Psychosocial Impact of Infertility

Infertility is defined most simply as the inability to conceive naturally after 12 months of regular sexual intercourse without contraceptives (Luk & Loke, 2015, p. 610). Having children and starting a family is a conventional staple in society and what infertility represents is an inability to do so. It affects approximately 1 of every 6 childbearing-age couples (Sherrod, 2004, p. 42). The consequences of infertility are manifold and can affect individuals psychologically, socially, and economically (Cousineau & Domar, 2007, p. 293). And while there are numerous treatments for infertility, they are not always successful and often prolong and enhance the distress that a patient is faced with. On top of that, many of the costs for treatments are not covered by insurance or provincial health plans, thus creating a financial burden (Sherrod, 2004, p. 43). This paper will expand on the psychosocial impact of infertility as well as discuss the relevance of income and social status as a determinant of health, on top of that, it will also discuss nursing strategies that can be implemented to promote the health of individuals affected by this condition.

Psychosocial Impact

Given that reproduction is a biological imperative, and infertility represents an inability to reproduce, it comes as no surprise that infertility can have extensive psychosocial effects on impacted individuals. Psychologically, anxiety and depression are the most prevalent of mental problems that develop due to infertility (Maroufizadeh, Karimi, Vesali & Samani, p. 253). In fact, it was shown that infertile women have twice the prevalence of depressive symptoms when compared to fertile women (Cousineau & Domar, 2007, p. 295). These psychological issues can cascade and have deleterious effects on many aspects of the individual’s life. The amount of psychological distress that individuals face is influenced by many variables, such as the duration of infertility, the treatment undergone, support systems, and the individuals’ adaptive capabilities (Sherrod, 2004, p. 42). When an individual or a couple is faced with infertility they are met at a crossroads where a decision about how to proceed must be taken. Do they undergo treatment? Do they adopt? Do they accept their future as child-free? For most, they first attempt to treat it (Patel et al., p. 30). Treatment can become an all-consuming process, with daily routine revolving around the condition: the diet is tweaked, hormonal drugs are taken, lifestyle is altered, regular medical appointments are made, etc. In fact, fertility treatment often supersedes other aspects of the patient’s life such that career choices or lifestyle aspirations may be postponed or dismissed altogether (Cousineau & Domar, 2007, p. 293). The process of treatment itself can be one of the most distressing factors of infertility. It was shown that patients who were undergoing assisted reproductive treatments had more psychological strain, helplessness, and dwindling hopes than those who were trying to conceive spontaneously (Patel et al., p. 28). This can be due to the uncertainty regarding success, the treatment duration, the financial costs, and social pressure from friends and family (Maroufizadeh, Karimi, Vesali & Samani, p. 253). Treatment for infertility can go on for an indefinite amount of time, incurring cycles of hope, loss, and despair until a resolution is met either in the form of success or alternative pathways (Allan, 2013, p. 17). The unfortunate reality for many is that, even with treatment, successful fertility is never achieved, and in retrospect time and resources were lost to a state of constant distress over something that was largely out of their control.

Income and Social Status as Determinants of Health

Many of the costs for fertility treatment are not covered by insurance or provincial health plans (Sherrod, 2004, p. 43). This means that access to disposable income is imperative for those seeking treatment, and individuals must plan out their savings and expenses accordingly. It also means that there is a positive correlation between income and access to treatment. Someone with a high amount of disposable income will have access to higher quality treatments at a higher frequency, whereas someone with a low amount of disposable income will be in a more adverse position. As such, it can be postulated that infertile people with higher levels of disposable income will have greater odds of achieving success with their condition than people with lower levels of disposable income. There are also indications that social class plays a factor in the way that individuals cope with the emotional stress attributed to infertility (Lykeridou et al., p. 1972). Some studies have correlated low social class with greater infertility-related stress and anxiety; this was largely in part due to the maladaptive coping mechanisms that people in a lower social class tended to gravitate towards, such as active-confronting and passive-avoidance (Lykeridou et al., p. 1978). This is an important implication because it can be used by nurses to identify patients that are at a higher risk for infertility-related distress.

Nursing Strategies

Nursing is a versatile career and the role that a nurse has can vary depending on the patient’s needs. In the case of infertility, nurses may serve primarily in an emotionally supportive role by providing counselling or psychotherapy, and they may also be involved in physical interventions associated with infertility for diagnostic or treatment purposes (Sherrod, 2004, p. 45). However, the healthcare system’s focus of treating infertility primarily as a medical problem has inadvertently led to a disregard for the patient’s psychological state (Cousineau & Domar, 2007, p. 9). This emotional disregard is one of the greatest frustrations that infertility patients report (Sherrod, 2004, p. 42). Given this, an emphasis should be made on strategies that serve the psychosocial needs of the patient. A thorough assessment should be performed, taking note of important factors such as the patient’s emotional state and coping mechanisms. By assessing the patient’s coping mechanisms, a nurse may be able to identity patients who are at a greater risk for infertility distress and adjustment difficulties (Lykeridou et al., p. 1978). The appropriate interventions can then be taken, such as teaching healthy coping mechanisms, with the goal being to minimize the identified risk factors. Infertility treatment is also a time of great change for the patient, which can be overwhelming, especially for people who don’t have the necessary support systems in place. To mitigate the stress that a patient faces during this transition, extensive health teaching should be done. For example, the nurse could provide education on treatments, or on healthy eating, or even recommendations on programs that can promote their well-being such as support groups. Furthermore, adherence to official guidelines and frameworks should be followed by nurses to enhance care. Watson’s theory of caring for example, when implemented in a fertility clinic setting, decreased levels of patient anxiety, distress, and promoted positive coping mechanisms among infertile women (Ozan & Okumus, 2017, p. 95).

Conclusion

Infertility is a condition that can have extensive consequences on individuals including societal repercussions and personal suffering (Cousineau & Domar, 2007, p. 9). Treatment for this condition can be time-consuming, psychologically distressing, and prolonged indefinitely. On top of this, many of the costs for treatment are not covered by insurance or provincial health plans, which can create financial burden and further distress (Sherrod, 2004, p. 43). Because of this, income and social status are discussed as a major determinant of health for this population. Furthermore, the medicalization of infertility has inadvertently led to a disregard for the emotional health of individuals within this population, and patients viewed this emotional disregard as the most frustrating facet of their health care experience (Sherrod, 2004, p. 42). Thus, for health care providers in this field, the ability to empathize and communicate accordingly is integral. Nurses seeking to promote the health of this population should utilize strategies which facilitate the psychosocial well-being of patients, such as health teaching on positive coping mechanisms, proper treatment protocol, healthy eating, and even recommendations on programs such as support groups.

