Infertile couples, according to studies, suffer major anxiety and emotional distress. When a round of fertility treatments fails, for example, women and couples will feel bereft and utterly devoid. Why IUI is done or why IVF is done? It is because these fertility treatments give them a ray of hope when they are feeling utterly miserable.
In the developed world, about 5% of couples experience primary infertility (the inability to have children) or secondary infertility (the inability to have more than one child or to conceive or carry a pregnancy to term following the birth of one or more children). Experts once claimed that only about half of all infertility cases had a physical cause, with the remainder being unexplained or the product of women’s psychosomatic issues. However, most cases of infertility may be due to a physiological cause in the man or woman, according to studies. A physiological problem is discovered one-third of the time in the woman, one-third of the time in the man, and one-tenth of the time in both partners. The cause of infertility cannot be determined in an additional 10% to 20% of cases (estimates may vary).
While the causes of infertility are almost entirely biochemical, the resulting heartache — which is often compounded by the physical and emotional harsh realities of infertility care — may have a significant psychological effect.
Men with Infertility
Men’s reactions to infertility have received less research, but they appear to report less anxiety than women. Men’s reactions, however, can differ depending on whether they or their partners are diagnosed with infertility, according to one study. Men do not report being as upset as women when the condition is identified in their wives or partners. Men, on the other hand, experience the same levels of low self-esteem, stigma, and depression as infertile women when they hear that they are the ones who are infertile. In such cases also why IUI is done because, in situations where the male partner is infertile, instead of the female partner, IUI treatment can solve the problem and result in successful fertility by turning to donor’s sperm.
When they undergo infertility therapy, everyone experiences emotions and emotional ups and downs. It’s perfectly natural to feel frustrated from time to time. Many patients cope on their own or seek help from friends, relatives, or one of the many infertility support groups that are now available in person and online. However, some people need additional assistance. If you have been experiencing symptoms like depression, lack of interest, trouble concentrating, or sleep disturbances for a long time, consulting with a mental health professional might be beneficial. You are not alone if you are feeling nervous, sad, out of control, or lonely.
While everyone your age is able to conceive, it is natural to feel that there is something wrong with you if you cannot conceive naturally. But it is important to know that there is nothing wrong with you. You do not deserve to feel guilty or ashamed for something that is out of your hands. There are many couples who are facing the same problem as you. Also, the woman shouldn’t always assume that they are the reason for the failure of them getting pregnant. Men face infertility too so if you are having a problem conceiving then you should visit your doctor to determine the cause instead of just blaming yourself or your partner.
Infertility-related Stress and Treatments
When people discover they are infertile, they sometimes go through the natural yet distressing feelings that come with mourning any major loss — in this case, the ability to reproduce. Shock, sorrow, depression, rage, and dissatisfaction are common reactions, as is loss of self-esteem, trust, and power over one’s destiny. This is when people turn to help for fertility treatment and this is why IUI is done.
Relationships can suffer, not only with a spouse or partner but also with friends and family members who can unintentionally inflict pain by offering well-intentioned but misguided opinions and advice. Couples who are experiencing infertility may avoid social contact with pregnant friends and families. They can experience anxiety-related sexual dysfunction as well as other marital issues. In such cases why IUI is done, because when it feels like everyone you know is getting pregnant and having kids while you are the only couple facing problems, it might make the couple feel like that they are lacking something due to which it might cause problems in their marriage.
Infertility can be handled in about 40 different ways. About 85 percent to 90 percent of patients are treated with traditional procedures, which include counselling on when to have intercourse, drug treatment to facilitate ovulation or avoid miscarriages, and surgery to fix reproductive organs. Just about 3% of patients use more advanced assisted reproductive technology including in vitro fertilization (IVF) or Intrauterine Insemination, this is why IUI is done. Although medical therapies provide much-needed assistance and hope, studies indicate that they can intensify the tension, anxiety, and grief that patients already experience as a result of their infertility.
