Keeping the Faith vs. Keeping it Real

Before I finally took the plunge and seriously pursued IVF, a couple of friends encouraged me sharing positive experiences they heard from others. One friend has a sister who is currently pregnant after just one cycle of IVF. Another friend has a friend who is my age, and who is also pregnant after one cycle of IVF at Kato. Very encouraging, right? Yes, a bit. It's just that I realize people only share these experiences when the results have been successful. People don't talk about the frustration and heartache of failed attempts. So you only hear about successes. In fact, yesterday, during our visit to the clinic, a couple visited with their 6-month old baby. I think seeing the healthy baby there buoyed our spirits and fuelled our faith.

Statistics show that the success rate for my age range is 42% (see data here). That's roughly one in every two females who try. At forty, the success rate drops to 29%. I am almost forty so I am guessing the success rate is about 35%. Actually, if I think about it, the odds may be smaller in real life. The statistics refer to pregnancy rate PER EMBRYO TRANSFER. So, one way of looking at the success rate is one successful pregnancy in two or three tries. As of now, we are only planning to go for one cycle. Also, the data doesn't say whether the pregnancy has been carried to term. I bet some of these pregnancies were not carried to full term, specially among women of advanced age. Just keeping it real.

I am reminded of Sarah, Abraham's wife. She was 90 years old when she received the news that she is to have a child. She laughed in disbelief. I guess, at that age, disbelief is to be expected. I mean, she was physically way past childbearing age - even for that time period when people had much longer life expectancy. Anyway, we all know how that story ended. She gave birth to a son, and God's promise to Abraham was fulfilled - he became the father of a great nation. 

So, the odds are against us. But God is bigger than statistics. He is the God who gave Abraham and Sarah a son in their old age. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. If it is His will, it will happen. I just have to trust Him. Yes, I am keeping the faith.

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24