Disclosing Fertility Treatments To Others

Couples frequently struggle with disclosing their infertility problems with friends, family and co- workers. An article on The American Fertility Association website titled Pros and Cons of Disclosing Fertility Treatment to Others discusses the stressful decision of deciding if and who to tell about your reproductive treatment. It is important to make the decision jointly with your partner. You will need to decide which "groups" of people you are going to include if you decide to disclose- immediate family and friends, extended family, or work colleagues. The author decribes some issues on disclosing:

Reasons to share:

Support- having a support system during the emotional rollar coaster of infertility treatments can be very beneficial.

Understanding- compassion from those whom you confide in can give you peace of mind but be prepared to also educate people about the physical and emotional demands of treatment.

Honesty- keeping secrets from family and friends can be a heavy burden to bear and can add an extra level of stress during a difficult time.

Reasons not to share:

Fear of censure- you may find that people do not agree with the path of treatment you have chosen and can be critical based on physical, emotional/spiritual, or financial concerns.

Fear of failing- with the emotional ups and downs of infertility treatment you may not feel like talking about cycle failures.


Fear of career interruption- some people worry that revealing infertility treatment to work colleagues may mean they are passed up for promotions or projects.

Some patients find that talking to a mental health professional who has experience in the area of infertility can be extremely helpful. Therapists can teach couples coping techniques and help them agree on choices that confront them.