I Always Wanted to be a Mom... Someday

But I wasn't thinking about motherhood, or my health, when I was in college. I felt invincible like most college kids do.

After I graduated, I got a job and met a good man who eventually became my husband. It was just like I planned.

When the time felt right to start a family we tried without luck for about a year.

Not sure what the problem was, I made an appointment with my doctor.

At the appointment, my doctor told me he was including tests for venereal diseases with my blood work.

I laughed it off.

Not me. No way. After all, I'd gone in for regular check-ups and always been fine.

When the doctor came back with the test results, he told me I had chlamydia — the most common of all sexually transmitted infections.

He said I'd likely contracted it a number of years earlier. I didn't understand how this infection could have lived in me all that time without my knowing it. My doctor explained that chlamydia often doesn't cause any symptoms in women, and many doctors only test for it if their patients request it or show symptoms.

Then in a follow-up visit, my doctor broke the most devastating news of all — I wasn't able to get pregnant because the chlamydia had damaged my fallopian tubes.

I had surgery to try and clear the scar tissue, but it didn't work. Next we tried in vitro fertilization — twice — without success.

Heartbroken, we had to face the reality that we would never be able to have a child.

I'll live forever with infertility caused by an undiagnosed case of chlamydia. Telling my story brings back that pain, but I hope others can learn from it.

Don't take chances with your health — talk to your doctor about getting tested.

- Megan