Marriage and family therapist Dr. Barry Davidson has counselled several infertile couples over the years. Some have sought IVF treatment, but he noted that adoption and fostering a child are options that can be pursued as well.
“A lot of educated women who have postponed relationships because of studies; when they complete their studies and they recognise that their biological clock is ticking away, they sometimes become anxious about having kids, and some who are in church might leave the church for a while to have a child and hopefully might want to return,” he said.
He noted that in a lot of cases, they have a child with someone who does not attend church, but there is usually an effort to try and get the child’s father to start attending church.
In more developed countries, more women are intentionally being childless, but Dr. Davidson, who is the chief executive officer of Family Life Ministries, said the majority of Jamaican women still desire to have a child. Unfortunately, some families are unable to do so because of infertility issues. One expert pointed to the reality that about 30 percent of those in the reproductive age are struggling with infertility.
“A lot of women who are in relationships might have some fertility issues, and they are not sure whether it is them or the man, but they are the ones who are more ready to go and have themselves properly checked,” he said.
“Men tend not to want to do that. Men tend to think that they are okay and that is not necessarily so on a number of occasions. We have found that men have been a little reluctant at times to check whether or not they are fine,” added Dr Davidson.
He said in some cases, the inability to deal with infertility creates conflict in the relationship and anxiety.
“There is a link between anxiety and fertility and if a woman is overly anxious; very very anxious, it can affect fertility. There is no doubt about that, and that’s the reason why in some cases when you have a couple who have not been able to have any children, shortly after they decide that ok, we are going to adopt, after adopting, then the woman gets pregnant,” he explained.
Family Life Ministries has launched the For the Child Foster Care Programme in partnership with the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) and Nairn Family Homes, Canada. The faith-based organisation partners with the government to place children who are wards of the state in loving homes.
Persons chosen to be foster parents would need to meet several requirements including being a Christian of good moral character and earning a stable income.