| Once someone is diagnosed with infertility it is | | | | your gender and (3) a national infertility organization |
| completely common and understandable to | | | | like Resolve. If you are uncomfortable and want to |
| experience physical, mental, and emotional stress. | | | | remain anonymous in your first support group, |
| There are many ways to deal with this and a large | | | | experience you may try an online group or forum. |
| community of infertility support groups. To handle it | | | | You can search online using the words "infertility" + |
| all it is important to be informed and also to stay in | | | | "forum" and browse the results to find something |
| touch with and take care of your emotional needs. | | | | that fits your needs, or use Resolve.org's forums. But |
| Communicating with your loved ones | | | | the most common, and seemingly most cathartic |
| In communicating with the people you love it is | | | | way of support, is in person. |
| important to be specific, as it may be hard for them | | | | IVF Stories |
| to understand exactly how you are feeling. This can | | | | Another way of coping is hearing other people's |
| be frustrating for you. Be specific when describing | | | | stories, especially stories from people who went |
| your feelings. It is often very helpful to provide | | | | through with the same treatment options that you |
| reading material for your loved ones about infertility | | | | might be considering. These can be found through |
| to help them understand. | | | | support groups, by searching online, or going through |
| Infertility Support Groups | | | | a national fertility and are two great online resources. |
| Sometimes it can feel like your friends, family, and | | | | Fertility Massage |
| even counselors can't truly understand, no matter | | | | Fertility massage is designed to increase blood flow |
| how supportive they are. For this reason, many | | | | to the uterus and ovaries, strengthen the immune |
| people look to support groups for help. A support | | | | system, stimulate hormones, and, most importantly, |
| group is defined by Merriam Webster Dictionary as "a | | | | relieve stress. It's unknown if massage really |
| group of people with common experiences and | | | | enhances the chances of fertility, but without a |
| concerns who provide emotional and moral support | | | | doubt it is a great way to cut tension which can |
| for one another." Support groups offer good | | | | improve life in all sorts of ways. It can especially help |
| resources, hope, personal connections, understanding, | | | | deal with the stress of infertility. There are even |
| and friendship. Though many support groups can be | | | | instructional DVDs available in order to treat yourself |
| found online, it may be most helpful to find a support | | | | with self massage. |
| group through someone who knows you and/or your | | | | There are a lot of ways to cope with the stress of |
| area. Good resources can be: (1) your healthcare | | | | infertility and the options can be tailored to your |
| practitioner, who is familiar with your area and your | | | | specific needs and comfort levels. You are, most |
| specific case, (2) your local hospital or health care | | | | definitely, not alone. |
| facility, especially one that is geared specifically to | | | | |