Coping with infertility is a challenge for couples, to be sure. The diagnosis is a constant presence and just letting go feels impossible. Couples who suffer from infertility may find themselves growing apart, feeling blamed or many other not-so-good emotions that take a terrible toll on your relationship. But if you take the time to talk things out and be there for each other your infertility journey may strengthen your relationship in ways you never imagined.
Tips For Couples to Help Cope with Infertility
Before infertility drives a wedge into your relationship, be proactive. Discuss your feelings openly and honestly and remember what drew you together in the first place. Here, we offer eight tips to help you, and your partner cope with infertility.
Understand Your Infertility
Infertility affects about 11% of women and 9% of men in the world. Not everyone has the same experience, and the root cause of your infertility may be confusing. Infertility may be male factor, female factor, a combination of both or unexplained, meaning your doctor cannot find the cause.
Acknowledge That it’s A Problem
For many couples (especially those who don’t have children) it can be easier to shrug it off and bury the disappointment of infertility. But there is a special kind of grief that comes with infertility that you must acknowledge. An infertility diagnosis affects you both physically and emotionally. Both you and your partner share in an avalanche of feelings. Give your feelings a voice. Talk to each other and if you feel you’re not yet there journal your feelings. Get them out in the open and then work on them together.
Turn to Your Specialist
Your fertility doctor is a great resource. They know and understand your specific diagnosis and may offer options for overcoming your infertility. Your doctor and fertility clinic also provide many different resources you and your partner may turn to as you cope with infertility. Your clinic has the information you need on support groups, and even counseling.
Try IVF
IVF or in vitro fertilization is a series of procedures to assist you with conception. It is when a human egg is fertilized with sperm in a laboratory. If the fertilized egg (embryo) successfully implants in the uterus, this will result in pregnancy.
The IVF success rate depends on the age of the woman having treatment, as well as the cause of the infertility (if it’s known). Younger women are more likely to have a successful pregnancy. IVF isn’t usually recommended for women over the age of 42 because the chances of a successful pregnancy are thought to be too low.
In 2019, the percentage of IVF treatments that resulted in a live birth was:
32% for women under 35
25% for women aged 35 to 37
19% for women aged 38 to 39
11% for women aged 40 to 42
5% for women aged 43 to 44
4% for women aged over 44
These figures are for women using their own eggs and their partner’s sperm, using the per embryo transferred measure.
You should discuss treatment options with your doctor or fertility specialist. However, deciding whether to use IVF is a very personal choice also keeping in mind the IVF treatment cost in India. You will need to consider the financial costs as well as the physical and emotional pressures involved. Ortil Healthcare assists you in your IVF journey from being a couple to a family.