Dealing with infertility is in no way easy. Neither is talking about it. But when thinking about spending the rest of your life with someone and planning on maybe even starting afamily, it’s a crucial topic for partners to discuss to make sure they are on the same page about their future.

After realizing that his sister wasn’t honest with her fiancé about being infertile,this redditorfound himself facing a moral dilemma – whether to tell a secret that is not his to tell or let a man continue to dream about having biological children with the woman that he loves dearly. The OP chose the former option, consequently causing quite a rift in the family and even wondering if he was in the wrong for doing so. Scroll down to find the full story below.

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Infertility can be an incredibly painful thing to go through or even talk about, for that matter

Man’s Reality Falls Apart As Fiancée’s Brother Asks Him How The Adoption Process Is Going

Image credits:Dimaberlin (not the actual photo)

This woman hadn’t told her fiancé that she was infertile, so her brother did that for her

Man’s Reality Falls Apart As Fiancée’s Brother Asks Him How The Adoption Process Is Going

Image credits:varyapigu (not the actual photo)

Image credits:Double_Assistance281

Infertility reportedly affects one-in-six people globally

Man’s Reality Falls Apart As Fiancée’s Brother Asks Him How The Adoption Process Is Going

Image credits:RDNE Stock project / Pexels (not the actual photo)

“For some women and couples, there can be this expectation, a dream or plan that they had about having children, and they feel robbed of that dream,” noted Dr. Eynav Accortt, a clinical psychologist and director of the Reproductive Psychology Program at Cedars-Sinai Hospital.

Yet there is still stigma surrounding it

Man’s Reality Falls Apart As Fiancée’s Brother Asks Him How The Adoption Process Is Going

Image credits:cottonbro studio / Pexels (not the actual photo)

Accortt continued to point out that nowadays men are much more involved in family life, so they feel the hardships of perinatal loss just as deeply as women do. But, according toa studyon infertility stigma, while inability to have children affects both sexes equally, women are most frequently blamed. “This causes infertile women to feel guilty and threatens their self-esteem. Thus, infertile women experience greater psychological stress than infertile men, and they are often stigmatized for being infertile and being childless,” the researchers of the study wrote.

Bearing in mind the stigma surrounding infertility and the toll it takes on one’smental well-being, it’s not surprising that a person might find it difficult to talk about it even with the people they love most. Chances are, the OP, too, couldn’t summon the strength to start the difficult conversation with her fiancé. However, hiding the issue might only cause more problems down the line.

Atlanta Center for Reproductive Medicinesuggeststhat it’s crucial that both partners know what they’re up against, so they can overcome the roadblock together. According to the center, “The earlier you have this seemingly daunting conversation with your significant other, the sooner you’ll feel better about your situation. The longer you keep it a secret, the more self-doubt, guilt, and blame may manifest in other areas of your relationship.”

Some people weren’t quick to judge the brother for his actions

Man’s Reality Falls Apart As Fiancée’s Brother Asks Him How The Adoption Process Is Going

Man’s Reality Falls Apart As Fiancée’s Brother Asks Him How The Adoption Process Is Going

Man’s Reality Falls Apart As Fiancée’s Brother Asks Him How The Adoption Process Is Going

Man’s Reality Falls Apart As Fiancée’s Brother Asks Him How The Adoption Process Is Going

Man’s Reality Falls Apart As Fiancée’s Brother Asks Him How The Adoption Process Is Going

Man’s Reality Falls Apart As Fiancée’s Brother Asks Him How The Adoption Process Is Going

Man’s Reality Falls Apart As Fiancée’s Brother Asks Him How The Adoption Process Is Going

Man’s Reality Falls Apart As Fiancée’s Brother Asks Him How The Adoption Process Is Going

Man’s Reality Falls Apart As Fiancée’s Brother Asks Him How The Adoption Process Is Going

Man’s Reality Falls Apart As Fiancée’s Brother Asks Him How The Adoption Process Is Going

Man’s Reality Falls Apart As Fiancée’s Brother Asks Him How The Adoption Process Is Going

Man’s Reality Falls Apart As Fiancée’s Brother Asks Him How The Adoption Process Is Going

Others, however, believed that it wasn’t his secret to tell

Man’s Reality Falls Apart As Fiancée’s Brother Asks Him How The Adoption Process Is Going

Man’s Reality Falls Apart As Fiancée’s Brother Asks Him How The Adoption Process Is Going

Man’s Reality Falls Apart As Fiancée’s Brother Asks Him How The Adoption Process Is Going

Man’s Reality Falls Apart As Fiancée’s Brother Asks Him How The Adoption Process Is Going

Man’s Reality Falls Apart As Fiancée’s Brother Asks Him How The Adoption Process Is Going

Man’s Reality Falls Apart As Fiancée’s Brother Asks Him How The Adoption Process Is Going

Man’s Reality Falls Apart As Fiancée’s Brother Asks Him How The Adoption Process Is Going

Thanks! Check out the results:Viktorija Ošikaitė

Indrė Lukošiūtė

Monika Pašukonytė

Relationships