How to Prepare for IVF and the Toll It Can Take on Mental Health

The fertility journey can be an emotional rollercoaster, and when you’re figuring out how to prepare for IVF, it’s important to consider your mental health in addition to the physical side of treatment. 

As far as major life events go, the process of in-vitro fertilization – and the uncertainty of knowing whether or not it will work – can be one of the more stressful experiences for both individuals and couples. And this stress may be coupled with anxiety, depression, or frustration, all of which can add to the emotional toll of dealing with infertility. 

While all experiences are unique, having an understanding of possible IVF emotional side effects can go a long way toward easing your mind. It can also make you more likely to seek out IVF support and ensure you have a system in place to help you cope. 

So what should you do to get ready? Below, we’re sharing some insight on how to prepare for fertility treatment, with a focus on prioritizing your mental health before, during, and after the process. 

The Connection Between IVF, Depression, and Anxiety

For most people, IVF is not the first step in their fertility journey but the culmination of months or years of trying and failing to have a baby. And for that reason, it’s normal to come into the process already struggling with the mental health effects of trying to get pregnant and being unable to. 

If this rings true to your own experience, know that you are not alone. The trauma of infertility doesn’t just disappear when you begin IVF, and in many cases, it can be exacerbated by hormonal treatments and the stress of IVF on your relationships and finances. 

You’re asking a lot from your mind and body while undergoing IVF. Depression, anxiety, and other struggles with your mental well-being are typical, no matter how frustrating they might be, but they don’t have to define you. Being aware of IVF’s emotional side effects is one way to manage your mental health during treatment, though – and fortunately, there are other tools that can help, too. 

How to Prepare for Fertility Treatment and Its Emotional Impact

There’s no single solution to how to relax during IVF. There are, however, a range of coping strategies that you can utilize as you move through an IVF cycle and its outcome. Here are some good places to start, with a focus on making your mental health a priority. 

• Get a feel for what to expect

  If you’re reading this article ahead of starting IVF treatment, then you’re already doing a great job at making sure you’re prepared for what’s ahead. Gathering information about IVF, especially information related to its possible mental health impacts, can help you understand IVF stress and depression and why it happens. If possible, try to talk to others who have gone through the process, since they may be able to shine a light on some unexpected emotional effects. 

• Put together an IVF support system

  Your partner might be your go-to support for most things, but remember that they’re experiencing the mental toll of IVF, too, so you should have others to lean on. Confide in one or more close friends or family members if you feel comfortable doing so, or even hire a fertility doula. You should also consider joining an online or in-person fertility support group, which will allow you to share your thoughts with others going through the same thing. 

• Talk to a professional

  Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be a helpful tool for managing your emotional state during IVF. We recommend connecting with a mental health professional with experience in infertility counseling and CBT who can help you navigate the process and any mental health challenges that arise as a result of it. 

• Take care of yourself

  You need to give yourself time and space to cope with IVF mentally. That could mean freeing up your schedule on key treatment days, lightening your overall responsibility load, or engaging in joyful distractions, among other things. You’re going through a lot, and you deserve to make your mental health a top concern.