Side Effects of Medications
Infertility drugs and hormones may have a number of psychological side effects. For example, the synthetic estrogen clomiphene citrate (Clomid, Serophene), which is commonly prescribed to enhance ovulation and sperm output in women, may trigger anxiety, sleep disturbances, mood changes, and irritability. (There is no evidence of these side effects in men.) Other infertility drugs can lead to depression, mania, irritability, and cognitive difficulties. Patients and clinicians can struggle to differentiate between psychological and medication-induced reactions, but identifying triggers is crucial for determining the next steps.
Also, this is another reason why IUI is done because not all cases of IUI will require the women to take extra medications or shots that might cause any side effects.
Money Concerns
Not all states mandate insurance coverage for infertility treatment, and the extent of coverage may also vary. Most treatments for infertility are expensive. An IVF cycle using fresh embryos will cost a lot each cycle, more than what most couples can afford. Patients who do not have health insurance or the financial resources to pay for care may feel helpless and hopeless as a result of their inability to receive treatment. Also, patients with insurance coverage may find that copayments or coverage limits cause them to pay substantial out-of-pocket expenses.
This is another reason why IUI is done instead of IVF because it is much cheaper and affordable for couples.
Choices and Results
Overall, infertility treatments assist about half of the patients in becoming parents, with the probability of success diminishing as patients get older. This is why IUI is done and recommended while the couple is still young as the odds are more in their favour when they are young.
Patients who find out they’re going to be parents may be overjoyed, but they’ll have to adapt to new roles and stresses both during pregnancy and after childbirth. Women who have had multiple miscarriages, for example, are likely to be concerned about their ability to bring a pregnancy to term. Prenatal testing, such as amniocentesis, can be debated by older couples.
Failure to receive treatment, on the other hand, may result in a new cycle of grief and distress. Why IUI is done is because patients in Western developed countries may be particularly distressed, as the cultural expectation is that someone who works hard and is diligent will succeed in achieving a goal.
It may also be difficult to know when to stop pursuing treatment. When one partner wishes to end treatment before the other, the relationship may become strained. Many patients must gradually and painfully transition from having biological children to understanding that they will have to seek adoption or acknowledge that they will be childless. This leads to another cause of why IUI is done. It is so that the strain of being unable to conceive a child together does not cause problems in the couple’s marriage.
Additional Issues in Mental Well being
Infertile patients seem to be more anxious than other individuals, according to case studies and studies using self-report tests. More extensive study, on the other hand, has found that rates of anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems are not substantially higher than in the general population. As patients struggle with the emotional and physical roller coaster that is typical of infertility care, they can encounter severe mental health issues on a temporary basis.
Treatment for infertility can intensify pre-existing psychiatric conditions. Infertile women who have a history of depression, for example, can be more depressed during treatment than other infertile women. That is why IUI is done so that the women do not fall deeper and deeper into depression because of the guilt and shame that follow due to being infertile.
Therapies that could be helpful
Many patients cope on their own or seek help from friends, relatives, or one of the many infertility support groups that are now available in person and online. Others, on the other hand, need additional assistance.
Counselling
Referrals for short-term counselling are popular, especially to develop coping strategies or provide assistance with decision-making (as patients face many choices during treatment). Patients who have frequent changes in mood or sleep habits, as well as relationship issues, should pursue a more thorough examination, as these may signify anxiety or depression. During these counselling sessions, fertility treatments such as IUI and IVF might be recommended. The doctor will even explain why IUI is done and why IVF is done.
Counselling should ideally begin before patients begin infertility treatment, as some research — but not all — indicate that treating psychological issues like depression, anxiety, and stress may improve the odds of having a child which is why IUI is done after the counselling is done. Clinicians who work with infertile patients may offer advice about how to cope with exhaustion, stress, and anxiety, as well as how to enhance contact with others.
