Tell Your Infertility Journey, Or Keep It Quiet?

The holidays are always a wonderful time to get together with family and friends and a great opportunity to catch up on the latest and greatest in everyone’s lives.  But what happens this year when it’s your turn to share and you are in the middle of a struggle with trying to get pregnant?  Do you pour your heart out and tell the story of your infertility journey or do you prefer to keep this personal matter private?

There are a lot of variables to consider before you decide to tell or not to tell.  First, it depends on your personality.  Are you typically an open book or the silent type?  It depends on your audience.  Will they be understanding or are you scared they will be judgmental?  Most important, it also depends on how you expect to feel after you say something.  Will you be relieved to share your story or regretful that you shared too much? 

If you decide to tell, the holidays could actually be a great time for a “therapy session” with your close friends and family.  You may even find that someone else has gone through a similar situation and could offer valuable advice from a place of experience or become an important part of your support system.   If nothing else comes out of it, at least people will stop asking the annoying question, “When are you going to start a family?” 

If you decide not to tell, there’s an argument for that as well.  This is especially the case if you’re not one who typically opens up about personal matters or feels funny about divulging such personal information at a party or family dinner. If the right moment and the right audience presents itself, then fine.  If it doesn’t, then that is okay too.  There’s no need for the added stress of feeling like you have to share everything.  You and your partner may even decide to take a break from all things infertility until after the first of the year.  This would give you both a much needed break and a chance to relax and refocus. 

Whether you decide to tell or not, you and your partner should agree on the final decision.  It won’t go over well if one of you opens up when the other wanted to keep it quiet.  The last thing you need is to be arguing over the holidays, especially when it’s a time to relax and be merry!

From all of us at IVF FLORIDA, we wish you a very happy holiday season!