Maryam Khatami, a 36-year-old from Sacramento, California, is gaining widespread attention online for her candid documentation of the physical and emotional challenges she faces while battling infertility. In an Instagram video, Khatami shares clips of her husband administering hormone injections to her abdomen, some filmed at home and others in a clinical setting. “You can see from my face how difficult each day became,” Khatami captioned in Persian, later translated into English.
Khatami also shared how her husband’s health battle with two types of cancer influenced their journey. He preserved his sperm before chemotherapy, leaving us two options—IUI or IVF—since we need to rely on his banked sperm,” she explained to Newsweek.
Her journey, documented through an Instagram reel that has reached 29.8 million views, reveals the demanding reality of undergoing up to three abdominal injections daily. After three failed rounds of IUI, Khatami and her husband turned to IVF—a costly option amounting to about $35,000, with no insurance coverage, she revealed.
Khatami recently completed the egg retrieval phase and now awaits embryo implantation. Initially, she anticipated the process to take two or three months, but it has stretched to over six months. Complicating matters further, her doctor discovered a thyroid issue through a blood test that could increase the risk of miscarriage. As a result, Khatami needs to take medication for six weeks, delaying the embryo transfer even further.
Beyond the physical demands, Khatami emphasizes the importance of emotional well-being in managing the IVF process. “Hormonal medications can make it difficult to manage emotions and sensitivities,” she told Newsweek. “I recommend meditation or similar practices to maintain calmness and emotional stability during this journey.”
Khatami’s story resonated deeply with others, prompting thousands of supportive messages, including one from an Instagram user who shared that they had twins after 15 years of IVF attempts. “Stay strong and never lose hope,” they wrote. Another comment, posted in Persian, expressed heartfelt encouragement: “I’m sure the best is yet to come for you.”
Khatami emphasized the crucial role of her husband’s support in navigating this challenging experience, noting that having a supportive partner can make all the difference.
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