Did you know that one out of six couples have problems getting or staying pregnant?
It is hard to be positive and not be worried when you face negative pregnancy test results month after month. It is common to feel disappointed, angry, guilty and stressed. You may feel as if you are on an emotional rollercoaster.
As if experiencing the stress were not enough to contend with, a growing body of evidence suggests that intense feelings of stress may throw off a woman’s hormones, making it more difficult for her to get pregnant. In fact, studies show that women who worry a lot are up to 20% less likely to get pregnant or carry a pregnancy to term.
How to Reduce Stress During Infertility:
- 1. Allow yourself to be sad and grieve.
Grieving allows you to work through, and possibly let go of some of the pain and stress surrounding your inability to conceive. Depression and stress have been shown to interfere with conception.
- 2. Know that you and your partner may react differently to infertility.
Communicate with your partner, but don’t expect super mario run your partner to always feel the same way you do. Women tend to be more affected by infertility, as motherhood is one of the central female roles.
- 3. Get informed about infertility.
Knowledge is power. By understanding the causes of infertility, as well as the available treatment options, you will be able to make better decisions and feel more in charge.
- 4. Make an alternative plan.
Think about what parenthood means to you- which are the necessary requirements and which are not. You are less likely to be disappointed if you feel that you have other options for becoming a parent (e.g., IVF, egg/sperm donor, adoption).
- 5. Don’t give up your life.
Keep doing the things you used to do and get involved in something that makes you feel like you are making an important contribution. Do not focus every gamf.net aspect of your life on trying to get pregnant (e.g. work, volunteering). Get out and do things that you enjoy that are fun and relaxing.
- 6. Take a break.
If trying to conceive is taking over your life, take a break from trying to get pregnant and allow yourself a couple of months to regroup.
- 7. Practice relaxation techniques.
Yoga, meditation and breathing techniques can help relieve tension. They reduce the production of stress hormones and may improve the production of reproductive hormones.
- 8. Find support.
Educate your family and friends about what you are going through so that they understand. Tell them what kind of help you need. Find a support group that provides an opportunity to meet with others who are going through a similar experience. Seek out the professional expertise of a psychologist if necessary.
Most people allow trying to get pregnant to dominate their lives. If you feel isolated from your partner or family; think about having a baby at all times; cannot focus on work; or enjoy other areas of your life, you may benefit from professional counseling support.
A psychologist with expertise in the area of infertility can help you find ways to reduce stress and feel more empowered about your choices. Therapy may even improve your odds of conceiving. Research shows that couples who participate in counseling are more likely to get pregnant than those who do not.
Remember, you have choices. Don’t let infertility take over your life.
If you want to make the road of infertility go a little smoother, please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Irena Milentijevic at
281-267-1742.
Counseling Offices located on 7900 Fannin, Houston, TX 77054 and 1600 Lake Front Cir. Suite 150, The Woodlands, TX 77380
Dr. Irena Milentijevic is a licensed psychologist in private practice who specializes in helping moms and mom wannabes. Her focuses are pregnancy-related issues, pregnancy loss, depression, post-partum depression, and parenting of young children. Her number one priority is to help women feel better about themselves and feel empowered about their choices. Dr.Irena’s offices are located in the Woodlands and in the Houston Medical Center.
Dr. Irena offers online therapy for women and couples in Texas and New York City. She uses research-proven method, known as Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) to help couples develop and maintain the emotional connection and support each other through stressful times. She has helped highly distressed couples be available and responsive to each other, access their resiliency, and strengthen their relationships.
If you would like to schedule a session, email Dr. Irena for a free 10-minute video consultation: irena@permalink.com or call (281)-267-1742.
