Here are some stories that caught our eye this week and why.
-Maria
The Identity Theft of Infertility
by Justine Brooks Froelker
Published in HuffPost Parents
“Infertility and loss steals so much from us but most of us only realize how much it actually steals as life goes on. In the fight to become parents, many of us will become shells of who we once were, knowing we can never go back to who that was. It is the identity theft of infertility.”
This article reminds readers that even when one resolves their infertility by becoming parents, the path to parenthood very much remains inside us. Infertility is not something that simply gets forgotten or pushed into a closet. It continues to define us – even when we parent. This article does a good job reminding us of this.
My Fertility Problems Made me Feel Like a Failure
by Sara Fletcher
Published in The Guardian
“ I have many friends who have struggled with fertility issues, but who are reluctant to talk about it to anyone. They feel ashamed. They think it’s their fault. In some cases, even their own parents don’t know what they’ve been through.”
This story caught our eye because of its honesty. When we travel around interviewing women about their experiences with infertility, the concept of failure often arises. Failure to conceive, failure to “be a woman”, failure to even find happiness. This article takes on the idea of failure associated with infertility head-on and we appreciate its ability to call for more compassion to help reduce stigmas of shame and anxiety that comes with an infertility diagnosis.
Veterans Seek Help for Infertility Inflicted by Wounds of War
by Denise Grady
Published in the Houston Chronicle
“Even though the VA does not provide in vitro fertilization, Wager said she hoped it would recognize her infertility as a service-related injury and provide compensation, which she could use to pay for the treatment.”
This article highlights the struggle for veterans to receive funding from the VA for in vitro fertilization and highlights infertility advocacy work by Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash). Much of Sen. Murray’s work has resulted from the lobbying efforts made by infertile wo/men who have attended previous Advocacy Days. This article serves as a true reminder of the impact our infertile voices can have to create better healthcare coverage for all fertility related treatments.