April 19, 2019

Infertility can feel unbearable when a couple is trying everything in their power to get pregnant.   To add to the mix, it may feel like everyone around you is pregnant and friends and family can provide a myriad of opinions which may not be helpful or wanted.

The month of April is Infertility Awareness month.  Couples often feel ashamed to admit that they are struggling with infertility and it is often viewed as a taboo subject.  Studies show that one in eight couples to conceive and between 15 – 20% of all pregnancies end in miscarriages. Infertility does not discriminate; people of all races and socio-economic groups are affected.  Another misconception is that people associate infertility as a female disease, however almost half of all couples deal with male infertility. 

Regardless of where you are in the journey with infertility, it can be a painful struggle. While every couples struggle with infertility looks different, we have several recommendations to help you through the process. 

Seek Medical Advice:

It may sound obvious, but many couples who are trying to conceive don’t consult their doctor when they are struggling to get pregnant.  If a couple has been trying to conceive for more than a year, it is recommended to see a fertility specialist.  They can discuss the best treatment options including fertility drugs, surgery, surrogacy, and/or IVF (In vitro fertilization). 

Get Support:
No couple should struggle with infertility alone. Women often feel the stress of infertility isolating while silently grieving the loss of a failed pregnancy; the intensity can be compounded if month after month a couple is unable to conceive. 

Support can come in a variety of methods including support groups, counseling, or conversations with a friend. Many women find it helpful to talk with  other women who are either currently struggling or have struggled with infertility in the past.   There are even infertility counselors who specialize in couples dealing with infertility.

Find outlets to combat with stress:

Many women find infertility stressful, especially if they are undergoing IVF treatments.  While stress does not cause infertility, added stress is never helpful when trying to conceive.  Often couples find infertility adds stress to their work life, marriage, and finances.  Couples need to find healthy outlets to combat stress.  Workouts, meditation, yoga and laughter are all healthy outlets when dealing with infertility.