Infertility and Relationships
Infertility can be one of the most difficult, draining things a couple can go through. If you desperately want children but you’re struggling to conceive, it can take a toll on your personal well-being, as well as your relationship. Research has shown that infertility can be a very lonely experience. Even if you’re going through it with your partner, it doesn’t mean you’re always on the same page with your feeling.
It’s not uncommon to experience things like guilt, shame, or embarrassment when you’re dealing with infertility. That can make it even more difficult to feel close to your partner and can impact your intimacy. Unfortunately, that contributes to a sort of vicious cycle that can make your fertility issues even worse.
Let’s dig a little deeper into how infertility affects relationships. If you’re struggling to conceive and you’ve started to notice your relationship is suffering, don’t lose hope.
A Lack of Communication
It’s not uncommon to experience things like guilt, shame, or embarrassment when you’re dealing with infertility. That can make it even more difficult to feel close to your partner and can impact your intimacy. Unfortunately, that contributes to a sort of vicious cycle that can make your fertility issues even worse. You might stop communicating about it altogether or push your feelings about the subject under the rug. When you aren’t communicating directly about the issues or how you’re feeling, it’s easy to make false assumptions.
That can lead to frustration, arguments, and even feelings of resentment. You might feel like your partner doesn’t care as much as you do. Or, you might wonder if they’ve changed their mind. Chances are, they’re just as disappointed as you. They’re hurting. But there’s no denying it’s a difficult subject to talk about, and that can take a toll on your closeness and communication efforts.
Different Coping Mechanisms
When you and your partner are dealing with something as difficult as infertility, you will have to cope somehow. People cope with difficult situations differently, no matter how much you and your partner have in common. Ideally, you would talk and work together to come up with healthy coping mechanisms that fit your needs.
Unfortunately, if you’re already dealing with a lack of communication, you’re probably not going to talk about how to cope. That can cause you to go down different paths. Maybe your partner copes by being silent or distant. That might come across as cold. Or, maybe you think they don’t care about things as much as you do. One (or both) of you might even turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms, including substances or harmful behaviors.
It Can Impact You As Individuals
We touched on the fact that infertility can make you feel guilty or embarrassed. It can also crush your self-esteem and your sense of self-worth. Obviously, that’s going to cause issues in your relationship. When you see yourself in a negative light, you’ll find it easier to believe negative ideas. That often leads to anxiety or depression and can take a toll on the well-being of your partnership.
If any of these problems sound familiar, you’re not alone. Infertility is an incredibly difficult thing to experience, and couples deal with it in different ways. The most important thing is to do everything you can to ensure you and your partner handle your challenges together.
Schedule your 30-minute free consultation today to learn how I can help. Together, we’ll work on strengthening your bond. In doing so, you can face the challenge of infertility as a united front.
