This episode of the AllPaths podcast features Olivia King, a Rhode Island-based singer-songwriter who, through sharing her fertility struggles on social media, has found purpose in helping others feel less alone as they navigate their own journeys.

Olivia and her husband married with the immediate intention of starting a family. However, after trying unsuccessfully on their own and an unexplained infertility “diagnosis” despite normal or even "better than average" test results, they embarked on a difficult journey through three unsuccessful IUI cycles and multiple IVF attempts. Olivia recounts the devastating setbacks, including a first IVF cycle where only one out of fifteen retrieved eggs fertilized, and eventually no embryos were viable, leading to a significant decline in her mental health. A crucial turning point came when her husband encouraged her to seek support, leading her to AllPaths Support Groups, which provided her with much-needed hope, shared experiences, and practical advice, reflecting that, “just having someone who really understands the weight of infertility can make such a difference in how you cope with the struggles that come along with it.”

Despite switching doctors twice in pursuit of hope and solutions, Olivia's journey continued to be fraught with challenges, as doctors initially dismissed her long-standing, severe period pain. It was a third doctor who finally suspected and confirmed Stage 4 Endometriosis, a condition that had been "wreaking havoc" in her body for over 20 years and was likely the underlying cause of her "unexplained infertility". This diagnosis, despite prior dismissals from medical professionals, brought both validation and immense frustration at the systemic issues in endometriosis care and has made Olivia a vocal proponent of self-advocacy in the medical system. While Olivia doesn’t know where the next steps in her journey will lead, she now uses her platform and her music as a therapeutic outlet, partnering with Play it Forward to fundraise for AllPaths Family Building, turning her pain into a powerful purpose to educate and advocate for others.

Get a free download of Olivia’s song "In My Head" and watch the music video by donating to AllPath at https://www.playitforward.com/projects/olivia-king-fertility-fundraiser

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

Fertility treatment, IUI, unexplained infertility, IVF, gallbladder, patient advocacy, self-advocacy, endometriosis, endometriosis, excision surgery, MIGS surgery, family building, fertility journey, unexplained infertility, IVF experiences, endometriosis awareness, support for infertility, self-advocacy in healthcare, emotional impact of infertility, coping with fertility challenges, mental health and infertility, finding purpose in struggle, community support for family building, fertility testing, navigating fertility treatments, emotional support groups, growing your family, personal stories of infertility

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