
Spotlighting the Mental Health Impact of Infertility on World Mental Health Day 2024
World Mental Health Day is an international day for mental health awareness, education, and advocacy against social stigma. It has been celebrated on 10 October each year since 1992, when it was initiated by the World Federation for Mental Health https://wfmh.global/.
In observing World Mental Health Day this year, our team at Medfem Fertility Clinic spotlights an issue that is not widely recognised but affects increasing numbers of couples around the globe: the impact of infertility on mental health. In this article, we look at the unique mental health challenges infertile couples face, and find out how specialised counselling can help.
Around the world, an estimated one in six couples experience infertility, and sadly these numbers are increasing. Infertility is defined as the inability to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months of unprotected sex – or after 6 months where the female partner is older than 35. The good news is that infertility is most often a medical condition, and in the majority of cases, it can be treated very effectively.
Even so, infertility – and its treatment – is a journey that most couples simply did not anticipate or envisage and, while there is much reason for hope, the treatment process can be very challenging, with unique mental health challenges that not many people realise.
Below, Mandy Rodrigues, our resident clinical psychologist at Medfem Fertility Clinic in Sandton, Johannesburg, briefly details these unique stresses and mental health challenges associated with infertility, and explains how successfully managing these challenges through relevant fertility counselling will not only increase your chances of achieving a pregnancy, but will also improve your ability to make the many important decisions necessary, provide a sense of control over your fertility journey and improve your overall long-term quality of life.
The mental health challenges of infertility
Most women and men expect to become parents without any hassle one day. For this reason, a diagnosis of infertility is an unexpected and shocking blow emotionally. It often leaves both partners subject to a range of intense emotions such as uncertainty and trepidation, and swinging from hope to fear, and from joy to disappointment – which has been described as an emotional “rollercoaster”.
Even if the causes of the couple’s infertility can be treated, undergoing fertility treatment itself is often a physically challenging journey. It may involve undergoing medical procedures, as well as receiving or self-administering medications over extended periods of time. This can exacerbate the emotional strain of infertility, especially if the patients are also nervous about medical interventions and procedures.
In addition, fertility treatments can be expensive and often more than one treatment cycle is required. Combined with the fact that fertility treatments such as IVF are not usually covered by most open medical aids in South Africa, this all adds financial stress to an already challenging situation.
The physical demands, the emotional ups and downs, and financial strain of the infertility experience can impact a couple’s life at home, at work and with family, leaving them feeling out of control.
Furthermore, many couples feel stigmatised by their infertility, unable to share their experience with family or friends, which creates a sense of isolation.
Even within the relationship, couples may also feel isolated. This is because couples challenged by infertility also often resort to what is called “independent coping”, with each partner trying to cope alone, instead of seeking the support of their partner.
This happens because men and women deal with the stress of infertility at different levels. It can place a relationship under a great deal of stress. Partners may feel estranged in the relationship and helpless in the face of their partner’s distress. They may become angry and intolerant towards their spouses, or they may avoid each other for fear of saying the wrong thing or upsetting the other.
The impact on mental health
Given all these challenges, it is not surprising that there can be a significant impact on a couple’s mental health. Certainly, there is a higher incidence of depression among couples facing infertility, as well as a higher incidence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Depression is common among infertility patients. This is because the emotional rollercoaster associated with infertility often makes people feel helpless. In addition, couples may dread the actual medical processes, although most patients report that waiting for results is the most trying part of treatment. Patients say it is a time of acute vulnerability and sensitivity, and days seem to pass so very slowly, making it difficult to concentrate on ordinary life.
A higher incidence of PTSD is also noted among infertility patients. The experience of infertility is literally the death of a dream. It can be a painful and difficult state. Thankfully, infertility counsellors are beginning to view infertility treatment and coping process in line with PTSD.
Specialised counselling can help
Coping with the unique mental health challenges and impacts of a fertility journey requires specialised counselling that provides relevant and proven coping mechanisms.
It is vital to speak to a counsellor that understands the mental health challenges and stresses of fertility treatments, and is able to provide coping mechanisms relevant to fertility patients that have proven effective in fertility journeys.
Such relevant and practical coping mechanisms enable fertility patients to exercise a measure of control over their fertility journey. At Medfem Fertility Clinic these include, for example, identifying and managing emotional triggers, relaxation techniques, assertiveness training and cognitive reconstruction. These coping mechanisms provide a focus point for their attention and a way to contribute to a successful outcome and are empowering in a situation that often seems helpless. In this way, coping mechanisms contribute significantly to managing the process of infertility treatment better and also create a better chance of conceiving.
Counselling can improve your chances of success
Both studies and experience show that couples have a better chance of conceiving if they manage the mental health challenges of infertility well.
Specialised counselling will not only help you deal with the challenges and hurdles you will face during the course of your fertility treatment, but can also improve the outcome of the treatments you receive.
For this reason, counselling and support is part of the fertility treatment package at Medfem Fertility Clinic. The overall well-being of our patients is a crucial aspect of the fertility treatment and care we provide, and we encourage our patients to take advantage of the many resources we have developed to address the emotional needs they may have as a part of their fertility journey.
If you would like to know more about counselling for fertility or infertility counselling, or to meet our experienced fertility counsellor, Dr Mandy Rodrigues, we invite you to connect with us!
Medfem Fertility Clinic’s team are committed and understanding team of medical professionals, who have the experience, knowledge and desire to provide you with the best chance of a successful outcome at the end of your treatment.
Since the 1980’s, Medfem Fertility Clinic’s team has assisted couples struggling with infertility to experience the joy of parenthood, helping to bring more than 18,000 babies into the world.
Simply click here to book an initial consultation or contact us telephonically on +27 (11) 463 2244.
You can also meet with us during a virtual consultation via Zoom or Skype. Click here to book a virtual consultation now.
We look forward to meeting you!