IVF Counseling is designed to help overcome difficulties encountered in the IVF treatment which is an intense, highly emotional and demanding procedure for anyone to undertake. Assisted Reproductive technology (ART) is emotionally testing, physically demanding and life consuming for couples anxious to have a family of their own. It is not surprising therefore that counseling and therapy is often needed as the time, effort and sacrifices begin to make their demands on normal everyday family life and relationships. In order to maximize the chances of success with IVF it is important that the individual is as relaxed, free from anxiety and full of confidence and positive mental attitude as they can be. It can only put you in a better mental and emotional state to be successful or to accept the resultant disappointment from an unsuccessful attempt. Our aim is to help clients overcome their fears, anxieties and concerns and find their own way of living their life in a more complete, relaxed, satisfying and resourceful manner.
Why Counseling?
Fertility problems can be highly stressful--as are the tests, investigations and treatment procedures. They frequently evoke a range of powerful feelings--including anxiety, anger, grief, humiliation, denial, confusion, guilt, blaming and depression. Often self-esteem suffers. This is normal! It¹s not easy to make good decision in this highly stressed state. It can be difficult to continue one¹s normal social life and work. The relationship between a couple often is tested to the limit. In general, counseling is a process through which individuals and couples are given the opportunity to explore their thoughts, emotions, reactions and beliefs with an impartial and sympathetic professional who understands the issues involved. Good counseling helps people cope better. It usually brings greater clarity, a broader perspective and some peace of mind. The HFEA Code of Practice sets out three types of counseling that should be available in licensed clinics. These include: 1) Implication counseling the implications of treatment that you are considering will be explored with you. The course of treatment may have implications not just for you, but also for your wider family and any children born as a result. This type of counseling is aimed particularly at people thinking about using donated sperm, eggs or embryos. It may also include genetic counseling. 2) Support Counseling The aim is to provide emotional support at times of particular stress--for example, when treatment fails to produce a pregnancy or the pregnancy ends in miscarriage. It¹s important to remember that most high-tech fertility treatment, such as IVF or ICSI, does not succeed sometime and then there is the potential for a lot of disappointment connected with these procedures. Support counseling might also be useful if you discover you are pregnant with twins or triplets. 3) Therapeutic Counseling This usually encompasses support counseling, but goes beyond it. Broadly speaking, it aims to help people cope with the consequences of infertility and fertility treatment. The HFEA brochure says it includes helping people to adjust their expectations and to accept the situation¹. It may also help couples repair any damage to their relationship caused by the stresses of fertility problems & treatment. It could offer a chance to explore wider issues that may be hindering a successful outcome.