Infertility is without a doubt a life altering experience.  From your self esteem, to your plans and dreams for the future, relationships with friends, family and even your spouse can all be affected.  Sadly, attention seems to be focused on the physical aspects of infertility, and the emotional aspects often go ignored and untreated.  People just don't realize how emotionally challenging and overwhelming it all can be on a couple.

Because infertility is such a personal and private issue, many couples are hesitant to share their experience openly with friends and family.  Avoiding questions and curiosities about "when you are having children" can end up driving a wedge between everyone close in your life. As a result, many couples suffer intensely and end up feeling isolated.  However, they are not alone.  In fact, 15% of all married couples experience infertility with all the feelings and frustrations that go with it.

In this section, we will look at the emotional stages of infertility and strategies to deal with them.  We hope that this section will help you in coping with your own feelings and in coming to a resolution that is comfortable for you.  With time, patience, support and knowledge, most people eventually come to terms with their infertility.

Realization and Acknowledgment

Evaluation and Diagnosis

Treatment

Resolution