#StartAsking: What is #NIAW?

Posted on April 19, 2016 by admin

Over the course of this year, we, at the ART of Infertility have been busy generating new content to connect you with stories and artwork representative of infant loss, miscarriage and infertility advocacy. We have been grateful for how many of you have shared these stories on your social media pages and have engaged through commentary with this content.

This week, though, it may seem that we are a bit quieter than usual. And this is for a reason — we will be prepping stories for National Infertility Awareness Week (#NIAW).

Beginning April 24 – April 30 (#NIAW week), we will be featuring a host of stories asking the general public to #startasking about issues and topics related to infertility — a topic that often isn’t thought of until you find yourself going through it. Given how so many fail to really realize what infertility is until they are confronted with it in their own lives, our mission during this week be to reach out to those who often have very little contact with the topic of infertility.

While many of us in the infertility community frequently share our stories and try to make infertility more visible to the general public, we believe that #NIAW offers a unique moment to connect with those who often are not infertile and ask them to join us in becoming an infertility ally.

To provide a little preview we are sharing with you all a little more information about what #NIAW is and how to begin #startasking. We ask that you, too, share this across your networks and invite future allys to engage in the conversation!

Danielle, our social media college intern, provides some #NIAW info on how others (like herself who are not infertile) can join the conversation:

Why #NIAW? This week is all about spreading awareness of infertility issues to people who may not be sure of what it exactly it means. Not only is it a time for people to bond over their stories and situations, it is also a time to create a conversation that can educate people on all different aspects of infertility. Many people go through issues when trying to conceive and this is the week to spread the word. You can learn more about how support the infertility community here.

What does #NIAW talk about? One message that is important to spread to others during this week is that many people go through struggles when trying to create a family and that it is okay to talk about it. When I first joined this project, I was an outsider who did not realize how many people are affected with these issues. The amount shocked me and I wondered why I didn’t know it before. It seems that many people do not feel comfortable sharing their stories because they don’t want to admit to people that they are going through fertility treatments because it would make them feel judged or “less than”. This is completely understandable because when people don’t know anything about a topic they usually resort to myths and stereotypes that are not true. This is the week to challenge those stereotypes and to give people a better understanding of the reality of infertility.

How can I become an #NIAW ally? Ultimately, this week is all about community. It is a time where many people connect with others and create lifelong bonds and friendships that they might be lacking in other aspects of their life. Going through infertility is something that many people can’t possibly understand or relate to because they have not gone through it themselves or are uneducated on the topic. This week allows people the opportunity to meet others who understand exactly what they are going through and can talk about their situations free of judgment. It is also creating a new community with family and friends who may not be aware of the anger, frustration, and many other emotions linked to fertility problems. By starting the conversation with them, they will have the ability to learn about the emotional rollercoaster and the medical terms and conditions that surround infertility. You can check out RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association’s website for a list of tips and resources for individuals to become better educated on the topic of infertility.

How Can We Keep the #NIAW Conversation Going? Once this week is done, it is important to not let the conversation about infertility die off until this time next year. By continuing to talk and raise awareness for the issue, many people are going to feel better about discussing their own issues, allowing the infertility community to grow and expand which will give people the courage and support that they might need. Taking the opportunity to talk about infertility in your daily life will help relieve the stigmas and bring attention to the important matter. And, remember, you can always #startasking!

We look forward to launching #NIAW with you on April 24th and invite you to always #startasking!

Myth: You’re Alone in Your Infertility Journey

Posted on April 18, 2016 by admin

When I was first diagnosed with infertility, I felt like I was living on my own deserted island. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to tell people about how overwhelmed, sad, and lost that I was feeling. It was that I didn’t know who I could tell that would understand. I remember telling one of my good friends to which they responded, “Oh, don’t worry Maria. It will happen, you guys are young. You just have to give it time.”

I remember thinking, “No, you don’t understand. You don’t know how difficult it is for me to even get out of bed in the morning. You don’t know how upset I get when I see a pregnant woman pushing a cart in the grocery store. You don’t know how angry I get when I see a family taking a walk around my block. You just don’t know how deeply these little, everyday activities can trigger feelings of intense sadness.”

