Reproductive Health & Fertility Counselling
Reproductive Health & Fertility Counselling
Trying to conceive can be an exciting time. There are many things to dream about and to plan for!
However, trying for a baby can also be a time of stress and worry. This is true whether trying to conceive at home or at a fertility clinic. This may also be true if you have an infertility diagnosis, an 'unexplained' diagnosis, or if it just seems to be taking longer than you thought. Sometimes, people want extra support support while trying to conceive even if there are no fertility diagnoses. Extra support can be valuable in helping you to navigate the ins-and-outs of 'baby-making'.
Reproductive health & fertility counselling can help you with:
- Coping with the monthly challenges of trying to conceive (TTC)
- Learning coping strategies during IUI and IVF
- Emotional support during infertility or secondary infertility
- Third-party reproduction (donor eggs/sperm/embryos and surrogacy)
- Making the decision to try assisted reproduction, to keep trying at home, to adopt/foster, or to stop trying all together
- Making the decision to become a parent, or to live without children
- Deciding on fertility preservation, such as egg freezing
- Navigating relationship changes when TTC
- Coping with uncertainty
Infertility
When it takes longer than expected to conceive, it can have a negative impact on romantic relationships.
Other types of relationships can be affected too. It can be hard to navigate the baby talk, pregnancy announcements, and questions from friends and family.
At least 1 in 6 Canadians experience infertility, but it is so rarely talked about and can feel very isolating. Support from an experienced infertility counsellor can help you cope with the challenges that come with infertility.
Fertility Treatment
Although it’s often the best chance for making a baby, trying to conceive at a clinic can be stressful. Many notice there is a steep learning curve, with a lot of uncertainty, and many decisions to make.
This is true when experiencing infertility. It is also true if you are attending a clinic due to being in a same-sex relationship, a single-parent-by-choice, or if you are undergoing fertility preservation (e.g., freezing eggs).
The most common reason for stopping fertility treatment is the emotional burden that comes along with it. Support from an experienced fertility counsellor can help you to navigate your time at a fertility clinic while you keep working towards your goals.
