When it comes to conversations about infertility, men often remain in the shadows. The fertility conversation often defaults to women, making it easy to assume infertility is a “women’s issue.” That’s a misconception – male-factor infertility is a significant part of the equation, despite it lacking the attention it deserves. While male infertility isn’t exactly…
Perinatal and Reproductive Mental Health
Breastfeeding and Postpartum Mental Health
Today, approximately 83% of mothers in the United States are attempting to breastfeed (Bresnahan et al., 2019). The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that breastfeeding should occur within the first hour of life, should be done exclusively for 6 months, and should continue up to 2+ years of age (CDC, 2024). However, the rate of…
Getting Support as a New Father During the Postpartum Period
The postpartum period is a significant life transition, and as such can be incredibly challenging. As many as 1 in 5 women experience a mood or anxiety disorder during pregnancy and/or the first year postpartum (Howard et al., 2014). Additionally, the postpartum period affects the whole family, not just the birthing person. Evidence shows that…
Sexuality, Infertility, and Mental Health: Bridging the Gaps
Article by Kate Ernstrom, LCSW, PMH-C, CST and Gabby Pendley, LCSW, CADC, PMH-C Infertility is a highly personal journey, impacting not only one’s hopes for the future but also emotional, relational, and sexual health. In today’s world, an estimated 10-15% of couples experience infertility (ASRM, 2023), a reality that often creates a ripple effect across…
Supporting Someone Through Miscarriage: Dos and Don’ts
Miscarriage can be an extremely emotional and even traumatic experience for someone who was expecting. I frequently hear from clients who have experienced miscarriages and often find that they feel unseen, unheard, or invalidated. Miscarriages are actually quite common—chances are you know someone, or know someone who knows someone, who has gone through one. This…
Understanding Infertility: A Guide for Psychotherapists
Infertility has become one of the most common reasons that women between the ages of 20 and 45 seek medical treatment in the United States. According to the CDC, 19% of women experience physiological (medical) infertility. Additionally, many more people experience social infertility (infertility caused by social relationships and circumstances). Given this significant portion of…
National Suicide Prevention Month: Shining a Light on Maternal Mental Health Crisis
September is here, and with it comes the National Suicide Prevention Month – a time when we shine a critically important spotlight on mental health and work to raise awareness about preventing suicide. Suicidality affects people from all walks of life and at various points of their lives. As this article will show, tragically it…
Honoring the Complexities of Perinatal Loss: A Guide for Clinicians
Loss is one of the most painful and often isolating experiences within the perinatal community. Perinatal loss, which encompasses miscarriage, stillbirth and death of an infant in the first month of life, is a deeply personal and often unspoken grief. The silence surrounding this loss can lead grieving individuals to suffer alone, without the support…
Understanding Social Infertility: An Evolving Term in Reproductive Health
Engaging in allyship with the LGBTQIA+ community entails, among other things, educating ourselves about the unique challenges they face. One significant issue is the often complicated journey to parenthood for those who choose that path. Social infertility is a new and evolving term describing this process. In recent years, infertility has gained awareness, resulting in…
There Is No Health Without Mental Health: Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month
The transition to parenthood is often described as a journey, yet this word does not sufficiently capture the dramatic and profound nature of change and transformation that takes place during this time. A more appropriate term might be “odyssey.” There are very few, if any, other life experiences that match the physical, emotional, mental, relational,…
