This content is for educational purposes only. It has been reviewed for scientific accuracy, but it does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding medical questions or fertility treatment decisions.
Reviewed for scientific accuracy by: Dr. Mona Bungum
Last reviewed: February 2026
Lifestyle matters for fertility. A BMC Public Health study found that women with 4–5 healthy habits had a 59% lower risk of infertility.
Fill out the questionnaire, and get a personalised, holistic and evidence-based programme tailored to you.
takes 3 minutes to complete00:00:01 Building supportive communities. That is what we will talk about today. Perhaps you are already experiencing that. What is completely natural for others to discuss can be extremely difficult and boundary crossing for you. It can almost feel like you are talking about something that is so private and delicate just for you. No matter where you are on your journey right now, and regardless of what feelings today's topic may evoke, this module will support you in tuning in to what feels
00:00:28 right or wrong for you when it comes to sharing your journey. right or wrong for you when it comes to sharing your journey. When we talk about support groups and like minded communities, they can be invaluable resources for you who are undergoing fertility treatment. These communities provide you with the opportunity to connect with others who share your experiences, challenges, and feelings. It is a place where you not only feel understood, but also feel seen, heard, and not least accepted for what you are currently experiencing.
00:00:58 Groups of like minded individuals can, in many cases, Groups of like minded individuals can, in many cases, actually function as a mirror where you can reflect on your feelings, thoughts, and experiences related to fertility treatment. It can range from the very large emotional challenges to the tiny everyday details. Sharing these experiences with others who are going through and intend to do the same as you can be incredibly liberating and empowering in a supportive community.
00:01:24 You can find energy and surplus because you feel that you have understood and supported others. It can be a source of hope and understood and supported others. It can be a source of hope and comfort in very difficult moments, but it is also important to be aware of how the community affects you over time. For example, when you experience others in the group becoming pregnant, or when something goes wrong in their treatment process, it can evoke complex feelings of both joy, jealousy,
00:01:53 and also sadness or fear in you. It is important to listen to your own gut feeling and to sense whether the community is still a place gut feeling and to sense whether the community is still a place where you feel safe and supported. If you start to feel discomfort, doubt, or perhaps anxiety with all the notifications popping up, or when you participate in the group, it may be a very good sign that it is time to reflect on your participation. Listen to your feelings. Feel free to take a break or
00:02:21 seek other forms of support if it feels necessary. It is important to remember that different people need different forms of support on their journey to parenthood, forms of support on their journey to parenthood, and it is perfectly okay to adjust your needs and boundaries, and to find the community that best suits you and your situation right now. Today, I would like to invite you to reflect on the following questions to bring you a little closer to understanding what
00:02:45 works for you and what you might need to change slightly. The first thing I want to ask you is, who do you turn to when you need to talk about your fertility treatment or the negative test? Where do you feel safe enough to share your journey and Where do you feel safe enough to share your journey and experiences and very importantly, also your feelings? Where do you feel challenged in your interactions with others? Is it with people who have young children, or perhaps with those
00:03:13 who are early in their pregnancy? There may also be people who ask you a lot of questions without fully understanding the world you are in. So after spending time with them, you feel like you have expended more resources explaining your world and the emotions that arise rather than just being together. Today, there are many supportive rather than just being together. Today, there are many supportive communities where you can find like minded individuals who not only understand the world you are in, but also feel the changes that can occur
00:03:42 psychologically and emotionally. What can support groups do for you? Yes, you see, groups of like minded individuals can be a place where you can reflect your feelings, thoughts, and experiences, both significant and mundane in everyday life. So allow yourself to feel how you are in the groups you are part of. Does it give you energy or does are in the groups you are part of. Does it give you energy or does it drain your energy? With these words, I would like to conclude by saying thank you for today and encourage you to reflect
00:04:11 on your communities and not least consider whether it is a community where you feel really comfortable, or if you need to mute and step out for a while. Thank you for today.
