Psychology
We are well aware of the fact that infertility itself is burdensome for the psyche of both partners. Treatment, especially assisted reproduction, brings in particular to the woman a really great strain on her psychological state. We try to minimize these negative impacts with a sensitive approach, enough time for each visit and effort to individualize the care. We also offer support of a psychologist.
You can make an appointment with our psychologist PhDr. Markéta Rokytová via phone number 604 607 937.
WHY TO SEEK PSYCHOLOGIST’S SUPPORT WHEN RECEIVING INFERTILITY TREATMENT?
If a couple wants to have children and their efforts have been failing for some time, then it is the beginning of often a very exhausting long run. Both partners (mainly women) get into a circle of medical examinations and treatments. Current medical science can do almost miracles. However, it is often forgotten that involuntary childlessness is a long term stress. Its psychological aspect is often overlooked and underestimated.
What may involuntarily childless people experience?
Great despair and distortion of ideas of the future life: The child was actually taken for granted. Suddenly, here comes a shock that life can have a different form. The theme of fairness of life appears. "How can it be that children's homes are full of unwanted children and we, who would be loving parents, still cannot have one?"
Doubts about own femininity or manhood: The self-concept is deeply struck. "Every normal woman/normal man is able to have children! Only I am not. Therefore, I am strange and weird."
Feeling guilty: If one of the partners is diagnosed with infertility, the balance in the relationship may be affected. A „fertile partner” might think about finding another partner, an "infertile" partner sometimes tends to break a working relationship only not to hinder the other partner from having a child.
Life with perpetual „only when“: Whole life is driven by the idea: "Our life will begin only when we have a child." Even several years pass by and disappear this way.
Social isolation: All friends give birth or have young children, and thus common topics fade away and what’s more: the friends’ new topics hurt. "Therefore, it is safer to avoid these situations."
Partners’ conflicts: A long term stress is often transferred to the partnership life. Men and women have different adjustment mechanisms for coping with crisis and this difference may cause conflicts.
Sexuality: It sometimes gets under pressure of fertile days and gynaecological surgeries. It loses its spontaneity and slowly fades away from the relationship.
Confrontation with own insufficiency: „I have invested everything, including time, money and own body, but without results. What am I doing wrong?”
Alienation to own body: The body „doesn’t work” to expectations and it even becomes subject of continuous examinations and surgeries; the intimate zone is permanently disturbed. There is often weight gain as a result of hormone treatment.
Ingrowth of infertility in all spheres and levels of life: „Can we book a holiday? What if we already expect a child? Should we buy a bigger or smaller flat? What if we speak too soon by buying a big flat? But what if the small flat is not big enough then?" Women sometimes remain too long in the job that does not satisfy them because "what if I just get pregnant?"
Great pressure from the people around: Frequently asked questions: "So, when are you finally going to start a family?" Guaranteed pieces of advice on "how to do it". If the partners act as if they still do not want a child, they are blamed for careerism. They must figure out how to excuse their frequent absence at work and doctor visits if they do not want to spread such intimate information.
How can a psychologist help?
Psychologist provides crisis intervention, helping to relieve acute stress. It is often said that infertility is due to some psychological block. Meetings with psychologist should reveal any blocks, ambivalence or other psychological problems. It is even necessary to deal with the possibility that the efforts to have a baby might simply fail. And if infertility really threatens the quality of the relationship, this is, of course, a topic for a psychologist.