References

  1. Allan, H. T. (2013). The anxiety of infertility: the role of the nurses in the fertility clinic. Human Fertility, 16(1), 17-21.
  2. [bookmark: _Hlk21778928]Cousineau, T. M., & Domar, A. D. (2007). Psychological impact of infertility. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 21(2), 293-308.
  3. Luk, B. H. K., & Loke, A. Y. (2015). The impact of infertility on the psychological well-being, marital relationships, sexual relationships, and quality of life of couples: a systematic review. Journal of sex & marit Luk, B. H. K., & Loke, A. Y. (2015).
  4. Lykeridou, K., Gourounti, K., Sarantaki, A., Loutradis, D., Vaslamatzis, G., & Deltsidou, A. (2011). Occupational social class, coping responses and infertility‐related stress of women undergoing infertility treatment. Journal of clinical nursing, 20(13‐14), 1971-1980.
  5. Maroufizadeh, S., Karimi, E., Vesali, S., & Omani Samani, R. (2015). Anxiety and depression after failure of assisted reproductive treatment among patients experiencing infertility. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 130(3), 253-256.
  6. Ozan, Y. D., & Okumuş, H. (2017). Effects of nursing care based on Watson’s theory of human caring on anxiety, distress, and coping, when infertility treatment fails: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of caring sciences, 6(2), 95.
  7. Patel, A., Sharma, P. S. V. N., Narayan, P., Binu, V. S., Dinesh, N., & Pai, P. J. (2016). Prevalence and predictors of infertility-specific stress in women diagnosed with primary infertility: A clinic-based study. Journal of human reproductive sciences, 9(1), 28.
  8. Sherrod, R. A. (2004). Understanding the emotional aspects of infertility: implications for nursing practice. Journal of psychosocial nursing and mental health services, 42(3), 41-47.

Infertility and Restoration of Function of the Human Reproductive System

Abstract

Infertility is a highly prevalent topic that is continuously researched because of the powerful desire to have children worldwide yet numerous problems associated with conceiving one. World Health Organization (WHO) refers to it as a “disease of the reproductive system”. Problems with fertility are seen to be as common with men as it is with women. As more people are postponing their first pregnancy, there is a higher likelihood of limitations in fertility. Genetic abnormalities, environmental agents and behavioral habits greatly affect the health of one’s reproductive system and interfere with reproduction. This article is intended to discuss the causes as well as various treatments and alternatives for infertility.

Introduction

What is considered infertile? It does not always mean you are unable to ever have a child. According to HYPERLINK ‘http://obgyn.ucla.edu/default.cfm’UCLA Obstetrics and Gynecology, it is defined as the inability to conceive within 12 months (1). Some doctors believe if one does not get pregnant within a year of regular unprotected sex, they are most likely to be infertile. This also includes women who are unable to stay pregnant or maintain a desired pregnancy. Even more petrifying, pregnant women over 35 are deemed infertile if they are not pregnant within 6 months of having unprotected sex. This places a significant number of couples in this category, making infertility a major healthcare problem. About 10 percent of women (6.1 million) in the United States ages 15-44 have difficulty getting pregnant or staying pregnant, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2)

Understanding the processes that must occur in order to get pregnant is crucial in defining what normal fertility really is. It requires the release of a healthy egg from a woman’s ovaries (ovulation), passage of the egg through the fallopian tube to the uterus, fusing of a viable sperm with the egg (fertilization) and the fertilized egg attaching to the lining of the uterus (implantation). Problems with any of these steps can result in infertility (3) and may arise in various ways ranging from genetic abnormalities to environmental factors. Every step of the journey towards pregnancy is characterized by interactions among the physical and social environment, the biological background and behavior of individuals, and the health care system (1). However, as research in this field continues to expand, there are higher success rates with detecting, evaluating and resolving infertility issues which can be as simple as just creating awareness regarding lifestyle habits and such.

Fertility Evaluation

Determining if someone is fertile or not involves series of physical tests and examinations as well as medical and sexual histories of both partners known as infertility tests. The information necessary for these tests include knowing of any existent pain during intercourse, previous sexually transmitted infections and/or abnormal pap smears, any prior surgeries, family history of medical problems and so on. Another important tool for evaluating fertility is conducting an ultrasound to detect abnormalities like ovarian cysts and deduce how many eggs are available for potential fertility. Blood tests may also be used to determine the levels of hormones related to ovarian health such as follicle stimulating hormone, estradiol, prolactin and thyroid stimulating hormone. If a woman is ovulating, a hysterosalpingogram (an x-ray of fallopian tubes and the uterus) would be used to discover any tubal abnormalities that prevents movement of eggs through the fallopian tubes. (1)

Although the focus of research has primarily been on women, the inability to have children is just as common among men (fig. 1). A semen analysis is conducted on men to evaluate sperm volume (should be 1.5-2ml minimum), sperm concentration (at least 20 million sperm per 1 ml of semen), sperm motility and shape or morphology of the head, midpiece and tail. (1)

Causes of Infertility in Women

Absence of ovulation (anovulation) or disruption in ovarian function as a whole is a very common cause of infertility. A normal menstrual cycle lasts 28 days long on average, and ovulation occurs about 10-16 days before menstrual flow (or period). The luteinizing hormone (LH) increases 24-48 hours prior and triggers the release of an egg. If a woman has infrequent or absent ovulation, there is most likely disruption in the production of hormones released from the gonadotropin releasing hormone in the hypothalamus or the pituitary gland (which releases LH).

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is the condition that causes women not to ovulate regularly or at all.

Obstruction in fallopian tubes that carry eggs from the ovary to the uterus also play a large role in infertility. This can include benign growths like polyps and fibroids or scarring due to prior surgery. A disease called endometriosis is a contributing factor as well in which tissue normally found in the uterus grows elsewhere (5). Chlamydia or Gonorrhea are sexually transmitted diseases that can be can spread to fallopian tubes (along with womb and uterus as well leading to pelvic inflammatory disease) and can also result in difficulty getting pregnant.

Maternal age is also known to affect fertility. The proportion of first births to women aged 30 years and older has increased more than fourfold since 1975, from 5% to 24% in 2006, according to CDC (10). A woman’s fertility has proven to decline with age because aging decreases; the number of eggs in their ovarian reserve, the proportion of healthy eggs and the likelihood of an egg being genetically normal. The reason for this remains unknown but the consequences are grave especially as female-age related infertility is the most common cause of infertility today. It was not evident before this century when women were conceiving in their teens and early twenties but it becomes more apparent as more women do not think of having their first child till their thirties. A woman is seen as rarely fertile past the age of 45. (1)

Approximately 5-10% of infertile women have complications that go beyond their basic reproductive needs. They may have underlying genetic abnormalities, chromosome aberrations and genetic mutations. (4). Trisomy X is a syndrome known to cause premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). Most women with the syndrome appear normal but others suffer from POI. Some genomic regions associated with female infertility were discovered and it was found that null mutations in genes, SYCE1 and CPEB1 are responsible for ovarian failure in female mice. (8)

Causes of Infertility in Men

Age also plays a role in male fertility although it is much more dramatic and significant in female infertility, male partners over the age of 40 tend to have more trouble conceiving Although, unlike the limited number of eggs available to women at birth, men create 100-200 million fresh sperm each day, age-related fertility decline is still present in males. In study conducted of over 8000 pregnancies, men over the age of 40 were 30% less likely to conceive compared with men under 35. Another demonstrated that in 1,976 women, it took men over 45 five times the average time to pregnancy compared to men 25 years and under. (9). Age-related decline in fertility in men is caused by decreased sperm motility, morphology and volume.

