When someone struggles with infertility
Things they wish you knew
Emotionally
No treatment guarantees success. Staying hopeful while knowing this is a superpower!
The information overload and decision fatigue can be incredibly stressful.
Every step can bring loss, even on successful journeys, and setbacks often resurface past wounds.
Hormones, medications, and constant waiting amplify emotional ups and downs.
Fobias make it hard to even start treatment: needles & invasive procedures are a normal part of IVF.
It’s hard to find people who can truly hold space for your feelings without trying to fix them.
Socially
1 in 6 people experience infertility. Yet, being a private matter, most people feel isolated throughout this journey.
Family expectations, religious beliefs, and stigma can add pressure, especially for single parents, same-sex couples, or those facing secondary infertility.
Well-meaning but uninformed questions and advice can make the process even more exhausting.
Other people’s pregnancy announcements can be painful, leading to withdrawal from friends and social gatherings.
Going through treatment in a foreign country, language, or without a strong support network can make the experience much harder.
Logistically
Injections, and procedures must happen at precise times, some medications require refrigeration. This makes it difficult to plan life around treatment.
Managing work and medical appointments can feel overwhelming, especially when trying to keep things private.
For couples, syncing schedules for procedures, emotional support and decision-making can be stressful, especially if both are working.
Laws around embryo storage, donor options, and surrogacy vary widely between countries and even regions, making planning more complicated.
Not all fertility clinics offer the same level of care, transparency, or success rates, making choosing the right one an added stressor.
Financially
For many, IVF is simply unaffordable, turning fertility into a privilege rather than a right.
Procedures, medications, and add-ons can feel like a bottomless expense, with no guarantee of success.
Many costly enhancements lack solid scientific backing, making it hard to know what’s truly worth the investment.