Drs. Ariel Harrison and Roohi Jeelani share answers from their research and clinical experiences working with patients who are suffering from infertility and the mental toll it takes.
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Ariel Harrison, PhD ’16, has worked as a licensed and certified school counselor for almost 12 years in elementary, middle, and high school settings that include private, public, and charter schools. She is also a faculty member and academic program coordinator for Walden University’s School of Counseling. Her research article—“Understanding the Experiences and Counseling Needs of Black Women with Infertility”—was published in 2024.
In addition to her research, she also sought fertility treatment as a mother to her now three-year-old son.
What are the mental health support challenges Black women face with infertility?
I interviewed 13 Black women on infertility, mental health, coping responses, and counseling needs. In the U.S., Black women’s historical value has often centered on fertility, a concept rooted in slavery where childbearing meant financial gain for slave owners. This legacy passed down as a subconscious expectation, with family messages, images of large families, and cultural norms reinforcing that identity and value were linked to childbearing. For the women in my study, entering relationships heightened these expectations, so when they faced infertility, they often felt shame, confusion, isolation, and self-blame.
Some participants had preexisting mental health conditions and counselor relationships, while others turned to religious support. Many received family messages that counseling was either unnecessary or unsafe for Black people, and most felt intense pressure to be “strong” and self-reliant, which often worsened mental health challenges and led to denial of emotions. They became solely responsible for navigating infertility alongside work, school, family, and social obligations.
Barriers these women faced included limited support from healthcare providers and counseling that didn’t meet their specific needs. Many experienced miscarriages without being referred to mental health support, and some only discovered reproductive issues later in life despite early concerns. They overwhelmingly preferred seeing professionals who shared their background, fearing they wouldn’t be understood, heard, or safe with providers who didn’t.
How do mental health stigmas affect help-seeking for Black women dealing with infertility?
Stigmas associated with mental health in the Black community is a unique foundation in my findings because the central stigma for some participants was that counseling support was unsafe. However, there were still layers of support that varied from family members directing women to religious support and family members reinforcing that women should and could handle their issues on their own.
Some participants received messages that equated seeking help to weakness. In contrast, others received messages that Black people should not share their problems with strangers. In addition to this stigma, for participants who wanted to seek help or even for some who did seek counseling support, finding someone who understood their challenges or had their best interests in mind was also a concern.
Some participants shared that they felt they received general support that wasn't central to what they needed but tailored to anyone. Others thought they were already stereotyped or judged by medical professionals, so counseling was perceived as another space where someone might judge them again. The stigmas ranged from participants receiving messages not to seek help from counseling at all because it was deemed unsafe to other messages that counseling was not appropriate for or tailored to the needs of Black people.
Roohi Jeelani, MD ’10, is a double board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist (REI). A graduate of Ross University School of Medicine, she has authored a variety of book chapters and articles in well-known journals highlighting REI advancements and has presented at national and international conferences and symposia focused on advancements in women’s health.
Before she was helping other women and families in clinical practice, Dr. Jeelani was a patient herself. As a teenager, she was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome.
What are the personal challenges of fertility treatments?
One of the most common misconceptions with fertility is how tough it’s going to be on your body. And I don’t want to minimize it—it is tough. But one thing I learned from being a patient was that the emotional fear took over way more than the actual physical fear. It almost handicapped me. I remember being that patient who absolutely refused to see a fertility doctor.
I know no one wants to sit in front of a fertility doctor, but we’re walking this journey alongside you, and it doesn’t have to be that scary. Part of my role is to create efficient processes, so you don’t have patient burnout. Because as a patient, this journey is so tolling and exhausting. My clinic—Kind Body—has a mission creating access to care, and that resonates deeply with me both as a doctor and as a patient, because I struggled with this as a patient.
As doctors, we need to be available. I remember needing my doctor and them not being available, and sometimes work or life gets in the way, but now as a provider it takes me 30 seconds to text and say, ‘Hey, you’re okay. We are going to get there. This is plan X, Y, Z,’ and that small gesture takes hours of that emotional toll off of a patient.
Watch our Alumni Spotlight—"Resilience in Reproductive Health, featuring Dr. Jeelani.”
How can women mentally cope with infertility?
Dr. Harrison: Every woman’s story is unique, so coping needs and strategies vary. Infertility, defined as the inability to conceive after 12 months of unprotected intercourse, includes primary infertility (inability to conceive or birth a child) and secondary infertility (inability following a prior birth). Recurrent pregnancy loss also affects some, and infertility may involve male partner factors. This often leads to shame, which can be deeply isolating.
Women can cope by advocating for themselves with medical professionals, learning about reproductive challenges, and seeking second opinions. Some may engage in reproductive options like IVF, while others find support through virtual or in-person groups, religious support, counseling, or sharing experiences in safe spaces. Support networks, especially those with other BIPOC women, can help reduce isolation. Telehealth has also expanded access, enabling women to find qualified counselors beyond their local area to help them explore effective strategies for accepting and managing their diagnoses.
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