Women's Health

Barbara Collura is the Executive Director of RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, a non-profit organization with the only established, nationwide network mandated to promote reproductive health and to ensure equal access to all family-building options for men and women experiencing infertility or other reproductive disorders. RESOLVE is a member of the National Health Council. The National Health Council brings together diverse stakeholders within the health community to work for health care improvements.

Do you ever feel like you are the only person in the world struggling with infertility?  You’re not, and you don’t have to face infertility alone.  A support group, whether professionally-led or peer-led, can help you feel less isolated, empower you with knowledge and validate your emotional response to the life crisis of infertility.

Decreased Sense of Isolation
Perhaps one of the most important benefits of participating in a support group is a decreased sense of the isolation so many people feel when they are experiencing infertility. In a support group environment, feelings of anger, depression, guilt and anxiety can be expressed, validated by others and accepted as a normal response to the infertility crisis.

Support group members often experience  a special bond and sense of shared identity between group members. By sharing feelings, accomplishments, losses, and humor known only to those who experience infertility, members can develop strong emotional ties to one another.

Freedom to Express Negative Feelings
Freedom to express negative feelings and to identify with one another helps participants realize that they are not alone in their struggle with infertility. They can experience a sense of emotional relief from expressing their honest feelings and receiving support response from others. Members who may already have a highly supportive network of family and friends can find that a group provides a place to continue to share feelings without overburdening loved ones.

By offering a safe place to express and explore the feelings generated by the infertility experience, support groups help participants move toward a positive resolution of this difficult life crisis.

Learning to Develop Effective Coping Skills
Support group participants learn to regain previous levels of coping or to develop more effective coping skills. Members find assistance in coming to terms with difficult emotions and stresses inherent in the infertility experience, such as the effects on one’s personal relationships, self-image and sexuality. By sharing information and resources, learning how others’ have coped with similar problems and witnessing the coping styles of others, members can improve their own problem-solving abilities. Groups offer members realistic feedback as they try out new coping strategies, learn to be more assertive with health care professionals and share their infertility with significant people in their lives.

Couples who are having difficulty communicating with each other about their infertility can gain a better understanding of their partners’ reactions to infertility and learn how to support each other during times of stress.

Enhanced Self-Esteem
Group members benefit from enhanced self-esteem when they improve their coping abilities. A sense of emotional strength can return as one gains a sense of perspective and control during a difficult crisis such as the infertility experience. Emotional energy can be made available to address other life issues and challenges that may have been put on hold.

Find Out More

When you participate in a support group, not only are you getting emotional support, you’re also getting appropriate information about where to go to get good treatment.

If any of the following statements apply to you, you might benefit from a support group:

• I’m feeling lonely and isolated
• I have very few people to talk with about my infertility. No one understands
• Everyone I know is pregnant or has children
• My partner is the only one I have who provides emotional support
• Infertility is affecting my work and career
• I feel that my life plan is out of control. I’m having trouble navigating through my medical treatment options
• I can’t decide when “enough is enough”
• Holidays and coping with family and friends is becoming more and more difficult.

RESOLVE:  The National Infertility Association offers support groups throughout the country, making support available to people experiencing infertility who may not able to get support from their family, friends or community.  To find out about support groups in your area, visit www.resolve.org.