Psychological Support

Psychological Support

At the Family Fertility Center, we recognize a diagnosis of infertility can be a devastating and life-altering event that impacts on many aspects of a patient’s life. Infertility and its treatment can affect an individual or couple medically, financially, socially, emotionally and psychologically. Feelings of anxiousness, depression, isolation, and helplessness are not uncommon among patients undergoing infertility treatment. Strained and stressful relations with spouses, partners and other loved ones are not uncommon as treatment gets underway and progresses.

Our health care team is available to address the emotional, as well as physical symptoms that can accompany infertility. In addition to working with our health care team to minimize the emotional impacts of infertility treatments, you are encouraged to seek counseling with mental health professionals who are specially trained in the area of infertility support and care.

While it is normal to experience emotional ups and downs when pursuing infertility treatment, it is important to recognize when these feelings are of a severe nature. If you experience any of the following symptoms over a prolonged period of time, you may benefit from working with a mental health professional:

• Loss of interest in usual activities
• Depression that doesn’t lift
• Strained interpersonal relationships (with partner, family, friends and/or colleagues)
• Difficulty thinking of anything other than your infertility
• High levels of anxiety.
• Diminished ability to accomplish tasks
• Difficulty with concentration
• Change in your sleep patterns (difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, early morning awakening, sleeping more than usual for you)
• Change in your appetite or weight (increase or decrease)
• Increased use of drugs or alcohol
• Thoughts about death or suicide
• Social isolation
• Persistent feelings of pessimism, guilt, or worthlessness
• Persistent feelings of bitterness or anger

Our health care team can assist you to identify a local qualified mental health professional who is familiar with the emotional experience of infertility. This kind of support provides help and guidance in many important areas, including:

• Managing stress
• Coping with depression or anxiety
• Handling relationship issues
• Dealing with family and friends
• Making treatment decisions
• Coping with pregnancy loss