Maria, with her husband Kevin, who have now lived most of their 5-year marriage with infertility.

For a while I didn’t think I would meet anyone who would understand how I was feeling. And so I started to isolate myself – from my family, friends, even partially from my husband. I felt that I didn’t have anything to worthy to contribute to conversations or events, so I just removed myself from them.

My feelings of wanting isolation, however, began to change when I made the decision to attend RESOLVE’s Advocacy Day in 2014. Tired of living on this so called “infertile desert island,” I convinced my husband to make the drive from Grand Rapids, MI to Washington, D.C. to maybe start doing something about my frustration and isolation rather than just complain about how I was feeling.

How one decision can change your life. Seriously.

While at Advocacy Day I began to feel like I was taking action to not just change my life but the life of thousands of other infertile men and women silently suffering with the disease, the most impactful takeaway were the friendships that I formed. Particularly, my friendship with Elizabeth Walker.

Maria and Elizabeth in San Francisco, CA in July 2015 for the ART of Infertility.

For Elizabeth and me May 2014 was our first Advocacy Day. Both of us were representing the state of MI and so we spent most of the day together walking the halls of Congress handing out letters and asking our representatives to sponsor infertility related bills. Perhaps it was the experience of doing something totally out of your everyday that helped form such a strong bond. Or perhaps it was simply a friendship that was suppose to be. But whatever it was – Elizabeth and I both knew that we found another person who we could confide in and who simply got one another.

Since Advocacy Day in 2014, Elizabeth and I have worked together on the ART of Infertility. Traveling to numerous states, hosting art and writing workshops, dropping in at prominent fertility clinics to talk about the project, talking about infertility at academic conferences, and even mentoring young college interns about infertility. We are busy but being busy has also saved me – made me feel like I am being productive, no longer wallowing away on my infertility island.

I often think what my life would be like if I never met Elizabeth. Thinking about this, I get lost and overwhelmed. Our friendship has been integral to my healing, to my strength and to my commitment to always advocate on the behalf of those who are infertile. She has become not just my infertile sister, she’s simply Liz – my big sis.

And so while there are a million different reasons to consider attending Advocacy Day this year on May 11th, one of the most powerful reasons to attend is because it could quite literally change your life through the friendships you may form. If I never met Elizabeth that May 2014 during Advocacy Day, my life would not be what it is today. So, I encourage you all – if you are feeling alone, in despair, frustrated and ready to make a change – come to Advocacy Day where you will be greeted by hundreds of other infertile women and men who understand exactly how you are feeling. You will be amazed.

Advocacy Day isn’t just about coming together to advocate for infertility rights, it is also about coming together as a group that has been told their stories shouldn’t be told, their stories don’t count enough to be considered for legislative action. It is a coming together as a force of women and men who have become friends from across the U.S. to change how we think, talk, and support issues of infertility. Advocacy Day is powerful as it is a pure embodied display of how the coming together of friendships can make change.

Join us!

11258027_10153382892881742_8366723738360121719_n

Maria and Elizabeth outside the Capital Building during Advocacy Day 2015.

News Roundup – April 15

Posted on April 15, 2016 by admin

A few stories that caught our eye this week.

-Elizabeth

VETERANS: Murray Amendment to Cover Reproductive Services for Injured Veterans Passes Key Committee

“This amendment is about fulfilling our promise to the military families who we ask to sacrifice and serve our country on our behalf,” Senator Murray said. “I’m so proud to see Democrats and Republicans working together to move this forward, but I know this is just the first hurdle. I will be fighting to see this through to the end so this country can keep up its commitment to care for our veterans and their spouses who dream of having a family.”

More babies, fewer multiple births, are resulting from assisted reproduction

Los Angeles Times

Melissa Healy

“In 2014, between 22% and 31% of women undergoing infertility treatment were electing to have just a single embryo transferred, with women under 35 choosing that option at higher rates than women over 40. That rate of “elective single-embryo transfers,” however, remains much lower than physician groups have called for.”

