You did everything right: the grades, the career, the relationship. You’ve always found a way forward. But this has completely rocked your world. Infertility is completely out of your control with no option to “try harder”. Everything you have worked towards is now being questioned.

According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 6 people are impacted by infertility. Yet, the conversation about infertility is limited — with people really only sharing their experience after they are holding their precious baby.

Infertility looks like:

  • Having many complicated emotions: loneliness, anger, guilt, shame, grief

  • Avoidance of social settings where you may be asked “when are you going to have kids?”

  • Feelings of betrayal by your body and self blame for your diagnosis

  • Obsessing and mentally burdened thinking about supplements, diets, medical appointments, insurance benefits

  • Feeling jealous and sad with every pregnancy announcement.

Infertility is hard and can feel like there is no end in sight. The roller coaster of hope and devastation feels exhausting and overwhelming.

1 in 6 people experience infertility globally, yet you feel like the only one.

Infertility

And the fear lingers: But what if it doesn’t happen for me?

People always seem to say the wrong thing when you share about your infertility. You find yourself biting your tongue or avoiding social situations altogether to avoid hearing:

  • "Just relax. It will happen when you aren’t expecting it.”

  • "Have you tried…” — Insert whatever therapy, supplement, diet, alternative medicine treatment is the latest craze. Like you haven’t looked into all of that already. Of course you have.

  • “You can have my kids” jokes as they complain about a parenting phase you would do anything to experience.

  • The “miracle baby” story. You know the one: they have a friend of a friend who naturally got pregnant after YEARS of infertility.

Infertility is disenfranchised grief. You are grieving a journey more complicated than you had expected, a change in identity, and the reality of a completely different future than what you had dreamed for yourself. You need a space to process the fears and reality of “what if I never become a parent?”

Tree swing over a lake with forest background
Wooden dock extending into a calm lake with forested hills and mountains in the background.

You are not alone.

What Therapy Offers

Infertility can feel like forever with no end in sight. And even if this period ends with a baby, infertility can leave a lasting impact on your heart.

In therapy, you can:

  • Process your thoughts and emotions without judgment

  • Give yourself compassion in a stressful situation

  • Unlearn unhelpful cultural or internalized beliefs about grief and parenthood

  • Learn grounding tools and coping strategies to help you manage grief and stress in daily life

  • Hold space to say the quiet part out loud

  • Build a support system and how to talk about infertility with them

  • Explore how to navigate relationships and intimacy

  • Reimagine and rewrite a new future narrative for yourself

Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)

Primary Ovarian Insufficiency, also referred to as premature menopause, primary or premature ovarian failure, early menopause, is a life-altering diagnosis. While often referred to as “early menopause”, this is a chronic condition that requires lifelong management by a team of providers for appropriate and holistic treatment.

As a reproductive therapist, I hold space for the complexity of your experience. I will support you in navigating the complexities of the medical system, how to effectively advocate for yourself, and rebuilding a fulfilling life after diagnosis.

FAQs