Fertility and Mental Health
Ask anyone who’s been through it, and they will tell you that infertility can take a toll on your mental health. You can experience the highest of highs and the absolute lowest of lows–sometimes in one single day. You try to remain hopeful while not actually getting your hopes up. If it sounds difficult, that’s because it is.
A 2015 study found that women experiencing infertility who received some kind of mental health support were twice as likely to become pregnant than those who did not.
You may feel anger, grief, shame, stress, and even trauma when trying to conceive, so it’s important to get help handling your situation and your relationship with your partner as you navigate your course.
Mental health professionals are skilled at offering insight and perspective, which can bring some peace of mind and reassurance. Many counselors now offer telehealth appointments, so it’s easier to find one who works with your schedule. (The counselor we saw during infertility actually only worked weekends, so we were able to see him easily outside of our work hours.)
Take it easy on yourself during this time–you don’t have to prove anything to anyone by bearing infertility on your own, and there are certainly no medals for being the toughest.
A therapist in your area can be located through Psychology Today’s Database.