Varicocele is common condition that is approximately two-thirds of office visits and half of surgery services for male infertility in the United States (10). It occurs when the veins in testes are enlarged affecting the overall quality of sperm produced. A man’s sperm quality can also be affected by illness (including infections like epididymitis, inflammation of the testicles, sexually transmitted diseases or cancer/tumors that affect reproductive glands). There are issues with production of sperm/ejaculation such as premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunction or even ‘retrograde ejaculation’ in which the semen enters the bladder during orgasm instead of through the tip of the penis.

Chromosomal defects can cause abnormal development of the male reproductive system and has been detected in about 20% of infertile men. (8). The defects can either be numerical or structural and increasing chromosomal aberrations have been seen to proportionally increase the severity of infertility. Klinefelter syndrome (47,XXY) and 47,XYY syndrome are numerical sex chromosomal abnormalities in males are relatively common with each occurring in approximately 1–2 in 1000 live births. (11). Chromosomal translocations are structural and involve the breaking of two chromosomes with an abnormal repair of the fragments resulting in the translocation of one gene to a different region without loss of genetic material. These are phenotypically normal unless the breakpoint interrupts an important gene which is high risk for infertility.

Lifestyle and Environmental factors

Certain modifiable behaviors and external factors impact the rate of female and male fertility decline. Unlawful use and overdone of steroids, cocaine, alcohol and tobacco can reduce the likelihood of pregnancy as well as the possible effectiveness of fertility treatment. Tobacco use is associated with lower probability of conception in a month in women, and it lowers volume of sperm and changes morphology of sperm in men. According to Dr. Jackie Gutmann, women who smoke add ten years to their reproductive ages, therefore a 30 year old smoker would have the reproductive potential of a 40 year old (12)

Environmental and occupational hazards are suspected to create fertility impairments as a result of prolonged exposure to harmful chemicals/toxins. This can lead to delayed fecal growth, miscarriage and birth defects. Durham Health department’s Health and Wellness resources highlights the common substances pregnant women should avoid which are paints, pesticides, mercury just to name a few.(13)

Being overweight and underweight affect both genders, putting them at higher risk of infertility (erectile dysfunction is more common in obese men). Poor diet lacking in nutrients, stress, current medications and so on are additional common factors. Regarding cancer, the negative effects of specific chemotherapy and radiation treatments include interference with reproduction.

Prevention/Treatments

Education is the best tool we possess in reducing the risk of complications that affect fertility. Not only will it empower people to make better choices, understanding how normal reproduction works is beneficial in knowing when it is best to seek help. 7.4 million women, or 11.9% of women, have ever received any infertility services in their lifetime. (2006-2010 National Survey of Family Growth, CDC, 2). Options best for a person or couple depends on the kind or cause of their fertility issue.

Medications can be used to induce ovulation and these can come in either pill or injection forms. A commonly prescribed pill is clomiphene citrate which is taken between the third and seventh day of the menstrual cycle. Clomiphene is an anti-estrogen which binds to estrogen receptors in the hypothalamus leading to an increase in release of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) and binds to the pituitary gland leading to release of follicles stimulating hormones for egg growth. The injections stimulate the ovaries (gonadotropins) by introducing the FSH and LH directly into the body to act directly on cells and stimulate egg development (e.g Human Chorionic Gonadotropin/HCG)

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) has been used in the United States dating back to 1981 (10) to treat help infertility. Data is constantly being collected by the CDC as mandated by the Fertility Clinic Success Rate and Certification Act of 1992 (FCSRCA) (Public Law 102–493 [October 24, 1992], 14) (Fig 2). The results in 2015 were: total of 182,111 ART procedures (range: 135 in Alaska to 23,198 in California) resulting in 59,334 live-birth deliveries (range: 55 in Wyoming to 7,802 in California) and 71,152 infants born (range: 68 in Wyoming to 9,176 in California). Nationally, the number of ART procedures performed per 1 million women of reproductive age (15–44 years), was 2,832. (14).

ART includes common procedures like In Vitro Fertilization (most effective type of ART), intracytoplasmic sperm injection, and may involve use of fertility medication. In Vitro Fertilization is a technique of retrieving male and female gametes (sperm and egg) and letting fertilization occur outside the female body – donor sperm/eggs or previously frozen embryos can be used. Since the first IVF baby was born in England in 1978 and one was delivered in the United States a couple of years after, the use of IVF has grown dramatically. It is a groundbreaking procedure that has allowed many women deemed permanently infertile to give birth to health babies. Transvaginal ovum retrieval is the method used to retrieve eggs by inserting a needle through the back of the vagina (guided via an ultrasound) to collect fluid containing eggs. Embryo transfer is the process of placing the fertilized eggs (or embryos) back into the uterus of the female. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection helps where sperm counts are very low and multiple IVF attempts have failed. A single sperm is injected into the center of an egg, however, this is not as common not only because a large number of sperm needs to be produced with this method but one has to be extremely careful while injecting. (Fig 3)803272328427

The most prevalent complication of ART is multiple pregnancy which typically results from the use of multiple embryos. It is pretty difficult to predict or determine how many eggs would be fertilized which is why more than one is used. Multi-birth infants have much higher risk of infants death, disability, and pre-term delivery. The simplest strategy to check/reduce the chances of multiple pregnancy is by limiting the number of embryos transferred into the woman’s body.

Even more common than ART, Ovarian stimulation by natural conception or intrauterine insemination (IUI) exist in which a sperm is placed inside a woman’s uterus directly to facilitate fertilization. This is done in order to increase the number of sperm that reaches the fallopian tube/egg and consequentially increases the chance of reproduction, however, the sperm used cannot have severe abnormalities. The sperms are washed in solution safe for both sperm and egg and painlessly injected into the uterine cavity for fertilization. Efficacy of this treatment is sadly generally lower than that of ART with pregnancy rates generally below 15%; for a review of trials of ovarian stimulation and IUI (10).

References

  1. ‘http://obgyn.ucla.edu/infertility’http://obgyn.ucla.edu/infertility
  2. https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/infertility/index.htm’https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/infertility/index.htm
  3. https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/infertility’https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/infertility
  4. http://www.indoreinfertilityclinic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/InfertilityCauses1.png’http://www.indoreinfertilityclinic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/InfertilityCauses1.png
  5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5306404/’https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5306404/
  6. https://www.hormone.org/diseases-and-conditions/endometriosis’https://www.hormone.org/diseases-and-conditions/endometriosis
  7. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?bookid=1094§ionid=61904709’https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?bookid=1094§ionid=61904709
  8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3885174/’https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3885174/
  9. ‘https://extendfertility.com/male-fertility-decline/’https://extendfertility.com/male-fertility-decline/
  10. ‘https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/infertility/whitepaper-pg1.htm’https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/infertility/whitepaper-pg1.htm
  11. ‘https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3735152/’https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3735152/
  12. ‘https://resolve.org/infertility-101/optimizing-my-fertility/boosting-your-fertility-lifestyle-modifications/’https://resolve.org/infertility-101/optimizing-my-fertility/boosting-your-fertility-lifestyle-modifications/
  13. https://www.durham.ca/en/health-and-wellness/resources/Documents/Pregnancy/EnviroHazardsWhilePregnant-EXCEP.pdf’https://www.durham.ca/en/health-and-wellness/resources/Documents/Pregnancy/EnviroHazardsWhilePregnant-EXCEP.pdf
  14. ‘https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/ss/ss6703a1.htm’https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/ss/ss6703a1.htm

Infertility: Psychological And Social Effects On Men And Women

In this research assignment, I will be discussing infertility. The definition of infertility is the inability of a person to reproduce by natural means. An infertile woman can get pregnant however they might not carry the fetus or the baby to full term. There are infertile women who may have a stillborn child.

