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Infertile but Fruitful: Finding Fulfillment When You Can’t Conceive
Those suffering from infertility too often do so in silence, isolation, and even shame. Some married couples find the suffering so raw and intimate that they are unable even to lean on each other. By sharing her story, Leigh Snead aims to encourage open, informed, and generous dialogue about infertility among infertile men and women, the subfertile, the secondarily infertile, those with normal fertility, and the robustly fecund.
You are not alone. In the darkness and pain there is hope, healing, and life.
“This is the book I wish I’d had as a young Catholic bride in her twenties, facing unexplained infertility, and aside from my husband’s unfailing and loving support, feeling so very alone,” reflects Snead.
“Using my journey, I discuss the emotional difficulties that can come from infertility, the spiritual challenges it can present, what the Church teaches us, and our choice to adopt children and all the decisions that can entail. Through the many years we tried, failed, and ultimately succeeded in building our family, I share the lessons we’ve learned, the sorrows we endured, and the many blessings bestowed upon us.”
This candid yet caring book is a help for those struggling with infertility — wives and husbands — but it’s also a tremendous resource for priests, physicians, counselors, and the loved ones of anyone bearing the cross of infertility. In these engaging and accessible pages, Snead
How to find comfort through the tangle of emotions experienced with infertilityThe ins and outs of seeking quality health care, fertility testing, and treatment optionsPractical tips on treatments gleaned from scientific research and personal experienceThe Church’s teaching about the dignity of the human person, and the two ends of married loveWhat to consider regarding Artificial Reproductive Technologies (ART)Ways to prepare for welcoming a new child, whether biological or adoptedThis powerful book also includes stories of other women who, struggling with infertility, embraced God’s plan of love and life, and either adopted, eventually conceived children, or made the world a better place as spiritual mothers. Snead’s “Lessons Along the Way” at the end of each chapter offer real-life suggestions to help guide and support you on your journey.
You are not alone. In the darkness and pain there is hope, healing, and life.
“This is the book I wish I’d had as a young Catholic bride in her twenties, facing unexplained infertility, and aside from my husband’s unfailing and loving support, feeling so very alone,” reflects Snead.
“Using my journey, I discuss the emotional difficulties that can come from infertility, the spiritual challenges it can present, what the Church teaches us, and our choice to adopt children and all the decisions that can entail. Through the many years we tried, failed, and ultimately succeeded in building our family, I share the lessons we’ve learned, the sorrows we endured, and the many blessings bestowed upon us.”
This candid yet caring book is a help for those struggling with infertility — wives and husbands — but it’s also a tremendous resource for priests, physicians, counselors, and the loved ones of anyone bearing the cross of infertility. In these engaging and accessible pages, Snead
How to find comfort through the tangle of emotions experienced with infertilityThe ins and outs of seeking quality health care, fertility testing, and treatment optionsPractical tips on treatments gleaned from scientific research and personal experienceThe Church’s teaching about the dignity of the human person, and the two ends of married loveWhat to consider regarding Artificial Reproductive Technologies (ART)Ways to prepare for welcoming a new child, whether biological or adoptedThis powerful book also includes stories of other women who, struggling with infertility, embraced God’s plan of love and life, and either adopted, eventually conceived children, or made the world a better place as spiritual mothers. Snead’s “Lessons Along the Way” at the end of each chapter offer real-life suggestions to help guide and support you on your journey.
144 pages, Paperback
Published January 20, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 28, 2026
This was a balm for my soul.
March 19, 2026
Women with primary infertility who are not called to adoption - beware. Read this before buying the book.
This book was a real let-down for me. It felt misleading in a lot of ways. It claims to be a resource and a guide for women with infertility, but it's really just the author sharing her story. That's the whole book. There's no guide. There are lessons at the end of each chapter, but they're not all that helpful or groundbreaking - some of them I even disagree with. She really pushes this idea that couples should get married ASAP and start trying for kids ASAP so as not to "waste time", but I found her lessons and advice with regards to that incredibly biased and unhelpful. Some couples need to date for a while for various reasons. People should not jump into marriage quickly just so they can try for kids. And there are very real reasons why some newly married couples would wait and take their time before trying to conceive.
The author chose to pursue adoption, which is great for her, but that means that the whole book is just a love letter to and endorsement of adoption. There are a couple sentences tossed in occasionally to say, "Adoption is a vocation to discern and isn't for everyone," but boy does she really hit you on the head with the joys and magic of adoption. She talks a lot about how beautiful it was to complete her family with adoption and holding her babies for the first time and being a mom. For women with primary infertility who are not called to adoption, this book can be incredibly painful and very unhelpful.
