How to Cope with Infertility Issues in Marriage

Infertility is a very sensitive topic, and for many years it was not discussed openly as it is today. Now many bloggers and online groups feel more comfortable offering advice from their own infertility experiences.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2018, about 10 percent of women (6.1 million) in the United States ages 15-44 had difficulty getting pregnant or staying pregnant. You are not alone. Millions of men and women suffer infertility.

My business, KNOWHEN®, produces the ovulation kit, which uses saliva to accurately help women identify the best days for conception. In developing the KNOWHEN® kit, I have learned a great deal about infertility and met hundreds of couples who were trying to conceive, as well as many doctors who are experts in the infertility field.

It’s always painful to see couples struggling with infertility because they desperately want to have a baby and are doing everything possible to achieve that goal. Oftentimes this struggle leads to a feeling of helplessness and failure, especially when the young couple begins to feel as if getting pregnant is an impossible goal.

Infertility is a major life challenge for those involved, and it generally causes distress and disruption in people’s lives. It’s not just about ‘relaxing.’ A medical problem requiring costly and long-term treatment may need to be addressed. Furthermore, infertility can create a substantial financial burden for a couple, which can destroy their intimacy. All, infertility can cause significant emotional distress and interfere with one’s ability to function normally day to day.

I would like to share some advice I’ve gotten from people about their infertility stories. This advice may help you cope with the stress of infertility. A woman who struggled with infertility for 3 years before conceiving at the age of 46 offers what she learned based upon her experience with struggling with infertility. She is now the happy mother of a beautiful 3-year-old daughter!

Treating infertility can often take 6 months to 2 years (or longer), so you need to have patience. There are many factors involved in the process, and oftentimes challenges can’t be overcome quickly. The older you are, the longer it can take. Try to have reasonable expectations and tremendous patience.

While this may be difficult for many women to hear, overcoming infertility takes a lot of time each day. If you are a woman who works outside the home, you need flexibility in your job so you can schedule doctor’s appointments. Be prepared for your doctor’s office to become your second home for a while. Try to avoid starting a new job or relocating during this time.

While the stress of infertility management varies from person to person, infertility can cause a major strain on your relationships. If necessary, seek counseling. Don’t be embarrassed if you need couples counselling during this stressful time.

The clinical environment isn’t fun. You may find your husband doesn’t want to go with you to your doctor’s appointments. Learn what you need to do and what your partner might need to get through this challenge. Communicating with others is important, but keep this circle of people small. Couples should support each other.

A man who struggled with his infertility for several years but eventually welcomed a new son into their family. He emphasizes that it’s a very stressful time for everyone and suggests you listen more and speak less. Don’t blame each other. Find a common goal and focus on it. Open communication is the key to success.

Search for the reason you cannot conceive. Create a relaxed environment (whether at home, at the gym, in a spa, or anywhere) because infertility is a lot of stress, and you will need to escape and unwind. Most people will conceive naturally after having a baby with IVF. If a woman knows that she’s ovulating but is unable to conceive, she should then set up an appointment with a fertility doctor to check the health of her reproductive system.

If she is fertile and healthy, then the man should also have his health and fertility checked by a professional. If a woman is older than 35, it’s recommended to start fertility treatments after 6 months of open intercourse, but keep in mind that after age 35, many women may ovulate less often.

If you plan to have a baby, start with step one—check your ovulation cycle daily for at least 6 months. The KNOWHEN® test kit uses saliva to track when you ovulate. Irregular ovulation, which might cause infertility, can be tracked by the KNOWHEN test. Even if you are on fertility drugs, the KNOWHEN® test will show you when you are ovulating.

If you are not ovulating, you cannot become pregnant. Checking your ovulation cycle daily is the most crucial step in your quest to have a baby. You have a unique cycle that might not fit into the average time frame. The KNOWHEN® saliva ovulation test kit will reveal your own unique ovulation cycle so that you can make sure you are trying to conceive at the most opportune times.