Emotional Impact Of Fertility Treatments On A Woman & Expert's Tips To Deal With It

Fertility treatments can take a toll on a woman’s emotional and mental well-being. According to a report by AIIMS, approximately 10-15% of Indian couples struggle with fertility issues. While medical science has advanced significantly, it hasn’t progressed enough that a person seeking fertility treatment would not experience any sort of trauma.

We connected to Dr Vandana Ramanathan, MBBS DNB (OBGYN) FRM and Consultant Reproductive Medicine, Milann Whitefield, and Dr Seema P Nambair, Clinical Psychologist associated with Plum Telehealth, to understand how loved can support women struggling emotionally and mentally.

How To Deal With Emotional Trauma Due To Fertility Treatment?

Dr Ramanathan said a woman experiences a range of emotions while undergoing fertility treatment. She added, “They feel sad, frustrated, anxious, guilty, angry and many times depressed.” Therefore, healthcare providers and loved ones must be sensitive to the person and offer them unconditional support.

Here are a few ways to deal with the emotional trauma:

• Women can seek professional counselling. Relaxation and mindfulness techniques can have a positive impact and help immensely with stress management.
• Self-care is another way that a person can deal with emotional trauma. You have to focus on the present and try to overlook ‘should haves’ and ‘could haves’.
• Practising self-love is another great way to boost your confidence and esteem. If you focus on your work, it will help you have a sense of accomplishment.

Loved ones can be a great source of support for women experiencing waves of emotions while going through fertility treatment. Dr Ramanathan says that family members can help with physical tasks and lend ears whenever the woman needs it. Loved ones have to remain patient and understand that such treatments can be emotionally draining.

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How To Deal With Mental Trauma Due To Fertility Treatment?

Dr Nambiar said, “Infertility is not just a physical condition, but it also takes a significant toll on one's mental health. Women undergoing fertility treatments often experience invisible grief, a larger phenomenon whereby a person grieves the loss of a future scenario they dreamt of.”

This kind of grief can cause a person to experience stress, anxiety and depression (How You Can Help Somone Suffering From Depression). She quoted a study published by the World Health Organization that claimed, “Primary infertility affects between 3.9-16.8% of the population in India, with over 12-18 million couples being diagnosed with infertility each year.”

Dr Nambiar suggested women alone cannot overcome the mental trauma, families, and employers have to be their biggest support systems.

Here is how organisations can help:

• Providing miscarriage leaves
• Create awareness around entitlements like leaves and create a positive environment where an employee can speak to managers and human resource
• Offer free access to free consultations where women can connect with health experts

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As far as families are concerned, we have to break the stigma around infertility and provide an understanding and supportive environment for women undergoing treatments. It can significantly help women (How To Support Women Struggling With Infertility) manage stress and ensure that they flourish personally and professionally.

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