Infertility can be physically uncomfortable, especially if it’s associated with conditions like endometriosis and PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome).  But it can be equally painful in a psychological way.

Below, we’ll look at some of the common causes of psychological pain as it is related to infertility as well as how to combat that pain.

Common Causes of Emotional Discomfort Regarding Infertility

• Feeling “guilty”.
• Being pressured to “just relax”.
• Being around people who are able to easily conceive.
• Being asked about having a child.
• Being treated differently by a spouse or loved one.
• Dealing with financial concerns about fertility treatments.
• Handling the loss of miscarriages.

Ways to Deal with Infertility from a Psychological Perspective

• Talk to a therapist or counselor about your problems.
• Join a support group of other women/men in similar situations.
• Don’t define your life by your ability to naturally conceive.
• Only talk about your infertility when YOU want to talk about it.
• Look into options as far as fertility treatments are concerned.
• Take antidepressants (if indicated by a physician.)
• Eat right and exercise regularly.
• Treat yourself well and not as a “victim”.
• Write about your experiences in a personal journal (or even an anonymous blog.)
• Read other women and men’s experiences with infertility.

Don’t ignore your feelings or they will well up and spill over.  Instead, acknowledge your emotional responses to infertility and do everything in your power to manage those responses.