While a couple is undergoing infertility treatment, one or both partners may experience frustration, emotional stress, feelings of inadequacy, and guilt. Feeling isolated and unable to communicate, they may become angry at or resentful toward each other, family, friends, or the doctor. During each month of treatment, the couple may vacillate between hope and despair. The emotional stress can lead to tearfulness, fatigue, anxiety, sleep or eating disturbances, and an inability to concentrate. In addition, the financial burden and time commitment involved in diagnosis and treatment can cause marital strife.

These problems can be lessened if both partners are involved in and are given information about the treatment process, regardless of which one has the diagnosed problem. Knowing what the chances of success are as well as realizing that treatment may not be successful and can't continue indefinitely can help a couple copes with the stress. Information about when to end treatment, when to seek a second opinion, and when to consider adoption is also helpful.

As in the old chicken and egg analogy (which came first?) there is a relationship between infertility and stress. Our effort is to decrease personal and couple stresses to the extent possible and to maximize the opportunity for success of the available medical treatments for infertility.

Our Kaiser Santa Clara Infertility team includes a licensed clinical social worker whose role it is to assist individuals, couples and families with the stress that accompany the diagnosis and medical procedures as well as the periods of uncertainty and disappointment that are part of the process of infertility treatment.

Sandi Blinn LCSW has extensive experience counseling individuals, couples and groups faced with grief, challenges and adjustments. One of her roles is to lead a Fertility Support Group that has been helpful to many people. She can be reached at 408-851-3562. Sandi’s services and the support group are available at no extra charge.

Counseling and psychological support can help. Support groups for infertile couples, such as RESOLVE, are available at local and national levels.