Fertility

Are you ready?

IVF patients have often stated that they were unprepared for the overwhelming emotional experience of IVF and that they needed to know what to expect both physically and emotionally. A number of research studies have explored the emotional aspects of IVF and the results are summarized for you on these pages.

Couples who choose IVF have long been on an emotional roller coaster of alternating hope and disappointment, both in each monthly cycle and with each new treatment.  The IVF experience is similarly described, with hope and elation followed by letdown and sometimes extreme disappointment.  Each step of the treatment brings new and increased stress and anxiety.

Many IVF couples report feelings of desperation–most believe this to be their last chance to achieve a pregnancy.  They also report optimism to “beat the odds,” understanding the chance of success.  Couples must perform a balancing act to keep their expectations realistic while retaining enough hope to carry out the treatment.

IVF couples report feeling isolated both during the earlier infertility treatment and during the IVF process.  Many have kept the decision to obtain infertility treatment a secret from family and friends, people who would otherwise be sources of support.  Being far from home in a city away from familiar comforts increases feelings of being alone.

One of the stresses often reported by IVF couples is “loss of control.”  The long hoped-for dream of having a child that is biologically yours is in the hands of scientists and fate.  Multiple blood samples, injections, examinations and procedures give rise to feelings that your body also is subject to the control of others.

While studies have demonstrated that women generally have a more pronounced emotional reaction to infertility than men do, extreme worry is reported by IVF male partner’s more often than by the female partner.  One source of worry is the anxiety-provoking task of providing semen at a critical time.  But most of their worry is about their female partner, who undergoes so many procedures and assumes all of the physical risks.

This site is for people who have already made up their mind and are now looking for the best way to have it organized. Talk to doctors, read books and search the Internet. Once you understand the risks involved with your procedure and still want to go ahead, this site will help you to find out more about your options in Thailand.