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Coping With Infertility
Garrett Coan
Infertility is a medical problem that results in the inability to
conceive a child or carry a pregnancy to full term. A couple is
usually diagnosed as infertile after one year of frequent,
unprotected, sexual intercourse.
It is estimated that 10 to 15% of couples are infertile. About
35% of infertility cases can be traced to physical problems of
the woman and 35% have causes in the man. In the remaining 30% of
cases, infertility is either unexplained or is caused by problems
in both partners.
Why Infertility Can Be Devastating
The inability to have children can be one of the greatest
challenges that a person or couple will ever face. It affects
people emotionally, physically, and financially. It can place
tremendous stress on a couple’s relationship and on their
relationships with family and friends.
On a physical level, the experience of being examined and tested
monthly, weekly, or even daily is embarrassing, exhausting, and
very expensive. Medications often have side effects, and daily
injections may be required. Surgery is often necessary, and
sometimes several procedures are needed.
As the process continues over months and years, the couple’s
privacy is invaded time and again, physically and emotionally.
One or both of the partners learn to put aside their feelings as
they lie on the examining table, have fluids taken, or give sperm
for the tenth, twentieth, or fiftieth time.
At the same time, family, friends and coworkers are waiting to
see if this month will bring good news. The couple becomes used
to hearing, “Anything new?” with an expectant smile. They also
hear comments like, “Maybe you should take a month off and just
relax,” or “A vacation would do you good” or “This sounds like a
good problem. At least you can have fun trying.” To make it even
worse, throughout this experience, the couple regularly hears of
others who have become pregnant. In fact, it sometimes seems as
if the whole world is pregnant.
These experiences often make the infertile person feel like a
failure. The feelings come up each time there is a treatment
failure or when yet another friend or acquaintance announces a
pregnancy.
After each expensive procedure or round of treatment, when no
pregnancy results, the disappointment turns to devastation. Many
infertile people become depressed and anxious. The strain in the
marriage and among family members sometimes becomes unbearable.
The self-esteem of one or both partners plummets. They often feel
lonely, sad, and angry. The long series of disappointments that
many experience can cause a numbing effect, and depression can
result. If one partner has the medical problem that is causing
the infertility, he or she often feels guilty and may even offer
the other a divorce. At the same time, the infertile person may
fear that the other partner will leave the relationship. All of
these changes can make people feel emotionally distant and
needing to avoid intimacy.
Some people cut themselves off from friends and family. They look
for ways to avoid attending social gatherings and family events,
fearing that they will be subjected to discussions about
pregnancy, children, or infertility. Socializing with friends and
family who have children or who are pregnant is a special
challenge. Sometimes these feelings are intensified, especially
for women, when they are taking large doses of drugs that can
affect their emotions.
Emotional Self-Care during Infertility
Almost no one expects to be infertile. Most people think they
will grow up, get married, and have children, just like everyone
else around them. So when a couple learns that they are
infertile, they are often surprised at how devastated they feel.
After all, they reason, they don’t have cancer or a deadly
disease (in most cases); it’s just infertility. So why do they
feel so badly? Most couples gradually come to realize that it is
a distressing experience. Many eventually seek the help of a team
of professionals, realizing that it is a good idea to create a
support network and take advantage of the help that is available.
When one or both partners start to feel the impact of
infertility, it can be a good idea to seek the services of a
mental health professional, especially one who has experience
working with the issues of infertility. Since these issues are so
complex, it is important to find a counselor who has experience
and training in dealing with the impact on individuals, couples,
and families. Many couples also find relief in support groups
where they can meet regularly with other infertile couples, share
experiences, and support each other. Such groups are offered
through organizations like RESOLVE, a national infertility
support organization. RESOLVE also provides referrals to medical
practitioners who specialize in infertility. Visit
www.resolve.org for information. Infertility is primarily a
medical problem, but during treatment it is important to address
the emotional implications of infertility. Joining a support
group or seeing a qualified counselor is especially important at
any of the following points:
• When you begin a new phase of your treatment
• After a course of treatment has failed
• When you are faced with difficult decisions about treatment
• When you are thinking about options such as surrogacy, egg or
sperm donation
• When you are considering stopping medical treatment
• When you are thinking about adopting
• When one or both of you have troubling feelings that won’t go
away
• When you experience strained relationships with your partner,
friends, or family
• When you avoid being with others because of the infertility
Although a mental health professional cannot influence the
outcome of the medical treatment, he or she can help the couple
get through the process by helping them communicate better with
each other and gain support from family and friends.
Garrett Coan is a professional therapist,coach and
psychotherapist. His two Northern New Jersey office locations are
accessible to individuals who reside in Bergen County, Essex
County, Passaic County, Rockland County, and Manhattan. He offers
online and telephone coaching and counseling services for those
who live at a distance. He can be accessed through
http://www.creativecounselors.com
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