Infertility is emotionally and physically devastating.

INFERTILITY IS EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY

DEVASTATING

Infertility Fact: Women experiencing infertility have emotional stress and depression levels “equivalent to . . . cancer, cardiac rehabilitation and hypertension patients” (Domar AD et al., “The psychological impact of infertility,”  J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol, 1993).
 
Infertility Awareness: Infertility is experienced as a deep suffering marked by longing and isolation. Some couples feel they cannot open up to close friends or family members about their struggles because these encounters are sometimes marked with unintentionally invalidating or insensitive remarks. Sensitivity to the suffering of infertility is not yet widely accepted in today’s culture, and so couples experiencing infertility can easily become isolated from others.
 
Action: If you know someone struggling with infertility, pray for them and tell them that you love them. Make an effort to listen intentionally when they choose to share their struggle, and refrain from offering advice unless they ask for your opinion. Ask the family member or friend to share what they need to feel supported. You could always invite them over for a meal that meets their specific dietary needs, offer to go along with them to a difficult doctor’s appointment, or simply give them a hug and let them know you are there for them.