Dr. Pooja Anand Sharma is the Founder and Chairperson of Vishwas Healing and Healthcare LLP, a renowned Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Alternative Healing Master with over 22 years of experience in the healing industry. Dr. Pooja’s passion for healing and counseling goes beyond just a profession; it is her true calling.
Infertility is a process that is full of joy and sorrow, and IVF becomes the only ray of light for many. However, the physical side of IVF is controlled and monitored to the best extent possible, the mental and psychological impact is given little consideration. What is emerging is that IVF patients require a more extensive package of mental health care to help them through this difficult process.
The emotional rollercoaster of IVF
IVF treatment is a comprehensive procedure that includes administration of hormones, egg collection, sperm and egg combination and embryo implantation. Every step has its own expectations and concerns that are related to it. The feeling of hope is always there, and at the same time there is always the possibility of the failure. Research has also indicated that the psychological pressure that comes with IVF is as much as that of a life threatening disease such as cancer.
Psychological impact on couples
IVF stress does not only impact the patient but also the partner. Many people in such relationships face stress in their relationship because of the treatment regime, costs, and the outcome of the treatment. Such stress makes the affected individuals feel lonely, depressed and anxious, and if not well managed, such stress may negatively affect one’s mental health.
The need for integrated mental health support
While it is clear that patients undergoing fertility treatments face many psychological issues, the psychological aspect of the treatment is usually not a priority. This negligence can harm the health of the patients and the outcomes of IVF treatments. Comprehensive mental health care should be integrated into fertility treatment programs, offering patients:
Counseling services: Patients can also get professional counseling services to enable them to address their feelings, stress, and ways of dealing with it.
Support groups: It is comforting to find other people who are going through the same thing and can relate to what one is going through.
Mind-body programs: Meditation and yoga are also useful in managing stress and enhancing the quality of one’s emotional health.
Educational resources: This can be useful as it helps the patients understand the emotional effects of IVF and ways they can manage them thus being able to take charge of their mental health.
Benefits of mental health support in IVF
Integrating mental health support into IVF treatments offers numerous benefits:
Improved emotional well-being: Mental health support helps in reducing the level of anxiety and depression among the patients who seek the services.
Enhanced coping skills: Counseling and support groups empower patients with tools to cope with the psychological roller coaster of IVF.
Better treatment outcomes: This means that stress can be a factor that can affect the physical health and therefore the success of IVF.
Strengthened relationships: Marital therapy assists the partners to care for each other, and as a result, form healthier and more stable relationships.
Conclusion
IVF is a process that takes a toll on the body as well as the mind. This paper has therefore established that it is not only important to identify the mental health needs of IVF patients but also to meet them. Thus, the inclusion of mental health care services in the fertility treatment process can positively affect the patients’ experience, their psychological state, and the treatment success rates. It is high time to admit that the mind and body are linked in a very close way, and looking after one means looking after the other.
Get in touch with the team here.
Read more from Dr. Pooja Anand Sharma
Dr. Pooja Anand Sharma, Healing Therapist & Life Coach
Dr. Pooja, an exceptional communicator, seeks to revolutionize holistic healing by emphasizing the profound interconnectedness of the mind and body. Her philosophy rests on the belief that mental and physical health are inseparable. Any ailment affecting one inevitably reverberates through the other. With this vision, Dr. Pooja has transformed countless lives.
