If you and your partner have been unable to conceive, infertility treatment may help increase your chances of pregnancy. Infertility causes a wave of turbulent emotions that can make the process stressful, such as frustration, anxiety, and hopelessness. While receiving treatment, it is important to look after yourself. Here is how couples dealing with infertility can nurture their mental health.

How to Care for Your Mental Health During Infertility Treatments

1. Prioritize Your Health

Between researching your options, starting treatment, looking for additional ways to boost fertility, and continuing with daily life, your own well-being may not seem like a priority. However, taking care of the body can help combat mental health issues. 

Although it can be difficult to imagine now, you feel better when the body is healthy. To best care for yourself, eat nutritious meals, get at least 30 minutes of exercise five days a week, and sleep for seven to eight hours every night. 

2. Practice Relaxation Techniques

When one constantly worries and focuses on the future, it’s easy to feel stressed and anxious. Instead, take time each day to slow down and make yourself present. You can try yoga, meditation, or a warm bubble bath to accomplish this.

Another simple technique to try is deep breathing, which you can practice anywhere. Take deep, slow breaths, inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth. While doing so, picture a place or memory that makes you feel at peace. You can also chant a calming or reassuring mantra. There are many relaxation techniques, so test which ones work best for you.

3. Seek Support and Communicate

During treatment, remember that you are not alone. You and your partner are a team, so communicating and sharing emotions will benefit both individuals. Even if you react differently, opening up will offer context to better support and understand one another while navigating infertility treatment together. 

Many patients also find it helpful to join infertility support groups. These are judgment-free environments where participants can share their worries, exchange resources, and seek encouragement from people going through the same journey.

When you need assistance and support in starting your family, turn to IVF HAWAII of Honolulu. Headed by the board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Benton Chun, this team helps you bring new life into the world with innovative infertility treatments. The fertility clinic proudly maintains the highest in vitro fertilization (IVF) rates throughout the Aloha State, along with a reputation for compassionate and personalized care. Visit their website to learn what makes their clinic unique. To arrange a consultation, call (808) 538-6655.