Counseling & Psychological Support for Infertility Patients

woman pregnant Infertility is indeed a life crisis. For many individuals, it presents the greatest emotional challenge that life has thrown their way. For many couples, infertility is the toughest conflict their union has encountered. Infertility affects more than just your ability to conceive. It impacts virtually every facet of your life, from how you see yourself to how you relate to others. Infertility is inherently cyclical, which is why so many refer to it as an emotional rollercoaster. Hope and despair come and go, and repeat themselves. No one coping with infertility needs to struggle alone. Support is available in many forms.

Normal emotional responses

As with other life crises, there are a number of predictable emotions that most people with infertility experience:

depression
anger
anxiety
frustration
irritability
grief

In addition to feeling the above emotions in relation to not being able to have a baby, infertility treatment itself can add to the list. Fertility medications can wreak havoc on your emotions. If your treatment lasts longer than what you expected, the stress can build.

It's common to find yourself wondering "Why me?" Feelings of guilt and anger about the causes of infertility are possible, too. Men and women often respond to their feelings differently, but both certainly feel the pain of infertility. Women may respond by seeking information and support; men may try to withdraw and distance themselves from the stress. These differences, if not addressed, can damage a couple's relationship. On the other hand, some people look back on their infertility experience as a time of both struggle and personal growth. Some couples state they grew closer throughout the experience.

Treating the whole person

infertility hope Support professionals who specialize in the issues of infertility are available. Most will at least have a ready referral network available to patients. Some have in-house staff dedicated to providing counseling, education, and emotional support. Support groups facilitated by professionals, individual counseling, mind-body programs -- all can address the needs of different individuals and couples from the vantage of the patient's preference. Importantly, research continues to document that receiving psychosocial support can enhance fertility treatment results. The purpose of professional psychosocial support is not only to help individuals feel better or help couples maintain strong relationships. It can help with making decisions about the options presented for your fertility treatment. Consider it from the start.

Counseling isn't just helpful when you feel broken down by the struggle of infertility and its treatment. It can possibly help you avoid getting to that point. Patients who make use of various support services can learn new ways of coping with stress, feel better prepared about what to expect, and have an objective and experienced sounding board for weighing treatment and family-building choices. People who are struggling to have a baby can experience profound depression. With assistance, even they can heal emotionally and resolve their crisis. The following are indicators that you or your loved one could benefit from counseling: