You know that nagging feeling when something’s off, but everyone tells you, “It’s probably just stress (or hormones, or gluten, or Mercury in retrograde)”?

Let’s talk about Jenna Scott—a 31-year-old woman whose story is currently shaking up the internet. Jenna was healthy, fit, and excited about expanding her family when, out of nowhere, her body started waving red flags like it was leading a fertility parade. Abdominal cramping? Check. General unease? Double check. You’d think doctors would bust out their diagnostic toolkits, right?

Nope. Instead, they chalked up her concerns to “just pregnancy symptoms” or “maybe it’s IBS.” Fast-forward a full year of being brushed aside, and Jenna was finally diagnosed—with stage 4 colon cancer. If your jaw just hit the floor, you’re not alone. (Read the full Business Insider article here).

Why Do We Ignore Our Fertility Red Flags?

We’re living in the golden age of self-empowerment, but it turns out our health system still loves a good “It’s probably nothing.” Abdominal pain, weird cycles, fatigue—these aren’t just women’s woes or the side effects of trying to conceive. Yet so many of us, especially when navigating fertility, are tuned to ignore our bodies’ most urgent push notifications.

Why? Because hope—that this cramp means implantation, that bloating is a telltale sign of fertility, not a harbinger of doom. We want so much for our journeys to parenthood to go smoothly that we sometimes gaslight ourselves.

But here’s the thing nobody tells you: Your fertility journey doesn’t make you invincible to other health conditions.

The Pregnancy Symptom Trap: When Everything Feels “Normal”

It’s a cruel joke of biology that so many symptoms of “early pregnancy”—nausea, cramps, fatigue, spotting—are also the exact symptoms for, well, pretty much every major (and minor) health curveball out there. Your body is basically playing charades, and sometimes it’s the fertility version of “guess what I’m feeling?”

• Abdominal cramping? Could be ovulation, pregnancy, or...something else.
• Fatigue? Could be a baby brewing or your body fighting off something sinister.
• Bloating and irregular cycles? Yes, hormones. Yes, diet. Also, maybe seriously worth a peek with your doctor.

Jenna’s experience is a chilling masterclass in how easy it is to dismiss “minor” symptoms—especially when everyone expects you to exude glowy, pregnant energy at all times.

So, What Can We Do Differently?

This isn’t about turning you into a Dr. Google hypochondriac. It’s about learning to decode your body’s signals, especially during the emotionally-charged chapters of fertility.

Here’s how to advocate for yourself (and your potentially future baby):

1. Document Everything. Keep a journal or use a fertility tracking app. Note symptoms that are new, severe, or persistent beyond what’s “normal” for your body.

2. Know Your Baseline. If you know what your healthy looks and feels like, it’s easier to spot what’s off.

3. Find a Provider Who Listens (No, Really). If your concerns are brushed off, don’t back down. Ask for the tests, the referrals, the REAL answers. You are your best health advocate.

4. Lean Into At-Home Solutions—But Stay Critical. At-home fertility and insemination kits, like the ones from MakeAMom’s incredibly thorough resource hub, can give you more control, privacy, and awareness of your body. But listen—these kits are just one part of the puzzle. If your symptoms persist, don’t rely on any kit to explain away what’s happening. Use them as a tool and a springboard for deeper conversations with your healthcare team.

The Modern Fertility Mindset: Empowerment, Not Complacency

The big takeaway from Jenna’s story isn’t to panic every time you feel a twinge. Instead, it’s a nudge—a slightly sassy, loving nudge from the universe—to treat your instincts as valid data. Because the line between “normal fertility symptom” and “potential medical emergency” isn’t always clear.

In short: - If your cramps are sticking around longer than your favorite Netflix series binge… - If your “pregnancy symptoms” don’t track with your history or feel strangely new… - If you just know something isn’t right…

Trust yourself. Speak up. And keep tools like at-home insemination kits and detailed tracking apps as your allies on this journey—not your only line of defense.

Jenna’s journey is a tough reminder, but her courage to keep pushing for answers is the exact boldness we all need. Your fertility journey deserves both hope and vigilance.

So, what’s the strangest “symptom” you’ve ever ignored? Did it turn out to be nothing, or something more? Share your stories below—because in this community, every voice (and every twinge) matters.