients has been chatting in a "TTC Forum" (TTC = Trying to Conceive), I have found a couple to be great places for information, support and new ideas. Of course, if you are going to frequent said forums you need to remember to take everything with a grain of salt and refrain from questioning, correcting, or otherwise pestering your doctor with all the latest information you've gleaned from the ladies in your favorite forum. I really try not to do those things as I'm well aware that spending too much time thinking about symptoms will likely create them. As one wise woman wrote: "Lay off the Google, I've self-diagnosed myself with everything from Colon Cancer to AIDS, the only thing WebMD has given me is hypochondria."

Some of my favorite posts to read are from particularly, um, impressionable women who are often between the ages of 19-22. They come on the forums with posts listing symptoms of: backaches, nausea, headaches, aversions to smell, frequent urination, increased hunger and thirst...and then ask at the end of the list if the other women in the forum think these could be early pregnancy symptoms from having done the deed...2 days ago. You might think these girls are concerned because they DON'T want to be pregnant but most of them are "crossing their fingers and toes" hoping for a BFP (Big Fat Positive).

Perhaps this all sounds a little silly and much of it is pretty melodramatic but I've really had a lot of questions answered and been able to "meet" some really awesome women who are around 24/7 to support and cheer each other on. I think I've also been able to keep from calling my doctor with minor questions that I can get answered by women who have "been there, done that." Most of the above mentioned, somewhat funny posts come from the regular forums. I spend most of my time in the more Advanced TTC forums where you have to be either over the age of 35, have a diagnosed medical problem, or be at least a year into the process.

It was in this forum that I found out about "Fertility Socks." (See the link on the right side of this page) It was started by a woman going through infertility who found herself in a rather compromising situation on a regular basis- in stirrups -and we're not talking the horse-riding kind. As she was lying there one day, contemplating her lack of a pedicure and wondering if she had holes or dirty bottoms on her socks she came up with the idea of encouraging women with infertility by sending them fun socks to wear when they have procedures done. She also thought they might help as conversation starters so the nurse would have something to talk about other than the weather.

All someone has to do is enter their home address into the online website and a pair of socks is mailed to them! The creator of the site also asks that women experiencing infertility who want to participate purchase and send in their own socks...it's like one of those chain letters you got when you were a kid- only better! Send a pair of socks, get one of your own! I got my pair the other day, what do you think?!: