Infertility is defined as "a woman under 35 who has not conceived after 12 months of contraceptive-free intercourse, or a woman over 35 who has not conceived after 6 months of contraceptive-free sexual intercourse." Approximately 12% of couples struggle with infertility, so if you fit this criteria, you are not alone.
Unfortunately, many women describe infertility counseling as isolating and lonely. The frustration and disappointment are chronic, exacerbated every time a woman menstruates. If you are experiencing infertility, you may feel diminished as a wife or woman, you might be angry at every pregnant woman you see, or you might cry whenever you see a baby. It can affect your marriage and friendships. As a counselor with experience with infertility counseling, Tess understands the struggle of involuntary childlessness. Couples going through the complex field of Reproductive Medicine experience the loss of privacy, and painful, expensive medical treatment that may or may not result in a baby. Infertility can shake your confidence because you realize you are not in control, no matter how hard you try.
Counseling can help you by being a safe place to express your pain. Then you can begin to focus on how to make sense of your disappointment, developing resiliency in circumstances you cannot control. That in itself is empowering!