Breaking Silence, Breaking Stigma. Navigating Fertility and Systemic Bias
Infertility has long been whispered about, regarded as a private struggle rather than a public health truth. But the numbers tell another story: about 17.5% of adults worldwide, roughly one in six, will experience infertility at some point in their lives.
What does that mean for someone like you. Career-focused, approaching or in your 40s, balancing high expectations? It means that your journey is neither rare nor alone. It means the ambiguity, the waiting, the fear of judgment are shared with millions globally. It means infertility is not a failing, it’s a reality many face.
The Faces Behind the Statistic
Male infertility contributes in a significant portion of cases. Sometimes purely, sometimes in combination with female factors.
Female infertility covers a spectrum: from ovulatory disorders, age-related ovarian reserve decline, tubal damage, to hormonal imbalances.
Unexplained infertility, where all tests come back “normal” still affects many. The fact that no simple answer presents itself can fuel frustration, doubt and self-blame.
Primary vs secondary infertility also matter. Some women have never conceived; others grieve for a second or third child despite having had one already.
Psychological and Emotional Weight
Infertility is not just a medical condition, it carries emotional and psychological impact that recent studies are beginning to map more clearly. Depression, anxiety, lowered quality of life, these are not side effects, but core parts of the experience.
For men, the impact is increasingly seen to be nearly as profound. Being diagnosed with male factor infertility raises risk of psychological stress, relational strain, loss of identity, often in silence.
Inequities, Age and Contexts
Age matters. For women in their late 30s and 40s, fertility declines biologically, which itself is not uncommon, but the societal pressure, access to care and emotional stakes are magnified. Many in career leadership feel time slipping away, both biologically and socially.
Across geographies and incomes, infertility’s prevalence remains roughly consistent. That is to say, this is not a disease only of high-income countries or of “other” people. But access to diagnostics, treatments, support networks is vastly different and stigma can be much steeper in communities where infertility is less openly discussed.
Reframing the Narrative
What if we shifted from ‘What’s wrong with me?’ to ‘What is common among many of us?’ What if self-love, gentleness and compassion were not after-thoughts but central?
You are not broken.
Your body is not your enemy.
And even if diagnosis does not have a clear path forward, your worth is not tied to fertility or motherhood.
For Those Walking This Path
If you are in your 40s, professional, ambitious, thoughtful, you may feel pulled in a million directions. But you deserve:
Accurate information
Compassionate medical care
Emotional support (therapy, peer groups)
Self-affirmation. Repeating truths until they stick, I love myself, I approve of myself, I trust my body’s wisdom.
Infertility’s Unequal Burden
You are not alone. You are part of a global community, seen in data, but more importantly, felt in empathy.
If this resonates with you, I invite you to share your voice and help break the silence around infertility. For Black women and other women of colour, the journey can carry added layers of complexity.
Delayed diagnoses, higher rates of conditions like fibroids and systemic barriers to fertility treatment often mean longer waits and fewer successful outcomes.
Cultural expectations and community stigma can deepen feelings of isolation or shame. Yet sharing our stories, whether you are navigating infertility yourself, supporting a loved one, or advocating for equitable car, offers hope and solidarity.
Please like, comment and share this post to spark conversation and create a community of understanding and compassion. Your perspective matters and may be exactly what someone else needs to hear today.
