Individuals going through fertility treatment find themselves having to explain why they are feeling out of sorts or need time off, says IVF mum Fazirah Sa’im.
Aspiring parents may not think about infertility until it confronts them. (Photo: iStock/SDI Productions)
SINGAPORE: When a woman finds out she is pregnant, she may not tell everyone straight away.
She might tell her partner immediately, her family a little later, and her boss or colleagues only after the first trimester. She may even wait until her belly shows before making the news public.
But fertility treatment demands a different kind of disclosure. Unlike a natural pregnancy, treatments like in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) involve complex medical processes before there is even a pregnancy to announce. There may be appointments, procedures and side effects, and people may need to take time off work or seek practical and emotional support.
The question then for those going through it is: How much do they need to share?
CNA Games
Guess Word
Crack the word, one row at a time
Buzzword
Create words using the given letters
Mini Sudoku
Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser
Mini Crossword
Small grid, big challenge
Word Search
Spot as many words as you can
Show More
Show Less
Individuals going through fertility treatment find themselves having to explain to their boss and colleagues why they need time off or why they are feeling out of sorts. How can they talk about what they are going through without sharing every detail? Can they realistically go through it without telling anyone?