Holding Space for Hope: Mental Health and Infertility Awareness Week

Every April, National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW) serves as a vital reminder that behind the statistics, treatments, and terminology of infertility, there are real people—navigating silent struggles, private pain, and the deep emotional toll of a dream deferred.

This week isn’t just about raising awareness of infertility as a medical condition—it’s also about highlighting the often-overlooked mental health impact that comes with it.

The Invisible Weight of Infertility

Infertility is more common than you may realize, affecting just 1 in 6 people worldwide. Yet for something so prevalent, it’s often silenced. For those going through it, there can be feelings of shame, guilt, anxiety, isolation, and grief—emotions that are heavy even when not voiced. I’ve worked with many clients experiencing infertility and they’ve expressed the pain they feel every time the see a pregnancy or birth announcement, the passing of another holiday without a baby, along with the grueling monitoring appointments, medication, injections, insurance battles and financial strain.

People experiencing infertility often feel the monthly rollercoaster of hope and heartbreak and the strain it can place on relationships. The way it seeps into conversations, decision making, and future planning. It often times feels like the world keeps moving while you're stuck in a tireless loop of waiting and wondering.

The Mental Health Impact Is Real

Studies show that individuals experiencing infertility can have levels of anxiety and depression comparable to those with cancer or heart disease. Along with the shame, guilt, anxiety and isolation, there is also the mental exhaustion of the process of treatment. From OPKs to trans vaginal sonograms, to medication and tracking periods, cervical mucus observations, BBT, timed intercourse, procedures and transfers, to that dreaded two week wait, the mental load for the person trying to become pregnant can feel overwhelming. And yet, conversations about mental health support are often missing from the fertility journey.

This week, we must ask: Why is emotional support seen as secondary, when it should be central?

You Are Not Alone

If you’re navigating infertility, know this: your feelings are valid. Your pain is real, even if others don’t understand it or unaware of your experience. You’re allowed to grieve, to be angry, to feel exhausted—and still hold on to hope. I often hear about the tug-of-war between the hopefulness that a positive test will appear, and the fear of despair if the test comes back negative again.

Infertility can cause you to self-isolate, especially if you have have friends/family in your life who are parenting. However, we know that community is essential for mental wellness. Seek out spaces where you can be honest about what you’re experiencing. That might mean therapy with a fertility-informed counselor, support groups, journaling, or simply talking to a friend who listens without trying to fix.

I also work with individuals who are supporting a loved one experiencing infertility. It’s important to remember that you don’t need the perfect words. Your presence and empathy are important. Your willingness to sit in the discomfort with them is a gift that is appreciated, even if it comes without words. Your loved one is going through something that you cannot fix. Listen. Acknowledge. I welcome you to say, “I’m here, and I care about you. Thank you for trusting me with your experience.”

Raising Awareness Is an Act of Compassion

Infertility Awareness Week is about breaking the silence. It’s about creating a world where people feel seen, supported, and less alone. It’s a call to challenge harmful myths and assumptions—about gender, timelines, worth, and parenthood.

It’s also about mental health justice. Mental health resources are being more accessible, but we need to continue to work towards access to care and coverage, and qualified mental health professionals to support clients living with infertility. My hope is that we continue to recognize the emotional labor involved in the infertility journey, and that no one has to suffer in silence.

How Therapy Can Help

In therapy, we work to understand the complexity of your individual experience and emotions. Infertility specialized therapists understand both ambiguous loss as well as disenfranchised grief that friends or family may not fully understand. We want you to feel supported in your journey and offer guidance as needed.

Therapy can also help you learn ways to set boundaries, practice saying “no” when you need to, and explore ways to respond to uncomfortable conversations or questions. These moments can reinforce negative experiences, but together, you can learn how to cope effectively and offer self-compassion.

In addition, therapy can provide support for your relationship. It is common for relationship strain when experiencing infertility. Therapy can help you and your partner learn to communicate more effectively and get back on the same team. It is also important to understand that your partner might be grieving differently than you. We can explore the different ways people cope, grieve and process as a way to facilitate unity in your partnership.

A Gentle Reminder

Whether you are currently in the storm, on the other side, or walking alongside someone you love—be gentle with yourself. Healing doesn’t follow a straight line. Grief and hope can exist together. And strength sometimes looks like simply getting through the day.

This Infertility Awareness Week, let’s commit to holding space—for the grief, the challenges, the resilience, and the hope. Let’s listen more, judge less, and remember that behind every statistic is a human heart, still beating with longing and love. Your journey deserves to be acknowledged and known.

This week is for infertility awareness. This week is for education. This week is for stories of strength. This week is for rest and rejuvenation. This week is for holding space and giving yourself grace. There are so many painful holidays and anniversaries; trying to become a mother isn’t a nationally recognized holiday. But we see you, and your journey is worthy of acknowledgement. Could you find ways to do something you enjoy? Take some extra time for self care? Call up a friend you’ve been missing, or check out that new restaurant you’ve been meaning to try? What are some ways you could take this week for yourself and your relationship? Because this week, April 20-26, is for you.