When Coronavirus first hit, some infertility clinics temporarily closed their doors. While clinics have reopened and life has gone on, the realities of going through infertility during the pandemic have offered entirely new challenges to women, men, and couples engaging in building a family.
Many women have faced egg retrievals, hysteroscopies, and embryo transfers alone due to COVID-19 restrictions. Insurance coverage has changed time and time again due to the changing realities of pandemic life. Routine consultations have been attended by only one partner while some women worry about the storage limit on their eggs and the inability to envision what the rest of this year, or next, will look like.
Vaccines have been rolled out, and COVID-19 cases continue to rise and fall. Women and their partners are weighing the timing of a pregnancy carefully, in addition to the standard, non-COVID considerations already on the table when planning a family.
This feels hard because it is hard
For women and men in the process of building a family, grieving a loss, or struggling to figure out the next steps, the challenges of living through a pandemic have compounded the stress involved in family building. The logistical requirements of navigating the fertility treatment process can lean even the most patient person to their limit.
If you find yourself arguing more with your partner, feeling isolated or alone, or struggling to hear about a new “Corona baby” that was born to a friend or family member, then this is the time to repeat to yourself:
“This feels hard… because it is hard.”
You aren’t alone, and if you feel that you aren’t handling the pandemic or your family building situation properly, know that many people are feeling the same way. You may not be managing as badly as you think you are, but this doesn’t mean support is not a good idea.
Look for support
Stress affects us all differently. Some individuals need quiet time alone to rest and reflect, while some need more active support from friends and family. If you are struggling to cope with infertility’s impact on you, your relationship, or your family, we can help.
We all sometimes wish we could just manage on our own until a situation improves. But, consider this: There comes a time when your mental health has been stressed to something resembling a breaking point. This is not a sign of weakness or failure. Whether you’re experiencing an increase in anxiety, depression, lack of sleep, or relationship stress, therapy sessions can help you cope despite ongoing challenges.
Counseling and couples counseling is available online.
Please reach out by phone for an initial consultation, or just fill out the contact form and press Send.
