Fertility problems |
The inability to conceive without medical support is often referred to as fertility problems or in short infertility. There can be all kinds of causes for the infertility. Sometimes people can still conceive with support of medical procedures such as IUI, IVF, ICSI or by using donor sperm or eggs. These procedures can be very challenging to go through on a personal level as well as on a relationship level. Even the decision making process can be a conflict between rational and emotional arguments.
A lot of couples undergoing fertility treatment experience this process as a roller coaster of emotions. The process might start with feelings of grief over not being able to conceive naturally. It's like a dream taken away, an unpleasant truth, one you had never imagined, you have to come to terms with. In the fertility process both of the partners can have a different experience of the process. The woman might need to take medications, undergo medical assessments, and take hormonal tablets or injections. The man has to wait until he can contribute his part of the process. Because the roles (and genders) are different, the experienced emotions and reactions might be different. This doesn't mean the partner cares more or less, it's just a different process. This could cause disagreements or misunderstandings in couples. In the fertility process the experienced emotions range from extreme happiness and hope to despair, sadness and anger. You will need a lot of resilience to cope with all of these rapidly fluctuating emotions. Coping with your social environment is another challenge during this process. You might like to inform some close friends or family about your process so they can be more aware of your emotions and your need for support. But you also don't like them to ask you over again whether the cycle was successful or whether you are pregnant or not. If you're in a work environment you might not want to inform your colleagues but you will need to attend appointments on a regular basis on inconvenient times which might make them worried/curious. Struggles can also be caused by situations related to the social environment: confrontations with kids or pregnant women, questions about your situation or desire to start your own family. Sometimes fairly innocent questions, coming from a caring person, but hard to cope with. It could feel like everyone is falling pregnant and you are left out. These situations are just a few of many challenging emotional moments during a fertility process. If you recognize any of these feelings or struggles, fertility counselling in our practice will offer an independent professional who you can talk to and confide in during this process. We understand the different methods of fertility treatment and the different changing emotions. We can offer the safe place to discuss your feelings, to listen to your needs and advice on how to cope with your stress or with the challenges in your relationship. Feel free to give us a call so we can explain the process and how we can book your first appointment with us. You can also look at our page on fees/rebates or book your own appointment online. |
