|
|
No firm, scientifically-drawn conclusions are readily available to the initial questions about causal relationships or even incidence of child abuse and adult infertility. For at least one woman, though, the connections seem very real.
Patricia Hunt, LICSW is a social worker in private practice in Massachusetts. Among her other counseling groups of folks with relatively typical experiences, she works with one set of clientele whose paths may seem unusual to many. They are sexual abuse survivors who are now experiencing infertility.
The knowledge that Hunt has gained through her work with this group can provide rare insight for all infertility communities, and not just for those who are immediately effected by abuse. She speaks about those often-quiet individuals for whom infertility is not the first traumatic event of their lives:
"I would guess that women who have been blessed by success and happiness in their lives until the crisis of infertility are more surprised and vocal about their misfortune. It was these women, and men who channeled their outrage and pain into action and advocated for changes that benefited the entire infertile population.
"However... it would be a mistake to assume the majority of individuals fits this description. There are many women and men who are struggling with infertility for whom this is not the first crisis in their lives; those who experienced childhood sexual abuse."
According to Hunt, overlap of the infertility and sexual abuse survivor communities is inevitable, given that one in four females and one in six males have reported being sexually abused prior to age eighteen. In addition to the causal relationships that Hunt sees clearly, she also witnesses how such childhood experiences can further worsen the infertility experience.
"Beginning in childhood, abuse survivors typically blame themselves for their victimization, as they have no other explanation, and self-blame is a way of trying to cope with an uncontrollable situation. As they grow up, many abuse survivors continue this pattern when other misfortune occurs, and retreat to shame and isolation.
"And because sexuality and reproduction are so closely intertwined, it is difficult for both men and women to separate their feelings about being sexually assaulted from their body not co-operating when they want to have a child."
Sexual abuse survivors most likely experience more feelings of being "bad, abnormal, or damaged" when fertility becomes an issue. Hunt says that the message which needs to be conveyed to this group is not only that they are not alone with their struggles, but that they are not to blame.
Hunt feels very positively about outcomes for sexual abuse survivors who engage in appropriate support group activities.
"For those affected by childhood trauma and infertility, there needs to be a place where people can bring all parts of themselves to the healing process. It is tremendously empowering to talk with others who are struggling with the same feelings and concerns, which ultimately leads to an increase in hope, self-acceptance and sense of well-being."
Excerpts reprinted with permission from "What if infertility is NOT the first bad thing to happen to you?", by Patricia Hunt
© Tracy Morris
_2.jpg)
