Up close and personal: Blogging about infertility

"Infertility, once referred to as the 'silent disorder,' has found a voice," says Washington, D.C.-based writer Cheryl Miller in a fascinating essay titled "Blogging Infertility" in the latest edition of The New Atlantis.

Blogging, says Miller, has provided a powerful outlet for the infertile, providing unlimited support and information. For the public, she says, the multitude of infertility blogs offers a unique perspective on the condition but in a way that is sometimes so personal it borders on voyeurism.

"The openness and transparency encouraged by the Internet pose new challenges, particularly for something as intimate as human reproduction. Allowing the world to read about -- and comment on -- your political opinions is one thing. Allowing the world a front-row seat to witness your struggles to conceive is another."

Miller describes popular blogs such as Stirrup Queens, Coming2Terms and one of the few blogs written by a man, Maybe Baby. Maybe Baby is the story of Chicago writer Matthew M.F. Miller (no relation to Cheryl Miller) who, on Friday, announced that his wife, Constance, took her 10th negative pregnancy test in the last two years. On Monday, Miller blogged:

"Pregnancy isn't simple science, not for me and not for us, and no amount of science will ever change my mind about that."

He's writing a book, apparently the first male memoir on infertility, due out later this year.

-- Shari Roan

Photo: Frozen eggs in the USC Fertility laboratory, Bryan Chan / Los Angeles Times

Photo: Courtesy of Maybe Baby

Comments

[KT]

I think it takes amazing courage to share publicly the most intimate of life events, regardless if the goal is to help process the intensity the ordeal, seek support from friends and newfound acqaintences alike, or merely share experiences to help educate the readership. Props to the bloggers and especially Matthew Miller (Maybe Baby is awesome) for thougtfully, amusingly, and bemusingly unraveling the secrets and the challenging world of infertility struggles.

[Jessica Beebe]

Matt MF Miller is an amazing writer and if you aren't reading his blog - you should be! His book will be one of those "well worth it" buys!

[Rachel]

As a blogger and a woman dealing with secondary infertility, I agree that blogging is a huge help. Not many people know real-life people with infertility problems. In the blogging world, and the online world in general, you can find people who relate to your troubles. I think it's a great outlet.
~ Rachel Gurevich - About.com Guide to Infertility
http://infertility.about.com/

[Susan]

I love reading Maybe Baby. Everyone should check it out. I've learned a lot from reading it and appreciate Matt M. F. Miller's candor about a typically private and sadly sometimes shameful matter. I can't wait to read his book. I think it's due out in September!