There’s no easy way to put it. For many couples, the idea of having a child is one of the crucial aspects of having a fulfilling life. For many couples, however, it isn’t that simple. Fertility problems are something that 1 in 8 couples will experience. Having trouble getting pregnant or sustaining a pregnancy isn’t a topic that only affects a small range of people. That’s why we should talk about how we can handle those struggles.
This is a contributed post and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Meet The Harris Family.
Handling Your Struggles With Infertility
Talking about risk factors
First of all, it’s worth acknowledging that there are many different risk factors that can play a role in how likely you are to conceive and sustain a pregnancy. Certain bad habits, such as alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, excessive and low body fat can all play a role. There are other environmental and external factors that can reduce your chances of conceiving, too. Tubal disease accounts for 20% of cases of fertility troubles in women, and as we grow past the age of 35, our chances of conception drop dramatically as well. Many women suffer from hormonal imbalances that can interfere with their natural cycle, as well. By identifying risk factors, we can not only address and act on those that we can change, but we can better understand our chances regarding those we cannot change.
It’s not just a woman thing
Let’s not fall into the old and common misconception that trouble with fertility is a solely female issue, either. In fact, men are just likely to have trouble having children as women, but we talk about their risk factors less often because pregnancy is most often defined as a woman’s issue. Clinics like MCRM Fertility can help couples take a closer look at the male side of getting pregnant, including tests like semen analysis. For men, common risk factors include smoking and alcohol. Other medical issues like undescended testicles and a history of genital infection can decrease their chances of being able to conceive.
Don’t forget the mental side
There are a lot of fertility treatments that you can look into, but one side of the struggle that often goes under-looked is the mental and emotional toll of struggling to have a baby. Having a strong family and friend support structure can help. However, many couples feel that those who have never had the same troubles have trouble truly empathizing and understanding their feelings. Support groups like RESOLVE can be incredibly valuable sources of support. You will learn about other treatments that couples have had success with. But, you will also hear from those who share your perspective and learn what techniques they’ve used to cope.
Infertility is a fact of life, and for some, it may prove insurmountable. So many parents have love to give and space in their family, but simply luck out in conceiving that. In those cases, you should consider the other options out there. In any case, remember that there’s always help on hand.
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