Infertility Myth: It's impossible to have a happy life if you never have children.
Fertility Facts: There's no doubt that infertility is painful, and it can leave a couple feeling that something essential is missing from their lives. That said, it is possible to move on from infertility and have a happy life.
The decision to stop treatments and lead a child-free life is difficult, but it's also an important one to make consciously. Once made, it can allow you to seek closure on this part of your life, and begin the grieving process.
You'll never forget your experience with infertility, or forget the family you once imagined you'd have. But with time, you will eventually be able to enjoy life fully again, and not have your infertility at the forefront of your identity.
However, you shouldn't try to do this alone. Therapy can help.
More about finding help:
- How To Find a Therapist Who Understands Infertility
- Reasons to Seek Counseling
- RESOLVE Support Groups
Sources:
Frequently Asked Questions. American Society of Reproductive Medicine. Accessed May 10, 2010. http://www.asrm.org/awards/index.aspx?id=3012
Myths and Facts about Infertility. Resolve: The National Infertility Association. Accessed May 10, 2010. http://www.resolve.org/support-and-services/for-family--friends/myths-and-facts.html
Chandra A, Martinez GM, Mosher WD, Abma JC, Jones J. Fertility, family planning, and reproductive health of U.S. women: Data from the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 23(25). 2005. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_23/sr23_025.pdf
Nyboe Andersen A, Goossens V, Bhattacharya S, Ferraretti AP, Kupka MS, de Mouzon J, Nygren KG; European IVF-monitoring (EIM) Consortium, for the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE). "Assisted reproductive technology and intrauterine inseminations in Europe, 2005: results generated from European registers by ESHRE." Human Reproduction. 2009 Jun;24(6):1267-87. Epub 2009 Feb 18.
