One out of every six couples in the United Issues you may face …

One out of every six couples in the United        Issues you may face . . .                           Help is available.
States is coping with infertility. Yet when you
are affected by it, it can be a very lonely       ·   Should we pursue treatment?
experience, creating tremendous physical,
                                                                                                      Talking with a mental health
financial, and emotional challenges for the       ·   Which treatment is appropriate for us? For
individual and couple.                                                                                professional experienced in
                                                      how long?
                                                                                                      infertility can help you begin to . . .
You might feel . . .                              ·   Should we try third party assistance (sperm
                                                      donation, ovum donation, surrogacy,             ·   gather the appropriate type and amount of
shocked                     depressed                 gestational carrier)?                               information you need to make your
anxious                     helpless                                                                      informed decisions.
sad                         resentful             ·   Is adoption an option for us?
angry                       lonely                                                                    ·   make treatment decisions.
ashamed                     guilty                ·   Should we stop treatment?
fearful                     jealous                                                                   ·   prepare for and cope with the medical and
preoccupied                 worthless             ·   What if my partner and I have different             surgical treatments.
isolated                    pessimistic               ideas about the direction we should take?
           out of control                                                                             ·   understand and cope with your emotional
                                                  ·   Are my feelings of depression, anger,               reactions to infertility.
                                                      jealousy, guilt . . . normal?
You may experience . . .                                                                              ·   reduce the strain that infertility can put on
                                                  ·   How can my partner and I continue to try to         your relationship with your partner,
·   loss of interest in usual activities              enjoy our life together during this difficult       family, and friends.
                                                      time?
·   strained relationships with your partner,                                                         ·   explore all of the family building options
    family, friends, and/or colleagues            ·   Can we cope with a multiple pregnancy or            available to you.
                                                      selective reduction?
·   difficulty thinking of anything other than                                                        ·   learn how to control the stress, anxiety and
    your infertility                              ·   Secondary infertility - What if we're not           depression that often accompany
                                                      succeeding in adding to our family?                 infertility.
·   a change in your sleeping and/or eating
    patterns                                      ·   What can we do when our friends and             ·   communicate more effectively with
                                                      family don't understand what we're going            family, friends, your physician and his/her
·   fleeting thoughts of death or dying               through?                                            staff.

·   difficulty making decis ions                                                                      ·   cope with the losses that infertility
                                                                                                          presents.
·   feelings of isolation and loneliness
                                                                                                      ·   create a joyful, rich life for yourself.
How do I find a qualified mental                     Infertility counseling services
health professional experienced in                   include:
working with infertility?                                                                                 If you are having
                                                     INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING - can reduce
                                                     anxiety, stress, and depression and can help               trouble
It is recommended that you choose a counselor        with decision making; can provide tools to help
who has:                                             the individual cope with grief and loss.                 conceiving,
·   a graduate degree in a mental health             COUPLES COUNSELING - can help couples
    profession                                       strengthen their relationship; can assist couples
                                                     in managing all the stages of their journey to
·   a license to practice                            have a child.

·   clinical training in infertility treatment and   EXTENDED FAMILY COUNSELING - can
    experience in the medical and emotional          aid individuals in support building and
    aspects of infertility                           negotiating difficult moments with family and
                                                     friends.

You can interview more than one person. Ask          GROUP COUNSELING - can provide
about credentials and experience with infertility    opportunity for an exchange of experiences,
issues and treatment, including the assisted         feelings, and information with others
reproductive technologies, third party               undergoing a similar experience.
reproduction, pregnancy loss, adoption and
childfree issues. Ask if he/she is currently
seeing other people with infertility.                For referral to a mental health professional, ask
                                                     your reproductive endocrinologist, consult the
                                                     ASRM Mental Health Professional Group web            Speak with someone
                                                     site membership directory at http://www.asrm.
                                                     org/mhpg/ or contact a local support
                                                                                                             who can help.
                                                     organization such as RESOLVE.




          Help is available for                               For more information, contact the:
         individuals working to                                                                            "Infertility has been the
        overcome the emotional                              Mental Health Professional Group
                                                             American Society for Reproductive Medicine    most stressful experience
       challenge of an infertility                                                                         I have ever had to face."
                                                                    1209 Montgomery Highway
               diagnosis.                                        Birmingham, Alabama 35216-2809
                                                                       Tel: (205) 978-5000
                                                                       Fax: (205) 978-5005