What impact does infertility have on psychological well-being?

Psychological support services during Infertility treatment

Infertility takes a significant toll on the psychological health of women and on couples. When medical treatment for any condition is sought, a physical toll is expected and individuals prepare for the same. However, the mental/emotional toll is often minimized or ignored. Infertility is an exhausting burden, as it is not just the physical aspect of not being able to have a child, but the emotional, social, intellectual and financial burden which is overwhelming for most people. Shame, guilt, feelings of inadequacy, uncertainty about seeking treatment, the lack of social/emotional support, stigma associated with infertility, the uncertainty of a positive outcome and the financial burden of treatment among many other things make this process a difficult one to cope with.

Psychological self-care and support are absolute necessities during the process of treatment. Emotional responses like irritability, anger, anxiety, depression, frustration and sadness are very common. To cope, a patient/couple has to garner psychological resources within themselves and use active stress management and other coping strategies.

While most treatment protocols involve basic explanations to patients about what they will undergo, the actual experience of it cannot be fully prepared for. It is difficult to anticipate how or what a patient might experience, so preparing a patient for both the physical/medical and psychological aspects of treatment is most likely to result in a positive and healthy mindset for patients. In keeping with the notion that for good health, physical and mental health should be targeted, mental health based support is very useful for a pleasant and comfortable IVF treatment process.

The IVF support group at Mother TO BE fertility clinic was created to offer psychological support to couples and to guide them through the process of treatment from a patient’s perspective. The group is led by a former patient who is a psychologist and thus offers couples’ undergoing treatment a unique view of what they might experience and undergo and how to prepare themselves for the little things that make a difference when undergoing IVF/ICSI. The group offers patients the opportunity to learn about specific aspects of treatment and typically starts with an overview of how treatment progresses and what patients can expect- all done from the perspective of a past patient who has experienced both the ups and downs of successful and unsuccessful treatment.

Patients typically find themselves uncertain at first and often listen more than speak, however, they soon open up to ask the ‘difficult’ questions they have been curious about. Patients often report that they feel it would not be appropriate to ask their doctor these questions directly, mostly because of conservative cultural beliefs about having an open conversation with their primary doctor. Having a professional psychologist allows couples the opportunity to get their queries answered, while also laying to rest anxiety about treatment.

Questions are typically about the pain expected/experienced during procedures, fears about finances, side effects of medications, fears about pregnancy and childbirth, how to manage life while treatment progresses, how to manage family stressors, how to manage family expectations, what to eat/not eat during IVF treatment, whether bed rest is required or not, how to manage difficult in laws, how to answer questions from curious/questioning extended family/friends, what to do if treatment fails, and many others. In addition to answering questions, the group is also given helpful tips on how to manage. Mother TO BE is one of the best IVF Clinic in Hyderabad.  

daily life while treatment progresses, how to de-stress/manage known stressors, how partners can support their significant others, and normalizes and validates the experiences of couples during treatment.

After attending a support group session, patients report feeling more in control, less stressed and more aware of the treatment process. They also feel more-ready to access psychological support as and when required, and often report verbally that the session was very useful/helpful to them in alleviating some of their fears and anxieties. The support group sessions at Mother TO BE is best fertility centre in Hyderabad  to help individuals struggling with the trauma of infertility achieve a sense of satisfaction and receive support when they are undergoing treatment.