The book blurb even claims that the author includes stories from other women, but it's just 3 stories very quickly summarized and thrown in there in the last chapter. And of the 3, 2 of them resulted in - you guessed it - adoption! There's only one story in the whole book representing a couple not having children and it lasts for only two pages.
Overall I had high hopes for this book but was supremely disappointed. Praise God that I'm at peace with my primary infertility right now. I can't imagine reading this when I was in some of my darker periods of despair. Reading an entire book that claims to be helpful for anyone with infertility when it's really just about the joys of adoption and being a mother was very upsetting.
This book was a real let-down for me. It felt misleading in a lot of ways. It claims to be a resource and a guide for women with infertility, but it's really just the author sharing her story. That's the whole book. There's no guide. There are lessons at the end of each chapter, but they're not all that helpful or groundbreaking - some of them I even disagree with. She really pushes this idea that couples should get married ASAP and start trying for kids ASAP so as not to "waste time", but I found her lessons and advice with regards to that incredibly biased and unhelpful. Some couples need to date for a while for various reasons. People should not jump into marriage quickly just so they can try for kids. And there are very real reasons why some newly married couples would wait and take their time before trying to conceive.
The author chose to pursue adoption, which is great for her, but that means that the whole book is just a love letter to and endorsement of adoption. There are a couple sentences tossed in occasionally to say, "Adoption is a vocation to discern and isn't for everyone," but boy does she really hit you on the head with the joys and magic of adoption. She talks a lot about how beautiful it was to complete her family with adoption and holding her babies for the first time and being a mom. For women with primary infertility who are not called to adoption, this book can be incredibly painful and very unhelpful.
The book blurb even claims that the author includes stories from other women, but it's just 3 stories very quickly summarized and thrown in there in the last chapter. And of the 3, 2 of them resulted in - you guessed it - adoption! There's only one story in the whole book representing a couple not having children and it lasts for only two pages.
Overall I had high hopes for this book but was supremely disappointed. Praise God that I'm at peace with my primary infertility right now. I can't imagine reading this when I was in some of my darker periods of despair. Reading an entire book that claims to be helpful for anyone with infertility when it's really just about the joys of adoption and being a mother was very upsetting.
March 23, 2026
This book is comforting and full of hope for anyone suffering with infertility. It felt like I was listening to a close friend tell their story from across the table. There were so many moments in the book where the author had thoughts or feelings that were identical to mine. It is easy to think you are alone in an experience such as this; I appreciated the connection very much.
Over time, I have been comforted by the reality that there is more than one way to become a mother (or father). It is not easy to see this when you are grieving failed conception and/or miscarriage. This author achieved motherhood through adoption. I found myself feeling joy for her and her husband each time they welcomed a new child into their home. I was interested in hearing more about this process, but I can understand that she wanted this book to be accessible to many readers and not just those with an interest in adoption.
I recommend this to anyone struggling with infertility. It would also be a good read for someone trying to understand how a loved one with infertility may be feeling. Thank you, Leigh Snead!
Over time, I have been comforted by the reality that there is more than one way to become a mother (or father). It is not easy to see this when you are grieving failed conception and/or miscarriage. This author achieved motherhood through adoption. I found myself feeling joy for her and her husband each time they welcomed a new child into their home. I was interested in hearing more about this process, but I can understand that she wanted this book to be accessible to many readers and not just those with an interest in adoption.
I recommend this to anyone struggling with infertility. It would also be a good read for someone trying to understand how a loved one with infertility may be feeling. Thank you, Leigh Snead!
February 20, 2026
I rated this four stars, not out of reservation about its quality or content, but because I’m not the audience it was written for. For anyone suffering from infertility, I can easily imagine this being a deeply encouraging and well-situated guide.
July 5, 2026
This was a quick read—and felt like my story. I read for more of a “research” effort, as I continue to walk alongside women who share this (which was also my) struggle. I felt like I was reading my own thoughts at times. While unapologetically Catholic, there is much to be learned from her. Would recommend to anyone who is a believer and finds themselves on this road with this cross to bear.
July 10, 2026
Finally, a voice that captured the reality of infertility, the good the bad and the ugly! Leigh's voice is raw and honest. This book has greatly impacted me and changed my perspective on the cross that is infertility. I have recommended it to several friends.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews