IVF is a saving grace for infertile couples wishing to fulfill their dream of parenthood. However, the journey to parenthood through a fertility treatment is no cakewalk. IVF can be physically and mentally draining for intended parents going through the process. While the end result makes all the stress on your body and mind worth it, it helps to be prepared for what to expect during your IVF treatment. Just knowing what you might face, and taking a few precautionary measures to ease some of the side effects works wonders for patients going through IVF treatment.

‘Difficult Roads Often Lead To Beautiful Destinations’

The Emotional Impact of Infertility

IVF emotional effects vary from person to person, as each one goes through a myriad of emotions during the journey. It can be tough to wade through each emotion, leading to psychological aspects of IVF being a barrier to good mental and physical health. Here are some IVF emotional effects and psychological issues you may face.

• Excitement: Being excited by the prospect of being a parent, after all the struggles and disappointment caused by infertility, can be stressful. It is natural to initially be overwhelmingly excited about finally having the chance to experience parenthood. One thing to keep in mind is to only announce your pregnancy when you’re ready.

• Guilt: Having a successful IVF pregnancy is not 100% confirmed for everyone who opts for IVF. Many women have friends or acquaintances that are going through the same path, or even friends from support groups that they may have joined. Being declared pregnant after an IVF cycle, when others around them haven’t, makes many women feel guilty about having to share the good news with them.

• Disappointment: The first few weeks of any pregnancy carry the highest risk of miscarriage. For women who have gone through the experience, it is natural to feel sad and depressed. Make sure to give yourself some time to go through the emotions, and get outside support if possible.

Physical Impact of Infertility:

Infertility and stress go hand in hand, when it comes to the physical aspects of IVF. The stress on your body from IVF treatments can be hard to deal with, and it is vital to know what you may go through during your journey.

• Discomfort:

Fertility treatments require frequent medical tests, which can be uncomfortable to bear. It helps to mentally prepare yourself, as the discomfort cannot be avoided.

• Pregnancy Side Effects:

Pregnant women go through a varied range of side effects during pregnancy, such as nausea, bloating etc, which is normal.

• OHSS:

Ovarian Hyper Stimulation Syndrome occurs due to the body not being able to handle the stress of IVF medications. Make sure to consult with your doctor if you are risk for OHSS, and look for an alternative solution such as Natural or Mild IVF cycles.

There are various psychological causes of infertility, and IVF emotional stress, as well as physical stress that can be caused by the treatment. It is essential to understand these factors and prepare for them, so as to have the smoothest possible IVF pregnancy.