the emotional toll of infertility

Stress. Disbelief. Shame. Anxiousness. Depression.

Receiving an infertility diagnosis may bring on a slew of emotions. Feeling robbed of a dream, the impact of receiving an infertility diagnosis on your mental health can be profound, especially as friends announce their pregnancy or invite you to yet another gender reveal party.

Feelings of grief and loss are common. The toll on your relationship with your partner can be overwhelming; ultimately, your mental health and even your faith can deteriorate. The question then becomes, what are you going to do to take care of yourself?

the emotions of infertility

after an infertility diagnosis

Infertility can be a painful emotional experience, and the impact on your life can be overwhelming.

It is not uncommon for women to:

  • Lose interest in daily activities
  • Feel depressed for extended periods
  • Experience a strain in the relationship with her partner and others
  • Lose interest in sex
  • Have obsessive thoughts about being infertile
  • Face high levels of anxiety, including panic attacks
  • Be challenged to finish tasks
  • Lose focus
  • Sleep too much or not enough
  • Eat too much or not enough
  • Isolate from family and friends
  • Abuse of alcohol or drugs
  • Feel worthless or “less than”
  • Experience deep anger
  • Have thoughts of suicide

Your thoughts and feelings, if left unchecked, become who you are, so now is the time to get help. Most mental health care providers and many therapists are trained in helping women facing infertility, and the best time to get help is before you begin infertility treatments.

“your worth is not
determined by your fertility.”

– Anonymous

click here to visit Resolve.org — a resource offered by The National Infertility Association