PETALING JAYA: The journey through infertility treatment has been emotionally draining and costly for a 46-year-old lecturer.
Identified only as Lina, she said such treatment can run into tens of thousands of ringgit, placing a heavy financial burden on couples, especially when multiple cycles are involved.
But beyond cost, Lina said one of the toughest parts was feeling alone in the process.
“Sometimes it felt like I was the only one who wanted a baby,” she said in an interview.
The Shah Alam resident said her husband was often reluctant to go for the clinic visits with her.
This, she felt, contributed to delays in decision-making and treatment.
Fertility specialists have pointed out that such dynamics are not uncommon.
They said infertility is a shared male and female issue, and delays – whether emotional, medical or logistical – can significantly affect outcomes, particularly as age advances.
Lina said she wished she and her husband had sought assessment earlier and approached treatment as a joint responsibility.
“When you’re younger, you think you still have time. But suddenly, you realise time is not on your side anymore,” she said.
Reflecting on her multiple doctors’ visits, she advised couples who have difficulty conceiving to seek early assessment, even before considering advanced treatment such as IVF.
“Early checks can help identify underlying issues, allow simpler interventions and provide clearer options, while age-related fertility decline is still manageable.
“For me, I realised too many things too late; that I actually yearned for the joy of motherhood,” she said.
As to the news that Malaysia would start building a National Subfertility Centre, Lina hopes that sharing her experience will encourage couples to talk openly, act early and support each other through what can be a physically and emotionally demanding journey.
