One in eight couples struggles with infertility. Nearly 12% of women have sought or received services for infertility. Infertility is tragically common. It’s also shrouded in secrecy. Many couples choose to suffer in silence, thanks to cultural stigma and messages about what infertility means. This can make infertility a deeply isolating experience. You might not know what to expect, or might think you don’t know anyone who has walked this lonely road before.
No matter how old you are, if you’re trying to get pregnant, you probably know that age matters. What you may not realize is that age is about more than a single number. There’s no way to predict any person’s fertility based on age alone. Some people remain fertile much longer than others, and individual factors such as lifestyle and overall health matter, too.
A miscarriage can feel profoundly isolating. You spent days, weeks, or even months getting excited to tell everyone about your pregnancy. Instead, all you’re dealing with is dashed hopes. And if you’re like many people who experience a miscarriage, you might opt to keep it private. That means you’ll have little support, and may even have to continue dealing with intrusive questions about when you intend to have a baby.
Many people do not expect that they are infertile until they want to get pregnant. Once this discovery is made, a whole new world of learning and decision making is revealed. Most couples are tentative about infertility treatment because of the money factor and they have a hard time believing they cannot accomplish pregnancy themselves.
Our modern society has become progressive in so many ways, but one area in which we could still use more work is the way in which we discuss infertility. For so many, “infertility” remains a dirty word, something that shall never be uttered let alone addressed head-on.
A subject no one really likes to talk about is infertility. It’s one of those taboo topics that can get really emotional for some people, and often leads to uncomfortable questions and thoughts. The truth of the matter however, is that anyone dealing with infertility is not alone. There shouldn’t be so much anxiety and fear about discussing a matter that affects so many people.
The majority of us were raised believing that getting pregnant is easy. Parents warn their kids to avoid sexual activity in their younger years, instilling the fear in them that they will get pregnant and be responsible for the child when they are still a child themselves. This lead most people to think that once they chose to settle down and get pregnant on purpose, all it took was a few romantic nights with the one they loved and, boom, a baby would be made.
Have you ever uttered the phrase, “Oh I wish I had a sign?” or “If only something would send me a sign?” If so, you’re not alone. When people are struggling with things in life, they seek signs to guide them, and tell them that they are on the right path.
So you have decided that it is time to see a specialist for infertility. This is not an easy conclusion to come to, and there are still many difficult decisions you will have to make from here on out. What is undeniable, though, is that you want a family. You are so sure of this you are prepared to travel into unknown territory, and that is admirable.
When a woman wants to get pregnant and is experiencing trouble, she is open pretty much to any advice she can get. It is understandable. All of those years that a woman takes birth control or uses other types of protection, or even completely abstains from intercourse in order to avoid pregnancy, just to have trouble achieving it when those precautions are set aside.
