The hard stuff: Talking to your family about infertility

If you’ve been struggling with the emotional effect of infertility, you know that it can be a lonely path. Talking to your family about infertility can open the door to getting the support you need while undergoing infertility treatment in San Antonio.

Too often, family and friends will innocently or jokingly ask questions or make comments about when you’re planning on having a baby. The inevitable “When are you going to make me a grandparent?” questions really sting when you’re struggling to conceive. So, if you feel like your loved ones could provide the support you need, if only they knew the facts, you might want to tell them what’s going on.

Infertility is a medical issue like any other, and there is no shame in telling people you love that you need their support through this emotional journey. Of course, all families are different, but many patients have told us that educating family members can make a big difference.

What to share when talking to your family about infertility

Once your family understands that you are facing fertility challenges, it’s much more likely that they will be sensitive to what you’re going through and available to give you the emotional and physical support you may need. People coming to us for infertility treatment in San Antonio have shared several tips about talking to your family about infertility.

• Infertility is more common than many people know. As many as 19% of couples struggle to conceive while trying for a year, and 10% still can’t get pregnant even with two years of trying. Though you may feel overwhelmed at times, know that you are not alone. Educating your family about the prevalence of infertility may be eye-opening for them.
• Explain your diagnosis and feelings in easy-to-understand terms. Your family doesn’t necessarily need to know all of the details or see your actual test results, but it can help if they know the basics of the challenges you are facing and the emotional effect of infertility on you and your partner, if you have one.
• Share educational resources with your family. Our website is home to a wealth of good information about various fertility conditions and treatments. Sharing links to relevant information is a good way to provide facts about your situation to those who may start asking for more details.
• Ask for your privacy, if you need to. Sometimes, family members have good intentions to be supportive, but ask a lot of questions that may feel invasive. Set the boundaries early for what kind of support you need and expect.
• Share key milestones, if you are comfortable doing so. If your family knows you are going through IVF and have a procedure or pregnancy test coming up, they can check in and offer help and support when you need it most.
• If someone says something hurtful, it’s OK to explain why what they said was inappropriate. Comments such as “just relax and it will happen” or “there are plenty of babies waiting to be adopted” are not what you want to hear when your heart is aching for a biological child. Comments like these come from a place of ignorance, so educating those around you can help them speak more sensitively with you.

Of course, not everyone has a family member they can trust with something as private and painful as an infertility journey. If talking to your family about infertility would make you feel worse, it’s OK to protect your privacy. Your journey is your own, and you may feel better about reaching out for support from a trusted friend you can confide in.

Compassionate care to make it through the emotional effect of infertility

Our experienced team is here to help with every part of your fertility care journey, including dealing with the emotional effect of infertility. We can provide advice for you about talking to your family about infertility, and we are always here as a shoulder to lean on, too. Counseling resources are available if you need them, so never think you need to go it alone. Our compassionate team is here, cheering you on, every step of the way through your infertility treatment in San Antonio. Reach out anytime you need us.