“Don’t you want to be a mother? The rice is going to pass you by… For when a little brother? It’s just an abortion, better that it happened now…”. These are phrases that infertility patients hear almost daily. It is possible that even you have had to suffer them. It is true that in most cases they are born from ignorance, but it does not minimize the damage they cause to whoever receives them. It is the result of years of stigma and taboo around infertility. To break with this we have created the manifesto The Language of Fertility: Breaking Taboosin collaboration with the National Association of Infertile Network Patients. You can download the manifesto for free at this link.
What is the objective of ‘The Language of Fertility’?
With the creation of this manifesto we want to make visible how people with an infertility diagnosis feel, regarding the treatment received from different areas: health personnel, the media and their environment. There must be a change in the way in which we address these patients from society and with the creation of The Language of Fertility We establish a series of commitments to carry it out. Do you commit to changing the language of fertility?
“’The Language of Fertility’ is the result of the experience of many women to whom we have wanted to give a voice. And it is that being infertile is not something for which you have to feel guilty or be forced to hide the need for medical help to solve this problem. Like someone who needs a neurologist or traumatologist, patients with fertility problems have the best options at their disposal to make their pregnancy wish come true. Although it is true that, historically, the way in which we have referred to infertility and the people who suffer from it from different social, medical and even media spheres have generated certain uncomfortable situations to which today, with this project, we want to give response from sensitivity and empathy”explains Dr. Agustín Ballesteros, director of IVI Barcelona.
Infertility is a disease recognized by the WHO
Yes, infertility is a disease recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and as such must be treated by society. Infertility has historically been accompanied by taboos and the fact of having to go to an assisted reproduction clinic was done from secrecy. But reality, as reflected in the numbers of the Spanish Fertility Society (SEF) is that about 10% of children born in 2019 are the result of reproductive medicine. This disease is a reality and science offers assisted reproduction solutions to fulfill the wishes of women and couples. The only thing missing is for society to become aware of it.
Do you commit to changing the language of fertility?
We want to break with the myths and taboos associated for years and wrongly with infertility. But also with uncomfortable questions or with silences, which sometimes cause more damage than the words themselves. The language of fertility must be fair, adequate and empathetic. Because these patients must be able to count on a safe and supportive space to release the emotional weight implicit in diagnosis and treatment.
And it is that, from society, the immediate environment, the media and even from the health field, this process tends to be trivialized or belittled. This only increases the uncomfortable situation experienced by those diagnosed with infertility.
“We want to improve the conversation around infertility in our personal and medical settings as well. This manifesto is one of the most important works for us as an association, since being able to share with society how we feel with certain phrases and how we would like to be treated opens the door to respect and complicity”, says Helena Fernández, president of the National Association of Patients National Network of Infertiles. And it is that this same lack of understanding of the disease was one of the reasons why the association was created.
“As for us, as a healthcare community, we are aware of the importance of showing understanding to our patients during their time at our centers, and we work every day to improve their experience and make it as bearable as possible”adds Dr. Ballesteros.
Breaking the infertility taboo
To what has been said above we can add how motherhood is treated by the media. It is essential that truthful and explanatory information about infertility be offered from these, avoiding focusing on minor aspects.
For their part, from the closest environment of the patients, the support that family members or friends can provide is essential. For this, it will be necessary to stop resorting to comments or topics that can generate a feeling of frustration or guilt.
“This project is essential as a tool for raising awareness, awareness and awareness about the importance of the language of fertility. We want to be an agent of change so that people with infertility feel the support, empathy and complicity they need to face their circumstances in the best conditions”points out Dr. Ballesteros.
Presentation at the new IVI Barcelona
‘The Language of Fertility’ was presented yesterday, Thursday February 16, at the new IVI Barcelona clinic. This act also served as the starting signal for this new headquarters in Barcelona, located in a historic enclave of the city such as the Editorial Salvat building. In the presentation of the manifesto we have Helena Fernández, president of the National Association of Infertile Network Patients; Ariadne Artiles, model, triple mom, and maternity content creator; María Tilve, mother and opinion leader; and Silvia, a patient at IVI Barcelona.
You can enjoy the best moments of the event in a video below and we invite you to share your story or your support for ‘The Language of Fertility’ on social networks with the hashtag #LenguajeDeLaFertility
