Infertility may not pose a direct threat to life, but I have personally experienced how it can profoundly alter one’s existence, making life feel unbearable at times. Regrettably, the impact of infertility on mental health is often overlooked and underdiscussed. Any individual who has undergone IVF treatment will attest that the emotional burden it carries far surpasses the physical injections or procedures involved. During the darkest moments of my life, I have found solace in the few remarkable online resources provided by fellow warriors and educators who bravely share their vulnerabilities, effectively representing the experiences of many. I firmly believe that the scarcity of such accounts stems from the inherent difficulty most people face in embracing vulnerability. This underscores the crucial need for more platforms like the ones mentioned, which empower individuals to share their stories and provide much-needed support in the realm of infertility and mental health.
I hope my blog can be a source of comfort to someone. Without the accounts below, I don’t know that I would have the strength and courage, to be speaking out myself.
Infertility Support
- Infertility School’s Instagram offers a visual representation of all things infertility in a way that is comforting, educational, and easily shared with friends and family who may need help understanding the complexities of all things infertility.
- Wanna Be Mama (Connie Smart) hosts an incredible YoutTube channel with videos spanning infertility content, support, and experiences. Not only is Connie an incredible online resource, but she will also connect with you directly via her Instagram page and answer any questions or fears you may have! Connie was one of the first accounts I found, and she walked me through many of my initial fears about using an egg donor.
- What The Fertility podcast is a wonderful resource for those who like to listen to their fertility-related content! They also have an aesthetic Instagram page with updates when new episodes drop.
- Infertile Millennial has been one of my favorite infertility blogs and Instagram pages since the start of my own journey. Their content is super relatable, and they always seem to share exactly what a warrior needs, when needed, through their direct but cheeky graphics that many in the community enjoy sharing on their personal Instagram pages. They also have a podcast and some of the best infertility downloadable content for your phone/computer screen saver!
Donor Conception Support
- Infertility Unfiltered has recently been a lifeline for me. The business was founded by Victoria Nino, who not only runs successful online support groups for women going through various types of infertility treatments, but she will also directly talk to you via her personal Instagram page, like she’s your personal cheerleader, rooting for you in your corner. Victoria is the mother of 2 egg donor-conceived children from two separate donors and advocates for all things infertility and alternate routes to parenthood. Her downloadable e-book, Why I am Glad My Eggs Didn’t Work, might be one of the best things on the internet. Seriously. Read it. You can also sign up for one of her virtual infertility support groups.
- Meta Getman is a fertility coach who helps women facing infertility crossroads. She coaches women on all things infertility. She also has a podcast, a downloadable ebook called “My Doctor Said Donor, Now What?”, and more on her website and Instagram.
- Dani Repsch’s Instagram is powerful; she is the mother of 2 egg donor-conceived children who advocates for donor conception normalization and acceptance. Many of her IG videos have gone viral and bring comfort to anyone considering the donor route, showcasing her real life and donor-conceived children.
- Donor Child’s Instagram is the advocacy page of Emma Gronbaek, a nurse, author, and speaker who was conceived through sperm donorship. She utilizes her platform to raise awareness and normalize donor conception while providing the perspective of a donor-conceived child. She supports early disclosure and helps expecting parents talk to their donor-conceived children about their conception. Her website has a lot of wonderful resources for both expecting parents and donor children.
Connection to Other Warriors
- IVF Got Buddies Instagram was one of the first online resources I found, and thank goodness! Without this account, I would not have met some of my very closest online IVF friends. The page strives to connect women who are going through IVF with “buddies” who are cycling or transferring around the same time. The account posts monthly in an attempt to connect warriors, both new and seasoned.
Infertility Fundraising Support
- Gift of Parenthood is a not-for-profit organization helping future parents pave the path to parenthood. Their website has a lot of helpful information, ideas, and even grant giveaways. They can help you start a fundraiser to raise funds for your fertility treatments and also feature fundraisers on their Instagram page for current warriors.
“You are not alone, in your being alone”
Anonymous
Moving Mountains For Motherhood 