Assisted reproduction is on the rise in the United States, resulting in the birth of 65,175 babies in 2014, says a new report. (Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)

Infertility issues take financial, emotional toll

The Tennessean

Hollie Deese

“We’re trying to find out about exactly how much all of this is going to cost,” she says. “I’m still paying on treatments that I did in 2010 with my ex-husband. We had to take out a loan for our treatment we did in November, and we’ll be paying on it for two years. We don’t want to put ourselves in a horrible financial situation.

“There are so many times that you just want to give up and say, ‘I’m done.’ Then, you think of the big picture, that you really want to be a parent, and you’ll do whatever it takes.”

Jessica Ray at her home in Gallatin. The 31-year-old Gallatin photographer still hopes to become a mom one day despite her infertility issues.
(Photo: George Walker IV / The Tennessean)

Reflections on Advocacy Day from Infertility Professional, and Patient, Lindsey

Posted on April 14, 2016 by admin

Bringing you another personal story by way of my interviews in Columbus a few weeks ago. Lindsey, who is both an infertility patient, and a health care professional in the field, shares why advocacy is important to her. Thanks, Lindsey, for sharing your story!

Elizabeth

“I practice as an OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner and specialize in infertility. I was an RN and worked in the cardiac ICU and then case management so nothing women’s health related. Then, my husband and I got married and started trying to get pregnant. We had a lot of trouble. I felt like the nurses and other people I encountered along the way as a patient had a complete lack of knowledge of what to do with me. It’s a specialty field so I feel like it’s not necessarily the nurses’ fault. I just think, in general, it’s an area that people don’t know anything about unless they work in it. Physicians don’t necessarily do as much or know as much as they should before you end up getting to a specialist. I feel like there’s a lot of wasted time. I decided to go to grad school so I could help other people.”

Lindsey at work in her Columbus, Ohio OB/GYN office.

“I want to share my story because infertility is just not talked about enough. People don’t know enough about it, or realize that it impacts so many people. It won’t be such a taboo topic if it’s something that people are actually aware of. It’s been so hushed and so unspoken that people don’t know enough about it to care enough about it.”

“The first year I went to Advocacy Day, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, really wanted to get professionals there because they think that the senators and representatives take well to professionals who see infertility on large scales. I find it extremely frustrating that legislators, and people in general, don’t fight for coverage for IVF and insurance for those with infertility. Working in the field, we pay for type 2 diabetes in people who have poor lifestyle choices, we pay for lung cancer in people who have smoked. We cover all of these diseases that are, not always but many times, preventable. Infertility typically is not, yet there’s no coverage for it. It’s such a disparity in medicine that we don’t treat a disease like infertility. That’s something I push at Advocacy Day. We cover preventable disease, we cover self inflicted disease, and we don’t cover this.”

“If people are nervous about going to Advocacy Day, I think that once they go, they’ll want to go back because it’s empowering. They’ll feel like they’re making a difference then they won’t question it again.”

– Lindsey

Please consider joining ART of IF and Lindsey in Washington, D.C. for Advocacy Day on May 11th.

Art through the Infertility Poetry of Michelle Baranowski

Posted on April 13, 2016 by admin

There are many different forms of artwork that brings people comfort. While some enjoy painting or music, many enjoy poetry instead. Michelle Baranowski is one of those people who find comfort through writing poetry. Poetry is yet another way for people to vent out their frustrations and let the world know how they really feel in a creative way. It is a way to express the pain and sorrow that one is feeling and give people the chance to read and relate to it in a completely personal way. In her poem “The Middle Place”, she explains what it is like to be stuck in between utter happiness and devastating sorrow.

While other kids were saying they wanted to be an astronaut or a princess, Michelle always wanted to be a mom. She could have never guessed at that age that she would not be able to accomplish her lifelong dream of conceiving a child. As she grew up, her childhood innocence was shattered and she realized that it was never going to be as easy as she thought it would be.

