IVF/Fertility Counseling and Support

Many people spend much of their adult lives trying to prevent conception, in part because we assume that we’ll be able to conceive naturally when the timing is right.  Unfortunately for some, this becomes a process fraught with mixed emotions and medical interventions. Many couples and individuals discover that they need some form of IVF/fertility treatment along with IVF/Fertility counseling.  

Types of fertility treatments include:

  • In vitro fertilization (IVF)—retrieving eggs from a woman’s ovaries, inseminating them externally, and inserting the resulting embryo into a woman’s uterus.

  • Intrauterine insemination (IUI)—inserting sperm into a woman’s uterus at an optimal time to attempt to achieve pregnancy.

  • Surrogacy/gestational carrier—use of a 3rd party female to carry an embryo through to birth.

  • Egg freezing—retrieving eggs and then freezing them for future use.

  • Donor egg/donor sperm/donor embryo—using a 3rd party’s genes for reproductive purposes.

  • Preimplantation genetic testing—testing an embryo before implantation to ensure chromosomal normalcy.

One or more of these interventions may be used by heterosexual or same-sex couples, single mothers, and single fathers in an attempt to become parents.  

Of all of these treatments, perhaps IVF is the most widely known. Over 2.5 million cycles of IVF are performed each year, resulting in over 500,000 children annually.  

While these statistics are impressive, they fail to capture the difficulties many face in their fertility journey. Often, people try for years to achieve a pregnancy with the hope of a live birth, but not everyone is successful. Individuals and couples often experience a huge breadth of emotions. These include:

- Feelings of inadequacy 

-Shame

-Anxiety

-Disappointment

-Sadness

-Fear

-Elation

-Joy

-Heartache

-Relief

If you are facing fertility challenges, you may feel isolated and unable to open up to others about your experience.  Please know that you are not alone. Some resources can help you make sense of your feelings about your fertility journey, find peace, and heal. Trust Mental Health has a team of BIPOC therapists that offer IVF/Fertility counseling, couples therapy, family and marriage counseling, individual therapy, and other mental health services that can support you before, during, and after this process. These therapists can help you get a sense of the mental health symptoms of endometriosis and theimportance of relationships as you navigate this journey. We offer therapy sessions both in-person and online. If you require IVF/Fertility counseling or therapy in California, click below for a free 15-minute consultation.

FAQs

  • Practice self-care by engaging in activities that promote well-being, stay informed about the medical procedures to reduce anxiety about the unknown, set realistic expectations, and seek support: Lean on friends, family, and professional support systems.

  • Couples can support each other by communicating openly about feelings and concerns regarding the treatment, being patient and understanding, and seeking joint counseling. Therapy can help strengthen the relationship and provide tools for coping together.

  • Look for a therapist who has experience with fertility challenges, is empathetic and supportive enough to provide a safe and understanding environment, and can offer practical coping strategies.