Fighting the Infertility Stigma
As a fertility patient, have you ever felt as though there were a stigma associated with infertility? Fortunately, discussions about fertility issues are more familiar and widespread now. In vitro fertilization (IVF) isn’t the mysterious medical procedure it once was, and egg donation and gestational surrogacy are part of popular culture.
Even with this progress, there are still certain experiences that patients struggle with — perhaps the reaction of family members and friends to your journey to parenthood was insensitive or judgmental. Perhaps questions from even those considered well-meaning come across as harsh or painful. The stigma of infertility may be subtler at times than it was 10 years ago, but progress is still needed.
Becoming a fertility resource
Many fertility patients find that they become the go-to resource for information about infertility once they discuss their family planning path with family members and friends. This can be rewarding in the sense that it can deflate the myths and misconceptions about fertility treatment and lead to more fruitful conversations, but it can also be a bit of a burden because you’re responsible for someone else’s perception of the fertility community, and you want to get it right.
Patients who struggle with questions from those outside of the fertility community can rely on a variety of educational resources for information. Reputable, informative resources include:
- American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)
- Society for Assisted Reproductive Technologies (SART)
- RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association
If you have questions about support for fertility patients, please contact Washington Fertility Center today.