National Infertility Awareness Week allows us to shed light on the experiences of the 1 in 6 people worldwide who face infertility. Explore this conversation to gain insight into what to expect when starting your journey, learn how to incorporate mental health strategies to take care of yourself, and understand how to support a loved one.
This webinar featured:
- Lissa Kline, LCSW, Senior VP at Progyny
- Dr. Georgia Witkin, Clinical Psychologist, Director of Member Services Development at Progyny
- Dr. Reem Sabouni, MD, REI, Aspire Fertility
- Nena Glass, Client Onboarding Manager at Progyny
Preparing for the early stages of family building
When thinking about growing your family, it’s important to remember that the journey isn’t always linear. Finding a clinician you can trust and communicating with them to confirm a care plan that feels right for you can set you up on a more confident path, even if your plan is adjusted along the way. While many people seek out a fertility specialist after trying to conceive for a period of time, you can see a clinician at the beginning of your family building journey to stay informed and ask questions, even if there are no immediate barriers to conceiving. Taking a proactive approach to family building can help you feel more prepared and empowered.
Starting the family building process can bring feelings of uncertainty and stress. Shifting your mindset to approach yourself and your experience with more compassion can help ease some of the emotional burden. A way to try to shift your mindset is by consciously reframing challenges and setbacks. For example, instead of looking at an unsuccessful cycle as the end of your journey or a failure, you can try to look at it as more information and another data point for your doctor to help you get closer to achieving your goals. Everyone’s experience is unique in its own way, and there are many paths to parenthood.
Moving further into the journey, and the many paths to parenthood
Individuals, including single parents by choice or those who identify as LGBTQ+, have a range of different options when deciding how to build their families, including IUI, IVF, donor eggs, donor sperm, gestational carriers, and adoption. Your provider will help tailor your path to your individual goals and circumstances. When first talking to a fertility provider, key factors like age, diagnosis, timelines, financial considerations, personal values, and health considerations can all play a role in determining the best path forward. Open and honest communication with your provider allows them to better understand your personal goals and values so they can give their best guidance for your care path.
As you go deeper into the family building journey, remember to set aside time for yourself or plan activities with friends or family. One of the common challenges that comes with each type of family building path is its ability to take over different aspects of your life. Setting time on your calendar for a fun plan, or just some needed alone time, allows you to look forward to stress-free activities and remind yourself that you are allowed to enjoy life as you embark through each stage. Another way to distract yourself from family planning is to find community at work. Maintaining your routine at work can offer structure, distraction, and a sense of normalcy, as well as a group outside of your immediate circle. It can create space to connect with others without the pressure of discussing your journey, helping to reduce feelings of isolation or stigma.
Taking care of you or a loved one’s mental and emotional well-being
Taking care of your emotional health is just as important as navigating the physical aspects of family building. Practicing resilience and maintaining a hopeful mindset can be powerful tools throughout the process. Approaching your emotions with kindness is important, and reminding yourself to stay present can help shape your experience. Hoping for the best does not “jinx” the journey but can help you to move through it with greater ease and intention.
At times, additional support may be helpful. Seeking guidance from a mental health professional can provide a safe space to process your thoughts and emotions. Even a few sessions can offer valuable perspectives, helping you reframe your mindset and develop tools you can carry into your day-to-day life.
Support from partners, friends, and family is also essential. Key ways you can be a point of support for someone on this journey is to:
- Ask open-ended questions
- Repeat back what you hear so they feel understood
- Ask what would help them feel better
- Avoid trying to “fix” the situation
- Simply be present.
It’s also important to remember that individuals going through this journey may act a little differently than before. Fertility and family building can be a big point of stress for those going through it, and putting additional pressure on a loved one to feel or act a certain way, even with good intentions, can cause more stress. Entering conversations with patience, compassion, and understanding are most helpful.
Building a strong support system, whether through loved ones or professional resources, can also make a meaningful difference. It’s important to allow yourself time to socialize, while also setting boundaries when needed. For example, social settings with pregnant family or friends, or with young children present, may be triggering for some. Giving yourself permission to avoid these settings and communicate with your loved ones on what’s best for you at this time can help to protect your emotional wellbeing.
If you are a Progyny member, know that Progyny is always here to support you across life’s milestones, and you can access additional resources at progyny.com/education.
Progyny members can contact Progyny at 888.597.5065 or via their employer specific phone number to learn more about your employer-specific benefit and available care options.