Support Groups

Support groups are available for individuals and couples considering or undergoing fertility treatment. They are facilitated by Phyllis Fortunato Martin, MEd, LPC, who specializes in infertility counseling. 

Attendance is free and you need not be a GIVF patient to attend. Attending a support group will give you the opportunity to ask questions, share insight, discuss concerns, or simply listen.

There are currently two support groups that meet at GIVF on a monthly basis:

• General Infertility
• Donor Egg IVF

To stay in touch and get immediate updates about our support groups, follow GIVF on Facebook or Twitter.

General Infertility Support Group

The general infertility support group meets monthly and is designed to help couples and individuals who feel they would benefit from the support and interaction of others who are going through similar experiences. The support group allows participants the opportunity to share or simply listen as the group discusses how best to cope with the emotional and physical stress involved with the diagnosis of infertility. Discussion focuses on topics such as how to face questions from friends and family about the absence of children, how to deal with the mixed emotions regarding friends who get pregnant easily, and how infertility diagnosis and treatment can affect a marriage.

The group meets at the GIVF third floor lobby on the fourth Tuesday of each month from 7:15 PM to 8:30 PM. Attendance is free. For more details, contact Ms. Martin at 703.509.7412 or phyllismartinlpc@cox.net.

Upcoming General Infertility Support Group dates:
February 28
March 27
April 24
May 22
June 26

Donor Egg IVF Support Group

Donor Egg IVF patients and their partners are encouraged to attend. Guest speakers attend on occasion: they have included egg donors, donor recipients, GIVF medical staff/nurses, acupuncturists, and mind/body facilitators.  The group is designed to offer support, answer questions, and give patients a safe and confidential place to discuss infertility and Donor Egg IVF topics. Donor sperm and donor embryo patients are also welcome to come and will find overlap in topics that will likely be of comfort and use. Click here to watch several videos from Ms. Martin as she discusses issues surrounding Donor Egg IVF. 

The group meets at the GIVF third floor lobby on the second Tuesday of each month from 7:15 PM to 8:30 PM. Attendance is free. For more details, contact Ms. Martin at 703.509.7412 or phyllismartinlpc@cox.net.

Upcoming Donor Egg IVF Support Group dates:
Wednesday, February 15
March 13
April 10
May 8
June 12

For more details, contact Ms. Martin at 703.509.7412 or phyllismartinlpc@cox.net.