ETHICAL AND RELIGIOUS CONSIDERATIONS IN INFERTILITY TREATMENT

Infertility treatment can raise ethical or religious concerns for some patients. IVF involves the creation of embryos outside the human body. It can also involve the production of extra embryos, and can lead to a high number of fetuses (triplets or more). Patients who have concerns should speak with their counselor or religious leader, or with someone else they trust. This can be a helpful step in infertility treatment.

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Psychosocial Effects of Infertility Treatment Finding out that you or your partner is infertile or have a lower fertility can be very painful. Infertility and its treatment can affect your emotions, your health, your finances, and your social life. During treatment, you may feel anxious, helpless, depressed, or all alone. You may go through highs and lows. Be sure to notice if these feelings get severe. In some cases, you may want to seek the help of a mental health professional. Here are some of the warning signs you should watch out for:

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• Losing interest in the things you usually like to do.

• Feeling depressed most of the time.

• Strained feelings with your partner, family, friends, or those with whom you work.

• Thinking about infertility all of the time.

• Feeling extremely anxious or nervous.

• Having trouble finishing tasks.

• Finding it hard to focus or concentrate.

• Having changes in your sleep patterns, such as having a hard time falling asleep or staying asleep, waking up early every morning, or sleeping more than normal.

• Having a change in your appetite or weight (increase or decrease).

• Using drugs or alcohol more than before.

• Thinking about death or suicide.

• Staying away from other people.

• Feeling negative, guilty, or worthless much of the time.

• Feeling bitter or angry much of the time.

Raising twins or higher multiples may cause physical, emotional, financial & marital stresses. The chance of having depression and anxiety is higher in women raising multiples.

Patients may consider working with mental health professionals who are specially trained in the area of infertility care, as well as with their health care team, to minimize the emotional impact of infertility treatments. National support groups are also available, such as RESOLVE, (www.resolve.org) or Path2Parenthood (www.path2parenthood.org).