The Struggle of Coping with Infertility and Our Advice

Trying to conceive can be an emotional journey – especially when you are coping with infertility. The effects of infertility can have an impact on every area of your life, making it difficult to focus on anything else. It can cause conflicts in your relationship with your partner, communication with friends, mental health and your overall perspective of living. Infertility is an upheaval of the plans you had for your life and, if you’re struggling with infertility, you are no stranger to the disappointment it can cause.

Here at IVI, we work with couples who are struggling to cope with infertility on a daily basis. We understand that the sorrow that comes with unsuccessful conception is significant and can be a huge blow to most people. Many of our clients feel as if they are broken, that their bodies have betrayed them, or that they have let their partner down. These are all normal feelings. However, our professionals at IVI help assist couples and singles struggling with infertility to come to terms with their feelings and process their emotions through effective communication. In this article, we are going to take a look at the struggle of coping with infertility and our advice to help you push through.

Coping with Infertility – Acknowledge Your Emotions

During the struggle of infertility, many singles and couples struggle with intense feelings of despair, guilt, failure and more. The emotional significance of infertility will be different for each; however, the emotions will be there, and it’s important you acknowledge it. The desire to conceive can, at times, be overwhelming. When the emotions flood in, don’t ignore them or try to suppress your feelings to avoid dealing with them it’s important to acknowledge your emotions and be realistic about how you’re doing. That’s the first step to coping.

Join a Support Network

The next step to support you through the struggle of infertility is joining a support network. No matter how alone you feel, you aren’t. There are hundreds of singles and couples out there also struggling with infertility, just like you. Thanks to today’s Digital Age, it’s easy to seek out and join support networks. You can join online groups and meet others who have the same infertility struggles. What’s more, most infertility support organisations offer additional resources to help you decide your next steps and whether fertility treatments, such as IVF, are right for you. Some of the best support networks we would suggest are:

• Fertility Network UK
• Men’s Health Forum
• Fertility Friends

Control Feelings of Jealousy

When you are struggling with infertility, it’s likely you will be familiar with the immense feelings of jealousy when your friends or family members announce they are pregnant. Although you may want to celebrate with and feel happy for them, feelings of jealousy and anger may overcome you. Why can they get pregnant and you can’t? You don’t need to feel guilty about feeling this way, it is normal. However, there are things you can do to relieve your feelings of jealousy such as talking to a friend, taking a step back from attending baby showers, talking to your partner or seeking counselling.

Communicate Thoroughly with Your Partner

When struggling with infertility, communication is more important than ever. Infertility can quickly take a toll on your relationship with your partner, often causing unspoken feelings of guilt, resentment, fear, or inadequacy. During these times, communication is essential to ensure both you and your partner are supporting one another through this difficult time. It is important to remember that infertility affects both of you. You will both be struggling with infertility, and it will help significantly to share your feelings with one another. If you require help, we would recommend seeking out counselling to help facilitate effective communication with your partner.

Professional Fertility Counselling

Counselling sessions with IVI are a safe space for you to discuss your feelings, fears and concerns with a trained professional who will be sensitive and helpful. Counselling is extremely helpful for singles and couples struggling to cope with infertility. At IVI, we offer counselling services for couples and individuals, helping you navigate your emotions, questions and fears in a safe, professional environment.

Share with Family and Friends

The struggle of infertility can often be an isolating experience. If your family and friends do not know you are struggling with infertility, maybe now is a good time to share with them. You don’t need to announce it at the family meal or post it on Facebook, but it can be helpful to draw a few of your closest friends and family aside to share your struggles with them. This can be helpful as it helps you feel less alone, lets your family know that children are a sensitive topic and widens your support network.

Get Informed About Your Options

One of the most difficult aspects of infertility is the uncertainty about the future. When will you have children? Will you ever have children? How long do you wait before consulting a professional? There are so many questions around the subject of infertility. To help relieve some of the stress and uncertainty, it is important to get advice about your present situation, the causes of your infertility and what the possible next steps are. At IVI, we have fertility experts available to talk through your treatment options with you, offering the counselling and emotional support you need and advise you on the causes and treatments for your case of infertility.

Contact IVI Today

Infertility can affect both men and women and can be extremely challenging to cope with. However, the team here at IVI are here to support you throughout infertility, offering you the support and treatments you need in the hopes of helping you have the family you’ve always wanted. If you would like more information about our services, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our friendly team are always available to talk, give advice and book consultations.
Find out more about coping with infertility by reading through our interview with IVI London Counsellor, Helen Swords for more valuable information.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column]