Infertility Awareness Week: You Are Not the Reason
A Note for Infertility Awareness from Kansas City Pelvic Floor Physical Therapists at Well + Core
If you've ever sat in a bathroom, stared at a negative pregnancy test, and wondered what you did wrong, this is for you.
If you've smiled through a baby shower while quietly falling apart inside, this is for you.
If you've Googled symptoms at 2 AM, tried to calculate your cycle for the hundredth time, or felt your body betray you in a way you can't fully explain to the people around you, this is for you.
And if someone you love is walking this road and you don't know what to say, this is for you, too.
First, the thing we most need to say:
Infertility is not your fault.
It is not punishment. It is not a reflection of your worth, your readiness, or how badly you want this. It is not something you caused by waiting too long, working too hard, worrying too much, or not worrying enough. It is a medical condition: complex, common, and still carrying far more shame than it deserves.
Every year during Infertility Awareness Month, conversations about fertility, and the grief that surrounds it, get a little louder. We think that's important. One in six people globally will experience infertility at some point in their lives. That means it's almost certain you know someone who has. The women sitting next to you at work, in your yoga class, or at your church, some of them are carrying this quietly, right now.
Infertility awareness isn't just for the people experiencing it. It's for all of us. Because the more we understand, the better we can show up for each other.
What Are the Signs of Infertility?
One of the hardest things about infertility is that it often hides. There isn't always a dramatic symptom that signals something is wrong. For many people, the first sign is simply: time passing without a positive test.
That said, there are signs worth paying attention to. If you're wondering about the signs of infertility or how to check for infertility, here's what to look for and when to seek support:
Irregular or absent periods can indicate that ovulation isn't happening consistently (a key factor in conception).
Painful periods or pelvic pain may point to endometriosis, fibroids, or pelvic adhesions, all of which can affect fertility.
Hormonal symptoms like unexplained weight changes, significant acne, excess facial or body hair, or changes in sex drive can signal hormonal imbalances affecting reproductive health.
A history of pelvic infections or STIs can contribute to scarring or blockages in the fallopian tubes.
Two or more miscarriages may indicate an underlying issue worth investigating rather than waiting through.
For men: changes in sexual function, pain or swelling in the testicular area, or a history of certain medical conditions or surgeries can all be relevant factors.
The general guidance is this: if you're under 35 and have been trying to conceive for 12 months without success, or over 35 and it's been 6 months, it's a good time to talk to a provider. However, even if it's only been a month or two and you feel like something isn't right, we encourage you to start exploring your options right away.
What Causes Infertility?
This is where the conversation gets complicated, and where the shame often creeps in, because people assume there must be a reason, and that reason must be something they did. So let's be clear about what actually causes infertility, because the answer is: a lot of things, many of them completely outside your control. However, once infertility causes are identified, in many cases, there are things we can do to bring them more under control.
Hormonal and ovulatory conditions such as PCOS, thyroid dysfunction, elevated prolactin, or irregular cycles make ovulation unpredictable or absent.
Structural factors like endometriosis, uterine fibroids, polyps, blocked fallopian tubes, or pelvic adhesions may cause few or no symptoms at all until someone starts trying to conceive.
Male factor infertility is solely responsible for about 20% of infertility cases, while contributing to another 30-40% of cases, and yet is rarely part of the public conversation. Sperm count, motility, and morphology all play a significant role, and none of it is a reflection of masculinity or health in any broader sense. No matter your case scenario, male partners can do certain things to support and optimize fertility like making positive diet and exercise changes, getting enough sleep, avoiding alcohol and other substances, wearing loose boxers, etc.
Age-related changes in egg quality and quantity can begin earlier than most people realize and affect not just whether pregnancy occurs but how it progresses.
Unexplained infertility happens when all testing comes back "normal" but pregnancy still isn't happening. This is perhaps the most emotionally difficult diagnosis of all. This is more common than you might think, and it is not the same as being told nothing is wrong. It simply means the answers haven't been found yet.
Autoimmune and inflammatory factors, chronic stress, nutritional deficiencies, environmental exposures, and pelvic floor dysfunction are also increasingly recognized as contributing pieces of the picture.
The point isn't to overwhelm you with a list. The point is this: infertility is almost never simple, and it is almost never your fault. Bodies are complicated. Fertility is complicated. And anyone who suggests otherwise hasn't been paying close enough attention.