This shows that a woman being infertile does not only mean that the woman cannot get pregnant it also means that there may be a few complications when it comes to the pregnancy like what I explained at the top. Women can get pregnant but they may not be able to carry the baby to full term or they might get a stillborn baby.

However infertility does not only occur in women it also occurs in men, but men can also be infertile but a lot of people do not know that by conducting questionnaires and handing the questionnaires to different people they will be able to know more about infertility and how infertile people deal with their inability to have children. My research will be based on articles from infertility books, the internet, and opinions of different people from questionnaires and an interview.

I will also discuss the effects that infertility has on men and women, psychological and social effects. Most people do not know that infertility can affect a person negatively, there are people that still ask “why don’t you have children yet” not realizing that this is a very sensitive topic and people should be careful and not just ask this question without knowing that personal information as that could hurt the person. In men, they are not considered to be ‘men’ if they cannot have children and that can cause people to disrespect them especially their family members. In women, they can also be seen as ‘less’ by the husband’s family which can cause the woman to be depressed or commit suicide.

My aim with this research is to educate people on infertility and to show them that infertility has an effect on both men and women.

Primary infertility is when a couple cannot have a child at all no matter how hard they try and secondary infertility is when a couple cannot have a child after their first child due to problems or complications in the first pregnancy. This proves that what we know about infertility is enough not a lot of people know about the two stages of infertility, not many people know that you can be considered to be infertile even after having a child. This proves that more people need to be educated about infertility.

There are different reasons or causes of infertility. Infertility can be caused by an infection in the female or male, obesity in both the male and female studies prove that obesity can increase BMI which can then decrease sperm concentration and this causes damage in sperm (this is found in males). However being underweight can also cause infertility, when men are underweight they have low sperm concentration, and as we know the sperm is very important in producing a baby. Smoking and drinking is also a factor when it comes to infertility, low semen quality, and low sperm count. Low sperm count can be caused by different things it can be caused by drugs, radiation, and infection. Hormone imbalance can also be the cause of low sperm count; low sperm mobility is also one of the reasons for infertility, this is when the sperm cannot reach or swim to the egg as fast as it should or when the egg is released. Infertility is not just caused by these hormone imbalances in the male but can also be caused by environmental factors these factors being toxins such as glue and chemical ducts.

Going for a check-up can be very important when it comes to knowing whether you can have children or not. Males should also consider that they can also be infertile and that it is important for them to check their sperm count and check whether their smoking and drinking do not affect their ability to have children. Men have to be careful of the environment that they are in as that can lead them to infertility as I stated that toxins such as chemical ducts can lead to infertility however it can be difficult for men who work in

This information shows or proves that infertility does not just occur in females but can also occur in males. Most of the time males do not consider the fact that they may be infertile which they should as infertility does not have symptoms, you cannot see whether a person is infertile or not.

In females there are more causes than in males, these causes can be age, being overweight, structural problems in the fallopian tube, or uterus problems. Endometriosis is common in women in their mid-twenties polycystic ovarian syndrome, uterine problems, tubal blockage, pelvic inflammatory diseases which can be caused by TB. If the egg does not work at an optimum level it can also cause infertility, if a woman cannot ovulate this can cause infertility as ovulation is needed for producing.

With regards to an age when a woman gets older, it gets more difficult for the woman to conceive, an older women can still conceive however not everyone can be that lucky. There are other causes that are not well-known by people, causes such as (POS) polycystic ovarian syndrome which is when the eggs only develop partially within the ovary. In most cases infertility is caused by ovulation problems this becomes a problem in most women and there are no symptoms for that, they find out when they are trying to conceive. There are no symptoms that show or prove that you cannot have children. In men and women, there are no symptoms that is why it is very important to go for check-ups regularly,

When doing this research I conducted a survey which I sent to six people. Four are females between the ages of 18 and 35 two are males aged 23 and 35. They all had different opinions when it came to this topic.

The first person that I sent the questionnaire to said that there were no symptoms when it came to infertility however the next person said that there were. They included these symptoms changes in the cervix and breast tenderness, abnormal periods, bleeding is heavier or lighter than usual and pelvic pain. I then conducted an interview with a nurse to know how different people deal with infertility; there are people that do not handle the news of being infertile well. Most people do not deal well with the news of them being infertile. I asked more questions concerning infertility than I did with the questionnaire as she is a professional and deals with these problems on a daily basis.

I got six different articles concerning infertility and made a summary of them these six articles were about infertility however they did not have the exact information. Every article was written by different authors, although, their points were similar, they did not have the same explanations, each article had its own explanation and reasons as to why they wrote what they wrote. I got all of these articles from google however these articles were not just published, they were reviewed and checked by professionals so that the articles could be valid and that they don’t give people incorrect information.

What I gathered from this research is that most people are not well informed about infertility, I sent the questionnaires to ten people however, not all ten answered as they said that they do not know anything about infertility this shows that more people still need to be educated about infertility, the causes, symptoms, and treatments. On this page, I explained all the information that I gathered from asking people questions and conducting an interview.

There are different sites that speak about infertility there are different researches and researchers that speak about infertility. In all these sites there are different symptoms and different causes of infertility. On other sites, they do not say that depression can cause infertility in males while on other sites (ScienceDaily) they prove that depression can indeed cause infertility as it affects a lot of different things. Depression can reduce sexual desire and they can have a low sperm count.

In women some sites do not include that women who breastfeed more than 5 months can have more children than women who did not breastfeed at all, therefore, it is important to look for information on more than one site than one can be able to gather all the information and have a review.

Surrogacy as an Effective Method to Solve Infertility Issue

In the current world, a female who is not capable of bearing a child can have one through surrogacy. In this, a fertile woman carries a baby and gives birth on behalf of the one who does not have the capability of conceiving. Many legal issues are encompassed during surrogacy; hence individuals intending to proceed with the option are recommended to seek legal advice. Studies have confirmed surrogacy to be an effective method of conception. However, it is necessary to be conversant with the risks that are involved during this process.

The type of surrogacy that needs to be conducted determines the risks that will be involved in the process. Full surrogacy has its own risks while partial surrogacy has other risks. All those who partake in the surrogacy need to be screened to ensure that they do not transfer hepatitis or HIV. A registered donor at a clinic should also be screened to prevent the risks. In addition, surrogacy requires fertility treatment. Fertility treatment is associated with some risks which should be discussed before the process is conducted. Some of the risks include; risks associated with the pregnancy and reactions to the fertility drugs. The kids who are born as a result of the treatment could also encompass some health problems.

Apart from the above health risks, other risks could be drug related. Individuals who take part of the surrogacy process are likely to develop drug reaction problems. Some experience a feeling of being down, hot flushes, headache, being irritable or restlessness. Others experience multiple births such as triplets, twins or more. This is thought to be the greatest health risk that is associated with the fertility drugs. Some people acquire these symptoms after embryo transfer. However, HFEA has made restrictions on the number of embryos that should be transferred. The babies that are formed from the multiple births are likely to be premature among other health risks.

