Infertility is often experienced in silence, but it leaves a loud impact. In Nine Waves, an intimate and reflective project, the author revisits nearly six years of trying to become a mother. Through memories of hope, medical procedures, disappointment, and quiet rituals, she connects her personal story to a much larger, often overlooked human experience.
Her desire to be a mother began unexpectedly. It struck one day while browsing a department store, where a tiny pair of Levi’s jeans caught her eye. The idea that a child could fit into something so small yet perfectly crafted sparked a wave of tenderness she hadn’t felt before. She didn’t know then that this longing would lead to years of trying, waiting, and enduring treatments.
“Don’t worry, you’re young, you have time,” people would say. But time passed. Doctor visits became routine. She learned to keep track of her body temperature, understood the discomfort of medical tests like hysterosalpingograms, and faced cycles of dashed hopes. Each month became a painful rhythm—measured not in days, but in emotional highs and lows. “Don’t get obsessed,” they advised. “These things happen for a reason.” But those words didn’t quiet the inner turmoil.
The World Health Organization defines infertility as the inability to conceive after 12 months of unprotected sex. While it affects millions globally, it remains a topic society rarely discusses openly. This silence is especially sharp for women, whose bodies have long been marginalized in medical history.
Nine Waves seeks to break that silence. The project blends personal narrative with historical perspective, aiming to create common ground for others who have experienced similar struggles. It is a visual and emotional record—combining metaphors, rituals, and portraits of the children born to friends during the years she was still hoping for her own.
With this work, the author hopes to raise awareness about the reality of infertility. It’s not just a personal issue—it is a global one. According to projections, by 2050, about 41% of men may be infertile and could need assisted reproductive technology to have children.
Infertility may be invisible to many, but its emotional weight is real. Nine Waves invites us to listen, reflect, and understand the deep and often unspoken impact of a journey many endure—but few discuss.
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