Infertility Support Group: How to Start One

A Step-By-Step Guide to Finding an Encouraging Circle of Friends

If you are riding the emotional and painful roller-coaster of infertility, you probably know how difficult it is to find encouragement. While you're happy for your fertile myrtle friends, they don't always provide the camaraderie you need. An infertility support group can make all the difference. Unfortunately, there might not be one in your area, but you can always start one. This article lists and discusses the basic steps to launching a Infertility Support Group.

1. Make the Decision to Start One

Ask yourself:

Do I have enough time to be involved in a support group?
What can I offer to others?
Do I have a few extra dollars to pay for advertising, refreshments, etc?
Will hearing other painful stories make my struggles worse?

Carefully decide if starting a support group is for you. You might ask your husband for insight. Truthfully, if you have any desire to form one, then it's best to at least try. You will never know the benefits you can receive, and the help you can provide others, until you try.

You also need to choose if the support group will only be for women, or for couples together. Some husbands may be uncomfortable going, and that could cause some members to feel out of place. One idea is to make it primarily a women's group, but have occasional activities where husbands are invited too. You also might consider if you would welcome secondary infertility members. If you do, it is best to tell them to refrain from any pregnancy/child talk at meetings.

2. Get Help and Ideas from Other Infertility Support Group Leaders