For couples undergoing fertility treatments, stressors can sometimes seem quite overwhelming. On one hand, any change in a partnership can be challenging, but on the other, infertility shouldn’t lead to the dissolution of a relationship.
To help you keep your commitment strong throughout fertility treatments, we’ve come up with seven suggestions. Feel free to leave a comment if you have others that have worked for you!
1. Don’t make infertility the “center stage” of your relationship. If all you do is talk about not being able to conceive, it will overtake your time together.
2. Make plenty of time to be together as a couple. Go to the movies, take a walk in the park, stay overnight in a nice hotel… doing so will strengthen your bond and help rejuvenate you both.
3. Spend time apart with friends. Everyone needs and deserves some space. Making plans to hang out with people other than your significant other will help you recharge.
4. Talk about your emotions as you’re undergoing fertility treatments. It’s important not to make fertility treatments the “elephant in the room”. Be open about your feelings and you’ll reap the rewards.
5. Go to a counselor if the strain becomes too great. Don’t allow your relationship to simply become more and more strained. If it’s gotten to a serious point, seek out help. (Often, your fertility specialist can assist you in getting a referral.)
6. Eat well and exercise, even if you don’t feel like it. The healthier you are inside and out, the easier it will be to handle anything that comes your way. (And working out can be yet another “to do” item you can enjoy together!)
7. Take it day by day. When times are a bit challenging, it’s sometimes helpful to remember that “this too shall pass”. Each day is another opportunity to learn, grow and love.