How to Support a Friend Struggling with Infertility

For everyone, infertility is a very delicate subject. What are your options for dealing with it respectfully? The anguish of a couple that has tried for years to have a child is difficult for them and sad for you. It hurts much more when the couple is one of your dearest and closest friends. What can you do to show that you care and are supportive?

You want to show that you care, but it’s difficult to know what’s appropriate to say and do. You might easily make a mistake and come across as insensitive and unpleasant. If you have a friend or loved one who is dealing with infertility, there are a few ways to show them how much you care. But first, how well-versed are you in the subject of infertility?

What is the definition of infertility?

Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after one year of unprotected intercourse. At this stage, most experts advise seeing a reproductive doctor. Try looking for an IVF consultation in Malaysia to address your queries about fertility by a fertility specialist. Some doctors analyse and treat women aged 35 and older after 6 months of unprotected intercourse because fertility in women is known to drop with age.

Learn About Infertility Beforehand

Take a look at what the experts have to say for tips on how to get pregnant for trying couples. Learning about infertility will not only educate you, but it will also show your friends that you care enough to look up and read about it rather than waiting for them to explain it to you. This is not only a nice gesture, but it can also offer you with knowledge on therapies that they may not be aware of.

Of course, you don’t want to make a hasty decision based on a fact sheet. Wait for the proper opportunity to share what you know about treatment options. This could assist your friends in discussing different possibilities with their doctor. Furthermore, knowing what they’re talking about straight away can make them feel more comfortable opening up and having a genuine conversation with you. It’s difficult enough to talk about infertility without having to explain and describe the problem. Knowing what to expect from the process, therapies, and terminology will help you have more supportive conversations.

On Special Occasions, Acknowledge Their Infertility

Mother’s Day and Father’s Day can be particularly difficult for a couple who is trying to conceive. It doesn’t matter if this is their first or second child. The disappointment of not being able to add to the family as planned is too much for some, especially on days like these.

Giving a friend a present to make her feel loved and understood is always a great gesture of compassion. Sending a gift, whether it’s a bouquet of flowers or something more heartfelt like infertility support gifts always lifts the spirits and shows you care. When friends and loved ones are far away and you can’t offer comfort in person, sending presents is a terrific solution. Isolation is difficult for everyone, especially in these days of pandemic. Couples may also be isolating themselves because they are afraid of being questioned how their treatment is going. When you send a present, you’re letting them know you’re thinking of them.

Inquire About How You Can Assist

When you’re asked what you need, it’s often because a friend is asking for assistance. When you’re dealing with infertility, you can feel quite alone and defeated trying to find tips to improve fertility for couples. “How can I help?” is a precise question to ask a friend. They might require a weekly phone call or a coffee date. Asking how you might assist someone who is going through a difficult moment shows that you care and switches the focus from being alone to being included. We all want to be heard in the end. Even if you don’t think your feelings are relevant, they are meaningful and valid.

For people who are isolated and in suffering, asking how you can help may not be enough. If you don’t get a meaningful answer, you can check in with your friend on a regular basis and continue to offer assistance so that he or she understands there is a support system in place. You create a safe environment for friendship to work its magic when you know the facts regarding infertility and volunteer to support a hurting friend. Everyone benefits from sharing their love.

Ask About Their Requirements

It seems so simple to ask a friend what they require. Despite this, only a small percentage of people do so! Perhaps we’re ashamed because we don’t know what to do, or we’re worried that it will make us appear unsupportive. (Don’t we all wish that our friends could figure out what we need without having to tell them?)

People who are hurting, on the other hand, are generally hesitant to ask for help. It’s possible that they don’t want to be a bother. They are sometimes so overwhelmed that they don’t even consider asking for help.

So, inquire as to what you can do, or even better, make a particular offer to:

1. Attend appointments with them, whether they prefer you to merely sit in the waiting area or accompany them inside.

2. If you know they’re trying to reduce weight, be an exercise buddy: It is often necessary for patients to lose weight in order for therapies to be more successful. When you work out with a friend, it’s significantly easier to lose weight.

3. For a list of things not to say, see the section below.

Know How to Say It

Try one of these responses when you’re stumped for words:

1. Would you like to talk about it?
2. I wish I knew what to say to make you feel better.
3. I wish there was something I could say or do to make everything better.
4. Whenever you need me, I’ll be here to listen.