When a couple goes to a fertility center, they are faced with a new possibility that fills them with hope because it brings them closer to that longed-for goal, that child that they have often already created in their minds, imagining it and imagining what their lives will be like when they hold it in their arms, But at the same time they face a treatment that can sometimes be complex and that for a time will condition their lives, and as these couples immerse themselves in the process, emotional discomforts appear that can condition the process (stress, fear, anxiety, depressive moods…). ).
Assisted reproduction techniques have been used since the 70’s, and there is an increasing percentage of births through these techniques that have been perfected over time. However, in spite of this, it has not been possible for couples who undergo this experience to do so without being affected psychologically, since we are faced with treatments that are both physically and emotionally costly.
Applications of Psychology in Assisted Reproduction
It is in this emotional area, where a psychologist will help these couples who undergo Assisted Reproduction Treatment, offering emotional support and accompanying the future parents in each of the stages they will go through throughout the process, using the skills, strategies and strengths they possess and helping them with new coping skills and, what is very important, guidelines to reduce the stress caused by the treatment.
Psychologists perform an initial evaluation where we assess the emotional capacity of the couple, stress levels, as well as the capacity and psychological resources they have to cope with it, the adjustment as a couple and help them to reveal the doubts they may have as a result of that information that sometimes they have not asked the gynecologist for not daring to do so.
We also accompany the process giving psychological support during the diagnostic tests, waiting for the results, as well as during and after the treatment, especially in those cases in which the result has been negative and these people have to go through a grieving process and at the same time start again with the next treatment.
The purpose of the psychological intervention is to allow the Assisted Reproduction treatment to be carried out in the best possible way, with the minimum of stress (since it has been demonstrated that this has a negative impact on the result) and the maximum possible emotional well-being, it is about helping and accompanying so that instead of being a traumatic experience, it is a story with a happy ending.