I like big Schmeebs and I cannot lie

A few days ago I was talking to a fellow military spouse and she mentions she's going to have surgery at the end of the month. Surprised, I asked her why and she bashfully said, "For a breast reduction. After you have kids they just aren't the same. They don't look the same and don't stay where they are suppose to." Almost as an afterthought, she adds, "I also get really bad back and neck pain and sometimes migraines." Because she feels "pain", this procedure will be completely covered by Tricare (military health insurance). Then she explains that she's been trying to have it done for a long time now, but the waiting list is so long she just barely got called. Gees girls, just be proud of what you got and stop trying to change yourself! Anyways...

During our conversation my first thought was how many times I've wished I could get a breast reduction because I'm no amateur to the pain that comes from having large, voluptuous schmeebs. I've grown me some good ones. Oh how disappointed my husband would be to see them go ;)

Next, I naturally think about how this could possibly tie into anything having to do with infertility, because that's what I do. Infertility is constantly on my mind. Which sometimes tends to lead to illogical connections, especially if you combined that with the hormones I'm shoving into my body every night right now. However, this is not one of those times. This is completely rational.

Why does the military health insurance cover a procedure like a breast reduction and not IVF (in vitro fertilization)? See, rational. Thank you very much.

Trust me, the fact that I have big boobs is not nearly as painful physically or mentally as going through infertility. My boobs have never been the cause of heart aching, heart wrenching, heart breaking pain like seeing a negative line on a pregnancy test has been. Nor have my boobs caused marital stress, in fact they are sometimes the thing that prevents or helps relieve marital stress. And I just can't say that like IVF, my boobs have ever been a gigantic, crushing financial burden, unless you think spending $50 for a new bra qualifies. The pain that infertility causes is very real, very difficult and relentless. But Tricare seems to think that having big scheembs is more worth their resources to help fix then it is for couples who struggle to have children.

To all those who've had breast reductions, I'm cool with that. It may not seem like it, but I really am. I just want infertility to be recognized by my insurance as something a thousand times more painful and worth the resources to help with then a breast reduction.