This Is Psychological Assistance For Women In Fertility Treatments
Infertility treatments for women are much more than a biological process; It also contains a wide variety of psychological phenomena that are both a cause and a consequence of the measures taken to try to have a son or daughter.
And the mental health of women, as well as their emotional balance in general, are very relevant aspects to take into account at the threshold of motherhood. Therefore, today there are psychology professionals trained to offer psychological assistance for women involved in fertility treatments.
What does psychological assistance for women in fertility treatments consist of?
This area of intervention is included within perinatal psychology, which aims to help in the process that goes from the preparation of conception to the birth of the baby and the care and coexistence of the baby during the first weeks.
1. Stress management training
Excess stress is among the most common forms of discomfort among women undergoing infertility treatment. For this reason, one of the pillars of psychotherapy applied to this type of patient is to help them manage stress in their daily lives, using various combined strategies: relaxation techniques, attention focus management exercises, psychoeducation, support in developing a proper sleep schedule, etc.
2. Training in emotional management in the face of fear of infertility
The fear of a future in which one is not a mother can trigger a worsening of mental health, among other things, because The factor of the presence or absence of children in our future plans is usually a nuclear element in this something that shapes all the other projects we aspire to.
In this sense, finding ourselves in a situation in which we may not have a baby is a hard blow and generates pessimistic thoughts about what will happen for the rest of our lives, which is why many women try not to think about it, it is That is, adopt an avoidance strategy in the face of that reality. And that is why it is key to learn to manage the fear of that possible future without children.
3. Support in the event of a couple crisis
Since couple relationships are based on a commitment to live together and, as we have mentioned, motherhood is a central element when defining future plans, fertility problems frequently give rise to couple crises. And given this, psychological assistance through couple sessions is very useful for establish open communication and resolve possible conflicts that have arisen.
4. Support for hormonal changes linked to fertility treatment
The medical procedures involved in fertility treatments can have a significant emotional impact, given that many hormones interact in unexpected ways with neurons in the central nervous system. Therefore, psychological therapy can help to adopt prevention and emotional regulation strategies in the face of these alterations.
Infertility is a multi-causal problem, and part of these causes can have their roots in the past lifestyle of the woman undergoing treatment; for example, the habit of smoking, the decision to postpone motherhood without being aware of the risk of not being able to have children when the time comes, etc. This can feed a feeling of guilt that, in addition to damaging the person’s mental health, leads them to self-sabotage When going through treatment, you no longer believe in your ability to do what is asked of you.
6. Psychotherapeutic help in reinforcing self-esteem
Another fundamental aspect of psychological assistance for women in fertility treatments consists of intervening in the erosion of self-esteem that many women produce due to problems conceiving.
We must not forget that centuries of reinforcement of gender roles through the dissemination of sexist ideas predispose women to perceive themselves through the lens of motherhood, as if their only value was the ability to have children and raise new generations of the family. Therefore, in therapy, women are helped to identify the problematic aspects of these degrading beliefs and to love themselves regardless of their fertility.
Are you looking for professional psychological assistance services?
If you are interested in having psychotherapeutic support, contact us.
In Adhara Psychology We have many years of experience caring for women of all ages and intervening in a wide variety of patient profiles through the framework of Humanistic Psychology. We offer in-person and online sessions by video call.
