62 www.Char l e s tonWomenPodcas t . com | www.ReadCW. com | www. Ins t ag ram. com /Char l e s tonWomen According to the Center for Disease Control, 19% of heterosexual American women aged 15 to 49 cannot get pregnant after one year of trying. Per the Cleveland Clinic, approximately 10% of men in the United States suffer from infertility. However, families across the country are not letting these numbers stop them. Thanks to science constantly evolving, infertility now comes with various treatment options and, often, a happy ending. While the exact causes of infertility are not always understood, they often include hormone disruption or medical conditions. No matter the cause, the process of testing for infertility and undergoing treatments is physically and emotionally trying for those that embark on such a journey. Dr. Cici Carter married her college sweetheart Cody Cooper at age 29. Soon after, Carter went off birth control to prepare for pregnancy. She realized that she was unaware of her menstrual rhythm; her cycle was anywhere from 35 to 50 days. In 2016, Carter got pregnant but unfortunately miscarried weeks later. After that, trying became a way of life. With a family history of infertility, Carter knew she could possibly need intervention. However, she was reluctant to subject herself to hormone and fertility treatments, citing her disdain for needles as the primary deterrent. She briefly considered in-vitro fertilization (IVF) at this point. However, when Carter was referred The Greatest Gift of All Unique Journeys through Fertility BY I SABEL ALVAREZ ARATA Ci c i Car t e r, husband Cody and son Col ton . Charleston Women in Wellness
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