Breaking the Silence on the Impact of Infertility

Infertility

Experiencing infertility is isolating and stressful for couples. Unfortunately, women tend to
experience internalized shame, and even stigma from the people around them. Infertility is
deeply traumatizing and can be difficult to discuss with others. It is an issue that most people do
not consider until they are experiencing it. However, one and six adults worldwide are affected
by infertility. That means that a large segment of the population is unable to conceive naturally
within a year. This can leave a lot of people and women feeling lost, confused, and hopeless.
Today, we at Fibra are going to discuss those feelings and the toll that infertility takes on women.

Who Does Infertility Affect?

Infertility is common and widespread; it has become the third major disease of this century,
behind tumors and cardiovascular disease. 17.8% of adults in high-income countries, and 16.8%
of women in middle to low-income countries will be affected by infertility in their lifetimes. This
is an issue that impacts people across the world, regardless of their income or ethnic background.
Unfortunately, infertility is becoming increasingly common, with factors like pollution, stress,
and lifestyle having an adverse impact.

Both men and women can experience infertility. It can be a painful experience to be unable to
have a child regardless of gender. While it has been traditionally believed that infertility is
always the fault of women, research has found that in about a third of cases, the man is the
infertile partner. Women are the infertile partner in one third of the cases as well, making men
and women equally likely to be infertile. In the remaining cases, the cause for infertility cannot
be identified and likely both partners play some role. Regardless of which partner is infertile,
they should never be blamed or shamed.

How Does Infertility Affect Women?

Women often report feeling more distressed about infertility than their male counterparts.
Women have been found to experience trauma-like symptoms as a response to their infertility
journeys. This can be difficult for women and even exasperate their condition, as stress impacts
the ability to conceive. Surveys conducted across countries and cultures have found that
infertility almost always impacts a woman’s mental health, and sometimes even her overall
quality of life. Whether a woman seeks fertility treatment or does not, she will likely experience
emotional distress.

While all women experiencing infertility, regardless of background, experience trauma and
feelings of isolation, in low to middle-income countries women face painful social stigma. In
many cultures, infertile women are mocked as useless or unfeminine. This can lead to women
being subjected to violence, the breakdown of their marriages, and criticism during a time when
they need support.

Due to stigma, women might self-isolate and hide their struggles, afraid of scrutiny and
judgement from the outside world. This can lead to women developing serious mental health
conditions like depression and anxiety. Many women struggle because they have internalized
societal messaging that suggests that they are incomplete for not having children and being
infertile. They may feel as if having children is their life’s purpose, and infertility can make them
feel useless. It can be difficult to overcome these beliefs. Research suggests that women with
more education are less susceptible to these feelings of self-blame and uselessness that infertility
can bring. Women educating themselves on infertility by talking to compassionate healthcare
professionals can help them overcome this mindset.

How Does Infertility Affect Men?

While men are often overlooked, they are deeply impacted by infertility. Infertility is often seen
as a woman’s issue, but men feel many complex emotions during this journey as well. Men
experiencing infertility usually report feelings of grief and distress.

Though there is less social stigma and awareness around men’s infertility, they may still
experience shame and guilt. Many men report feeling emasculated by their inability to have
children. Some studies show that a significant number of men may experience a decrease in their
overall life satisfaction. Unfortunately, they are less likely to reach out to discuss these feelings
than women are, leaving them to continue feeling their shame in silence.

How Does Infertility Affect Couples?

Infertility is a complicated experience for couples. There are physical, emotional, and financial
factors that can impact a couple’s relationship. The stress and trauma associated with infertility
from both partners can negatively impact their relationship. However, some couples, as many as
one third, feel closer to their partner as they go through their infertility journeys together. The
mental anguish of infertility can cause people to neglect their physical health and even cause
additional health problems as many conditions are associated with stress.

The cost of infertility is a burden on many couples. Unfortunately, infertility is not subsidized or
paid for by the government in most countries, including those with universal healthcare systems.
This can be difficult for couples, as fertility treatments are expensive, sometimes costing tens of
thousands of dollars. Low-income couples may spend most of their money while trying to
conceive. Even couples who earn more can be negatively impacted by the cost of fertility
treatment. This financial burden can cause strain in marriages and lead to a reduced quality of
life. Fortunately, there are now subsidies for infertility in some places, which will likely improve
as society becomes more aware of the challenges that couples face. As of August 2025 in
Ontario, Canada, some couples may receive government funding for their fertility treatments at
certain clinics (see more details here: https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-fertility-treatments) and
even a maximum of $5000 a year in tax credits (More information here:
https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1005221/ontario-helping-more-people-start-and-grow-their-
families).

How Can Couples Overcome the Challenges of Infertility?

Infertility is a deeply emotional journey for couples. Taking care of your physical and mental
health is essential during this time. Seeking support from friends, family, and others experiencing
infertility may help both men and women cope. Exercising, eating a balanced diet, and spending
time outdoors may help couples, both in their wellbeing and in their fertility journey. Seeking
purpose in something outside of parenthood, such as a hobby, work, or faith, can help couples
cope with infertility as well.

We at Fibra know how difficult infertility can be. This is why we created a platform for women’s
health. Understanding your body can be the first step on your fertility journey. With the help of
Fibra, you will be in control of your reproductive health and be able to advocate for yourself as
you navigate the challenges of conceiving. We at Fibra wish you luck in your fertility journey!

References

“1 in 6 People Globally Affected by Infertility: WHO.” World Health Organization, World
Health Organization, 4 Apr. 2023, www.who.int/news/item/04-04-2023-1-in-6-people-globally-
affected-by-infertility.

Assaysh-Öberg, Shereen, et al. “Women’s Experience of Infertility & Treatment – a Silent Grief
and Failed Care and Support.” Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare, Elsevier, 20 June 2023,
www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877575623000691.

Fisher, Jane R W, and Karin Hammarberg. “Psychological and Social Aspects of Infertility in
Men: An Overview of the Evidence and Implications for Psychologically Informed Clinical Care
and Future Research.” Asian Journal of Andrology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Jan.
2012, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3735147/#sec3.

“How Common Is Infertility?” Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and
Human Development, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2 Aug. 2018,
www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/infertility/conditioninfo/common.

Nagórska, Małgorzata, et al. “Gender Differences in the Experience of Infertility Concerning
Polish Couples: Preliminary Research.” International Journal of Environmental Research and
Public Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 19 July 2019,
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6651646/#sec3-ijerph-16-02337.

“Ontario Helping More People Start and Grow Their Families.” Ontario Newsroom, 24 Oct.
2024, news.ontario.ca/en/release/1005221/ontario-helping-more-people-start-and-grow-their-
families.

Xie, Yue, et al. “The Impact of Stigma on Mental Health and Quality of Life of Infertile Women:
A Systematic Review.” Frontiers in Psychology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 9 Jan. 2023,
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9869765/#_ad93_.

Author’s Note: There are few studies on the emotional impact on men’s infertility and
conclusions were drawn based off a couple of studies, one of which being exclusively conducted in Poland and the other being conducted in 2012. Please see above for references. All conclusions are from the author based on a full review of the sources listed above.