If you are beset by infertility, then you already know how hard it can be to deal with. The constant stress, the endless evaluations and tests, and the numerous procedures that sometimes still result in disappointment. Add to this the feelings of isolation, that no one can really understand the situation, and the fact that your family and friends already have families of their own and it can become quite a depressing experience. Even your partner can become so alien at times because the feelings you’re carrying are just too heavy to fathom. You might have to seek out help. Luckily, the 7.3 million American couples out there struggling with this situation have a way to help themselves through the power of the support group.

You heard right. There are around 7.3 million American couples struggling with the disease of infertility according the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG, CDC 2002). This should help some of your initial feelings of isolation as you really aren’t alone in this problem. Over the years, these people have decided to form support groups designed to help out each other through the trying experience of infertility.

An infertility support group can readily be found over the internet. Some sites provide online forums that can be helpful for the initial and immediate discussions you might want or need regarding your experiences with infertility. The net forums from Daily Strength or Fertility Community provide you with the helpfulness of a group with the advantage of anonymity should you still be apprehensive about the idea of opening up.

One of the sites that you should check out is the Resolve: The National Infertility Association website. The site includes a great database of information on infertility and infertility related stress and how to deal with it. The organization also promotes its own support groups, or Resolve groups which can be found all over the country. If you are interested, their website has a great tool to help you find the groups near you.

There are two types of groups that you may encounter: peer-led or professionally-led. A peer-led group is often more of an informal group. The people who conduct the meetings are not formally trained but have had extensive experiences in infertility to lead and assist others. Professionally-led groups are under the supervision of health workers. These are more formal, meeting regularly and usually requiring a service fee. It is usually led by a therapist. However do not mistake these group sessions for therapy sessions. Actual counseling is different and if you feel that you need that kind of therapy, it’s still best to go into a formal therapy session.

It’s normal to be apprehensive of support groups at first. You may find opening up the heaviest and most taxing problems you have ever faced in life to a group of strangers to be very difficult. But many have been helped by the experience of sharing. People have often reported that once they shared their experiences, a bond formed between them and the other members of their group. This bond sometimes becomes so strong that these people become life-long friends and companions. This bond is sometimes hard to form with people who did not experience infertility first hand. Should you still have concerns, support groups are very willing to accommodate your level of readiness. Most will have a share-what-you-want-to-share policy. If you feel that you only need information or advice then feel free to keep it on that level.

Support groups can be especially effective in getting you and your partner out of tough situations. Sometimes you get confused or are faced with potentially life-changing decisions like going through surgery or assisted reproductive procedures and the shared experiences and advice you get from the groups can be indispensible. In coping with failures, groups can also help you and your partner get back up and try again. Sometimes the stress of a failed plan can be too hard for a couple to handle.

If you’re finding infertility a difficult experience, reach out. The support groups are made up of people just like you and are all ready to give you a helping hand when you need it.