THE COST OF infertility

Infertility

is the worst club with the best members. Members are often called “warriors” and their symbol is the pineapple. You will often see in support groups, online forums and social media platforms that individuals use these terms and symbol as a beacon of hope and support. Oftentimes many women struggle in silence.

Resolve, the National Infertility Association, identifies that infertility affects one in eight couples trying to conceive or sustain a pregnancy to term, with one-third of infertility impacting the female partner, one-third affecting the male partner, and one-third a combination of both partners or unexplained infertility. Over the past several years, I have seen an increase in support groups, online forums, podcasts and social media platforms spreading awareness about infertility. Yet, we still struggle to talk about it. We don’t talk about the grief, loneliness, anxiety, depression and stigma. Did I also mention the cost of infertility both financially and emotionally?

Infertility affects each couple differently however. We live in a system where treatments are rarely covered by insurance. This puts another layer of stress on the couples already struggling with a variety of stressors since being diagnosed with infertility. The financial strain affects each couple’s decision on how far they are going to pursue treatments, be it medicated treatments, IUIs, IVF, surrogacy or adoption. Each treatment protocol comes with its own risks and benefits.

We don’t talk about the cost of infertility on our mental health. Why is it that couples that are receiving treatments don’t talk about their journey? My husband and I have a history of receiving treatments, and when chatting with friends and colleagues about our own personal journey, many of them disclosed that they also had a history of infertility. Yet we hide this from others. Doesn’t that put individuals and couples in a more emotionally vulnerable state and increase the feeling of isolation?

What I have learned about the worst club with the best members is that there are resources in the community and online to navigate during this difficult time in one’s life. Whether you seek out family, friends, support groups, social media or psychological services, talking about it can be vital for the cost that infertility places both financially and emotionally. In recent years, we have seen an increase in support through social media platforms spreading awareness, which has been a solace for many people.

As a counselor in the Fargo-Moorhead community, I have received training on infertility to help individuals and couples going through this challenging time to develop coping strategies to manage the emotions and symptoms that are associated with infertility, like anxiety, depression and grief. Whether you are just starting your journey, pursuing medicated treatments, choosing adoption, surrogacy or living a childfree life after infertility, finding support during this difficult time can play a key role in your cost of infertility.

SOURCE: https://resolve.org/infertility-101/what-is-infertility/fast-facts/