Working for Change 237
Building a life without children: Sara and Tito’s story
Sara and Tito tried for many years to have children, but they were not able
to. At first they were sad, because in their community, couples were expected
to have as many children together as they could. But then they decided to stop
thinking that their lives were not complete without children and to plan a future
for themselves.
They decided to start a business and to travel from town to town, market to
market, selling pots and pans and other goods. With children, it would have been
very difficult for them to travel in this way.
Now that Sara and Tito are older, people
say they look alike in their faces and attitudes.
They care for each other, share many laughs
and many friends. They are not grandparents
like their neighbors, but they have many
interesting stories to tell. They are respected
by everyone in the community.
— Lima, Peru
To help others with infertility problems:
• be kind and sympathetic. It is a difficult time, and they
need support and understanding. Do not blame couples
who cannot get pregnant.
Working
for Change
• teach couples to value and respect each other as
companions.
• help a couple who cannot have children to look for other
ways to be with children or to make peace with their lives.
Health workers can also:
• provide information on ways to adopt children.
• teach young people about STIs and how to
prevent them.
Condoms help
prevent STIs
which can
cause infertility
• make sure your local health center is prepared
to diagnose and treat STIs and to take women’s
complaints about pelvic pain seriously. Too often
women are sent home without treatment after
being told there is nothing wrong with them.
• teach women the signs of pelvic infection and the
importance of getting immediate and complete
treatment.
• teach men and women the signs of STIs, the
importance of getting treated right away, and the
importance of treating all partners.
There are many causes of infertility,
but STIs are the easiest to prevent.
Where Women Have No Doctor 2012