Kat tried to conceive for a year using IUI from a known sperm donor (Emily’s husband’s brother). When that didn’t work, Kat sought fertility treatment and was diagnosed with PCOS. Because her PCOS had been undiagnosed throughout her life and she had never used contraception, the unopposed estrogen from her anovulatory cycles had caused endometrial cancer (stage 1, grade 1). Using fertility-sparing treatment (a Mirena IUD and oral progesterone), Kat was cancer-free within 6 months and was able to try IVF, which they were able to access because they had moved to MA. After two miscarriages and four years of trying, Kat was pregnant with her daughter Alice. That pregnancy, Kat experienced a long-term subchorionic hematoma and her daughter had a marginal cord insertion, induced at 41 weeks. Kat developed chorioamnionitis during the long labor and antibiotic treatment led to both her and her daughter developing thrush. With her second pregnancy with her son Sam, Kat had another subchorionic hematoma. That birth led to an induction due to what ended up being a gallstone attack, a postpartum hemorrhage and blood transfusion, and a postpartum period affected by Covid. Her partner Emily is currently pregnant with their third and final baby, through mutual IVF.
Kat Fabel Bio
Kat and Emily live in Florence MA with their 4 year old daughter and 2 year old son, and are expecting their third child in August 2023. Contact Kat via email: katfabel@gmail.com
Resources
- Facebook groups for queer couples trying to conceive, as well as facebook groups for trying to conceive after endometrial cancer
- If you have PCOS or irregular cycles, and especially if you’ve never used birth control, consider getting screened for endometrial cancer
- If you are having trouble conceiving, it is recommended that you see a reproductive endocrinologist sooner rather than later, it would have saved us a lot of time, money and pain
- If you are doing IVF or fertility treatments after cancer, Boston IVF has been amazing and has reproductive endocrinologists specifically trained in fertility treatments after cancer
- DECIDE is a national organization that maintains a really helpful list of IVF insurance coverage by state, including how they define infertility (especially regarding same-sex couples). If you call your insurance company to ask questions about what type of fertility cover they offer, ask to speak to the fertility nurse or fertility specialist rather than whoever answers the phone because it can be complicated
- Joining a postpartum group (our hospital runs one for new parents) was a great way to meet other new parents and talk about sleep/food/other issues
- TushBaby Carriers
- Lactation consultants saved my breastfeeding journey – our pediatrician had one at his place, check if yours does too!
- Listening to all the birth stories (Obsessed with The Birth Hour? I also loved Australian Birth Stories)
Required
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