Secondary Infertility Support Group

If you’ve already had one child, you may experience shock or surprise at your difficulties trying to conceive another. Even if you had infertility the first time around and perhaps expected some difficulties again, it can feel confusing and distressing to go back and forth between the fertile and infertile worlds. You may find yourself in social settings where people ask you when you’re going to have another child. Among infertility patients, however, you may feel isolated and even guilty that you already have a child while others have none. While of course you are grateful for the child you have (and others may tell you to be grateful!) you still want to fulfill your dream of another child, but also may feel guilty taking time away in order to try to do so. Finally, you may feel sad at not yet being able to provide your child with a sibling.

This unique group of infertility patients faces special challenges. The goal of the group will be to offer support and an exchange of ideas. Group participants are truly in the same boat here, and can help each other to better navigate these waters.

SUPPORT GROUP LEADER: Patricia Sachs, LCSW-C, Clinical Social Worker, SGF

FREE OF CHARGE; open only to current Shady Grove Fertility patients.

TELEHEALTH: Group will meet virtually on DOXY.me, a secure platform for telehealth sessions

REGISTRATION: though free of charge, the group is limited to the first 11 people to register, due to the limitation on number of screens the platform allows. You must register with Patricia Sachs at [email protected] at least 48 hours prior to the group. Registration is required at least 48 hours before the group event. You must be a current SGF patient and provide the office you go to and your doctor’s name. You will be asked to join an email distribution list for the group. An email will be sent to you with a consent form that must be filled out before you can attend the virtual group. When you fill out the consent and return it to the group leader via email, you will then receive an invitation with a link to the video meeting. Please note that the group may be canceled if there are too few people registered. The group leader will contact you by phone or email if the group will not be held as scheduled. We can only have a maximum of 11 participants per group so if the group is at maximum capacity, you will be asked if you would like to be on a waiting list to join if a spot opens up.