The Rollercoaster

The Rollercoaster

You will often hear infertility related to as a “rollercoaster”.  This is a little clichéd but nonetheless, a very apt description.

People experiencing infertility sometimes feel as though their mood goes up and down each cycle and after each opportunity to have a baby comes and goes.

Why am I having such a hard time dealing with this? Some of the common feelings when dealing with infertility include:

• Surprise - that they are having difficulty becoming pregnant
• Denial - that this could really be happening
• Isolation - feeling like they are the only ones having this problem and no-one understands.
• Anger - sometimes directed at doctors or spouses.
• Guilt - feeling that their medical problem is denying them and their spouse and that they are being punished for something in their past.
• Depression - sadness, lost hope, inability to enjoy anything.
• Anxiety - worrying each cycle about whether they are pregnant, future procedures, finances etc
• Grief - the loss of their hoped-for child (may happen each cycle)
• Acceptance - experiencing some emotional relief, making the decision to have further medical evaluations and therapy, to adopt, or to remain childless.