Infertility support groups are organizations formed to assist people who are struggling with infertility. Such groups can be found in many communities and may be organized through a hospital or fertility clinic, or independently. The group may meet in person on a set schedule and can also maintain online forums and chat rooms for people who want to be able to interact with group members at any time. Support groups can be beneficial for people at many different stages of infertility diagnosis and treatment.
Meetings of the group may be led by a mental health professional or someone with counseling experience, and they can also be led by experienced group members. People in the group can share as much or as little information as they like. At meetings, people can discuss their progress in diagnosis and treatment, ask for advice about what to expect and what to do next, and talk about the findings of diagnostic testing. People adjusting to a diagnosis of untreatable infertility can find assistance at infertility support groups alongside people receiving treatment, considering adoption, and exploring other options.
Infertility can be emotionally traumatic and many people find it helpful to interact with people who are having similar experiences. Being able to exchange advice, information, and ideas with other infertile people and couples may make people feel less alone, provide people with inspiration, and create an outlet for frustration and stress. People with infertility sometimes have difficulty expressing themselves to friends and family and may appreciate a space where they can talk openly with people who will understand what they are going through.
In addition to offering meetings and opportunities to talk, many infertility support groups provide other services as well. Counselors to accompany people to medical appointments may be an option, along with organizing to help people recovering from miscarriages or undergoing grueling drug cycles for fertility treatment. Members of the group may help around the house, bring food, and offer other forms of support to members in need. In addition, an infertility support group can help people find new parenting support groups if their treatments are successful. Some infertility support groups partner directly with groups for formerly infertile people to ease the transition and adjustment period for people who have undergone successful fertility treatment.
People interested in finding infertility support groups can ask for a referral from a physician, check listings on public bulletin boards in places like fertility clinics, or use their favorite search engines to look up support groups in their areas. Potential new members interested in information are often encouraged to sit in on a meeting to see if the group will meet their needs.