Infertility

Prevalence of Infertility

1/6 people have experienced infertility globally

Common psychological reactions in women

• shock

  • unexpected

• questioning feminine identity

• isolation and distress

  • remove from support networks

Common psychological reactions in men

• shock

  • disbelief

• questioning masculine identity

• role failure and distress

  • feels the need to be strong, protector, helpless

Effectiveness

• 2021 was the first systemic review

• couples

  • lower fertility stress

  • decrease anxiety

  • improves relational and sexual satisfaction

3 elements of couple’s joruney

• unexpected

• stressful

• meaningful

Partner coping

• Can benefit individual but negatively impact partner

• goal is to increase awareness and acceptance of difference

  • awareness: why use coping skills?

  • acceptance: empathic understanding - not personal

Communication Interventions

• empathically attuned

  • putting yourself in another shoes

  • think of what they need

• looking in and communicate

• shift to partner’s needs

• have a sense of partnership

Decision-making

multiple life altering and decisions

early, mid, and late stage

More effectiveness for longer amounts of  time

• Marital benefit

  • makes relationship stronger

• longer infertility history - 6 or more sessions caused an increased in effectiveness