The effects of infertility can impact every area of your life, making it hard to focus on anything else. Conception is an emotional journey, especially when you are coping with fertility issues. It can cause struggles and conflicts in relationships with your partner, family, and friends. It can have a serious effect on your mental health. Infertility can be a complete disruption of the plans you have made for your life. Those struggling with infertility are no strangers to the disappointment it can cause.
It’s understandable that the hardship and heartache that comes with infertility is a huge blow to most people. Here at the Advanced Reproductive Center, we work with couples who are struggling to cope with infertility. Many of our patients feel guilty as if they are broken, or that they have let their partner down. These are all normal feelings. However, the doctors and staff at the Advanced Reproductive Center help assist couples and singles struggling with infertility come to terms with their emotions. Let’s take a look at the struggle of dealing with infertility and our advice to get you through.
Emotional Acknowledgement
The desire to conceive can be overwhelming. During the struggle of infertility, many singles and couples must cope with emotions of despair, guilt, and failure. Infertility emotions are different for everyone; but, the emotions must be acknowledged. When the emotions come pouring in, don’t ignore or suppress them. It’s important to acknowledge your emotions and be real about how you’re feeling.
Infertility Support Networks
Thanks to today’s Digital Age, it’s easy to seek out and join support networks. A support network is an important step during the struggle of infertility. No matter how alone you feel, you aren’t. There are hundreds of singles and couples out there also struggling with infertility. You can join online groups and meet others who have the same fertility issues. What’s more, most infertility support organizations offer additional resources to help you decide your next steps and whether fertility treatment options, such as IVF, are right for you.
Feelings of Anger and Jealousy
“They got pregnant, and I can’t!” Don’t feel bad or guilty about these thoughts. They are normal. However, there are things you can do to relieve your feelings of jealousy, such as talking to a friend, taking a step back from attending baby showers, talking to your partner, or seeking counseling. If you are struggling with infertility immense feelings of jealousy can surface when your friends or family members announce their pregnancy.
Communicate Earnestly with Your Partner
During these times, honest communication is essential to ensure both you and your partner are supporting one another through this difficult time. It is important to remember that infertility affects both of you. When struggling with infertility, communication is more important than ever. Infertility can quickly take a toll on your relationship with your partner, often causing unspoken feelings of guilt, resentment, fear, or inadequacy. You are both struggling with infertility, and it will help significantly to share your thoughts and feelings with one another. If you require help, we recommend seeking counseling to help create effective communication with your partner.
Fertility Counseling
At Advanced Reproductive Center, we sponsor counseling services for couples and individuals, helping you navigate your emotions, questions, and fears in a safe, professional environment. Counseling sessions create a space for you to discuss your thoughts, feelings, and concerns with a knowledgeable and helpful professional.
Counseling can be extremely helpful for singles and couples coping with infertility.
Share with Family and Friends
The struggle of infertility can often be an isolating experience. If your family and friends do not know you are struggling with infertility, maybe now is a good time to share with them. You don’t need to announce it at the family meal or post it on Facebook, but it can be helpful to draw a few of your closest friends and family aside to share your struggles with them. This can be therapeutic as it helps you feel less alone, lets your family know that having children is a sensitive topic, and widens your support network.
Get Informed
One of the most difficult aspects of infertility is the uncertainty about the future. When will you have children? Will you ever have children? How long do you wait before consulting a professional? There are so many questions around the subject of infertility. To help relieve some of the stress and uncertainty, it is important to get advice about your present situation, the causes of your infertility, and what the possible next steps are. At the Advanced Reproductive Center, we have fertility experts available to talk through all treatment options available to you, offering the counseling and emotional support you need, and advise you on the causes and treatments for your case of infertility. We also have a variety of patient resources that you can use.
Contact the Advanced Reproductive Center Today
Infertility can affect both men and women and can be extremely challenging to cope with. However, the team here at the Advanced Reproductive Center is here to support you through an infertility diagnosis, offering you the support and treatment you need to build your family. Please don’t hesitate to call us at 312.485.4847 today!. Our expert team is always available to talk, give advice, and book consultations.