When Michelle was a young adult she came out as a lesbian so she knew that there was going to be a less “organic” way for her to conceive. She just knew she was going to have to go about becoming a mother in a different way. Still, she believed that it would happen and couldn’t foresee the struggles that she was going to face in the future to accomplish her lifelong dream.

She is now 30 years old and, after years of trying, she has still not had the ability to get pregnant. It has been a long journey of pain and sorrow, as well as constantly getting her hopes up only to have them smashed by each negative result. She feels as if she is just coexisting in the middle place between pure joy and devastating pain, which is something that many people dealing with infertility can relate too. She decided to share her poem with others so that they can catch a glimpse of what she is feeling as she continues on this journey to having a child.

You can listen to Michelle read her poem, or read it yourself, below.

– Danielle

Michelle, right, with her wife Mandy on their wedding day.

The Middle Place

by Michelle Baranowski

I often talk about the middle place.

The waiting space.

It’s where I find myself most.

Weighted down by time, suffocated by hope.

Not moving forward, not falling behind.

Just walking in circles.

Convincing others “I’m fine”

Incarcerated by a love that burns through the skin and seeps out through weepy eyes.

Anchored by a financial hole I’ve fed, pleading the promised success isn’t a lie.

Like trying to fly a kite, teeming with bricks.

Like a bird, dreaming to fly, with it’s beautiful wings clipped.

Like trying to breathe underwater.

Only to learn you’ll survive.

drowning on the inside, yet seemingly alive.

When the house seems too big

but the accounts are too small

when we learn about families growing

with an anxious, happy call.

Like a bullet to the chest, but with my smile on tight.

My soul defeats and decides whether to fight or to flight.

Sometimes I can get out “I’m so happy for you”

And other times, a nod and a smile is all I am able to do.

The weight of sadness and worry follow me all of the time.

Fretting over savings accounts, credit cards and counting each dime.

Not knowing if our efforts will take flight or be in vain.

Its enough to make even the soundest person insane.

I wish that I was brave.

I wish it was easy to decide

Weather to move on from all of this

Pushing lifelong dreams aside.

I wish I knew for certain that one day I would hold in you in my arms and not just my heart.

It would make the fight all worth it.

Knowing we would never be apart.

So the middle place is where we continue to be.

Waiting, and saving in painful hope.

Waiting for you to set us free.

Oh the Places We Go (Like Houston, TX): Reflections on the Relatability of Art, Poetry & Medicine

Posted on April 13, 2016 by admin

Lots of our followers and contributors to this project have a personal connection to the ART of IF. Many of you have either faced your own infertility journey, suffered from infant loss and/or even perhaps miscarriage. We love sharing pieces of art with the vibrant infertility community that exists in the world. Yet, our mission at ART of Infertility is also very much about expanding audiences – beyond the infertility community – to raise awareness and understanding about infertility, infant loss and miscarriage to a more general public.

Art workshops, we find, are an accessible, low-stakes activity that can help facilitate conversations about these topics of loss with others who may have little or no experience with the topic. Our event in Houston, TX last week is one such example of how we use the project to raise general awareness about the reflective power of making art with medical objects.

We made connections between art, poetry and medicine more apparent by participating in a Feminist Action Hour hosted at the annual College Composition & Communication Conference. This conference attracts a wide array of professors and graduate students teaching and researching writing at the collegiate level. For many of these attendees, their research and teaching interests pertain to social justice and interdisciplinary issues – such as communication practices between physicians and patients, gendered communicative experiences of medicine, and even tensions of being a mother/father while working in the academy.

Participants and materials at the Feminist Action Hour workshop in Houston, TX.

Given these diverse interests, the Feminist Action Hour hosts pedagogical workshops to create space for engaging and teaching about these important topics with our students and our colleagues. Examples from last year can be found here: http://cwshrc.org/newwork2015/

As a Writing and Rhetoric graduate student, Maria Novotny’s (project partner with the ART of Infertility) research examines the ways in which infertile men and women make meaning and share this meaning making through art and writing. Given this, Maria invited the ART of Infertility to participate in the workshop by making pieces of blackout poetry with medical consent forms.

Maria instructing participants and answering questions at the blackout poetry workshop in Houston, TX.

