What is infertility stigma?
Infertility stigma is an internalized or societal viewpoint which devalues people experiencing infertility.
What is the mental health impact of infertility stigma?
This can lead to increased feelings of shame and secrecy surrounding infertility or use of medical assistance to help create a family. This stigma can be self-directed; negative feelings can arise, like bitterness, sadness, worry, regret, and fear. You may also devalue yourself and experience low self-esteem, low self-efficacy, or feel incomplete. There is also societal-driven stigma which can lead to feelings of inferiority and often results in silence and secrecy. The combination these stigmas can lead to negative beliefs about your body betraying you or being defective.
How can I cope with infertility stigma?
Infertility is hard enough without feeling bad about yourself. Let us encourage some self-compassion and take a couple of steps toward increasing your resiliency and finding your emotional balance through your infertility journey.
1. BE EMPOWERED TO SHARE YOUR STORY
The American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) reports that 1 in 6 people experience infertility and this does not include LGBTQIA+ families using assistive reproductive technology. Talking about your infertility breaks the silence and secrecy and helps reduce the shame.; you’ll be surprised by who shares a similar story. Find a trusted friend or a mental health professional as a starting point.
2. FIND SOCIAL SUPPORT TO RELIEVE PRESSURE:
When experiencing infertility, it can be emotionally demanding and draining. It can be overwhelming and isolating. Ask for support from your partner or family; share how you feel or talk about something completely different. The goal is to not feel alone. If needed, you can look into a support group like this one https://resolve.org/get-help/find-a-support-group/
Through this process you will increase your connection and relieve some emotional burden. Many families and individuals are in the middle of infertility right now. My hope is the more we talk about it, we can collectively change the stigma.