1 in 8.
That is how many couples have trouble conceiving. The causes can be related to the female, male, or both. Infertility is defined as trying for a baby for a year without conceiving. For people over the age of 35, the parameters change to 6 months.
There are no words to describe the sadness and hopelessness that are the result of infertility. I could describe it to you, but you still wouldn't get it. And that's nobody's fault. It's just a reality. You can't really get something that you don't experience firsthand. Similar to hearing about a friend who has diabetes, cancer, or any number of diseases - you can empathize but you can't possibly grasp the magnitude of what a life changer it is.
Even if you can't relate, there are many things you can do to support the people in your life suffering from infertility:
Get educated. Learn more about infertility so you don't sound like a jackass when you're talking to someone suffering. No, relaxing won't get me pregnant. Neither will praying, being patient, eating more walnuts/greens/fruit or standing on my head.
Listen. Without using your mouth. Just listen.
Be there. Sometimes people dealing with infertility don't want to talk but just knowing that someone is in their corner can really do wonders.
