Phoenix

MENTAL HEALTH

Infertility and Mental Health Challenges

Dr. Sanchita Adhikary

Infertility and Mental Health Challenges

Dr. Sanchita Adhikary

“Ma’am!  please tell me the problem; why I am not able to conceive? To have a baby, I can do anything.”  I look at the worried patient and try to find out how to console – feeling the immense pain that hidden in her eyes. It is a common scenario of an obstetrician’s consultation chamber. Individuals who learn they are infertile often experience distressing emotions.

Infertility or inability to conceive has a detrimental impact on mental health of infertile individuals or couples.  Everyone blames them, curse them and ultimately they break down. Typical reactions include shock, grief, depression, anger, and frustration, as well as loss of self-esteem, self-confidence, and a sense of control over one’s destiny.

Relationships may suffer – not only the primary relationship with a spouse or partner, but also those with friends and family members who may inadvertently cause pain by offering well-meaning but misguided opinions and advice. Couples dealing with infertility may avoid social interaction with friends who are pregnant and families who have children. They may struggle with anxiety-related sexual dysfunction and other marital conflicts. In a developing country like Bangladesh, there are also social stigma about infertile couple, as women are commonly blamed. Patients may experience serious mental health problems on a transient basis, as they deal with the emotional and physical roller coaster typical of infertility treatment procedures and episodes of failure. Moreover, research has shown that infertility treatment can also exacerbate existing psychiatric conditions. Infertile women with a history of depression, for example, are more likely than other infertile women to become depressed during treatment.

However, many patients find a way to cope on their own, or they seek support from friends, family, or one of the many infertility support groups now available in person and online, while others need additional help. Referrals for short-term counseling are common – especially to increase coping strategies, or to provide help with making decisions (as patients face many choices during treatment). Patients who experience prolonged changes in mood or sleep patterns or who have relationship problems should seek a more comprehensive evaluation, as these may be signs of anxiety or depression. Specific types of psychotherapy may also be useful, e.g. interpersonal therapy (which focuses on improving relationships or resolving conflicts with others) and cognitive behavioral therapy (which identifies and tries to change unhealthy patterns of thought or behavior) can give relief to infertile patients suffering from mild to moderate depression. Relaxation techniques are also applied, e.g. mindfulness meditation, deep breathing, guided imagery, and yoga based stress management.

RELAXATION TECHNIQUES

1

Mindfulness Meditation

2

Deep Breathing

3

Guided Imagery

4

Yoga Based Stress Management

Dr. Sanchita Adhikary, MBBS, FCPS

Junior Consultant (Obstetrics & Gynaecology)

Upazila Health Complex, Bagherpara

Jessore, Bangladesh

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