Some of the ways IVF clinics fail patients, the implications, and why they need to do better. Musings from a customer experience strategist with nearly a decade of lived experience.
Katie, I found so much of this so painfully relatable. The failure to properly acknowledge the impact and toll of fertility issues is ingrained in our healthcare system across the world. It's the same in the UK too. As women we are trained from childhood not to ‘make a fuss’ and this extends to our very biology. No one wants to talk about our periods, fertility, pregnancies, abortions, miscarriages, traumatic birth stories. Unless, of course, it’s a political debate on how to legally restrict and control women’s bodies, freedoms, and choices in these areas. I wish there were more ways for us to join forces and and affect change but sharing and writing about it is one way I have found others like yourself and found some catharsis in my own journey. xx
Hey Abi, thanks so so much for reading the post, and I’m sorry you find so much of it so relatable. It’s so sad that for such a common experience it’s met with a complete lack of care and empathy. You’re so right that this starts from childhood when we’re told not to make a fuss. Don’t even get me started on the politicisation of women’s health 🤦♀️ I love how Gen Z are demanding change, this gives me a lot of hope, and can’t be done without people like us raising the awareness and telling stories xx
YES this is so well written, evocative and I can feel the passion behind it. we MUST change this for the future - I actually cannot believe the excruciating lack of empathy, care or attention so many fertility professinals take with the communication and any signposting of support.
This post fired me up so much. THAT EMAIL!! UGH I am livid.
I watched the Brene Brown clip (so good) and feel like I'm going into the miracle baby story by trying to offer something that might help but one thing that came up for me is that women going through fertility journeys need doulas! the medical system fails women at every step (the lack of empathy is just one piece) and I wonder if having a support system (in the same way that there is a social worker/palliative care worker on your cancer team) would make it better?
Ha ha, a baby at the end is a fabulous story and what we all want, but it's the diminishment (is that a word?!) of any other outcome and failure to recognise it which is so jarring. Totally agree re: a fertility doula! I actually think Helen Davenport Pearce who writes The Antidote here on the stack talks about this and may even refer to herself as this. I knew a few people going through cancer treatment at the same time I was going through fertility treatment and the difference in care is mind boggling. Thank you for reading :)
Katie, I found so much of this so painfully relatable. The failure to properly acknowledge the impact and toll of fertility issues is ingrained in our healthcare system across the world. It's the same in the UK too. As women we are trained from childhood not to ‘make a fuss’ and this extends to our very biology. No one wants to talk about our periods, fertility, pregnancies, abortions, miscarriages, traumatic birth stories. Unless, of course, it’s a political debate on how to legally restrict and control women’s bodies, freedoms, and choices in these areas. I wish there were more ways for us to join forces and and affect change but sharing and writing about it is one way I have found others like yourself and found some catharsis in my own journey. xx
Hey Abi, thanks so so much for reading the post, and I’m sorry you find so much of it so relatable. It’s so sad that for such a common experience it’s met with a complete lack of care and empathy. You’re so right that this starts from childhood when we’re told not to make a fuss. Don’t even get me started on the politicisation of women’s health 🤦♀️ I love how Gen Z are demanding change, this gives me a lot of hope, and can’t be done without people like us raising the awareness and telling stories xx
YES this is so well written, evocative and I can feel the passion behind it. we MUST change this for the future - I actually cannot believe the excruciating lack of empathy, care or attention so many fertility professinals take with the communication and any signposting of support.
This post fired me up so much. THAT EMAIL!! UGH I am livid.
I watched the Brene Brown clip (so good) and feel like I'm going into the miracle baby story by trying to offer something that might help but one thing that came up for me is that women going through fertility journeys need doulas! the medical system fails women at every step (the lack of empathy is just one piece) and I wonder if having a support system (in the same way that there is a social worker/palliative care worker on your cancer team) would make it better?
Ha ha, a baby at the end is a fabulous story and what we all want, but it's the diminishment (is that a word?!) of any other outcome and failure to recognise it which is so jarring. Totally agree re: a fertility doula! I actually think Helen Davenport Pearce who writes The Antidote here on the stack talks about this and may even refer to herself as this. I knew a few people going through cancer treatment at the same time I was going through fertility treatment and the difference in care is mind boggling. Thank you for reading :)
Looks like she calls herself a conception doula - how wonderful! thanks for sharing
thank you for sharing. Such a powerful read, I hope these messages can get to the people/businesses that need to hear it x