Infertile Survivors
So, is there, as was suggested by several physicians, a connection between childhood abuse (we're including physical, sexual, and emotional) and adult infertility?
To understand what is currently known, let's quickly review some of the pertinent factors. In relation to childhood abuse and later outcomes, we know that:
- there appear to be connections between some types of chronic adult pain (for example, pelvic pain in women) and previous childhood abuse;
- there is often a two-way relationship between alcohol or other substance abuse and child abuse;
- there is certainly a causal relationship between childhood abuse and adult psychiatric disorders, particularly depression;
- the incidence of teen pregnancy is more likely if a teen girl was abused as a child.
In relation to some of the above factors and infertility, we know that:
- some correlation has been drawn between women with chronic pelvic pain and incidence of infertility;
- there may be relationships between alcohol or other substance use and fertility problems;
- there appears to be a connection between depression and poor pregnancy rates in IVF;
- teen girls who are sexually active are at greatest risk for infertility-causing sexually transmitted infections.
Our Community
Via short-term forum poll, we asked the question, "Did you experience abuse or neglect as a child?" Here are the results:
- Yes - Physical, Not Sexual
7 votes (9%) - Yes - Sexual, Not Other Physical
3 votes (4%) - Yes - Emotional Only
9 votes (12%) - Yes - Combination
13 votes (17%) - No
45 votes (58%)
© Tracy Morris