Surrogacy is considered to be an effective method of obtaining children. This biological method is faced with risks that fall on the mother and the preceding births. However, this method requires screening to ensure that it is effective. Those intending to proceed with this option should seek legal advice in order to reduce complications after the process. This is because surrogacy has encompassed various health risks that prompt further medical advice. In order to obtain mature babies who encompass the normal birth weight, it is advisable to consult a health expert before proceeding with the decision.

Woman Infertility as a Global Problem

The American Pregnancy Association points out, “Infertility is a condition that affects approximately 1 out of every 6 couples” (“Female Infertility”, 2019). Infertility is a global public health issue that silently affects more people that the average person assumes. Because this issue is not openly talked about, many people are unaware about the topic and it becomes stigmatized. In this paper, the pathophysiology, population affected, current ideas treatment measures, nursing care, other possible consideration regarding this health topic, and any emerged research available over infertility will be explored.

The pathophysiology of infertility is very complex and includes a multitude of routes upon what could go wrong in the process of conception. What is infertility? In general, infertility diagnosis is given to a couple that has been unsuccessful to conceive over the course of one full year. This includes miscarriages and stillbirths. Infertility is assessed in a thorough physical exam that includes a medical history regarding potential factors that could contribute to infertility (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 2019). Typically a medical and family background, occupational and lifestyle history, physical examination, and laboratory testing are also done. This condition does affect both the men and female population, both physically and mentally. As Medline Plus explains, “ About a third of the time, infertility can be traced to the woman. In another third of cases, it is because of the man. The rest of the time, it is because of both partners or no cause can be found” (“Infertility”, 2019). First let’s start with conceiving in a normal fertile couples compared to where it could go wrong. In general, problems can arise from both female problems, male problems, or a combination. The fundamental steps for a female is hormones, oogenesis, implantation, and then the potential for pregnancy. The essentials steps for a male include hormones, spermatogenesis, (maintaining an) erection, and lastly ejaculation. The most common causes for infertility is age, ovulation, and issues with the fallopian tubes, uterus, or spermatogenesis. Issues with hormones, which leads to an concerns with ovulation in females, can come from other disorders in the body such as anorexia and bulimia. Tumors and cyst in both male and females can cause an issue and block center organs from undertaking their job in conceiving. Another issue is excess weight or more commonly underweight, which can also lead to thyroid gland issues. Lastly, another classic problem in woman that can cause infertility is a damaged or not functioned uterus. This can be a result from pelvis inflammatory disease (PID), polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), polyps in uterus, and endometriosis (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2019).

When faced with the situation of infertility there are several directions patient can navigate to try and treat the condition. The route infertility specialist typically take first, depending on what the issue is, is treating with drugs. Pharmacology dealing with infertility is like any other pharmaceutical class, it is changing and evolving constantly. However, there have been a some select drugs that have been a constant go-to medication for a good amount of time. The fist drug currently being used for treatment is Clomid. The classification of this is drug a non-steroidal fertility medication. Clomid works by stimulating the pituitary gland to release its hormones to stimulate ovulation such as luteinizing hormone. The type of clients that this medication works for is clients who have the predisposing medical conditions that prevent natural ovulation such as PID, PCOS, and endometriosis. A known side effect to be aware of when dealing with this drug is to know that Clomid has a reputation for causing multiples or twins (Multum, 2019). The main infertility drug is Bravelle. Bravelle is a pure form of the follicle- stimulating hormone (FSH). FSH is vital to conception as it aids in developing the eggs that are constructed in the ovaries and later join with the sperm to eventually form a zygote. “Bravelle is used together with other medicines to treat infertility in women with FSH deficiency. This medicine is also used to help the ovaries produce multiple eggs for use in ‘in-vitro’ fertilization” (Multum, 2018). The last drug that is used frequently is Crinone. The classification of this drug is a progestin. The type of clients that are prescribed this medication is those woman that are deficient in the adequate amount of progesterone in their body. Progesterone is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands that aids fertility by helping your body maintain the pregnancy by making modifications in the lining of the uterus. By changing the lining in the uterus, it makes the zygote attachment to the uterus easing in those beginning stages (Multum, 2019).

While the list of medications could go on and on, there are other current considerations for treatment. The main category of options includes a natural approach, traditional and over-the-counter methods, and infertility procedures. The first step doctors recommend is the natural approach. This is typically done within the first year of actively trying before couples are even considered ‘infertile’. This includes the craton method which is tracking ovulation through fertility awareness, diet, exercise, acupuncture, massage therapy, and Chinese therapy. Traditional and over-the-counter methods are next in line. The American Pregnancy Association has a resource guide in which they give a detailed explanation about the different tools. The first is a urine based ovulation test. It predicts your peak ovulation time so couples can plan the optimum time of intercourse. A more advanced ovulation prediction is an electronic fertility monitor. It works swapping the patients saliva or cervical mucus and tracing the electrolyte level changes. Supplement wise, the top selling is FertilAid. It is a concoction of prenatal vitamins and minerals all aiding to help trying-to-conceive woman help balance hormone levels and endorse regularity of cycles. Another interesting tool is a lubricant called Pre-Seed. Unlike most other lubricants that may not foster a safe atmosphere for sperm, Pre-Seed claims to not harm the sperm giving couples a higher chance of it connecting with the egg (American Pregnancy Association, n.d.). The last group of treatments are the infertility procedures. Some are test, some correct issues that are preventing conceptions while some others aide in conception. These include a wedge resection for polycystic ovaries, removal of polyps, dilation and curettage (D&C), endometrial receptivity analysis (ERA), in vitro fertilization (IVF), and zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT). It is also noteworthy to mention some other alternatives. The healthcare workers will also mention adoption, fostering, surrogacy, embryo adoption, and donor eggs or sperm to infertile couples. While infertility can be a discouraging diagnosis, there are many options for clients to explore which gives patients hope.

Working with patients diagnosed with infertility takes a special kind of nurse. Just as some a made for pediatric oncology, some are made for working with fertility care. This population that is affected has specific nursing interventions that is used to reach a specific goal and outcome. The first type of interventions include the nurse acting as an educator. Mostly including increasing awareness of efforts to decrease possibility of infertility. Included is preventing sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s), avoid illicit drugs and abuse of alcohol, stay in overall good health, having regular checkups with a gynecologist, and being mindful of the effects of hormonal birth control. Not that birth control causes infertility as its stigmatized but rather it masking certain preexisting conditions that cause infertility. The second types of interventions are ones that typically occur in the hospital or outpatient setting side. Nurses can perform blood draws, help with ultrasounds, assist with surgery, and most importantly act as moral support. Nurses act as a liaison through the whole process. Like a bridge between the patients and doctors.

