Official Website of the
Catholic Diocese of Little Rock
Infertility Resources
See Catholic Ministries for You
If you are struggling with infertility, you are not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 7.3 million people, of childbearing age, experience infertility in the United States. Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive within one year of trying, or not being able to carry a child to live birth. Infertility may occur in a couple’s first attempts to bring a child into the world, or as secondary infertility when they have successfully given birth before, but are not able to do so again. Women who are able to get pregnant, but have miscarriages, are also said to be infertile.
Couples experiencing infertility suffer emotionally, intellectually, physically and spiritually. The Church, with sincere compassion and empathy for couples struggling with infertility, offers guidance and hope through her teachings on how to understand and approach infertility in a way that reverences and protects the dignity of the human person and respects God's divine plan for married love. For more information, contact the Family Life Office at (501) 664-0340.
Helpful Ministries and Resources
Offers prayer support and comfort to the brokenhearted who struggle with infertility, have a difficult pregnancy, or have had a miscarriage, stillbirth, lost a child and Catholic resources on adoption
Firmly rooted in the anthropology, ethics and spirituality of the Catholic Church, and our shared experiences of infertility, Springs in the Desert affirms the goodness of marriage, upholds the giftedness of the child, and advocates for a broader understanding of what it means to be life-giving
A Catholic, pro-life/pro-family grief support ministry that focuses on bereaved families who have experienced child loss of any age and circumstance, including pregnancy loss through miscarriage and stillbirth, and after birth as an infant, child, adolescent or adult. This ministry serves anyone who has experienced the loss of a child.
Infertility and Catholic Marriage
For Catholic couples, infertility can be particularly challenging because of the pressure they may feel from family, friends, and even their Catholic faith community to start a family.
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Details the Church's teaching as well as offers suggested reading and other resources to guide and support couples experiencing infertility
Article from Couple to Couple League explains the causes of infertility and how it is diagnosed
Blog by Catholic couple that describes their experience with infertility
Our Sunday Visitor shares the Catholic devotion of drinking white powder from the grotto, believed to be a place where Mary breastfed Jesus, and praying for 40 days that has resulted in some couples conceiving when they couldn't previously
Focuses on how Advent, an entire season dedicated to the hopeful anticipation of a long-awaited birth, can be especially painful for couples longing for a child
