Emotional Aspects of Infertility
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Stress is the leading cause for why couples leave treatment. Dr. Zweifel explains how counseling can help. |
When a couple is diagnosed with infertility, it can be an unexpected crisis in their lives.
"It's not a challenge most couples expect to face," comments Julianne Zweifel, PhD, clinical psychologist with UW Health's Infertility and Reproductive Endocrinology Program.
"It's not a challenge most couples expect to face," comments Julianne Zweifel, PhD, clinical psychologist with UW Health's Infertility and Reproductive Endocrinology Program.
The uncertainty of the situation is one of the reasons why fertility challenges are so difficult to manage emotionally. Is there truly a problem? If there is, how do you proceed? When do you stop? How do you manage the social and emotional issues related to infertility?
Individual and Couples Counseling
Julianne Zweifel, PhD is the clinical psychologist with UW Health's Generations Fertility Care. She is available for individual and couples counseling.
Dr. Zweifel provides supportive and educational consultations to patients facing complex decisions regarding treatment choices and to patients having anxiety, depression or relationship strain as they pursue their dream of having a child.
Patients participating in these consultations can expect to find a supportive environment in which to discuss concerns about the impact of their treatment choices for themselves as well as their hoped for children.
Patients can also expect to receive helpful advice on managing the stress and emotions that are often a part of their efforts to have a child.
In Vitro Fertization and Third Party Donation
Due to the emotionally complex nature of the treatments, UW Health's Generations Fertility Care requires couples undergoing In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) or treatment with donor eggs or sperm to attend a session with Dr. Zweifel.
The intent of these sessions is to help couples understand the treatment and the resources that are available to them.
Dr. Zweifel encourages couples to examine such topics as the stability of their marriage, any religious concerns over assisted reproductive treatments, the acceptance of the extended families, the reality that the treatments may not work and the implications of that fact.