How to Find an Infertility Support Group

Infertility can be a grueling road, but you don’t have to walk it alone. 6.1 million women in the United States have difficulty getting pregnant, making infertility quite common.

Even so, you might not know anyone else who has faced infertility, which can make the experience feel incredibly lonely. Online or offline, support groups for infertility can help you connect with others who are struggling to conceive

Support groups for infertility can be a great way to get emotional support from someone else (besides your partner) who understands what you are going through. But how do you find an infertility support group if you don’t know where to look?

With infertility being so common, it should come as no surprise that there are infertility support groups all over the country — and the Internet. Here is where to start if you want to find an infertility support group near you.

How a Support Group Can Help

It’s normal to feel apprehensive about joining a support group. After all, talking about problems as intimate as those associated with infertility with total strangers can feel nerve-wracking and unnatural

If you’re wondering if going to a support group is worth the discomfort, you’ll want to understand what the benefits of infertility support groups are for your mental health. Some of the benefits of support groups include the following

• Realizing you are not alone in your struggles with infertility
• Getting tips and resources for better dealing with your problems
• Making new friends who understand what you are going through
• Reducing the distress associated with infertility by sharing your problems
• Helping other group members through their struggles
• Saving money, when compared to the cost of private therapy sessions

You might need to give it a couple of tries before you begin to notice the benefits associated with support groups. However, they can be an inexpensive and effective way to get emotional support outside of your relationship when coping with infertility.

In-Person Support Groups for Infertility

So, you’ve made the decision to try attending a support group for infertility in-person. Now what? Many organizations offer free and low-cost options for infertility support groups. Read on to learn more about which support group is the best option for you.

RESOLVE

RESOLVE is the National Infertility Association’s free network of support groups for people facing infertility. Founder Barbara Eck hosted the first RESOLVE support group around her kitchen table in 1974. Now, RESOLVE holds support groups in over 200 communities nationwide. (Note: Due to COVID-19, RESOLVE support groups are currently meeting virtually.)

Fertility For Colored Girls

Black women are twice as likely to experience infertility as white women, yet only 8% of Black women receive help. Fertility For Colored Girls (FFCG) is an organization that was founded to bring infertility resources to the Black community. FFCG hosts Sister Circles to help African-American women participate in an interactive dialogue about infertility.

Meetup

Meetup is an app that allows anyone to start a group around any interest — including infertility. There are already 80+ groups around the world that meet to support each other through infertility. However, if you don’t have a support group near you, Meetup makes it easy to start one!

Online Support Groups for Infertility

Thanks to the Internet, you can connect with people far and wide who are also struggling with infertility. If you don’t have an in-person support group near you or aren’t comfortable attending an in-person support group, online support groups are an equally helpful alternative. Read on to learn more about online support groups for infertility.

DailyStrength

DailyStrength is an organization dedicated to offering online support groups for a number of mental health conditions. Their Infertility Support Group has over 2,600 members with whom you can connect about your challenges conceiving.

The Bump

The Bump is an online resource for all things pregnancy-related. Their forums allow members the opportunity to interact with each other about challenges and triumphs in their pregnancy journeys. They have a special forum dedicated to Infertility, where you can connect with other aspiring parents on the same path.

Trying To Conceive Support Group

Facebook groups offered us one of the first opportunities to interact with people all over the world through social media. There are lots of Facebook groups dedicated to infertility, but Trying To Conceive Support Group is one of the best options. It is hosted by fertility coach Juliette Millar, who offers free support and answers for women who are uncertain about their journey toward conception.

Childless Mothers Connect

The mission of Childless Mothers Connect is to offer women without children (whether by choice or due to infertility) the opportunity to connect and celebrate the “mother” in all of us. It is a project of Childless Mothers Adopt, a non-profit that supports building connections between childless men, women, and couples via adoption, hosting, and mentorship.