Counselling and support

Introduction

This information has been written to explain the counselling service which is available to patients with fertility problems. It answers some questions related to treatment and counselling.

What are the emotional effects of infertility?

Infertility can lead to considerable distress and unhappiness. The impact of infertility varies from person to person and changes with time. For some people, the strongest response is one of grief related to the losses that may be experienced. There is the loss of the potential child, the loss of the parenting experience, the loss of control in some areas of their life, and perhaps, the loss of a particular self-image, in view of the great value placed on parenthood in our society. Not surprisingly, people experiencing infertility may go through a series of emotional reactions typical of other grief reactions including shock, helplessness, anger and depression. The intensity of these feelings varies between individuals.

Relationships may also be affected by infertility. These effects may be positive, bringing the couple closer together, or negative - where one partner finds it difficult to understand and sympathise with the other’s distress.

Infertility treatment can provide additional stresses. For some people, years of infertility treatment may place their lives on hold so that plans cannot be made. Expectations are often raised to be followed by frustration and despair.

Additional stresses include financial pressures, discovering new information about the fertility problem and sometimes having to make difficult choices.

How do couples cope with Assisted Conception Treatment?

Treatment with IVF or other assisted conception involves specific stresses with the threat of failed treatment at every stage of the procedure. The periods which people find most stressful are waiting to see if treatment has worked and discovering it has not worked. After an unsuccessful treatment cycle, people may experience a grief reaction which varies in strength between individuals.

How can counselling help?

Counselling may help you to:

• Explore and understand feelings and experiences
• Identify areas of uncertainty
• Consider the alternatives available to you
• Cope with the emotional consequences of infertility and treatment

Are couples required to attend counselling sessions?

The Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority(HFEA) have stated in their Code of Practice that people who are undergoing licensed treatment, including IVF, must be given a suitable opportunity to receive proper counselling. They further state that no-one is obliged to accept counselling, although it is generally recognised as beneficial.

Counselling is available to every couple or individual diagnosed with fertility problems or who is undergoing investigations and treatment for infertility at the Reproductive Medicine Unit, and to those who, for any reason, have ceased to be involved in active treatment.

Is counselling confidential?

Whatever you talk about with the counsellor will be known only to the counsellor. There are some exceptional circumstances in which counsellors are obliged to reveal certain information. They will explain this to you.

Will decisions about treatment be affected?

Counselling is independent from the treatment decision-marking process. That is, decisions about offering or continuing treatment are not influenced by attending counselling.

Who provides the counselling service?

The team includes three counsellors (2 female and 1 male) and a clinical psychologist. The counsellors are based in the LCRM and provide daytime and evening sessions. The psychologist also provides daytime sessions at St James’s Hospital. If you wish to make an appointment, you may do so by telephoning: The Leeds Centre for Reproductive Medicine on: 0113 2063100

There is no additional charge for counselling as it is already included in the cost of treatment.

Ethnic Minority Languages

We will be pleased to organise a session (with prior notice) for an official translator/interpreter (if available) to translate the contents of this information.

Support Group

We have a patient support group call L.A.P.P. (Leeds Assisted Conception, Patient to Patient). This is run by couples, like yourselves, who have or have had infertility problems and who feel that they are ready to help others cope with treatment.

The support group has a network of telephone numbers of people who have undergone treatment already and who will be happy to answer your questions, give a listening ear, and support you through your next few weeks.

www.lacu-patient2patient.org.uk

Associated links

ACeBabes
www.acebabes.co.uk
Doriver Lilley 01332 832558
ACeBabes teddy ACeBabes is a network of families who have been successful after assisted conception, supporting couples from early pregnancy through the issues of parenting and beyond. A useful point of contact with people who understand how you feel and have experience of the dilemmas which you may have to be face in the future.

National Endometriosis Society
www.endo.org.uk

National Infertility Awareness Campaign via Clare at CHILD
www.repromed.co.uk/NIAC/info

DC Network
www.dcnetwork.org
Olivia/Walter 020 8245 4369

Daisy Network
www.daisynetwork.org.uk
Michelle Pryor 01531 660378

MoreToLife
www.moretolife.co.uk
Contact Issue

National Infertility Day
www.nationalinfertilityday.com

Infertility Network UK (INUK)
www.infertilitynetwork.co.uk
01424 732 361

Verity
www.verity-pcos.org.uk