Why medical consent forms and why blackout poetry?

This workshop was inspired by the artwork of Jo C., one of our ART of Infertility participants. Jo created this beautiful piece of black out poetry, titled My Consent which she gave to us to share through our permanent collection. To learn more about the piece, you can read about it on Jo’s blog.

My Consent by Jo C.

Medical consent forms and treatment procedures serve as central technical documents, frequently studied as genres in professional and technical writing. Rhetorically these forms reinforce depersonalized medical practices and the greater public’s perceived objectivism of medicine/science.

Medical and feminist rhetoricians have increasingly called for shifting the object of study – beyond “how health and medical texts get produced” to inquiries examining “what embodied users bring to these encounters” as health artifacts (Scott, 2014; Bellwoar, 2012). This workshop serves as pedagogical moment attending to the embodied interactions between medical documents and the user/consumer of these documents.

What happened?

During the workshop participants were invited to select a consent form and a stencil. Consent form options included: a sperm donation form, a fertility treatment form, and a mental health form. Stencils included: a penis, a uterus, and a brain.

The ART of Infertility’s objective was to present the “trifecta” of infertility: mental health, men’s health and female health.

We then spent 15 minutes with groups making pieces of poetry. Many who participated described the activity as “meditative.” Some wanted to play with the idea of one consent form for one stencil – so they incorporated both a penis and uterus within a mental health consent form.

“signs, process, normal, mass. abnormal, expected, normal, normal, normal, not perfect, normal, abnormal, selection, best, abnormally, accident, prevent”

“attempt, understand, risk, arise, could be born, might also produce, agree, support, maintain, understand, Birth”

Special protections, conversation, medical record. Diagnosis, prognosis, release, release. Disclosure, all information. Health Care.

art-of-infertility-black-out-poetry-penis

“special protections, documenting or analyzing, start, the, subject, allows, the patient, disclosure, invalidate, authorization, Address”

The workshop was well-received and allowed the ART of Infertility to talk about issues of infertility and loss to those who may not necessarily recognize the physical and mental weight such a diagnosis has on the body.

If you would like the ART of Infertility to host a blackout poetry workshop (or another art/writing workshop), you can contact us at: info@artofinfertility.org

Myth: Infertility only Results in Physical, not Emotional, Trauma

Posted on April 11, 2016 by admin

by Danielle Bucco

Many people who have not gone through infertility in some form find it hard to think about the effects and implications it can have on a person or couple, both physically and emotionally. In 2007 the National Survey of Fertility Borders indicated that more than 30% of women experience fertility problems and the number is only increasing. With this large number of people dealing with these issues, it is important to understand all the many different ways that fertility problems can affect a person.

When people who have not gone through infertility think about it, most automatically just think of the physical struggles that a person has to deal with. They think about the treatment process and what could be wrong, instead of thinking of the emotional implications that it has on the people who have received an infertility diagnosis. It has been discussed that pregnancy loss can be suitably thought of as a traumatic stressor. When each form of fertility treatment fails it is often experienced profoundly as the literal death of a child. The pain that is experienced is something that people without infertility, find hard to imagine. Couples have such high hopes each time they go through treatment, only to have their hopes completely crushed by a doctor telling them that it hasn’t worked.

One of the first studies of considering infertility a trauma by Engelhard in 2001 stated that infertility could lead to forms of PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). A traumatic event is defined as experiencing, witnessing, or learning about the actual or threatened death/injury of themselves or others. This is definitely something that people dealing with infertility have to go through, some even multiple times. Several of these stress issues fade over time but there are more issues than just the stress factor. Anxiety and depression also play a part in the emotional distress of an individual going through infertility and again, many people do not take that into consideration if they have not experienced it themselves.

This myth, that infertility only affects a person physically, is something that people need to understand is not true. When a person deals with infertility it is something that can lead to so many emotional issues as well. Suffering loss after loss, is emotionally draining and many people suffer from anxiety, depression, PTSD, and so much more because of it. The sooner people begin to understand this, the better they are going to be able to help their loved ones through this hard time and give them the support that they need. Everyone experiences loss differently, which means it can sometimes be hard to figure out exactly what that person needs. The most important thing is that they know they have support and are allowed time to grieve in their own way and on their own timeline.

