Fertility Counseling
If you and your partner are struggling with infertility, you may already be seeking help from a reproductive endocrinologist. A reproductive endocrinologist can help to diagnose your fertility difficulties and advise you on fertility treatments, but he may not be able to help you with the emotional side of your fertility struggles, at least not to the full extent that you need. It is important that both you and your partner visit with a fertility counselor in order to deal with your emotions in a positive and healthy way. A fertility counselor can help you to understand and process your emotions so that you can move on with your fertility treatments or explore other options.
What is Fertility Counseling?
Fertility counseling is a type of talk therapy that is used to help couples dealing with various fertility issues. During a fertility counseling session, you talk with a trained professional about the emotions that you are experiencing as you struggle through infertility. Your counselor helps you to understand these emotions and aids you in finding healthy ways to deal with these feelings. Fertility counselors also assist you in making decisions regarding fertility treatments and other options, like adoption, that you can pursue in order to become a parent. This type of counseling is usually conducted by a psychiatrist, psychologist, or sex therapist with special knowledge in the area of infertility.
Who Can Benefit from Fertility Counseling?
Anyone undergoing fertility diagnosis or treatment is advised to have at least one session with a fertility counselor. Most fertility clinics require that you and your partner meet with a counselor before treatment begins, in order to discuss your feelings surrounding your infertility. You may decide to have more sessions with your counselor as your treatment progresses. Fertility counseling is especially advised if you are experiencing any of the following:
- prolonged depression
- extreme stress and anxiety
- feelings of guilt, anger, or blame
- mood swings
- preoccupation with infertility
- loss of interest in other activities
- change in appetite or weight
- change in sleep patterns
- increased use of drugs or alcohol
- relationship problems
- suicidal thoughts or self harm
Why Do You Need Fertility Counseling?
If you are going through fertility diagnosis or treatment, it is important that both you and your partner seek some type of fertility counseling. Dealing with infertility can raise a lot of intense emotions. If these emotions are not processed and dealt with properly, they can lead to increased stress levels, relationship problems, and severe depression. And because fertility counselors are highly knowledgeable about different treatment options, yours may be able to provide you with another voice when it comes to choosing the right fertility treatments for you.
How Can Fertility Counseling Help?
Fertility counseling can be very helpful to anyone facing fertility issues. Studies even suggest that couples who pursue fertility counseling are more likely to become pregnant than those who do not. Counseling provides you with:
- A way to express your feelings about fertility diagnosis and treatment.
- A safe and supportive environment in which to express your feelings.
- Problem solving and stress reduction skills.
- Coping mechanisms to help you deal with fertility treatments, successes, and failures.
- Input about various fertility treatment options, including IVF and IUI.
Infertility Counseling and Male Infertility
Men often have a very difficult time expressing their emotions about their or their partner’s fertility problems. Men dealing with infertility can easily find themselves becoming withdrawn from their partner due to fear or anxiety over facing the emotional aspect of infertility. This can place an obvious strain on any relationship.
Attending fertility counseling sessions, either alone or with your partner, can allow you to air those emotions you have bottled up inside. Not only can this help reduce any stress or anxiety you may be experiencing, but it can also help open up the lines of communication between you and your partner. Even if you do not initially feel comfortable with the idea of talking to someone you don’t know about your fertility issues, just attending a few sessions with your partner can help show your support for your partner during this difficult time. It is also a good way to become more involved in the treatment of infertility, even if it is not you that is receiving treatment.
What Happens During a Fertility Counseling Session?
Fertility counseling sessions can vary, depending upon the type of counselor you are seeing and the type of therapy you have signed on for. Therapy may be one-on-one or it may involve both you and your partner. During your fertility counseling, you and your counselor will talk openly about the feelings that you have been having about your treatment. You might discuss:
- relationship issues
- problems with friends, family, or coworkers
- financial concerns
- ways to reduce stress or depression
- treatment options, including sperm or egg donation
- selection of doctors and therapies
- pregnancy loss or failed treatment cycles
How to Find a Fertility Counselor
Finding a fertility counselor in your area should be a relatively easy task. You can ask your reproductive endocrinologist for a referral to a qualified counselor or you can look to your regular health care provider for help. Local support groups may also have a list of experienced fertility counselors in your area.
Find Other Support
In addition to fertility counseling, you and your partner may also be interested in finding other types of support as you deal with your fertility issues. Your reproductive endocrinologist and your fertility counselor can recommend a list of books and magazines that may be able to help you deal with the emotional aspects of infertility. You may also want to attend an infertility support group in your area. These groups are made up of couples that are also facing fertility problems.
If you notice that your infertility issues are spilling out into other areas of your life, you may want to consider relationship counseling, couples counseling or family counseling.
Male Infertility
