Protecting Your Mental Health During IVF Treatments

BRIEFING: That infertility affects mental wellbeing has been acknowledged for decades. But that fertility treatments may add stress and, therefore, further impact the mental health of fertility patients is less well acknowledged. Our “Feuilleton” article this month, therefore, offers advice on how the process of going trough in vitro fertilization (IVF) – likely the most stressful fertility treatment – withs just a few considerations, will, likely, be better tolerated. 

In vitro fertilization (IVF) can take a toll on a patient’s mental wellbeing. Research shows that IVF can often intensify an individual’s feelings of anxiety and depression as well as negatively affect self-esteem and confidence. These can be difficult issues to cope with while simultaneously experiencing the potential physical side effects of IVF.  

Selected routes patients can take going through fertility treatments to protect and nurture their mental health, however, exist as their bodies cope with the course of fertility treatments. Below are some suggestions to keep in mind if you are one of the millions of infertile women turning to IVF to grow your family. 

Make sure you have a support system 

Loved ones who support you through life’s obstacles can be such a beacon during difficult times. If you are struggling as you go through treatments and have loved ones you can confide in, try to talk out your worries with them. Speaking with a partner, family member, or friend instead of letting your worries go unspoken can make a world of difference.  

If you are going through IVF with a partner, be careful to not shut him/her out. The quite lengthy experience of IVF can put strains on a partnership because of the pressures of the logistics behind continuing prior established patterns of sex and the anxiety IVF sparks over whether the treatment will succeed. The one partner physically going through treatment, moreover, can easily feel resentment toward the other, even if subconsciously. Odds are that your partner is also experiencing a range of emotions during this time. Being aware of that fact and “checking in” can help you to stay connected as you go through this process together with your partner. 

Turn to the IVF community  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report for the U.S about 4 million births per year, with 1-2 percent of those occurring via IVF. Consequently, many thousands of women have gone through IVF, meaning that ample resources exist to connect with their stories and experiences.  

Blogs like Stirrup Queens, podcasts like The Fertility Podcast and Big Fat Negative, and groups who connect on social media—plus countless articles, essays, books, shows, and movies in the cultural digest are out there and freely available. Reviewing these resources can help you to feel more seen as you relate to others who have gone through the same experiences you are facing. This can also help to feel less isolated, - should be what you are experiencing.  

Seek out a therapist 

Talking out your experiences, concerns, and stressors with a qualified mental health professional can be key when one is going through the motions of IVF treatment. Therapists can offer their objective opinions on your situation and help you unravel your thoughts and understand your emotions, which you might be pushing off without even realizing while focusing on trying to have a baby. Therapy for infertility patients has become a well-defined sub-specialty among therapists. The CHR will gladly make recommendations if you are looking for a qualified therapist. Many now also offer virtual therapy sessions, which appear to be just as effective as in-person sessions.  

Practice meditation and mindfulness 

Apps, podcasts, and playlists full of guides to meditation and mindfulness practices are also widely available. If you need to escape from ruminating thoughts about your treatment, you for instance can turn to an episode of the Calm app, allowing your brain to focus on “something else.” Learning the basics of embracing a mindful attitude can be helpful in overcoming obstacles you might face along your fertility journey. 

Keeping a journal about the experience 

The welcome empty pages of a journal can be a source of comfort during trying times. As with confiding in loved ones or speaking with a therapist, writing down your fears and anxieties can help to free your mind from stress and even to better understand your emotions. This is especially helpful if you are lacking a support system or are unable to access professional counseling.   

Take care of your physical health 

Taking care of your physical health during IVF will only strengthen your mental wellbeing. Make sure you are eating a balanced diet, drinking enough water, and not letting self-care fall by the wayside as you go through IVF treatments. You should also be sure to get enough sleep. 

Though you may no longer feel up to your usual strenuous exercise once you are advancing in your IVF cycle, don’t abandon low-impact exercise, especially walking, yoga etc. Continuing to move can help to keep your headspace in a wholesome place. 

Ask your physician whatever you want to know  

Don’t be scared “to bother” others as you undergo IVF; and this includes your fertility nurse as well as your treating physician. Communicating clearly with your medical staff is key. We have a saying at the CHR: “We always prefer you ask too many rather than too few questions!”  Such open communications will help alleviate concerns you may have about IVF and ultimately will ensure that you and your doctor are always on the same page. As you through your path to fertility, this is, of course, key to avoiding any confusion and/or crossed wires, leading to potential treatment mistakes.