How to Cope With Infertility

It shouldn't be surprising that if you are experiencing infertility, that depression may well accompany it. The medical community usually focuses on the more physical aspects of infertility, and they don't always take into account the emotions that you feel during the process. There is actually a correlation between the success of infertility treatments and the positive emotional state of the participants.

Studies have shown that over fifty percent of patients who work within a body and mind therapy will get pregnant within about six months, as compared to only twenty percent in the control group of the studies. Women who become depressed because they are infertile will have a lower success rate with treatments for infertility. If the depression is treated, you may stand a greater chance of a successful pregnancy.

The type of depression that is associated with infertility is different than what might be called typical depression. Psychologists who counsel couples who are experiencing infertility feel that depression of this sort is caused by various combating emotions, including grief, anger, and jealousy as well as sadness.

Jealousy may be the most painful part of infertility depression, since it isn't an emotion that is socially acceptable. You may also feel guilty, for depriving your spouse of the chance to have a child. In addition, you may feel that you have let your parents down, if they are waiting for grandchildren. There is also a measure of obsession in this type of depression. Many women simply cannot stop thinking about their infertility, and they even feel it in their dreams.

Depression is now believed to be a real part of infertility treatments. The reason for this could be that every month you will be reminded that you have failed to become pregnant, yet again. You may experience many emotions, from loneliness, to issues with children, and on to occasional faith crises. Faith may help in some ways, but in other ways, it can make it more difficult, too, since you may well feel that God does not wish for you to have a baby. This can be quite a struggle.

Even if your husband is supportive of you, you may still feel that he doesn't understand what you are truly going through. Men will not usually react the same way to the anxiety and stress of fertility treatments as women will. They don't deal as much with it on a day-to-day basis like the woman usually does. Your monthly menstrual period may also add to your sense of sadness. Men just want the problem fixed, but women can't put this aside like men can, to concentrate on other things.

Infertility can test a relationship, since it may affect many aspects of your life. Once you are undergoing fertility treatments, you are with it every day. There may be injections to be done, and you can't drink or smoke. This can cause couples to become distant and isolated, and this will make your depression even worse. Seek out a counselor who has experience in fertility depression, so that you can head into or through fertility treatments with a more positive attitude.