Support Group: Susan Calnan talks to members of the National Infertility Support and Information Group about the inability to conceive
One in six Irish couples have problems conceiving and every year thousands of couples undergo Assisted Reproductive Treatments (ART) in one of Ireland's fertility clinics.
In response to the growing number of men and women who encounter problems with infertility and who go on to seek fertility treatments, the National Infertility Support and Information Group (NISIG) was set up in 1996. The voluntary group organises monthly meetings throughout the State, as well as operating a helpline seven days a week, to provide support and information to couples who have difficulty conceiving. It also holds a seminar once every two years. Last Saturday the biennial seminar took place in Limerick.
According to the World Health Organisation, a couple is considered infertile if the woman does not conceive after one year of unprotected, well-timed intercourse, or if she is unable to carry a pregnancy to a live birth. This time span is shorter depending on the woman's age. Doctors usually advise women over the age of 35 to have an initial examination after six months of trying to conceive, while women over 40 may begin fertility tests immediately.
Infertility is not necessarily a "woman's problem". It is estimated that 30 per cent of infertility problems are caused by male factors and a further 30 per cent by female factors. The remaining percentage is caused by a combination of male and female factors or by unknown factors.
"Problems with fertility can result in a tremendous sense of isolation," says Helen Browne, chairperson and co-founder of NISIG.
"Couples often find it difficult to discuss the issue of infertility with family and friends, or they sometimes feel that they don't get the support and empathy they need from others. The support group gives people an opportunity to talk to others who understand what they're going through," Helen says.
As well as providing support to couples, the group also gives information on types of fertility treatments that are available in Ireland and offers support while couples are undergoing treatment. Although for some, ART results in a successful pregnancy, for others, treatments can end in failure. For In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) treatments, for example, the internationally accepted success rate is only 17 per cent per cycle. A survey carried out by NISIG indicated that in surgical/non-surgical intervention in treating infertility, 85 per cent of cases did not result in pregnancy.
"Infertility treatments are expensive and can take an emotional as well as a financial toll on a couple's relationship. So, when a treatment is unsuccessful, couples experience a huge sense of personal loss," says Helen.
"For many it may be their last treatment and the realisation that they are never going to have their own children is like a bereavement because, in a sense, they are grieving for the loss of parenthood," she adds.
In 1999, NISIG set up a sub-group to offer support to members who are involuntarily childless. The group, Living Life Without Children, holds meetings every two months in Dublin and it hopes to set up meetings in other parts of the State at a later stage. It offers support to couples who are finding it difficult to cope with the reality of a child-free life and who find it helpful to share their experience with other couples in a similar situation.
"Couples who are involuntarily childless often feel that they have missed out on a whole part of life, that is the experience of raising their own children," says Kate*, a member of the sub-group.
"Because society is so family-orientated, people often assume that you have children and this is often hard to deal with. Also it can be a strain when you're in the company of other couples who constantly talk about their children and who feel they have to exclude you from the conversation," she says.
"When I found out that I couldn't have children, I was heartbroken and I literally felt that I had reached old age in the middle of my prime. But in time and with the help of NISIG, I found it easier to cope with my feelings," she says.
* Name has been changed.
For more information, contact the NISIG support line, which is open until 9 p.m., tel: 1890 647 444 (Lo Call) or visit its website at www.infertilityireland.ie.