Infertility is more common than you think

INFERTILITY IS MORE COMMON THAN YOU THINK

Infertility Fact: Approximately 1 in 5 couples have trouble getting pregnant or sustaining a pregnancy (CDC). Infertility includes primary infertility, secondary infertility, male factor infertility, diagnoses (can lead to hysterectomy), miscarriage/recurrent miscarriage, and menopause.
 
Infertility Awareness: The Church rightly celebrates the gift of a child and holds large families as a sign of God’s blessing and the parents’ generosity (CCC §2373; §2378).  What many people may not realize is that conception does not occur automatically or even easily for every couple.  Sometimes well-meaning people in the Church may assume that couples with small families, or no children, are not open to life. Such assumptions can be very hurtful to couples struggling with infertility, who are often dealing with a variety of factors outside of their control (such as age, medical conditions, etc.) in combination with a desire to follow the teachings of the Church regarding licit fertility treatments. When someone offers “helpful” advice or instruction on NFP or the Church’s teaching on contraception, the couple struggling with infertility or who experiences miscarriage may feel isolated and alone, even in the Church.
 
Action: Challenge assumptions you may make when you observe another family’s size. Perhaps the couple in the pew without children is suffering because of infertility; or the couple with one or two children wishes they could have more. Remember that while large families are beautiful signs of a living faith in God, small families—in a more hidden way—bear witness to trust in God’s providence through their acceptance of their crosses, and His unique plan of fruitfulness for their marriage.