Women who didn’t conceive with IVF treatment, and remained childless, have a higher risk of being hospitalized for mental health problems. These range from depression to eating disorders and alcohol issues.‘IVF providers should be sensitive to the potential for psychiatric disorders among women treated for infertility,’ saysDr Birgitte Baldur-Felskov, author of the Danish study.
It’s obvious to me that infertility takes a huge toll on emotional reserves. Many women plough on, and are fine. In my experience, most women are resilient. My fridge magnet reminds me: ‘Women are like tea-bags, you don’t know how strong they are until they get into hot water.’
Clients wish they’d known how overwhelming it is before embarking on fertility treatment.
‘I coped fine with IVF. Needles, meds, news of friends pregnancies and cycle failure. I fell apart 3 months after the second IVF failed. If I’d known I could feel normal and change my mindset, my attitude, get a feeling of control and not to feel guilty, or blame myself. That would have saved us so much pain.’  Nicola, 39, now mum of two spent 6 years battling infertility and depression.
Women often feel alone and isolated infertility investigations and IVF. They get totally caught up in the technical process, consumed by it, as both patient and observer. Men feel sidelined, helpless. Relationships often unravel.
Many people I treat have years of fertility investigation, surgery and failed IVF, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy. During that time time life must go on. Work, relationship, family, social life and listening to everyone’s take on their situation.
IVF fails about 75% of the time. It takes time to recover from the after effects of medications. Weight gain adds to the misery of loss. Sadness can run deep, leading to depression if not treated.
Fertility Coaching
Imagine if you could prevent infertility related mental health problems? Mindfulness skills build resilience and develop coping skills. Preparation is 9/10ths of any job. Gold winning Olympians focus on mental workup in advance of their main event. Mindfulness training can take up to 40% of elite athlete’s regimes.
I love helping women through infertility. They learn how to change their mindset and regain confidence. We focus on staying well and focused. Powerful techniques of Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy and Mindfulness combine with my clinical experience and ancient wisdom!
If you are trying to conceive, why not discover how fertility mindfulness can help you?
