Amy Schumer shared a powerful picture on Instagram last night highlighting the dark realities of IVF treatment. Showing followers her bruised stomach - which occur when injecting the midsection with long, thick needles used for IVF - she detailed feeling ‘really run down and emotional’. Schumer asked for advice from women with experience of IVF, even sharing her phone number with followers.
‘I’m a week into IVF and feeling really run down and emotional,’ Schumer said on Instagram. ‘If anyone went through it and if you have any advice or wouldn’t mind sharing your experience with me please do. My number is in my bio. We are freezing my eggs and figuring out what to do to give Gene a sibling’
Schumer gave birth to Gene Attell Fischer, her first child, in May 2019. Her pregnancy had seen her hospitalised in November 2018 with hyperemesis gravidarum, which continued into her third trimester. ‘Still pregnant and puking,’ she said on social media in April last year. ‘Because money rarely goes to medical studies for women such as hyperemesis or endometriosis and instead goes to things like dicks not getting hard enough or old guys who want harder dicks.’
Having been diagnosed with severe endometriosis, Schumer also had to undergo a C-section to give birth which she said was ‘really scary’ and took over three hours. Schumer begins IVF just nine months post-partum, as she appeals for advice about how to handle the experience.
According to the NHS, IVF treatment has a 15% success rate for women aged 38-39 (Schumer is 38) and carries risks of multiple births, ectopic pregnancy and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. You can find out more about IVF here.
Schumer’s appeal for advice during the process has sparked a huge conversation about the realities of IVF treatment. Putting her phone number in her Instagram bio, Schumer thanked followers for showing her so much support and shared another image of her stomach to her stories drawing a smiley face on her stomach saying ‘we are not alone’.
In her Instagram comments, a number of women shared their experiences of IVF and the realities of how hard it can be on your body.
‘We did IUI nine times and IVF once and had twins,’ said Martha Lawson. ‘During that time, I felt like everything was falling apart and that I was crazy. I didn’t give the medicine the credit it deserved and blamed myself and everyone around me.’
‘I am currently doing IVF as well,’ added Nina Ansaroff. ‘The first couple weeks are the toughest. Stay busy and stay positive. My wife has helped me stay calm as I’ve been an emotional mess.’
Many women agreed the first few weeks of IVF were the hardest because the treatment includes injecting yourself with hormones that can cause mood swings according to the Society For Assisted Reproductive Technology. Many women, like Schumer, complained of feeling anxious and upset. In fact, some Schumer seek therapy throughout the process, one follower calling it ‘essential’.
‘I have been an IVF nurse in Atlanta for 25 years,’ Lisa Anderson commented. ‘What you are going through on all of these hormones is extremely normal. Just take one day at a time. In the grand scheme of things it’s only a couple of weeks. You can do this! Lean on your IVF nurse. That’s what we’re here for to be your cheerleader your support and your shoulder when you need it.’
For more personal stories on the realities of IVF treatment, check these out…