How Does Fertility Treatment Impact Your Mood?

Are you doing fertility treatments? Or trying to get pregnant? There are many emotions during this process, and this blog will help normalize your experience of emotions during pregnancy.

Starting infertility treatment can come with a mix of emotions. You might face grief as you process the sense of loss that can come with your conception journey not looking like you had initially envisioned. Jealousy or anger might come up as you see others’ fertility journeys look different than yours. You may experience stress, frustration, and helplessness related to the unknowns and the lack of control over the direction your fertility treatment might go. You can also encounter waves of hope and excitement for the possibility that this journey can help you take steps towards your dream of becoming a parent.

In addition to the confusing emotional impact of beginning this new season of your fertility journey, infertility treatment can also stir up old wounds if you have previously experienced depression or anxiety. Research has found that women with no prior history of depression did not experience increased symptoms of depression during infertility treatment. But for those with a history of depression, the emotional strain of treatment—especially if it’s prolonged or unsuccessful—can trigger a return of depressive symptoms.

Infertility can feel like a rollercoaster: waiting, hoping, grieving. It’s not just medical—it’s deeply personal, and the emotions that come up along the way are completely valid. The emotional impact of infertility treatment can be exacerbated by past mental health challenges, so it is important to have that background on your radar as an individual going through treatment or as a healthcare provider supporting patients through treatment. Taking the time to screen for mood symptoms early and throughout fertility treatment can be monumental for developing emotional resilience and promoting holistic health.

Feeling seen, validated, and supported through these medical experiences can make such a huge impact on what your fertility journey looks like. That’s why we encourage individuals pursuing infertility treatment to have emotional support in place. Whether that’s therapy, support groups, or a trusted healthcare provider who understands your story, you deserve care that sees the full picture of your experience. You are not alone, and your mental health is just as important as your fertility journey.

Here at The Couch, we have several clinicians who cherish the work we get to do with working

Blog Literature Review Reference: Stenbæk, D. S., Toftager, M., Hjordt, L. V., Jensen, P. S., Holst, K. K., Bryndorf, T., Holland, T., Bogstad, J., Pinborg, A., Hornnes, P., & Frokjaer, V. G. (2015). Mental distress and personality in women undergoing GnRH agonist versus GnRH antagonist protocols for assisted reproductive technology. Human reproduction (Oxford, England), 30(1), 103–110.