The psychological and emotional aspects of infertility

The psychological and emotional facets of fertility treatments are not to be underestimated. Throughout this process, you and your partner will undoubtedly face difficult times, but rest assured, there are resources available along the way to help you cope. Remember to keep in mind the important commitment involved in such a process. In addition, you should gather as much information as possible on the topic.

The team at PROCREA Cliniques will do its utmost to help you conceive a child. However, even with all the best intentions in the world, you and/or your spouse might need support from an outside source to help you meet the challenges and overcome the hurdles that may arise during the course of your fertility treatment. At first, you might find that you have trouble talking to people about your infertility. Then, once you actually succeed in opening up, you might not feel as though your family and friends really understand what you are going through and, as such, do not provide you and your spouse with the support you need. Further down the road, the difficulties encountered will be tied in to a new reality, one that may be difficult to come to terms with: either your fertility treatments are successful and you conceive a child; or you turn to adoption; or live your life without children.

The team at PROCREA Cliniques will do its utmost to help you conceive a child.

You will be asked to undergo a variety of tests and will feel as if you are riding a roller coaster of intense emotions. Even though our specialists and nurses are very sensitive to what you are going through, they are not trained psychologists or psychiatrists. This is why, in wanting to provide psychological support services, the physicians at PROCREA Cliniques have set-up partnerships with select psychologists and psychiatrists specialized in fertility-related issues. Oftentimes, couples only need a few sessions to help them overcome the difficulties they are facing.

In meeting with these specialists, you will have occasion to examine the most prevalent problems and negative feelings experienced by infertile couples. You will discuss the consequences of fertility treatments on your sex life, the ways to comfort and lend support to the spouse who is in pain, the desire to become parents, the secrecy surrounding sperm donation, adoption or living your life without children.


Infertility issues and problems

Here are a few examples of the problems encountered by people undergoing fertility treatments along with some of the topics up for discussion with the psychologists and psychiatrists specializing in fertility-related issues:

Negative feelings: The stages of grief that follow the diagnosis or that arise from learning that the treatment has failed are sadness, self-identity problems and problems identifying with others, relationship problems with one's family and/or friends, not being able to imagine what the future holds, etc.

The consequences of fertility treatments on your sex life: Taking medication, having to undergo various tests, the prospect of having to undergo surgical procedures and the stress put on one's relationship throughout the course of the fertility treatment may have an impact on your sexual behavior.

How to comfort and lend support to the spouse who is in pain: What to say? When to say it? What should be avoided?

The desire to become parents: Throughout the course of the treatment, couples explore the various reasons behind their desire to become parents. This is a very important stage as it might lead them to think about options that they had not considered until now.

The secrecy surrounding the use of sperm donations.

Adoption

Life without children

Sometimes, the facts are difficult to accept. There are three possible outcomes to fertility treatments

Conceiving a child (naturally or through medically assisted procreation)

Adopting a child

Opting to live without children