Psychotherapy
Unique forms of therapy can be helpful as well. Infertile patients suffering from mild to moderate depression, for example, can benefit from interpersonal therapy (which focuses on strengthening relationships or resolving disagreements with others) and cognitive behavioural therapy (which recognizes and attempts to alter unhealthy patterns of thinking or behaviour). Psychotherapy, whether administered individually, to couples, or in a group, has been shown to be effective in treating anxiety and depression by researchers.
Relaxation Methods
Experts recommend a variety of relaxation methods because infertility and its treatment can cause a lot of stress. Mindfulness meditation, deep breathing, directed visualization, and yoga, for example, will help you relieve stress.
Medications
When symptoms are mild to extreme, antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications may help. Women on psychiatric treatment, on the other hand, should think about the threats to the developing fetus. Some infertility drugs may interfere with psychiatric medications, further complicating treatment. Birth control pills, for example, can lower blood levels of some benzodiazepines, such as lorazepam (Ativan), while increasing blood levels of other drugs, such as alprazolam (Xanax) and imipramine (Tofranil). When making drug choices, patients and physicians must consider all of these variables.
Exercise and Fertility: Is There a Link?
When conceiving a child takes longer than anticipated, you may want to consider your lifestyle. If you look up the topic on the internet, in books, or in magazines, you’ll find a long list of dos and don’ts that seem to influence your ability to conceive. While many of these nuggets of wisdom are useful, some can only add to your frustration.
Exercise is one of the most argumentative issues surrounding the ability to conceive. If you can feel extremely vulnerable right now, we can assure you that exercise will not hurt you. In fact, the right amount of exercise, as well as the type of exercise you do, will help you become more fertile and increase your chances of getting pregnant.
Keeping busy when attempting to conceive benefits you in a variety of ways. A healthy cardiovascular system needs daily aerobic exercise—activities that boost your heart rate and get your blood flowing. When you exercise, the endorphin levels rise, which helps to relieve stress—and who isn’t stressed when trying to conceive?
While several women are encouraged to exercise before and during pregnancy, there are a few signs. Consult your doctor if you are unable to do even low-impact exercise for whatever cause. Often tell your doctor about the types of exercises you like, as well as how frequently and how intensely you exercise.
Let’s Weigh In The Weight For Fertility
Physical exercise has long been considered to be beneficial to one’s general health and well-being. Exercise aids in the maintenance of a healthy weight, promotes cardiovascular health and improves overall mood. In the case of female fertility, however, vigorous exercise can have a significant impact, particularly when there is an energy deficit. Female fertility is influenced by body weight and body fat composition. According to studies, maintaining a BMI (body mass index) of 20 to 24.9 is essential for optimum fertility and daily ovulation. For menarche, a minimum of 17 percent body fat is required, and for ovulation maintenance, a minimum of 22 percent is required.
If you are overweight and trying to conceive, you must lose weight. Being overweight is related to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which can cause hormonal imbalances and hinder your ability to ovulate. When overweight women become pregnant, they are at risk for severe health problems. Many women in the overweight-obese category on a BMI chart will increase their fertility by losing just 10% of their body weight.
Being underweight has an impact on your fertility as well. Weighing less than the recommended BMI classification will disrupt your menstrual cycle, preventing ovulation. Maintaining a healthy weight also assists in pregnancy care. While the BMI chart does not account for bone structure or muscle mass, it does give you an idea of a healthy weight for your height.
Exercise will assist you in your quest for healthier body weight. Reasonable exercise will help you whether you are overweight or underweight. A healthy weight combined with exercise will also make you feel sexier by enhancing your body image. Obviously, this is advantageous when attempting to conceive!
Conclusion
Getting pregnant is a gift that not every couple can be blessed with. While not all the couples are lucky to be able to conceive naturally, the technology has advanced to the extent that most of these couples can find assistance in fertility treatments such as IUI and IVF to overcome their hindrances and get pregnant successfully.
