The Personal Issue of Infertility – Who do you tell???
Facing infertility is such a personal issue. We are more comfortable speaking about other medical issues but there is a stigma when it comes to speaking about challenges with our fertility. “How are you today?” “Well today I had a special Xray where they inject a special dye to check out my uterus and fallopian tubes” is not typically something you would be sharing.
Since I have been speaking about my experience I have been very surprised to hear some of my friends tell their stories about their experiences with infertility and the challenges that they faced. Rest assured, there are many stories out there. Sad, but true. You are not alone!
Is it hard to know when and how to start the conversation? Who do you tell? How much do you tell? Infertility is typically not a topic you would speak about at a cocktail party or around the family dinner table. It is a conversation charged with emotion and well-meaning friends and acquaintances want to be supportive but often fall short of the mark.
Everyone has their own opinion of assisted reproductive technology (ART) and how far they would go to build their family. Do you stop after a number of IUI’s? Do you go on with IVF? What about donor eggs/sperm? Surrogates? Unless you are in the world of infertility many of the techniques are not familiar and the details are lost on your friends and family. Their judgement can come through in the conversation and this is not a time for you to be judged. You and your partner will do what feels right for you. What feels right to one couple might be extreme for another.
With the support of a life coach you can tap into your own innate wisdom. Only you know what you need and what feels right to you and your partner.
January 3rd, 2009 at 9:29 pm
You’ve made a powerful point about the value of having a life coach during delicate situations such as infertility. With your wisdom and experience in this area, you’re prepared to support your clients with insight, compassion, information and guidance. THANKS for challenging women facing infertility to make the best personal choice for them. Way kewl!
January 3rd, 2009 at 10:00 pm
The Personal Issue of Infertility – Who do you tell??? | Andrea ……
We are more comfortable speaking about other medical issues but there is a stigma when it comes to speaking about challenges with our fertility. “How are you today?” “Well today I had a special Xray where they inject a special dye to ……
January 5th, 2009 at 8:40 am
This is an important issue. INVO Bioscience has a new technology, the INVO Cell, that allows a woman to have this conversation with her own doctor and begin to treat her condition without having to go to a fertility specialist.
January 8th, 2009 at 9:59 am
While I have never had this occur to me, I can see how it can be a very touchy subject to approach. A coach and support system is very needed in such a situation. However, it is nothing for one to be ashamed of.