Infertility can be one of the most difficult things an individual has to go through. If you want a child but have been struggling to conceive, it can cause harm to your mental well-being and make you worry and wonder about the future.
Of course, if you’re in a relationship, infertility can also cause issues. It’s important to understand how infertility affects relationships, so you and your partner can make healthy, positive choices together.
Whether you recently found out about your infertility or it’s already started to change your relationship, let’s take a look at how this issue often impacts couples, and what you can do.
Worry, Shame, and Fear
One of the most common issues when it comes to infertility in relationships is the fear that your partner might leave.
If you knew early on in your relationship that you wanted children and now it isn’t an option, it’s easy to feel like the guilty party. You might wonder whether you’re forcing them to give up your dreams, or if they’ll ever be truly happy if they stay.
Chances are if your relationship is otherwise strong and healthy, you don’t have to worry about your partner leaving or adding guilt to an already-tense situation. However, it’s something you should be having conversations about.
Dealing With Tension
Speaking of tense situations, they’re probably going to happen here and there when you’re dealing with infertility.
There will be days when one (or both) of you feels defeated and uses that as fuel to “attack” the other. You might place blame or make accusations. You might even argue about who has it worse, or who has had to go through more procedures or medical exams.
At the end of the day, it’s essential to remember that you’re on the same team. You want the same things, and arguing about it, no matter how frustrating the situation might be, will only make things worse for your relationship.
Mismatched Opinions
Infertility takes a physical and mental toll on couples.
If you’ve been trying to have a baby for a while, it’s incredibly disheartening to see countless negative pregnancy tests. It’s even worse to go through a variety of expensive and invasive procedures in the hopes that something will work.
That’s why many couples “give up” after a period of time, and accept the fact that they won’t be able to have children.
However, that doesn’t mean everyone is always on the same page. Maybe you want to keep trying and your partner doesn’t, or vice versa.
Disagreeing on how to move forward can cause a major strain in your relationship, especially when it’s already a sensitive subject.
This isn’t the time when you should “compete” to see which opinion matters more, and it’s not the time to state your case and not listen to your partner’s.
Instead, this is a subject that needs to be discussed at length. Listen to your partner’s point of view, and choose to be understanding, even if you disagree.
Infertility is a journey. Often, it’s an exhausting one. If your relationship is struggling as a result of that journey, please know you’re not alone. No matter how long you’ve been dealing with these issues, you don’t have to strengthen or repair your relationship on your own. Things can (and will) get better, and you can rely on help and support as often as you need it.
If you’re worried about your relationship as a result of your infertility issues, don’t hesitate to contact me to set up an appointment to learn more about hypnosis for fertility. Your relationship doesn’t have to fall apart because of this. In fact, with the right resources and skills, you and your partner can end up stronger than ever.