At Generate Health, most of our conversations are focused on pregnancy through the postpartum period. But what about Black couples who want to become parents but aren’t able to without medical assistance?
Disparities in Infertility and Treatment
Infertility is “defined by the failure to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse.” Research shows that Black women are nearly twice as likely to experience infertility as white women. Black women and birthing people are more likely to have medical conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, or uterine fibroids, which can all contribute to infertility.
At the same time, but Black women and birthing people are less likely to seek fertility treatment. This can be due to financial constraints, underrepresentation in infertility messaging, stigma, and more. According to Deborah Ikhena-Abel, MD, “Black women already face stigma when it comes to fertility due to the myth of the overly fertile Black woman. These myths sometimes lead to Black patients being referred to a fertility specialist later than their counterparts.”
For the Black women and birthing people who do initiate fertility treatment, many find that their providers lack cultural competency. One study found that almost half of Black patients felt that their care provider didn’t understand their cultural background. Moreover, Black women and birthing people have “lower pregnancy rates, higher rates of clinical pregnancy loss, and lower live birth rates” with treatment.
So, what can Black people who are experiencing infertility do?
While self-advocacy is exhausting, it can be an important part of getting fertility treatment. Patients can make reproductive health part of their regular physical and mental health visits. Support is also crucial – there are support groups for families experiencing infertility, such as the St. Louis General Infertility Support Group.
Infertility can be a very stressful experience. Finding ways to make this stress more manageable will help the couple’s overall wellbeing and help them feel more in control of the situation. Some stress relieve techniques include meditation or guided imagery, progressive muscle relaxation, listening to music, walking or hiking, and yoga.
Infertility is a deeply personal experience that can be painful and isolating. We need more visibility for Black families experiencing infertility and support for them through their reproductive health journeys.