Friday News Round Up – April 8

Posted on April 9, 2016 by admin

We had a busy week at ART of IF. Maria and I attended and presented at two conferences in Houston and our undergraduate research intern, Lauren, presented her work with us during a poster session at Michigan State University. We’ll have personal accounts of both events for you soon. For now, here are a few stories from the week that caught our eye.

-Elizabeth

Infection Caused U.S. Uterus Transplant to Fail

WebMD News from HealthDay

by Steven Reinberg

“Preliminary results suggest that the complication was due to an infection caused by an organism that is commonly found in a woman’s reproductive system,” Cleveland Clinic doctors said in a statement. “The infection appears to have compromised the blood supply to the uterus, causing the need for its removal.”

3D printed ovary implants to treat female infertility successfully tested in mice

www.3ders.org

by Kira

“Once the criss-crossing structure of the 3D scaffold was assembled, the scientists seeded them with ovarian follicles—that is, the cellular aggregation where the egg and hormones are actually produced. Together, the 3D printed gelatin scaffold and ovarian follicles create an artificial ovary bioprosthetic.”

UV-filtering chemicals in sunscreens may interfere with sperm function in males

News Nation

by PTI London

“The finding suggests that these UV filters are endocrine disruptors, Skakkebaek said. In addition, several of the UV filters affected important sperm functions normally controlled via CatSper, such as sperm motility.”

5 Reasons Why Being Young and Infertile is Hard

Posted on April 7, 2016 by admin

by Maria Novotny

I met my husband when I was 15 at a “Thanksgiving Day” themed dance. We dated on and off in high school, but I always knew that I would end up marrying him. We would spend hours on the phone in high school, talking about what we wanted from life and how crazy it was that we wanted a lot of the same things. One of those things was a family.

Maria and Kevin on their wedding day. Photo by Sarah Stephens Photography.

After a few more years of dating, he finally moved to the state where I was going to college. We soon got engaged, both graduated, and shortly after got married. Both of us were 23 and ready to start a family. We couldn’t wait. We both came from large families – he was the oldest of 4 and I was the oldest of 6. We moved states, bought a house and started making plans to nest.

But we soon realized these plans were all but a dream. After a year of trying to conceive (TTC), we finally received our infertility diagnosis. I was crushed. He was crushed. How could this be? We were both only 24!

The rest of our twenties were spent going to doctor appointments, researching adoption options, starting an infertility support group, beginning a research on “rhetoric of infertility,” partnering up with the ART of Infertility, and basically deciding that it is okay to wait on building that dream we talked about and hoped for at 23.

On the front stoop of their first home.

Today, as we both embark on entering our thirties, I can’t help but think through the struggle of being under 30 and infertile. Being so young, many people struggle to really comprehend the fact that you can be young, healthy and yet still have trouble conceiving.

Here are the 5 Reasons I think Being Young & Infertile Is Hard (in no particular order):

1. Doctors (& our culture at large) always said that TTC when you are young would only help your chances. Growing up, we are told that we need to protect our fertility. That we need to be careful not to “accidentally” get pregnant. So when you receive an infertility diagnosis, rage – at the stories we’ve been told to “always use protection” – can fill your body. “How could I have trouble getting pregnant? I thought I was doing the right thing by trying early?” This confusion, pain and frustration at the perceived “myth of fertility” frequently entered my consciousness when I was diagnosed at 24.

2. I was told that you could (& probably should) plan your pregnancies. I grew up with a bunch of sisters – all of whom are close in age to me. We are each other’s best friends. And so, when I decided to start a family, I wanted to have not just one child but many. I thought by starting young that I could replicate the same type of childhood experiences I shared with my sisters. I could have my first baby at 24 then have the next one at 26 and then the next at 28. A two year gap seemed to make sense to me. But once I realized that I would have trouble even having just one child, I had to completely rethink this plan. I was devastated that I would not have the same type of family unit that I had grown up in.

