If you’re struggling with infertility, the world can feel a little lonely at times as you navigate a sea of options. But you’re not alone. Many people are going through the same thing you are, and they can offer support, advocacy, and information. Here’s a short roundup of organizations, support and educational web sites, and infertility blogs we recommend.
- RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association is a well-known national organization advocating for and supporting infertility patients. They offer support groups around the country, publications, a directory of providers, and much more. They also advocate on a national and local level for policies and legislation that affect the infertile community. The Walk of Hope is their annual community and fundraising event; see if there’s one near you! They also sponsor National Infertility Awareness Week every year.
- ReproductiveFacts.org is the patient-centered site from The American Society for Reproductive Medicine. It’s an exhaustive guide to fertility, with a complete topics index, lists of publications, and directories of providers. You can also keep up on the latest scientific studies and discoveries in the fertility field.
- People dealing with infertility know how emotionally difficult it can be. The Infertility Therapist is a blog addressing the emotional aspects of experiencing infertility. It’s written by Lisa Rouff, PhD, a clinical psychologist who specializes in infertility counseling.
- Trained therapists can help with individual sessions, workshops, and support groups. Try asking your own clinic to see if they have any recommendations for therapists specializing in infertility issues. For example, The Genetics & IVF Institute, our parent company, offers support groups and workshops for fertility patients in Northern Virginia with professional therapist Phyllis F. Martin. RESOLVE provides a thorough list of professional services around the country aimed at infertility patients and features a directory of mental health specialists.
- Creating a Family is the national adoption and infertility education organization, offering blogs, radio shows, and much more. They pride themselves on being an unbiased source of information about all things related to family building. Recently they hosted a radio show on Preserving Your Fertility When Diagnosed with Cancer, featuring Dr. Michelle Ottey, from Fairfax Cryobank, our sister company and Dr. Stephen Lincoln and Lauren Haring, Co-Founders of the Fertility Preservation Center for Cancer Patients at GIVF.
- Bloggers can be a great support network if you’re feeling isolated, especially when they’re written by someone who’s already walked in your shoes. Sometimes a new perspective or a dose of humor can really help. The Infertility Voice is great jumping-off point to other blogs, more information, and support. Another blog to check out is The Stirrup Queens. It was created by author Melissa Ford; she blogs on many topics, including infertility, and her site offers humor, insight, book reviews, links to other bloggers and peer counselors, and lots more.
These are just a few places to start looking online (and in real life) as you search for answers and hope on your infertility journey. Know of another great resource or blog to share? Please share it in our comments or on our Facebook page!