Nurses also can work within the emerging research side of things. Two specific studies have recently been done that have surprised that general population. The first one being over the older male population. Rutgers University has concluded that just as older woman’s age increased risk of infertility and complications, so does males. The study concluded that men 45 and older indeed do have a ‘biological clock’ which decreased fertility. The decline in testosterone over the years with aging results in “sperm degradation and poorer semen quality” (Rutgers University, 2019). Additionally, it puts their companions at a greater risk for gestational diabetes, preterm birth complications, and preeclampsia. Another interesting study is in correlation with aspirin and infertility. The US Department of Health and Human Services claim that taking aspirin has an advantage for procreation measures. In short it increased blood flow which in turn reduced risk for adverse events dealing with pregnancy. The increased blood flow during conception also increased overall placental health. EAGeR states aspirin, “ provide(s) an advantage for reproductive measures, including conception, implantation of the fertilized egg, early reproductive loss, late fetal death, and low birth weight, among others” (Schisterman, 2018). New information like these two case studies are constantly being done to help understand infertility as much as possible.

While the stigma of infertility can often make victims feel alone, they are not. Infertility is quite prevalent and it’s a global health issue that merits to be recognized. The pathophysiology, population affected, current ideas treatment measures, nursing care, other possible consideration regarding this health topic, and any emerged research available over infertility is quite complex but important nonetheless. As Margaret Thatcher encourages, “You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it”.

Depression and Infertility among Maldivian Females

Abstract

There is a natural requirement for people to have children and it is profoundly impacted by social and strict estimations of each society (Mohammadpur & Ghodrati, 2018). Religious and cultural values which are unique to every community, play major roles. Having children prompts an ascent to societal position, marital security, social and financial assurance and it also facilitates to receive care at old age (Mohammadpur & Ghodrati, 2018). In most cultures, parenthood is an utmost important part of every adult’s life and it is obvious that those who are infertile would certainly have to deal with several social stigmatizations.

According to World Health Organization (2012), infertility is a state of sterility where an individual is unable to have a child after 12 months or more of unprotected sexual intercourse. Looking into the statistics, infertility is common in roughly 10% of couples worldwide, among them 55% will seek medications in the expectation of accomplishing parenthood (Vo, Tran, Le, Do and Le, 2019). The experience of infertility is an unwelcome interference to the individuals who anticipate that parenthood should be the key identity and Greil (1991) stated that an overwhelming majority of the couples are taken by surprise as a primary reaction to the acknowledgment of their infertility. Females after being diagnosed with infertility often experience elevated psychological symptoms most of which come under mental disorders like anxiety and depression (Mohammadpur & Ghodrati, 2018). As indicated by the World Health Organization (2012), depression is considered as one of the basic mental issues with the predominance among females being half higher than males and evaluated 350 million cases throughout the world. Women who are disabled in getting pregnant and giving birth to children face several negative life circumstances which include social isolation, stigmatization, marital instability, intimate partner violence or negligence, marital divorce, discrimination from the society (Hess, Ross & GilillandJr, 2018). All of these would contribute to the worsened psychological and physiological well-being. Therefore, this study emphasizes to compare the levels of depression among fertile and infertile females referred to IGMH.

The proposed model of infertility related stress by Newton, Sherrard & Glavac (1999) and master status model utilized with regard to infertility by McQuillan, Greil, White & Jacob (2003) provides the theoretical background for this study. The conceptual framework of both of the models is attached as Appendix A. The proposed model infertility related stress and master status model emphasizes how infertility leads to psychological distress. During the times when parenthood is considered as an ace status in the individual or by the community individuals live in, infertile females develop a strong need for parenthood and they completely reject the child-free lifestyle (McQuillan et al, 2003). The desire for having children will continuously remind them about the importance of parenthood and the fact that they are infertile. This can also be influenced by the representations of the society regarding the prominence of having children. When infertile women see others close to them, like family and friends having children and how their lives drastically changed after being blessed with kids, they will envy their life styles. All these factors will eventually lead to psychological distress such and increased depression among infertile females.

There are several researches conducted to examine the differences in mean depression levels of fertile and infertile females and the studies supported the theoretical framework. The cross-sectional study, which was conducted by Lakatos, Szigeti, Ujma, Sexty & Balog (2017), to compare the mental status of fertile and infertile females is a good example. The study used 134 primary infertile women and 91 fertile women and they were given three questionnaires to complete in order to track the mental status and interviews were held to find out the sources contributing to mental health. Data after being analyzed through t-test and linear regression showed that infertile women were younger but had significantly worse psychological well-being compared to fertile women among the participants. Age, social concern, maternal relationship and sexual concerns were reported factors associated with depression and anxiety in infertile women (Lakatos et al, 2017).

Another study by Mohammadpur and Ghodrati (2018) also showed that 75.9% of infertile females experienced depression to different severity levels. The study used a total of 385 infertile females aiming to examine the prevalence and severity of depression and also the factors affecting it among females diagnosed with infertility. With the help of the Beck’s Depression Inventory questionnaire, researchers calculated the severity of depression and a demographic sheet was given to evaluate the factors (Mohammadpur & Ghodrati, 2018). Total of 24.2% cases had not a single evidence of depression but among the remaining 75.9%, 11.7% had severe depression, 25.2% showed depression at a moderate level while 39% were reported of having mild depression (Mohammadpur & Ghodrati, 2018).

A much recent study conducted by using 401 infertile women also predicted high prevalence of depression (Vo, Tran, Le, Do and Le, 2019). It was a cross-sectional study in which PHQ-9 scale was used to calculate the individual depressive symptoms. Also, a face-to-face interview was carried out using structured questionnaires (Vo et al, 2019). The results showed 12.2% of participants having depression and it showed different levels contributing to the total percentage of prevalence with regard to the source of reproductive impairment and past experiences with substance abuse (Vo et al, 2019).

Three studies used only females as participants and also focused on finding the related factors of depression other than evaluating the depression levels. However, the sample size is significantly different in every study and the first study focused on comparing the depression levels by using fertile and infertile samples as participants.

According to a systematic review conducted by Greil (1997) infertility is a progressively distressing life experience for women contrasted with men. The literature included 22 studies done to evaluate the differences in the levels of distress between fertile and infertile samples of which 14 studies showed psychological distress such as depression and anxiety is higher among infertile participants (Greil 1997). With respect to basic findings of the systematic review infertile women are likely to be more depressed with low levels of self-esteem compared to infertile men. Griel (1997) also concluded that infertile women are more possibly to blame themselves as well as considering infertility as an unacceptable phenomenon.

Numerous studies have provided empirical evidence that psychological consequences associated with infertility is determined by several factors (Vo, Tran, Le, Do & Le, 2019; Mohammadpur & Ghodrati, 2018; Samani, Maroufizadeh, Navid & Amini, 2017). Under psychological consequences many studies examined the levels of anxiety (a sense of threat, excessive worrying) and depression (a sense of sadness, misery) and it is claimed that depression and anxiety is highly prevalent among infertile people (Vo, Tran, Le, Do & Le, 2019; Mohammadpur & Ghodrati, 2018; Samani, Maroufizadeh, Navid & Amini, 2017; Oladeji & OlaOlorun, 2018). Also, according to Neter and Goren (2017), females experience the mental impacts more paying little respect to which companion has reproductive impairment, since it is quite often females who undergoes obtrusive procedures. However, there is lack of researches conducted to examine this context in the Maldives. Hence this study will provide an understanding of the situation in the Maldives focusing only on Maldivian females.

The aim of this research is to compare the depression levels of fertile and infertile females referred to IGMH and with respect to existing literature it is hypothesized that the prevalence of depression would be higher in infertile females compared to fertile females.

