Fertility problems

Infertility counseling

You might benefit from counseling if you:

Source:
Whiteford LM, Gonzalez L.
Stigma: the hidden burden of infertility.
Social Science & Medicine. 1995; 40: 27-36.

Lose interest in your usual activities
Feel down for long periods
Have strained relationships with your partner, family, friends or colleagues
Have difficulty thinking of anything apart from your infertility
Feel anxious a lot of the time
Feel less able to accomplish things
Have difficulty concentrating
Notice a change in your sleep pattern (such as difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, waking early, sleeping more than usual)
Notice a change in your appetite or weight
Think about using drugs or alcohol
Think about suicide
Feel lonely or distant from friends
Have feelings of guilt or worthlessness that won't go away
Have feelings of anger or bitterness that won't go away.

There are also certain times during your treatment when it may help to talk to a counselor. You should think about seeing a counselor if you are:

Deciding whether to carry on with treatment
Deciding between different treatments
Thinking about stopping treatment or thinking about other ways of having a family, such as adoption
Considering using donor eggs or donor sperm or finding a

surrogate mother
A surrogate mother is a woman who has agreed to carry a child in her womb that she will not keep after the birth. Couples who are unable to have children naturally may wish to find a surrogate mother to have a child for them.

surrogate mother to have your child for you
Having problems agreeing on treatment with your partner.

A counselor can:

Help you learn to cope with infertility
Teach you how to work through your grief, fear and other feelings
Strengthen your coping skills.

A counselor will usually advise that you and your partner seek help together.

Sources for the information on this page:

Whiteford LM, Gonzalez L.Stigma: the hidden burden of infertility.Social Science & Medicine. 1995; 40: 27-36.

This information was last updated on Mar 06, 2009

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.

The information on ConsumerReportsHealth.org should not be viewed as a substitute for a consultation with a medical or health professional. The information is meant to enhance communication with your doctor, not replace it. Consumers Union can not be liable for any loss, injury, or other damages related to your use of this information.

Your use of this information is subject to our User Agreement available at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.