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etting Pregnant Resources: Coping with Infertility Guide
For couples experiencing fertility problems, the process of getting pregnant can be an overwhelming one, full of stress and uncertainty. This is often made worse by the strain of undergoing fertility treatments such as fertility drugs and assisted reproductive technology (ART). This is why establishing a comprehensive way of coping with infertility strategy is so important, both in order to minimize your own feelings of anxiety, as well as to minimize tension in your relationship with your partner.
Coping with Infertility Guide: Tips to Help You Cope with Infertility Issues
- Recognize that having problems getting pregnant is a difficult situation. Experiencing fertility problems is one of the most difficult situations that you will encounter in your life. Acknowledgement of this fact is an important first step in coping with fertility problems. Realize that it is very normal to feel angry, stressed or sad about not getting pregnant easily. By confronting your emotions and accepting them, it will help you to move on with the process of getting pregnant.
- Don’t blame yourself for your infertility issues. It is very easy to fall into the trap of feeling guilty or insecure when you’re experiencing a fertility problem. However, it is critical to your own health and happiness, as well as your relationship with your partner, that you not give into these emotions. Don’t focus on the past and what you should have or could have done (i.e. “I should have undergone fertility treatment earlier”). The decisions of the past are out of your control; focus your energy on the future and stay positive about your odds of getting pregnant.
- Work together with your partner. Create an environment of support as opposed to blame with your partner. When undergoing fertility treatment, it is very easy to want to blame the other person for fertility problems as a coping mechanism. Also, you may feel upset or frustrated if your partner is not experiencing the same emotions or concerns as you. Take on tasks together as a team in order to maintain a strong relationship. For example, if he requires injected therapy, you can administer the shots for him. And if she’s undergoing IVF, you can take care of the insurance papers.
- Educate yourself about fertility problems. Read up on fertility problems and talk to your doctor about any questions or concerns you may have about getting pregnant. This will help you make informed choices about the type of fertility treatment you’re undergoing and is an excellent way of coping with infertility. Also, because assisted reproductive technology changes so quickly, it can help you stay up-to-date with the latest forms of treatment.
- Establish limits on how long you’re willing to try. Although it can be a very difficult decision, deciding when to stop fertility treatments if you continue to have problems getting pregnant is a decision that every couple, along with their doctor, must sometimes make. In fact, one-third of couples who undergo fertility treatment are unable to have a biological child. Some factors that may affect the length of fertility treatment that you’re willing to undergo include your medical odds of getting pregnant, as well as the types of fertility treatment you’re willing and not willing to undergo.
- Decide how much you’re willing and able to spend. The cost of fertility treatment can be quite high; for example, IVF can cost approximately £3000 per cycle while GIFT can cost £5500 per cycle. Develop a financial plan that takes into account your insurance coverage as well as how much of you and your partner’s personal savings you are able and willing to allot to treatments aimed at increasing your chances of getting pregnant.
- Establish a support network for you and your partner. Creating a support system of family and friends can help to minimize feelings of isolation when undergoing infertility treatment. Also, reaching out to other couples who have experienced infertility can help minimize feelings of shame or inadequacy and can provide you with excellent advice about getting pregnant. You may also want to consider seeing a counsellor in order to work through your emotions, as this can be a big help in coping with infertility issues.
- Avoid situations that make you uncomfortable. If you are confronted with situations that make you extremely uncomfortable, such as receiving yet another baby shower invite, don’t feel you have to accept. Politely decline and send a gift; you may even purchase it online so as not to have to make a trip to a baby clothing store. Don’t feel guilty about this; acknowledge that this is emotionally upsetting and that sometimes you need to act of out of your own best interests.
- Think positive, but be realistic. Stay optimistic about your chances of getting pregnant, but be aware that there is a chance you may not be able to have your own child. By maintaining a practical mindset, you can help to make the best decisions about your fertility treatment for yourself and your partner, which is crucial to coping with infertility issues.
- Keep your life as full as possible. While undergoing fertility testing and treatments can take up a lot of your time, try to cultivate some time for relaxing. Take up a class that’s always interested you, such as dance or creative writing. Make Tuesday nights movie night and rent you and your partner’s favorite comedies to take your minds off things. This will help you unwind and help you keep a positive attitude toward getting pregnant.
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