Stress and Emotional Aspects of Infertility...How to Cope
At Fertility Specialists of Texas we believe it is important to address the emotional well-being of our patients, as well as the physical issues. We find that the two are often closely related. Infertility can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety which can, in turn, affect the ability of the body to function normally. It becomes a vicious circle which can spiral into a very painful process that can affect a patient's self-esteem, marriage, relationships, work, and other daily activities. Spiritual concerns may also arise. Infertility can become an all-consuming, multi-faceted issue.
Talking to Others
Research has shown that women undergoing infertility crisis can be as depressed as those facing other life crises, such as cancer, heart disease or HIV. A major difference though, is that people usually talk to loved ones or friends about these types of issues. Fertility patients, however, often have no one to talk to, either because of a need for privacy or because none of their friends or family "really understands." This can make patients feel isolated and alone, which of course can deepen the sadness they are experiencing. It should be noted that not all patients experience this level of anxiety, but many patients do report this depth of emotional distress.
Stress Hormones
We know that extreme or chronic stress causes the brain to release "stress hormones" such as cortisol, which have been documented to interfere with the release of the reproductive hormones. This can then interfere with ovulation and other reproductive functions. The key to managing this process is to break the cycle of "infertility - stress - more infertility-more stress." Although stress hormones are certainly not always the culprit...infertility may arise from blocked tubes, low sperm count, or any number of factors...the stress hormones can play a role in complicating any type of fertility issue.
Realistically, stress is a part of life and will always be a part of infertility to some degree. However, there are tools and resources available to help cope with this stress and manage the depression. There are ways of regaining confidence and learning to be happy in spite of what is going on (or not going on!) with the body.
Recommended Resources
Fertility Specialists of Texas strongly encourages patient to address these emotional issues early on in the process, before they become severe. Three resources we recommend are Fertility Friends of North Texas, which is a Fertility Specialists of Texas Program, the DFW area Mind Body Program, and Resolve.
Fertility Friends of North Texas
This is a unique program for our patients undergoing fertility treatments. Just ask us to connect you with a "friend," a current or former patient of ours that has been in your shoes and has expressed a willingness to help others by talking about various fertility subjects such as:
- Diagnostic procedures
- Male factory infertility
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
- Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
- Ovulation induction/Intra-uterine insemination (IUI)
- In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
- Egg donation
- Donor Sperm,
- Gestational surrogacy
Mind/Body Program
Consider enrolling in the DFW Mind/Body Program, which teaches coping mechanisms, relaxation techniques, group interaction with other fertility patients, learning to re-structure negative thinking, and much, much more. This Program is patterned after the one developed 20 years ago by Dr. Alice Domar in Boston. It is taught locally by an independent Licensed Therapist/Registered Nurse, who was trained by a colleague of Dr. Domar.
The purpose of the program is to develop a sense of control over one's life by utilizing mind/body interventions such as learning to elicit the "relaxation response." This is a physical state that counteracts the "stress response." The relaxation response is effective in lowering blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the level of stress hormones. It puts the body in a state of deep relaxation.
While the relationship between stress and infertility is complex, Domar's research has shown that psychological factors such as depression and anxiety do correlate with lower pregnancy rates. For example, 55% of the women who participated in her Mind/Body program conceived and gave birth, compared to 20% in the control group who did not participate.
For more information about the local program visit www.infertilitymindbody.com or ask us about a copy of Dr. Domar's book Conquering Infertility. We keep copies in our office and the book is also available online.
We encourage you to talk to our nurse Linda Huston about arranging an appointment with one of the local therapists who specializes in individual or couples fertility counseling.
Resolve
A non-profit organization which offers information, publications, and fact sheets on a wide range of topics related to infertility. RESOLVE sponsors nationwide support groups, meetings and presentations. It is a wonderful way to connect with other fertility patients and to learn more about fertility-related issues. For more information and local groups, visit RESOLVE at www.resolve.org.
These are only a few of the resources available. We are happy to help you find which path is right for you. We would like to emphasize that not all patients feel the need to seek this type of care and support, but if you are one of the many that do, we encourage you to be pro-active in learning to manage your stress in a positive and productive way so that you can take control of your emotions and be at peace with yourself.
