The pressure to raise a family can be enormous, and the thought of not being able to have children can make many people feel something is wrong with them. We talked to respected mental health professionals who work with people dealing with fertility problems to find out which coping strategies really work.
By: Susan Lacroix
Recognize that a fertility problem is a crisis
A fertility problem may be one of the most difficult challenges you’ll ever face. Acknowledging this is a key to coping, says Kate Marosek, a licensed clinical social worker who has counseled people with fertility issues in the Washington, D.C., area for more than 20 years.
“It’s normal to feel a monumental sense of loss, to feel stressed, sad, or overwhelmed,” says Marosek. “Don’t chastise yourself for feeling this way.” Facing and accepting your emotions can help you move through them.
Identify and share your feelings
If you’re always putting up a brave front, others won’t understand what you’re going through, and you’ll feel even more alone. It can be helpful to sort out your thoughts and feelings by writing them down in a journal first, and then sharing whatever feels comfortable with trusted friends or family.
Don’t blame yourself
Resist the temptation to get angry with yourself or listen to the little voice in your head that says negative things like, “I shouldn’t have waited. I’m being punished for terminating that pregnancy. I should have lost more weight or taken better care of my health. I shouldn’t have assumed that I could have children whenever I wanted.”
“People can get caught in negative thinking patterns that only make matters worse,” says Yakov Epstein, a psychologist at Rutgers University. “Instead of berating yourself, look forward to how you are going to manage the situation.”
When you start feeling like you “should have” or “could have,” remind yourself that your fertility problem is not your fault. Even if you could have made different decisions in the past, they’re behind you. Focus on the present.
Work with your partner as a team
If you have a spouse or partner, help each other through this time (and don’t blame each other for your difficulty getting pregnant).
This doesn’t mean you need to feel the same thing at the same time – expecting to have the same emotional experience or ways of coping is one of the most common pitfalls for couples facing fertility problems. It does mean paying attention to what your partner’s going through. “If you’re taking care of each other emotionally, you can unite to fight the problem,” says Marosek.
Work together to find practical ways to share the burden. If you’re undergoing treatment, your partner can take care of the insurance paperwork. If one of you needs injected therapy, the other can administer the shots.
Educate yourself
Find out as much as you can about your fertility issue. Ask your doctor questions and talk to other people in your situation.
Staying educated is especially important when you’re dealing with a fertility problem because the technologies behind the treatments are complicated and change quickly. “You’ve got to understand what’s happening medically,” says Epstein, “or you won’t be able to make informed choices.”
Explore our fertility problems section to learn the basics, and see our resource guide for a list of helpful books, websites, and organizations.
Set a limit on how long you’re willing to try
Some people decide from the get-go that they won’t go to extreme measures to have a baby. Others spend years and thousands of dollars exhausting all their treatment options.
It’s your decision when to stop trying to conceive, but you’ll feel more in control of your life if you start thinking in advance about how far you’re willing to go to get pregnant.
Start by discussing your medical odds of getting pregnant, which treatments you’re not willing to try, and your end goal. (For more help with this choice, read about making the decision to end fertility treatment.)
Decide how much you’re willing to pay
In vitro fertilization (IVF) averages $12,400 a cycle – and you may need to have more than one before becoming pregnant.
To cope with the anxiety caused by the high costs of treatment, sit down and develop a financial plan. Start with your insurance: Find out exactly what it does and doesn’t cover. If your plan covers some or all of your treatments, decide how you’re going to monitor the paperwork and negotiate with the insurance company.
Then review your assets and determine how much you can spend and on which treatments. “You should always have a plan B,” says Alice Domar, a psychologist and associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology at Harvard University Medical School who specializes in helping people with fertility problems. “Because nothing, especially with fertility treatments, is certain.”
Get support from professionals and other people with fertility problems
Society often fails to recognize the grief caused by infertility, so people struggling to conceive tend to hide their sorrow, which only increases feelings of shame and isolation.
“Finding other people who are going through the same thing can help you see that fertility problems are widespread and your disappointment is understandable,” says Linda Klempner, a clinical psychologist at Women’s Health Counseling in Teaneck, New Jersey.
Share stories and advice about fertility problems with others in the BabyCenter Community or find a support group in your area.
If you’d like to talk to a therapist, look for one who understands reproductive medicine. “Fertility problems are very complex, and if a therapist does not understand the medical issues, he or she won’t be able to help,” says Epstein. Look for a referral through Resolve: The National Infertility Association or the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
Help others help you
Find articles and books about infertility to pass on to close friends and family, so they can better understand what you’re going through and how they can be supportive.
Just say no to baby-focused activities
If certain situations are too painful for you – if all your siblings had babies in the last two years, or you keep getting invited to baby showers – give yourself permission to skip family get-togethers and other social events or at least to have a good cry afterward.
To avoid hurt feelings, send a gift but order children’s books online or email a gift certificate to save yourself an upsetting trip to the toy store or baby boutique.
Balance optimism and realism
“You need to be optimistic to go through a procedure,” says Epstein, “but if you’re too hopeful – if your hope is unrealistic – you’ll be setting yourself up for a huge fall.” By keeping current on the technology and your diagnosis, you can have a good understanding of your chances of success with each treatment.
The variety of medical technologies available today leads many patients to keep trying month after month, year after year. But about a third of women treated for fertility problems will be unsuccessful in having a biological child, and often must make peace with that before they can move on with their lives. Staying realistic can help you make smart choices as you work your way through the emotional minefield of treatment.
Take care of yourself by pursuing other interests
Being treated for a fertility problem can feel like a full- or at least part-time job, so it’s important to keep up with some of the activities or hobbies that you enjoy.
“It won’t be easy,” says Marosek, “especially if you’re doing something like going in for a blood test every other day, but look for ways to take care of yourself.” She recommends that people get a massage, exercise – anything that can offer relief from the focus on fertility treatment.
If your old activities are painful – maybe all your friends are parents now – look for new diversions. If hiking sounds appealing, do that. Or take a class in painting, dance, or something else that’s always interested you.
And remember, laughter really is the best medicine. See a funny movie, head out to a comedy club, or reread your favorite funny novel.