3. A lot of my girlfriends – were not married – let alone TTC. When we first were TTC, many of my girlfriends were not even in relationships. They were all trying to meet a guy while I was trying to have my ovaries meet some sperm. I felt completely distant and detached from these friends who a few years ago had stood up in my wedding. No one seemed to understand why I was emotional when I saw a mom walking her baby down the street. And they really didn’t understand why I was peeing on ovulation strips every morning. I felt like I wasn’t just losing my hopes for a family, but losing a lot of my close friends.

4. Being Newly Married & Infertile Sucks. When you are recently married, having trouble conceiving puts a lot of pressure on your marriage. Being newlyweds can be hard enough. Put infertility in the mix and it can rock the strong foundation you thought the two of you had. For one, infertility messes up your sex life! Instead of “having fun” with your man, you are creating “sex calendars” and synching your biological schedule to your work schedule. Sex sucks and that never helps any marriage – especially one that is just starting out.

5. “A baby will come, you just need to relax. You’re not even 30 yet.” Everyone tells you that you have time, to take a vacation, to just enjoy life. Here is the deal – when you want a baby, when you made a commitment in front of hundreds of people that you and your partner are going to have a family, you want that to happen when you want it to happen. You don’t want to wait. You don’t want to let “time” be in control. When you know that you want a family, you want a family – nothing is going to stop you. And so when you realize things beyond your control are impeding your dream, you feel mad, angry and just pissed-off at the world and everyone else who seems to just “magically” get pregnant. You feel like life isn’t fair, and eventually you come to realize that it actually just isn’t fair. Plain and simple – being young and infertile sucks.

ART Roundup

Posted on April 6, 2016 by admin

Artwork is something that can help people during the healing process as they are dealing with infertility. It is a way for people to get their anger and frustration out and take control over something in their lives again. Below is some of the powerful and emotional artwork that we have posted throughout the weeks.

Fertility Tornado: By Kristin Phasavath. This fertility tornado is a representation of what it feels like when you are swept up in anything fertility related. This fertility nurse is surrounded by this tornado every day and painting this was a way for her to release her frustrations. After gong through fertility treatment herself, she hopes that this painting will help connect many of her fertility comrades.My Time’s Running Out: By Andrea Diamond. This work of art is really a mention of how infertility can make you feel, both on the inside and outside. Barbie, who is society’s representation of true feminine beauty is ageless, while we all change and grow. Andrea feels that as she grows older the decline of her internal organs is represented in her physical appearance as well. This Barbie doll was an outlet for Andrea’s anger as she went through secondary infertility.

Untitled: By Abigail Glass. Abigail was on her second round of IVF when she had an orientation for an adoption agency. It took 9 months before they brought their son from Guatemala home. This piece represents her story and about 100 needles used on her fertility journey, which happens to be a small amount compared to over the years.

Infertility Box: By Sarah Clark Davis. This box has been a massive comfort for Sarah over the years. It has say on her bureau for a long time to remind her not to let infertility take over her life. The inside of the box was a way for her to let out her rage over the fertility treatment process. The quote by Michael J. Fox has really spoken to her throughout her treatment and has stayed with her so she wanted to make it part of the box as well.Son-flower: By Shaelene Clark. This painting is something Shaelene spent a lot of time and emotion trying to complete. The broken pot is a representation of how Shaelene feels, broken but still trying to hold itself together. Through her 8 years of infertility she has had multiple miscarriages, which is represented in the dying flowers. After many years of trying, she was finally able to get her beautiful son-flower and the triumph of having a child after a rough delivery.Inconceivable: By Aine Quimby. Aine was in her mid-twenties when she was told she was infertile. Through fertility treatments and miscarriages her body felt completely vulnerable and exposed. She poured all of her isolation and grief into this painting. She has connected with many people over the years who have had similar experiences and that has helped her express her feelings with people who can better understand the struggles.

ART of IF

The official blog of the traveling art exhibit and oral history project, ART of Infertility.

Monthly Archives: April 2016