If you are having trouble working through your infertility challenges, it may well be time to seek help from an infertility therapist. There are several different reasons why you might make an appointment with a mental health counselor. Reproductive specialists often require their patients see an infertility therapist especially if you are considering using a sperm or egg donor. Coping with the emotional struggles of infertility is difficult and many people find talking to a therapist can help. Other couples seek help from a professional with experience in infertility and adoption counseling when IVF treatments have failed. It may be time to consider seeing an infertility therapist if you are experiencing the following situations:
TROUBLE COPING WITH AN INFERTILITY DIAGNOSIS
Experiencing infertility can be devastating. While some women/couples are able to cope on their own, the fact is that infertility isn’t easy for anyone. Dealing with the anxiety, sadness, worry and often depression that comes with an infertility diagnosis is generally overwhelming; when those feelings start impacting your daily life, it is time to seek help from a professional. Not only will a therapist listen to your feelings and concerns, the counseling can help you work on strategies and coping skills aimed at easing your sadness and anxieties.
THE STRAIN OF INFERTILITY ON RELATIONSHIPS
Not surprisingly, infertility often causes a great deal of stress within a relationship and couples handle that stress in a variety of ways. Some partners need to talk through their thoughts and feelings, while others keep it all inside. Some become extremely emotional, while others do not allow themselves to feel the sadness or pain of a negative pregnancy test.
The stress of infertility can also be cyclical within a relationship; sometimes the stress can bring you closer together, yet at other times it may pull partners apart. Infertility can be very difficult to deal with, especially during those times that you or your partner are not feeling supported. A therapist can work with individuals and couples to help them gain insight to better support one another.
HELP WORKING THROUGH OPTIONS
When you are faced with decisions regarding treatment options, an experienced infertility counselor can help you work through those options as an objective third party voice. There may be many things to consider, such as financial impact, potential success, and emotional concerns; a counselor can help you work through each of the choices objectively helping you to reach an informed decision.
CONTEMPLATING SURROGACY, ADOPTION, OR THIRD-PARTY DONOR
If you are at a point in your infertility journey when you are considering adoption or third party reproduction, it is definitely time to work with an infertility therapist. Couples often underestimate the difficulty and emotional impact of making these types of decisions. When the time comes to move forward after several unsuccessful IVF cycles, there are usually incredible feelings of loss and grief that must be recognized and accepted before making next step decisions.
If, and when, you are ready to talk about future family-building steps, such as using an egg or sperm donor, working with a surrogate or adoption, an infertility counselor can help you work through your questions and concerns. An infertility counselor will take you through a variety of questions and topics that may include why you are making a certain choice, the criteria you are looking for in a donor or surrogate, closed versus open adoption or egg donation and what that could mean for you or your child in the future.
CONSIDERING END-OF-TREATMENT OPTIONS
Sometimes a couple realizes in the early stages of infertility treatment that the options available are not suitable in their situation. For other couples, the realization that children are not going to be a part of their future comes after a number of years of treatment and failed cycles. No matter when the realization occurs, it can be extremely difficult to acknowledge and accept. Counseling during such a difficult time can help as raw emotions are discussed and supported.
PROFFESSIONAL SUPPORT
Of course, you do not necessarily need a specific reason to talk to a counselor. If you are well into your infertility journey, you may be thinking that it would be nice to have some extra support or an established relationship with a counselor in case you do begin to feel depressed, overwhelmed, or anxious. It is important to remember that needing help is okay; trained professionals are available to help you through your journey.
For information regarding infertility treatment and support in the greater southeast area of Texas, be sure to contact the Center of Reproductive Medicine (CORM). The experienced reproductive specialists and staff will answer your questions and provide the guidance you need. Their goal is to provide a positive experience for all patients as they work through their infertility journey.