Having issues with fertility can leave you and your partner with a deep sense of loss and a lack of agency in your family planning journey. Research has found that infertility diagnoses and treatment can have a significant impact on mental health, relationships, and day-to-day functioning.

Making the choice to pursue fertility treatments can lead to an influx of stressors including the cost of treatments, the pain of invasive medical procedures, and feelings of inadequacy or shame. Additionally, you are likely to experience hormonal shifts and feeling a lack of control over the outcome.

Recurrent pregnancy loss, miscarriage, and stillbirths can lead to unbearable grief and trauma symptoms. Research has found that the loss of pregnancy can have a significant impact on mental health, relationships, and day-to-day functioning.

Moving forward with family planning, attempting pregnancy again, or finding other ways to have children can be stressful, lead to financial difficulties, and impact your relationships with your partner and family.

Not everyone’s birth story is filled with empowerment and joy. Many women end up fearing for their own life or for the life of their child. Others end up having very little control or choice within the experience.

These issues can lead to significant mood and trauma symptoms including hypervigilence, anxiety, difficulties with sleep, depression, and intrusive thoughts.