| Is infertility getting you down? Is your relationship | | | | technical information and advice level that does not |
| starting to get affected by the stress of being | | | | touch too much on your feelings or emotions, then |
| repeatedly denied your own family? Do you feel your | | | | you can do that. Secondly, most of these people will |
| family and friends are of no help since they all have | | | | have a deeper understanding of what you're going |
| babies of their own? Are you starting to feel alone | | | | through because they themselves are victims of |
| and isolated despite your partner's attempts to | | | | infertility. Many people who went to support groups |
| support you? This unfortunate situation occurs very | | | | formed life-long bonds with their group mates and |
| frequently among those diagnosed with infertility and | | | | have kept in constant contact outside of the group |
| you might need help. With the stress that infertility | | | | meetings. This level of understanding is sometimes |
| brings, the situation may become so difficult that it | | | | hard to come by through friends or even family that |
| becomes unfair to put the entire burden on yourself, | | | | did not have the experience of going through |
| your partner and your relationship, and your friends | | | | infertility. Warming up to the group may take some |
| and family. You may have to seriously consider | | | | time but the effects of opening up and sharing can |
| looking for an infertility support group. | | | | be very helpful. The group can help you through |
| An infertility support group is a congregation of | | | | some tough times if you let them, like dealing with a |
| people with shared experiences in dealing with | | | | failed attempt at assisted reproduction. This can be |
| infertility. Considering the fact that there are about 7 | | | | so heart-breaking that the relationship is put in |
| million American couples afflicted by the disease, a | | | | jeopardy, but a support group can relieve some of |
| support group is a natural step for people. There are | | | | the pressure off the relationship. They can also be |
| two kinds of support groups. One is peer-led where | | | | very helpful in helping you decide your course of |
| non-professionals organize and hold the meetings and | | | | action. The experiences they share can have a big |
| activities. These are led by people who have | | | | impact in your trying to decide on potentially |
| accumulated a lot of experience on infertility without | | | | life-changing surgeries or procedures. |
| the benefit of formal training. The other kind of | | | | With the internet, support groups can be found very |
| group is professionally-led, where a therapist or health | | | | quickly and with ease. Sites like Daily Strength or |
| professional will lead the group. These groups are | | | | Fertility Community are great starting points. They |
| often more formal and will have regular meetings and | | | | have tons of information not only on support groups |
| attendance fees. Do not confuse these therapist led | | | | but on the subject of infertility as well. They even |
| groups as an equivalent session of therapy, however. | | | | have online forums that can start you off in sharing |
| Even though many have found support groups to be | | | | your experiences with people. Although you don't |
| very therapeutic, it is still not a formal therapy | | | | meet the other people in the community personally, |
| session. If you feel that you and your partner need | | | | you get to talk to them through the net and maintain |
| therapy, seek counseling and formal sessions. Support | | | | a level of anonymity that can be very helpful if you |
| groups can still be attended to in correlation with | | | | are just starting out. Resolve: The National Infertility |
| these. | | | | Association is another great place to start. This |
| Support groups are designed to help you. Don't be | | | | organization has a great website that offers |
| intimidated or repulsed by the fact that you may | | | | information and many helpful tips in coping with the |
| have to share your life with a group of strangers. | | | | stress of infertility. The website also offers links to |
| First off, you really don't have to share anything. The | | | | their own Resolve support groups, which are |
| amount of things you open up to the group is totally | | | | scattered all over the country. Through the website, |
| up to you. Should you decide to keep things on more | | | | you can easily contact a Resolve group close to you. |