Infertility and Its Emotions

Infertility, in and of itself, can be a difficult process. However, the emotions that come along with this diagnosis add another side to the issue completely and put people in a place of anger, depression, fear, and anxiety that can be tumultuous, to say the least. So many people who face infertility wind up with excess stress and depression because of the overwhelming evidence that they cannot have the family that they have probably been dreaming of their entire lives. For some people, a diagnosis of infertility isn’t a major issue. For others, the inability to create their own legacy through children is staggering.

It isn’t only the physical issues of infertility that women have to deal with. Physical pain and suffering does occur in many cases, such as a diagnosis of endometriosis. However, there is also emotional pain that comes with this, and it can create plenty of different issues for people. However, a doctor can often refer women to support groups or therapists who specialize in these issues, making it easier for them to feel validated in their emotional state and to feel like they have options for help if and when they want it. The entire process of infertility diagnosing can be taxing on women, from the initial desire to have a baby though the difficult process of trying to conceive and find alternative options. The emotions that people experience range from anger, confusion, and depression to fear and frustration with the limitations that the body has shown.

Infertility provokes a great sense of loss for many women, leaving them feeling helpless and like there is nothing that they can do because they have lost their dream of a family. However, not being able to change the feelings that you have doesn’t mean that you can’t cope. There are plenty of ways that you can cope with infertility and other reproductive problems, including the following:

• Accept the normalcy of your emotional distress. It happens to everyone.
• Understand that you aren’t alone. You can find support.
• See your coping as a process that takes time and requires different stages.
• Be informed. Nothing is better than educating yourself about your infertility and the emotions that you are experiencing.
• Develop action plans with your doctors so that you can get control back.
• Find ways to handle your emotions instead of bottling them up inside.

There are so many different ways that you can cope with a diagnosis like infertility, but the main issue is that you DO have to cope. You shouldn’t feel weird, alone, or invalid in your emotions because everyone experiences them and they are completely normal. Allow yourself to be angry, sad, confused, or hurt for a while, but don’t make it a habit. Once you accept your emotions and allow yourself to grieve your loss, it will be much easier to get through and move forward with your family planning and the rest of your life. Infertility can be difficult to handle, but there is support out there when you need it.