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The Pressure to Become a Mom
You're engaging with friends, laughing, and having a great time. When suddenly, the vibes shift when the conversation changes. They continue to ask the same questions over and over: Do you want to have kids someday? So, when are you going to start trying? How many do you want? Suddenly, you feel a pit in your stomach. Social gatherings start to feel stressful and emotionally draining. How do you explain the pressure you feel when this topic comes up, especially after trying for so long? Infertility is often a private battle made even harder by societal expectations. Let’s explore the
Infertility Stigma and its Impact on Mental Health
Infertility affects millions of people worldwide, yet it's still a subject surrounded by silence, shame, and misunderstanding. Both men and women can experience infertility, but the stigma they face can often differ. The societal pressures and misconceptions don’t just affect how individuals feel about their bodies—they can deeply impact mental health, relationships, and self-worth. Infertility Stigmas Between Men and Women For women, infertility is often framed as a personal failure. In many cultures, femininity and womanhood are closely tied to motherhood, and when pregnancy doesn’t come easily, women may internalize blame. They might face subtle (or outright) suggestions that they're
Male Factor Infertility
I’ve heard so many times from women: “I hope it’s an issue with me, so I can just take care of it.” In true female fashion, many women would rather take on the burden of their family’s health, instead of watching their family members struggle. We often like to feel in control, and it’s hard to control fertility factors that are not happening in our own bodies. Roughly 40% of infertility is related to male-factor infertility, and sperm counts have been decreasing globally over the past few decades. Fertilization is a delicate process, and not just any sperm will be
Coping with Infertility: Setting Boundaries
Infertility is an incredibly personal and emotional journey and navigating it can feel like a rollercoaster of emotions, pushing us to feel in more “extremes” than we are used to feeling. One of the most challenging aspects of infertility is managing how much to share with others about our experience. Whether it’s family, friends, or acquaintances, everyone seems to have opinions, advice, and questions, and though often well-intentioned, its sometimes overwhelming, and occasionally…invasive! During this time, it’s crucial to set healthy boundaries to protect your emotional well-being AND protect important relationships. Setting boundaries isn’t about shutting people out; it’s about
The Emotional Toll of Infertility: Managing Stress and Mental Health
Stress and infertility are deeply intertwined. The emotional toll infertility has on expectant parents is immensely draining. From hormonal imbalances to lifestyle factors, the impact of stress on reproductive health is complex and often underestimated. By understanding this connection, you can empower yourself to manage stress and improve both emotional resilience and the chances of getting pregnant. What is Stress? The World Health Organization defines stress as worrying caused by a difficult situation. Infertility is a complex process that branches into many possible stressors. Some may find it difficult to accept that they cannot conceive naturally. For women, it is
PCOS Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments
As a society, we are gaining more knowledge around Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) to understand women's reproductive health better. Women are becoming empowered to conquer conditions like these through research and education. PCOS occurs when there is a hormonal imbalance affecting the ovaries. Any woman of childbearing age can develop this condition. PCOS is one of the leading causes of infertility, and several other complications like type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease. Symptoms present differently for each woman, making diagnoses challenging. However, recognizing an imbalance is the best way to advocate for proper diagnosis, treatment and knowledge to
Old Wives’ Tales for Infertility
Ava rolled over in bed as she heard the familiar “ping, ping, ping.” It’s 1:00 am? Who’s texting me? She grabbed her phone off the nightstand to see her group chat light up. Emma B: Oh my gosh, so sorry for the late/early text but my brain’s going 100 miles an hour after my appointment today, and I know I’m not the only one here with insomnia. Anyway, has anyone heard of/tried acupuncture… Ava clicks the silence notifications button, darkens the screen, and sets the phone back down. Been there. Done that. After tossing and turning she gives up and
Advocating for Yourself on the Fertility Path
You don’t know what you don’t know. I share my story in hopes to help guide others in finding out what questions to ask from the start and throughout your journey. One bright thing I see as a glimmer in my journey thus far - there is no lack of learning. Sharing the power of questions and how advocating for yourself on the fertility path is important. Categories of Your Fertility Journey Our reproductive endocrinologist recently told us there are three main buckets that make up the fertility journey: Medical Emotional Financial When we started this journey, like many, we
Harvesting Hope Event Recap
On October 24, 2024, we had the privilege of hosting our Harvesting Hope event at the beautiful Bass Family Farms, where attendees gathered for a memorable evening filled with connection, creativity, and community support to learn the art of charcuterie, led by The Hangry Lady. We were also able to raise over $1,500 for our 2025 Fertility Financial Grant Program—a cause close to the hearts of so many in our community. Below is our Harvesting Hope Event Recap: Sponsored by Corda Credit Union, Hosted by Bass Family Farms We are incredibly grateful to our sponsor, Corda Credit Union, for their generous support. Their commitment to making a positive impact
Taking Care of Yourself After a Miscarriage
After I miscarried, the recurring thought in my head was “I messed up. I’m broken. I did something wrong.” Physically, I felt like I was in the wrong body, or at least in a body that wasn’t mine. At that moment, I saw no silver lining. There was no highlight or higher purpose of something dying inside of me. In retrospect, I find value in that experience because my heart hurts in a different way for women around me when we talk about their losses. Everyone’s miscarriage experience is different, but my empathy grew exponentially after losing a pregnancy. Taking
