Managing the Emotional Rollercoaster of IVF and ICSI
Starting IVF or ICSI treatment can bring with it many different emotions, and although it’s a medical procedure, it also affects how you feel day to day. It can bring feelings of hope and at times, frustration, where the emotional impact for some people can be very real. However, with the right support and strategies, it is possible to stay balanced throughout the entire process.
Emotional Responses During Fertility Treatment
It’s pretty common for patients to feel anxious, hopeful, or unsure during the various stages of IVF or ICSI. The waiting periods especially, along with the hormone treatments and general uncertainty of the results can all take its toll if you’re not actively managing it. Recognising these feeling as normal is one of the first ways to stay mentally prepared.
One study published in the Human Reproduction Journal, found that women going through IVF commonly experienced increased emotional stress, including higher levels of anxiety and sadness. For more information about this study, click here.
A Change in Perspective Can Help
If you can think of treatment as a practical step forward rather than a problem to fix, it can really improve your emotional wellbeing. This doesn’t mean ignoring the difficult days, but it does mean giving yourself credit for taking action and being patient with the IVF or ICSI process.
There was a report in the Fertility and Sterility Journal which showed that the people who practise simple mindset shifts and mindfulness have better emotional control during their IVF treatment.
Ways to Help Manage Your Stress
Here are some techniques that have helped many patients to manage their stress levels during treatment:
- Short daily meditation or breathing exercises
- Light movement such as stretching or walking
- Writing down thoughts to release stress
- Sticking to a consistent sleep and meal schedule
All these small changes are easy to include in your daily routine and they don’t require any special tools or equipment. To further show how the use of mindfulness during fertility treatment can reduce stress check out this study.
Use Support Systems
You don’t haven’t to go through IVF or ICSI alone. Support from a partner, your family or your circle of friends can really make a difference. In Thailand you can also speak with fertility councillors or join groups of others who are going through the same treatment. For those in doubt about the importance of support systems and how they can lower your stress and help you cope with setbacks, you can read through this very informative journal.
You will be able to find support groups in most parts of Thailand which are often free and offer you a space to talk with other who understand or are going through the same thing as you.
Progress & Gratitude
Each step in the IVF or ICSI process is important, whether its finishing your injections, going for a scan or receiving your results, so noticing progress, even if its small can lift your mood and set you on the right track for the next steps.
Take Your Next Steps with Confidence
If you’ve been thinking about IVF or ICSI treatment in Thailand, our team at Deep & Harmonicare IVF Center in Bangkok offer comprehensive fertility services tailored to your needs. Click Here to get in touch.
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