Infertility – Learning to live in grief while finding a way to a fulfilling life. This is the life of many couples who vigorously fight infertility today. They are deemed to be incomplete and defective. They are viewed as though they were caught with an evil soul. It’s high time we bring the awareness that Infertility is Not a Taboo. It’s our duty to ascertain our fellow infertile friends with steadfast support and make them feel safe and significant in this society.
The Misconceived Notion about Infertility
Infertility is,
A shame which not many wants to talk aloud.
A guilt that everyone wants to point out.
A curse that one has to carry all the time.
A brand name that is affixed to one’s sleeve for life.
This is how infertility is defined, expounded and perceived for a long time. We may have moved into the 21st century, become modernized and automated everything from head to toe. But still, the perception on infertility remains the same.
But truly, infertility is not what it is taught to be. It’s a word which has been sounded gloomy for long but in reality, carries within itself inconceivable pain and strain.
The modern medicine has found the panacea for infertility and made the dreams of many couples come true. Still, infertility is seen as a sign of incapability and form of a flawed soul. It induces remorse, makes the couple lose their social pride and push them into the dark era of their family life.
The Impact of Infertility in Women
This misconception about Infertility has an adverse effect both on Men and Women. The trauma this causes in the couple is impossible to decipher, unless we experience it our-self. At times men have other outlets and manage to leap out of this affliction every now and then.
Whereas women are the hardly hit souls because of the widely prevalent hypothesis about infertility. Especially in a country like India, where women were considered to be far inferior to men, there is no wonder Indian women were made to solely bear the brunt of infertility. They are gradually proving their adroitness and getting hold of their position in the society today. But that doesn’t bring much change when it comes to infertility.
Irrespective of whether they are the cause for the delay in pregnancy or not, still women have to carry the blame and bear the stress all by themselves. And the irony is many Indian women willingly cover their partners and take the accountability. That is the beauty of women! They love and do anything for their soulmate and family.
This doesn’t stop with just the mental agony, there is a much more irrefutable physical pain a woman has to undergo in this journey.
The Physical Distress
Thanks to the medical inventions of this century. The impossibility in infertility is now possible through many procedures. The infertile couples can not only dream but now enjoy parenthood in real life. The advancement in medicine has made biological conception possible and brightened the life of many.
These infertility treatments mainly involve women, as they wholly own the gift of carrying the little ones. If there is No pain, then No gain. These treatments bring unendurable physical pain in women.
They have to take all the needles, steroids, encounter innumerable procedures and repeat all these steps infinite times until they see their bundle of joy.
The Personal Sacrifice
The sufferings don’t end there. Women strive hard to build their career and succeed in their passion, by overcoming all the stumble blocks thrown by the society. But once infertility strikes them, it requires their sacrifice.
Sacrifice the hard earned job, break the grooming up career and commence the journey of quashing infertility. This indeed can add more fuel to the already mounting anxiety in women.
Infertility is Not a Taboo –Â Succor Infertility
Whether infertility is with the man or the woman, by end of the day, a woman has to shoulder both the mental and physical stress. The physical pain, along with the mental pressure to succeed in the journey tends to crash the woman by every means.
But still, she never gives up. She is tough and handles all the strain exceptionally well. She is strong and overcomes all the struggle with a strenuous effort.
So the next time when you encounter a woman who is fighting infertility never let the hidebound thoughts about infertility cross you. Rather say aloud,
She is not a Barren Woman but Tough and Strong!
Infertility needs care. Infertility needs support. Infertility needs the human in You and Me.
If we cannot succor and foster the infertile couples, then we are infertile ourselves who cannot create and deliver the positive energy to the needed.
Let us evoke the slogan hard and fast Infertility is Not a Taboo!
P.S :
So far I was echoing the mindset of the majority. There are also few generous men who never impose their infertility on their partner and use them as their defense. They realize their condition and face it strong without letting anyone hurt or harm their spouse in any way. There are also some kind men who understand their partner’s inability, accept it without making much uproar and support in her journey of making the impossible to be possible. Hats off to those impeccable kings of this land!
This blog is to #SpreadAwareness about Infertility through Infertility Dost, India’s first website that facilitates couples to brave infertility with support and knowledge. You can find other links on Write Tribe.
Spread the truth Infertility is Not a Taboo and voice your support for this campaign.
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Image credits : The misconceived notion about infertility by Ambro via freedigitalphotos ; The impact of Infertility in Women by FrameAngel via freedigitalphotos ;  The Physical Distress by everydayplus via freedigitalphotos; The Personal Sacrifice by jk1991 via freedigitalphotos ;
*Note : Added text to the original images.
Thank you for this, Janani
Just to let you know that I was here to read and appreciate your contribution.
Thanks for stopping by Corinne Rodriguez!
Great issue to bring attention to! I know several people who have struggled with infertility, and it is very difficult even without the additional stress of a cultural taboo. Very nice article! 🙂
Thank u! You are right. Infertility itself has its own struggles. The cultural taboos add more oil to the already burning flame.
Great thoughts on infertility. I hope that attitudes are changing and there are more medical solutions but it is still a grief many couples and women live with.
Yeah things are changing fairly. But the sad part is, it is still being treated as a taboo in few places which needs to change.
I understand that it would be very hard being told that someone is infertile. I know it would have killed me to hear that before I had my daughter. I was just grateful we were able to have a daughter.
Yup, it would feel terrible. Thanks for stopping by!
Lots of good thoughts about infertility. It is something I wish more people would talk about….it shouldn’t be something that anyone feels bad about.
Very true. Its much under-spoken, as many treat it as a taboo. We should come out and give a shout out that infertility is not a taboo.
I was my mom’s miracle baby. I saw how she struggled with conceiving again after me and it broke her down so many times. She went through so many treatments and nothing did it. When I became of age and married, I thought it would be the same for me. Although it wasn’t, I still hold her struggle close to heart.
It needs lot of courage and strength to battle infertility! Thanks for stopping by!