Infertility is the inability to conceive, and it is hard when you discover that it is stopping you from starting a family. The most difficult thing about it is that after all the unsuccessful treatments come feelings of helplessness, low self-esteem, and loss of control. This medical condition touches every aspect of your life and it presents a great amount of stress. As overwhelming as your situation may feel, there are ways to deal with it and reduce your anxiety.
Facts About Infertility
It is normal to feel like this is happening only to you, but the truth is quite different.
- It is estimated that one in six couples are dealing with infertility every year.
- In the United States alone, more than five million people of childbearing age experience infertility.
- The majority of couples do survive the infertility crisis and some say that it even deepened their relationship.
- Pregnancy is not the only pathway to parenthood.
How to Come to Terms with Infertility
Before considering adoption, it is not uncommon for several years to go by as prospective parents struggle with medical treatments and loss. There are healthy ways of managing infertility stress, so you should do your best to keep yourself from being in a constant state of grief.
- The first step is to understand that your feelings are completely normal. Allow yourself to feel angry and sad. Try not to bottle up your feelings, since that won’t do any good to you or your partner.
- Share your questions and fears by talking with your fertility specialist or with other people who have also experienced infertility problems. There are a lot of support groups and online forums where people share their stories, and it is good to read or listen to them and even contact someone whose story has inspired you.
- Work as a team with your partner and do not blame each other for your difficulties. If you take care of each other emotionally, you can unite to overcome your obstacles.
Adoption After Infertility
Adoption after infertility means a redefinition of your concepts about starting a family. The chances of building a family through adoption are quite high, but entering this new mindset can be hard for some couples. Try to answer these questions to determine if you are ready to stop your infertility treatments and start thinking about adoption.
- Is it difficult for you to start a new cycle of treatments?
- Do you feel like you’ve put your life on hold in order to pursue parenthood?
- Is your relationship suffering?
- Is the idea of being a parent more important to you than being pregnant?
If you find yourself answering yes to these questions, maybe it is time to redefine your family-building goals. Just remember that if you have survived an infertility fight, you can survive just about anything.
After deciding to stop infertility treatments, adoption is a natural choice for many couples. Adoption after infertility means setting your hopes for something new. Once you get started, you’ll have a new goal to focus your energy on: building your family through the miracle of adoption.