Ethical consideration

Informed consent will e given to the participants prior to the initiation of the study and also ethical approval will be taken from Healthy Ministry prior to the conduction of the study. Participants will have their right to withdraw from the study anytime they want since participation is purely voluntary. Confidentiality and anonymity will be maintained through out and personal information of each participant will be under supervision ensuring that the only researcher will be able to access to it. If any ethical issue arises during the conduct of the study, it will be dealt accordingly.

Methods

Participants

Random sampling technique will be used to select the sample from the whole population of females who are diagnosed with primary infertility and females who had a miscarriage or a child within the last year. The sample will be selected between January 2019 to June 2019 and it will include females referred to IGMH. Since the exact population size is unknown the sample size would be auto calculated by Raosoft sample size calculator, that is 377. However, for the conduction of research exact population should be determined through the registers of IGMH. The inclusion criteria will be married females of age group of 18-45 years old and females who are not under any contraceptive methods. Married women are used because, according to the Maldivian cultural and religious values, people intend and try to have kids only after getting married and the age group is determined by several previous literatures. Exclusion criteria would be females previously diagnosed with depression, females who experienced continuous miscarriages of at least four and pregnant women and females who does not have a national identity card. Continuous miscarriage is a type of infertility and pregnancy is a critical time period in which females are more prone to depression

Design

A quantitative study based on open-ended questionnaires to calculate the depression levels of both groups, fertile and infertile Maldivian females.

Materials

The participants will be provided with consent forms to sign followed by a questionnaire designed for the collection of demographic data such as age, contraceptive methods, if used. Beck’s Depression Inventory is a standardized questionnaire which will be used to asses the severity of depression levels in both groups, the questionnaire is attached as Appendix B. This questionnaire contains 21 self-evaluated questions with four steps (0-3) Likert responses. The total would be used to determine the severity of depression each individual attains.

Procedure

Ethical approval will be taken from Health Ministry and IGMH prior to the conduct of the study. Participants will be randomly selected from IGMH. They will be contacted and information about the survey will be shared and those who are willing to take part voluntarily will be given date, time and location of the study. The survey will be conducted in the Dharumavantha Hospital. As soon the participants arrive they will be provided with consent forms and information about how the study will be continued. The demographic sheets will be given to complete followed by the Beck’s Inventory Questionnaire.

Results

The data will be analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 24 and statistical and descriptive will be generated at a significance level of 0.05. Independent samples t-test will be carried out to determine the differences in the levels of depression between fertile and infertile females. Tables and histograms or bar graphs will be generated to further evaluate the results. Mean, mode and standard deviations will be calculated. Severity percentages will also be calculated.

Discussion

Pre-existing literatures which were carried out to examine the depression levels comparing fertile and infertile females showed that depression levels are higher among infertile females compared to fertile females (Alhassan, A., Ziblim, A. R., Muntaka, S, 2014; Demyttenaere, Nijs, Evers-Kiebooms & Koninckx, 1991; Kazandi, Gunday, Mermer, Erturk & Ozkinay 2011; Mohammadpur & Ghodrati, 2018). These studies were done in different regions of the world consisting of several cultures and ethnicity hence, most probably this study would also yield in consistent results of the prior studies showing higher levels of depression in infertile females when compared. Since this research would be the very first study done in Maldives to establish the context of depression and infertility, it would be providing for the literature review that could be used to further to carry out more researches. A qualitative study can be conducted to collect more in-depth information on the factors associated with infertility in females.

Implication of the Study

This study will show the significance of the mental help even during the hospital visits since better psychological well-being is an important aspect of every individuals life. Infertile

Females will be more aware about the possibilities of them suffering from depression and they will also be more prone to seek help, if required. As it is going to be indicated by the outcomes, it will be alluring to build up psychological and psychiatric services in the IGMH for the individuals who are undergoing infertility treatments as well as for those being diagnosed. These facilities would be encouraged by decreasing the mental side effects of infertile females.

Conclusion

Infertility is one of the most stressful life events a female may have to come across which would result is lower psychological well-being. Depression is a mental disorder that is reported to be highly significant in infertile females. Hence, this research is a quantitative survey based on two open-ended questionnaires to collect data from fertile and infertile females referred to IGMH. The results will be analyzed through SPSS and t-test will e carried out. Since this study is the first study that will be conducted in Maldives, it will provide the inferential statistics regarding depression and infertility among Maldivian females.

Can Mumps Cause Infertility of Men?

What is mumps?

Among many viral infections’ mumps can cause many types of conditions. It is mainly affecting Parotid glands. Earlier children were the target of this contagious diseases. But after the introduction of MMR vaccine this condition had been controlled. When the children are attacked by the mumps virus they are getting a swollen area just below the ears at the side of their faces. It can be really painful. This face with swollen sides are called hamster faces. But there is a question we are having nowadays. That is; can mumps cause infertility of men? Well this article is all about that question. So, let’s go through the story of mumps.

Find out the cause of mumps

The cause of the mumps is mumps virus. Among various types of virus families in the medical world mumps virus belongs to the virus family called paramyxoviruses. This common virus family attacks the children specifically.

What happens when mumps virus enters your body is that it moves in your respiratory system. Likewise, they travel through your mouth, nose and throat and finally reaches to its target destination which is the parotid glands. These glands are existed at the both sides of the face and are producing saliva. At these glands this mumps virus starts to reproduce itself causing swollen glands. It also attack the cerebrospinal fluid. This fluid surrounds the spine and brain while protecting them. Once they have made their entrance to the cerebrospinal fluid it continues to spread towards various body parts including brain, testicles (of men), pancreas as well as ovaries of the ladies.

Symptoms of mumps

As discussed earlier the most recognized symptom of mumps is the swollen face right under the ears. This happens because of the Parotid gland swelling. These Parotid glands are the producers of saliva. Apart from that mumps can cause headaches, high body temperature, never ending pain in the joints, etc. These symptoms can appear few days before you get the swollen face. When someone is infected with the virus the symptoms will start to appear after 14-25 days. After you get the swelling at the side of the face it will become hard to swallow and will cause tenderness and pain. Also, you will feel sick and tired with dry mouth, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, etc.

Apart from causing infections in Parotid glands and other symptoms mumps can also cause severity in the testicles. This condition is named as orchitis. When that happens, the male testicles gets inflammatory.

How are you going to identify that you have mumps?

Well this is a tricky question. Even though mumps is not that much of a serious illness it has the symptoms of more critical diseases such as tonsillitis or glandular fever. So, to check whether you have mumps you should contact and visit your general physician. It is the best option you have so they will give you a correct diagnosis. Before you go to him you should tell him the symptoms you are having so they will take the necessary precautions to prevent the infection from spreading. After you visit the physician he will check the swelling places and the other symptoms and decide the sickness you are exactly having. According to their inspection if they suspect that you are having mumps then they are sending a sample of your saliva to confirm it.

What are the way mumps spreading?

There is no difference in the way of spreading between mumps and cold and flu. It is the same way. If you get contacted with a small drop of saliva which comes out from an infected person’s mouth or if you inhale those droplets accidentally then there is a huge chance that you will be also get infected. These viruses are transferring to the outside world through the infected person’s mouth or nose. Once they sneezed or coughed there are thousands of tiny saliva droplets would be released from the nose and from the mouth. These droplets are breathed by people around and the virus will easily enter to their systems also.

