Psychotherapy and psychological support in infertility treatments

How can the emotional needs of men and women who are unable to have children be met?

The difficulty in having children, in cases where there is a clear desire to have them, is one of the most difficult situations that a couple must face. In addition, it is usual that going to an assisted reproduction center entails high levels of emotional suffering, together with the appearance of feelings of anguish, loss and frustration.

For all these reasons, and because of the complex relationship between psychological factors and fertility, the figure of the psychologist is necessary in assisted reproduction centers in order to offer psychological support during assisted reproduction treatments. psychological support during infertility treatments..

Objectives of psychological support in infertility treatment

Regardless of the theoretical framework within which the accompaniment or intervention is carried out, the ultimate goal of such psychological accompaniment is to to help the patient(s) achieve a better quality of life and mental health..

Regardless of the type of psychological support finally offered to the patient, it is advisable that all patients attend the first visit with the clinician. And in the case of a couple's treatment, they should come with them.

The goal of any psychological counseling is to ensure that patients understand the scope of their treatment options, receive sufficient emotional support and are able to cope with the consequences of the infertility treatment experience. of the infertility treatment experience.

The techniques used within the therapeutic intervention focus on the following aspects:

• Facilitate the expression of emotions.
• Identify the cause of the emotional difficulty.
• Educate the individual or couple about infertility, ensuring that they have sufficient information to make a decision about treatment.Ensure that they have sufficient information to make a decision about treatment.
• Intervene to minimize the effects of stress and help patients to correctly manage coping strategies.

Who is psychological counseling for?

Recent studies indicate that 25-65% of patients attending infertility centers present several significant psychological symptoms, mainly related to anxiety.

It is necessary to establish correct guidelines that allow us to to detect those symptoms that denote the need for a psychological approach, and to classify which patients require psychological treatment.It is also necessary to classify which patients require the accompaniment of a professional psychologist during infertility treatment.

There are a number of factors that can predict poor predict poor patient adjustment to assisted reproductive treatment.. Among these factors are the patient's personal characteristics, his or her social situation and factors related to the treatment, such as the side effects it may have on the person.

Most common problems and treatment

Among the most common conditions in the infertility population include adaptive disorder, anxiety states, depressive moods, marital problems, rejection, and other problems.Infertility problems, couple problems, refusal to attend infertility psychotherapy, and coping with the results or end of treatment.

Adaptive disorder

This disorder is characterized by the appearance of emotional symptoms such as anxiety or depression, behavioral symptoms such as changes in behavioror symptoms that arise in response to an external stressor such as loss of a job, financial problems, etc.

Symptoms manifest as follows:

• Malaise in response to the stressor.
• Significant impairment of social, family, work or academic activity.family, work or academic activity.

Although this type of disorders generate a high degree of discomfort, they do not prevent the person from continuing with their daily routines. Generally, it is the couple, social or family relationships that are most affected.

Psychological intervention in infertile patients will be carried out according to the symptomatology they present. Likewise, difficulties in the couple's relationship will also be addressed independently.

2. Anxiety states

Cognitive and behavioral techniques for anxiety management and self-control are very useful both for patients who are in the process and for subsequent coping with stressful situations.

Other somatic or psycho-physiological alterations derived from anxiety states, such as eating disorders, sleep disorders or fatigue, can also be treated by means of anxiety control techniques. can also be treated by means of techniques of control of the physiological activationas well as through relaxation techniques.

The types of intervention recommended for this type of alteration are:

• Progressive Muscle relaxation techniques..
• Training in social skills and assertive behavior techniques.
• Couples therapy.
• Sexual therapy.
• Programming of rewarding activities.

3. Depressive mood

Depression seems to be the most frequent emotional problem that people suffer from when they learn of their infertility, and after unsuccessful attempts at treatment. These problems tend to occur more in women than in men, who show a greater predisposition to present problems of repressed anxiety.The first step is to normalize and legitimize the problems of infertility.

The first step is to normalize and legitimize the couple's feelings and emotions, making them understand that most people in their situation feel the same as they do.

Solution-focused therapy has established itself as an affective therapy when working on the negative emotions associated with these processes, both at the individual and couple level.

4. Couple problems

During the first contacts with the patients, it is necessary that the professional assesses the levels of communication and conflict resolution strategies that couples have. that couples possess. You should also explore what type of coping mechanisms each of you are using to deal with the situation, and identify the dysfunctional aspects of these coping mechanisms.

Within the framework of therapy they will be taught to expose their pain and needs, as well as to listen to and address their partner's concerns.

Communication within the couple may be affected during treatment. It is common that the feelings of one partner do not reach the other, keeping their emotions to themselves with the possible intention of protecting their partner. However, this lack of communication may increase feelings of anguish and guilt, and create further tension in the couple.and generate greater tension in the couple's relationship.

5. Patients who refuse psychological intervention

Due to high levels of stress, these people may refuse to see a psychologist or to accept any type of psychological help. Many of these patients do not recognize the need for therapy.

The role of the psychologist in these cases will be to make patients aware of the psychological effects that assisted reproductive therapies have on the individual and the couple's relationship.

6. Coping with the results or the end of treatment

For some patients, the failure of infertility treatments can be an existential crisis with strong emotional reactions. These patients, especially those with infertility without cause, come to believe that their infertility has no cause, come to believe that their infertility has a psychological origin..

The psychologist should be aware that grief due to failed infertility treatment is difficult to overcome. They should encourage patients to seek professional, family and social support.

Once the couple decides to terminate the reproductive treatments, must build a new identity as childless couples. And for this it is convenient to reevaluate the basis of their relationship. It is possible that in this new situation certain issues that were previously not so important may become relevant and generate new difficulties in the relationship.

As a solution, you will have to discuss your priorities as a couple for the future, and remember the current reasons for continuing to function as a couple without children. One option is to see this new situation as a possibility to have more independence and privacy as a couple.