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Navigating Infertility: Key Insights, Support and Resources for Couples Trying to Conceive
Published by North Country Now. Read the full article.
(BPT) – Couples yearning to start a family often face numerous challenges, including financial worries, health concerns and fears about potential problems during pregnancy and birth. One significant challenge that many couples may not anticipate is infertility.
According to a recent survey, 77% of U.S. women aged 25-34 who have been trying to conceive over the last 12 months did not think about their ability to get pregnant until after they decided to try to conceive. In the survey that was commissioned by First Response in collaboration with RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, a majority (57%) didn’t realize how long it would take to get pregnant, and almost 2 in 5 women trying to conceive (38%) wish they knew how much conflicting information there was before attempting to get pregnant.
For many couples, the challenge to conceive is even more difficult if they live in a “support desert” — an area where health care resources and infertility support are not available. This most often includes rural communities, where distance creates one problem, but the local health care infrastructure itself can be inadequate to meet the needs of young families. The survey revealed that over 2 in 5 women trying to conceive (42%) do not have local access to infertility support groups and treatment. That number climbs to 62% for rural women who feel they have inadequate access, amplifying their sense of isolation and frustration. Additionally, 41% simply don’t know what resources are available.
