Blog

Managing emotions is a key part of going through fertility challenges. Research shows that a significant number of people going through fertility treatment feels anxious, depressed, or suicidal. This is related to not having their reproductive goals met, ongoing loss and grief, coping with uncertainty, feeling social pressure, amongst other reasons. It is also known most people underestimate the upheaval of fertility treatment and emotional distress is the number one reason for people to stop treatment.

For all these reasons, emotional support during fertility treatment is really important. Support is available in multiple ways and one size does not fit all!

You have been trying to conceive for at least 12 months without success (6 if you are over 35 years old) and you may be wondering if there is something affecting your fertility. Scheduling an appointment with a fertility specialist is a daunting but important step to understanding what is preventing you from getting pregnant.

If you are going through infertility and your emotions are all over the place, you are not alone. In fact, this journey is a roller coaster of emotions. In a recent study, patients going through fertility challenges have reported that 90% felt depressed, 42% felt suicidal, 50% reported it was the most upsetting experience of their lives and 4 in 10 experienced PTSD after miscarriage.

In vitro fertilisation is a form of fertility treatment that can help women to get pregnant. Dr Benjamin Abramov, a leading fertility specialist, answers some more frequently asked questions about IVF, following on from part one.