For many couples, dealing with infertility can put so much of an emotional strain on their partnership that sex becomes difficult. Not only does this make getting pregnant naturally even more of a challenge, but it begins to erode some of the bond that they have every right to share.
Some of the more common feelings men and women sometimes have toward their sex lives during infertility include:
Fear – One or both may wonder “what happens if this doesn’t produce a baby… again?”
Anger – It’s not unusual for partners to be angry; after all, they didn’t “choose” infertility.
Frustration – This can lead to problems in the bedroom, especially with performance.
Depression – This culprit can make “getting in the mood” – or staying in a lovemaking mood – thorny.
Sadness – It’s tough to have sexual intercourse when you’re upset.
The good news, though, is that many couples going through sex worries during infertility get through this phase. Some of the best ways to overcome the negative emotions associated with conception woes can be:
- Talking about your feelings openly. It’s easier to deal with facts when they are out in the open.
- Making sex special and not just robotic. There’s no reason intercourse shouldn’t be romantic, even if it’s “scheduled” to take advantage of fertile times.
- Touching one another intimately even when you don’t plan on having sex soon. This can operate as mental foreplay so when you are in the bedroom, you feel more into the moment.
Remember that, above all else, infertility is no one’s “fault”. Talk to your infertility specialist, like the experts at the Reproductive Science Institute (RSI) outside of Philadelphia, for more ideas on how to keep your partnership strong during fertility treatments and fertility-related issues.