The number of couples facing the issue of infertility has grown sharply in recent decades and it is still increasing. The causes vary and it can affect both men and women. Regardless of the cause, complexity of the problem or duration of the process of treatment, it inevitably leads to emotional and financial drain. The problem of infertility can be rather challenging in terms of retaining quality of a relationship and can have severe impact on a couple’s intimacy.
No baby! Shock!
The first challenge that a couple faces is the absence of pregnancy in a few consecutive months when they decide to become parents. Infertility means inability to conceive in a year, or six months if a woman is over 35. Couples are advised to consult a professional and run tests to determine if there are any medical conditions preventing a woman to conceive. If proved that there are, it is the right time to decide on the resources the couple is ready to spend and how far they are ready to go in their efforts to become parents. The realization that the problem exists leads to certain changes in their relationship. It makes them closer or more apart in the long run.
Accepting your disability
Emotionally, it may make the partner who has a problem vulnerable. Knowing that you are the one with the medical condition, especially the one that prevents you to become a parent, is hard to accept it personally. It is also hard to share it with your partner. The phases of optimism receiving good news and test results overlap with phases of lack of hopes. Statistical data do not look promising compared to the ones when people conceive naturally and without having to undergo treatment due to infertility. One in ten couples is faced with this problem in the US. Only half of them eventually conceive while the other half loses the battle with infertility.
Accepting your feelings
Regarding psychological effects of infertility, the fact that the problem exists is a major test for a couple. Depending on its extent and their readiness to face it, the relationship will suffer small or large-scale alterations. Some couples decide to ignore the problem, thus subconsciously avoiding that it exists. That way they just postpone dealing with it or eventually accept the fact that they might not become parents. Not all couples are ready to deal with the treatment and undergo IVF procedure. Women feel more depressed and have greater urge to become parents than men.
Managing financially
When it comes to finances, the fight with infertility is a costly one. Regardless of the treatment and multiple IVF procedures some couples never conceive. This aspect may additionally aggravate couples’ relationships. Not only do they face the problem of infertility but often the financial ones as well. Furthermore, with all the investments positive outcomes nobody can guarantee a positive outcome.
Infertility and intimacy
Finally, infertility takes its toll on intimacy as well. Couples often face the lack of spontaneity in their bedroom, as they are forced to calculate ovulation days from month to month. After a while this may result in less sexual pleasure between the partners. This is because their intercourse now revolves around conceiving rather than enjoyment.
In conclusion, infertility is a complex issue with multiple challenges that a couple dealing with it may encounter. It consists of different stages that a couple goes through. Each requires a lot of patience and psychological strength along with a great deal of financial investment into treatment and procedures related to it. Accepting the problem is a milestone in tackling it. The rest depends on the couple’s efforts to deal with it and their willingness to keep positive attitude and preserve their relationship.