FFP 027 | The Impact of Sexual Abuse on Fertility and Infertility | Part 2 | Dr Erica Berman

Dr. Erica Berman has her Masters of Counseling Psychology and a special certificate in infertility counseling. She also has her Ph.D. in Exercise Sciences and has been working as a fitness instructor and personal trainer for 20 years. She enjoys helping clients make positive changes in their lifestyle and health. She has a special interest in the area of infertility which extends not just to individuals and couples facing infertility, but also clients dealing with low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, and relationship issues. Along the way, she has also developed a passion for helping members of the LGBTQ community create families through third-party assisted-reproductive technologies.

Today in the second part of my two-part series about the impact of sexual abuse on fertility, we will be talking about some of the ways that sexual abuse can impact a woman’s fertility, and how it can impact women during their child-bearing years. We talk about the prevalence of sexual abuse, and why we have such a hard time believing that someone we know could be the abuser. We talk about the specific ways that a history of sexual abuse can impact a woman's relationships when she chooses to have children and the ways that a history of abuse can impact a woman who is experiencing fertility challenges.

Topics discussed in today's episode

How prevalent is sexual abuse? And why is this an important topic to bring to light? The nature of pain and loss and why we are always comparing our experiences to those of others Why do most people still believe that sexual abuse is rare? And why do we have a hard time believing that someone we know could be responsible?  The impact that sexual abuse can have even if the survivor of the abuse doesn't define it as sexual abuse or assault The different ways an experience of sexual abuse can impact a person's relationships and his or her ability to trust others Why women who have experienced sexual abuse may delay having children until later in life The additional challenges that women who have a history of sexual abuse face when they are also facing fertility challenges The importance of teaching your children the proper terminology for their genitalia, and how this relates to sexual abuse The impact that infertility can have on a couple's relationship The different ways that men and women react to infertility struggles and why these different reactions can cause relationship challenges The relationship between age and fertility How to support someone who is experiencing fertility challenges

Connect with Erica!

You can connect with Erica on her website, and on Facebook and Twitter!

Resources mentioned

Erica Berman | Erica Berman Health and Wellness Counselling How Sexual Abuse Affects Fertility | Huffington Post | Erica Berman When Infertility Affects Your Marriage | Huffington Post | Erica Berman Want to have kids one day? Get to know your fertility health | Huffington Post | Erica Berman The Kind of Fertility We're Not Talking About | Huffington Post | Erica Berman "We want to talk about sex": Grade 8 girls push for Ontario sex-ed reforms to include concept of consent | The Globe and Mail FFP 026 | Myths and Facts About Sexual Assault | The Impact of Sexual Abuse on Fertility and Infertility Part 1 | Erin Martin FFP 011 | Age-Related Fertility Decline | Using Reproductive Technologies | IVF, IUI & IVM | Dr. Melanie McDowall

Music Credit: Intro/Outro music Produced by Sirc of (The Nock)