For many families, the path to parenthood doesn’t follow a straight line. Infertility affects millions of couples, yet the emotional and physical realities behind it often remain unspoken. For Katy Wittman and Melissa Pipestem, two Oklahoma mothers, the journey looked very different—but both underscore the importance of awareness, support and seeking care.
For Wittman, the process began with a plan.
After marrying her husband, Collin, in 2017, the couple chose to spend several years building their life together before trying to have children. When they were ready, they expected it would happen naturally.
“And then nothing was happening… and nothing was happening,” Wittman said.
After months without success, she sought care from Dr. W. Ray Ford at Stillwater Women’s Clinic. Testing revealed she was not ovulating regularly and likely had endometriosis. An additional procedure showed one of her fallopian tubes was completely blocked.
“Looking back, I realized I had probably been dealing with symptoms for years and just didn’t know it,” she said.
What followed was a two-year cycle of treatments, appointments and waiting. Wittman underwent medication and procedures before ultimately pursuing intrauterine insemination (IUI).
“Emotionally, it’s super difficult,” she said. “You know you want something and you just wonder what’s wrong with you and when it’s going to be your time.”
Despite support from loved ones, she describes infertility as isolating.
“There was support, but it’s still a lonely journey,” Wittman said. “No two stories are alike.”
Dr. Ford says that experience is common.
“Infertility is a medical condition, not a personal failure,” he said. “Every patient’s situation is unique, and our role is to guide them with compassion, provide answers and help them understand their options.”
For Melissa Pipestem, the journey to motherhood stretched across two decades—though it didn’t initially feel like infertility.
She and her husband, Brian, had been together since their teenage years. Over time, life milestones—education, careers and daily responsibilities—took priority. Melissa also knew she had polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal condition that can affect ovulation, but she admits she didn’t always address it consistently.
“I always knew I needed to do a couple extra things,” Pipestem said. “But I just kept putting it off and then it was 20 years down the line.”
At age 36, she decided to seek care from Dr. Ford after hearing positive recommendations. Going into the appointment, she worried her age might be a barrier.
“He said, ‘I’m not worried about your age at all,’” Pipestem recalled. “That made a big difference immediately.”
With a clear plan in place, Pipestem began testing, including a hysterosalpingogram (HSG) procedure to evaluate her fallopian tubes. Within weeks, she received a trigger shot to support ovulation. Shortly after, she became pregnant.
“We started the process in May and we were pregnant by June,” she said.
While her outcome came quickly once treatment began, Pipestem reflects on the years of uncertainty leading up to it.
“I think I would have asked questions a long time ago and not been afraid,” she said. “There are things out there that are available and helpful—you just have to be brave enough to look into it.”
Both women emphasize that infertility is not only physical—it’s deeply emotional, often filled with cycles of hope and disappointment.
“It’s like a roller coaster,” Wittman said. “You get your hopes up, and then you’re right back where you started.”
They were grateful to have Dr. Ford and the team of nurses at Stillwater Women’s Clinic guiding them through it all.
“They were right there with us from the very, very beginning,” Pipestem said.
Today, both women are mothers—Wittman welcoming her daughter after IUI, and Pipestem her baby boy after years of waiting. Their stories, though different in length and complexity, share a common message: no two infertility journeys are the same, and no one should navigate it alone.
Dr. Ford encourages patients to seek care early and ask questions.
“The more we talk about infertility, the more we open doors to care,” he said. “There is hope, and there are options.”
For both Wittman and Pipestem, sharing their stories is part of that effort—helping others feel seen, supported and empowered to take the next step.