The Emotional Weight Is Real, and It Deserves Care Too
Infertility is one of the most psychologically taxing experiences a person can go through, and yet so much of the focus in treatment is purely physical.
The grief is real. The isolation is real. The toll it takes on relationships, identity, and sense of self is real. Studies consistently show that people experiencing infertility report levels of anxiety and depression comparable to those facing serious chronic illness. Yet, they're often expected to keep it together, stay positive, and "just relax."
(And while we're at it: "just relax" is not a fertility treatment. Please stop saying that to people.)
What people actually need is permission to feel what they're feeling, and community that understands. If you're in the thick of this and your mental health is suffering, that's not weakness. That's a completely reasonable response to something hard. Our own Dr. Angela LeBlanc, PT, DPT, sits down with licensed professional counselor and perinatal mental health specialist, Katie Kirkenmeier, in this YouTube video in which they beautifully cover the intersection between fertility and mental health. We'd encourage anyone walking this road to watch it.
There Are Paths Forward (More Than You Might Think)
We want to be careful here, because "there's always hope" can feel hollow when you've already tried so many things. So we'll say it differently: there are more options available today than there have ever been, and there’s a chance you haven’t heard of all of them.
Some people find their path through reproductive medicine like monitoring, medication, IUI, or IVF. Some work with nutritionists, acupuncturists, or naturopaths to address underlying imbalances. Some benefit enormously from addressing pelvic floor dysfunction, which can impact blood flow, tissue mobility, and the overall environment of the reproductive organs in ways that are only beginning to be fully understood. And then, there’s Mercier Therapy, that combines aspects of each of these paths.
What is Mercier Therapy?
Mercier Therapy is a specialized form of visceral manipulation focused on the pelvic organs. If you're not familiar with visceral manipulation, here's the simplest way to think about it: your organs aren't static structures. They move, glide, and shift as your body moves. When adhesions, scar tissue, or restrictions develop (from surgery, infection, inflammation, or injury), that movement becomes limited. Restricted organs have reduced circulation and decreased mobility, which can quietly affect function, including reproductive function.
Mercier Therapy works to restore that mobility and circulation to the uterus, ovaries, and surrounding tissues. It's hands-on work by a pelvic floor physical therapist or other specialist, and it addresses the pelvic environment in a way that most conventional fertility treatments simply don't touch.
At Well + Core, our Kansas City pelvic floor physical therapy practice, Mercier Therapy is offered by Dr. Angela LeBlanc, a skilled provider who brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to this work. Dr. Angela has personally experienced the benefits of Mercier Therapy in her own fertility journey, which means when she works with patients navigating infertility, she understands what that road actually feels like. That matters.
Mercier Therapy isn't a cure, and we won't pretend otherwise. But for many people, it's one more piece of the puzzle worth exploring, particularly those dealing with unexplained infertility, endometriosis, pelvic adhesions, or a history of pelvic surgery.
If you're in the Kansas City area and curious whether Mercier Therapy might be a fit for where you are, we're always happy to have that conversation. Just schedule a free 15-minute consultation with Dr. Angela here.
To the People Who Love Someone Going Through This
You may feel helpless. You may say the wrong thing sometimes, (most people do). But showing up matters more than having the right words.
A few things that actually help: asking how they're doing and meaning it, not offering unsolicited advice or silver linings, not asking for updates on "how it's going" unless they bring it up, and simply letting them know you're not going anywhere.
You don't have to fix it. You just have to stay.
You Don't Have to Carry This Alone
Infertility awareness week exists because silence doesn't serve anyone. The more we talk about this honestly, without shame, and without minimizing how hard it is, the less alone people feel. And feeling less alone matters more than most of us realize.
If you're in the Kansas City area and navigating infertility, Well + Core is here. Whether you have questions about Mercier Therapy, want to talk through what pelvic floor physical therapy might offer your situation, or simply want to connect with a provider who genuinely gets it, reach out. No pressure. Just an open door.
And if the emotional side of this journey is weighing on you, please take a few minutes to watch Dr. Angela’s video on fertility and mental health here. You deserve support for all of it, not just the physical parts.
Well + Core is a pelvic floor physical therapy practice serving the Kansas City area, located at 5001 College Blvd, Suite 102, Leawood, KS 66211. We specialize in whole-person care for women at every stage of life.