Fertility challenges are difficult for every couple. You will likely experience a range of emotions, including grief, sorrow, frustration, sadness, loneliness, hopelessness, etc. The most important thing during this time is to be a team and try not to place blame on one another. Your partner may not be having the exact same experiences as you, but he/she is affected in his/her own way, and they may not express it in the same way as you.
Avoid Placing Blame
It is natural to want to find a reason for your infertility, whether it be placing the blame on yourself or on your partner. You may feel as if you waited too long or that you made poor choices earlier in life. Try your best to let these feelings go and avoid placing blame on anyone. Look towards what you can do rather now rather than dwelling on things you can not change.
Shoulder to Lean On
Remember that you are in this together, even when times are tough. Check in on each other and allow time and space. Learn how to give one another the support each other needs; if you don’t know what your partner needs, ask. If your partner doesn’t know what to do to help you cope, tell them. They can not read your mind, and it is better to explain what you need rather than to not receive the necessary support.
Be Honest & Practical
It can be hard to detach yourself from the emotional side of the situation in order to talk about it objectively. Meet with a fertility specialist, who will go over treatment options, processes, and costs after testing has been completed. Review your options and have open discussions as a couple. Each partner should be honest about what the feel is best and what they can handle.
Respect
When it comes to fertility treatment, your partner may have different views than yours about timing, financing, or the priority of treatment over other goals in life. Take the time to talk about both of your feelings and opinions, and try your best to understand each other’s viewpoints. Respectful communication is key.
Plan & Work Together
Make a financial plan before starting treatment and discuss spending habits and larger purchases. Some fertility treatments can take a toll on a woman’s body, so the partner should be prepared to help out during those times. Working together will really lighten the load that may be weighing you down.
NCCRM
The North Carolina Center for Reproductive Medicine/Talbert Fertility Institute is the premiere center for reproductive health in North Carolina and the East Coast. Our team specializes in fertility testing, diagnosis, and treatment of infertility conditions. We’re experts in IVF, Tubal Ligation Reversal, Male Infertility, Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), Gestation Surrogacy, Family Balancing, and more. Contact us today.