Apart from breathing mumps virus can be transferred through objects also. When an infected person touches some object, most commonly such as; seats in public transportation, work tools in an office environment, school equipment etc, the virus is transferred into those objects. So, when someone touches those objects the virus will easily enter their respiratory system.

If you unknowingly shared cups, utensils, plates, cutlery with someone who is already infected then it is going to be your blind mistake. One is at the maximum contagious level prior to the development of the symptoms and also for some days after developing the symptoms. If someone is affected with the mumps, it should prevent from spreading. Specially stay away from the young adults and teenagers who are not vaccinated.

When someone is having mumps there are several ways of preventing it from spreading such as;

  • Wash the hands using soap regular basis
  • After using the tissues for sneezing please be thoughtful to dispose them.
  • If someone gets affected by mumps, he/she should avoid contacting other people at least for five days. It means stay away from your work or school.

Who can get affected by mumps?

Young adults are the biggest target of mumps virus. Specially the ones who were born in between 1080 to 1990. This is because that those times the kids didn’t get MMR vaccine in their childhood. If they had mumps in their childhood the immunity would develop in their body through their whole life, so they would be prevented by the mumps virus when they become young adults or teenagers. But if the didn’t have mumps in their childhood that immunity wouldn’t adopt by their body and they would be easily become the targets of mumps.

Make sure you and your kids get the vaccine for mumps. Actually, that is a combined vaccine which pushes away mumps, rubella and measles. This is called MMR vaccine and it creates immunisation from childhood. You should give the first dose to your children when they are nearly 12 to 13 months in age and the 2nd dose should be given at the age of 3yrs and 4 months. After these two dosages 95% your child’s body will be immune to the mumps.

What are the common treatments used for mumps?

Currently there is no cure available for mumps. No one has found any cure for mumps. The only thin is wait and let the sickness pass with the time. Normally it will take to 1 to 2 weeks. By taking below actions you pass get some relief and make it pass away sooner.

  • Have more fluids and have a good bed rest.
  • Take painkillers to get a relief from the body pain. Paracetamol and ibuprofen are suitable painkillers for mumps. Avoid giving aspirin for the children below the age of 16.
  • Press the swollen areas gently with a fabric soaked from warm or cold water.

Complications

Normally mumps doesn’t harm the body and gradually passes away from the body with the time. It is not causing any serious damage to the body. But sometimes in rare occasions it can cause some serious damages.

One damage it can cause to the body is opening a freeway to harmful viruses like meningitis. This serious condition will occur if the virus reaches to the outer layer of the human brain.

Another harmful condition which can because of the mumps is the inflammatory testicles. This happens only with the male bodies which passed the puberty stage. There is a chance that if the both testicles get affected by this condition that it will lead to the infertility. But the chances are very low and those are very rare cases. So, there is nothing to worry about that.

Connection between mumps and the infertility

Orchitis is a condition occurring in testicles as a side effect of the mumps virus. A person can get an inflammatory testicle as a result of it and there is a chance to become infertile because of that but under some conditions. It a male person gets infected with mumps before he gets matured sexually then he is not going be affected by orchitis. But if he gets infected after getting sexually matured then there is a chance that he might get affect by orchitis. According to the researches 30% of the males gets affected by orchitis after they gets infected by mumps. So, there is a chance you might get the orchitis after getting infected by mumps virus. Out of those 30% there is one third of a chance that the both testicles will be affected. As a result of this testicles will become weak and it will reduce the amount of sperm producing. But don’t worry. If someone goes completely infertile because of getting mumps after he got matured sexually then it is a very rare case. Orchitis cannot lead to 100% infertility. So, can mumps cause infertility in men? Yes. But not completely because the possibility is very low. To become infertile both testicles have to be affected by orchitis and even though that happened no one can say that person is going to be infertile. Chance is very rare and low.

Mumps orchitis infertility treatment

Mumps orchitis is a serious condition which occurs because of the mumps virus. Under this condition if the patient has passed the puberty period there is a chance that he might get inflammatory testicles which will finally lead to infertility. But the chance for this to happen is very low and very rare.

After the introduction of MMR childhood vaccine, the mumps orchitis condition has been reduced gradually over the years. But sometimes still there re very rare cases can be found. So, at such conditions people wonder are there any treatments for mumps orchitis.

Well yes there are mumps orchitis treatments. But before going into that aren’t you curious what is happening to the testicles when someone is attacked by mumps orchitis? Now it’s time to know.

After getting infected with mumps orchitis the testicles are encountered with testicular atrophy. During first few days of getting infected with mumps, the virus will enter and start attacking testicular glands. This will lead to inflammatory testicles. This can lead to lower testosterone levels, increased level of leuteinizing hormone and reduction in sperm production.

Even though the testosterone level becomes normal after a few months the sperm production still stays al low levels in some cases. This condition can sometimes lead to infertility. But the chances of happening such thing is very rare.

As for the treatments when someone gets affected by mumps orchitis he should get a plenty of bed rest, fluids, support of the scrotal and also, he should take anti inflammatory medications. These should be nonsteroidal medications.

In some researches they suggest broad-spectrum antibiotics which will control the bacterial infection in the testicular tissues up to some level.

Steroids treatments also helps to control the pain as well as oedema. Even though it helps in some way by controlling steroids cannot destroy the root cause of the disease and also cannot help preventing complications occur in the future. There are also several side effects occur when someone goes with the steroid’s treatments.

Interferon treatment is another type of treatment for mumps orchitis. By doing this treatment systematically it prevents the atrophy in the testicles as well as the infertility. According to the experiments done with the patients’ systematic interferon usage has prevented the damage occurred in testicles because of mumps orchitis and the treatment has also prevented infertility.

Final Conclusion

Mumps is a virus which can sometimes cause no damage to the body and at the same time capable of doing serious damage to the body. So, can mumps cause infertility in men. Yes, but the chances that to happen are very rare. In case if that happens there are mumps orchitis infertility treatments to cure those complications.

Infertility: Biological, Social and Ethical Concerns with In Vitro Fertilization

Introduction

In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) is a procedure than has been gaining popularity in the last 40 years. It has allowed more than 8 million babies to be born that would have otherwise not been due to infertility, and involves the joining of an egg and sperm in a specialised laboratory environment. The fertilised egg or embryo is grown for several days before being transferred into the mother or surrogate’s uterus in the hopes that it will successfully attach to her uterine lining. The first successful case of IVF was in 1978 after the birth of Louise Brown, and ever since advanced fertility treatments have been growing in popularity.

Although IVF is used to overcome the often depressing and degrading issue of infertility, it can also negatively impact society, the offspring of even the parents in the process. These issues and more will be discussed in the following report.

Figure 1: Graph to show pregnancy rate through IVF in Australia https://www.ivf.com.au/sites/default/files/images/1st_pic.png

Biological Process

IVF is an extensive process and begins by the mother being prescribed fertility medications for several months to allow her ovaries to produce several eggs ready for fertilization. This process is called ovulation induction. Once enough mature eggs have been produced, a doctor will remove them in a process called egg retrieval through a minor surgical procedure. The eggs are them mixed with sperm cells from the mother’s partner or donor in a laboratory through insemination. Fertilization then occurs. In some cases, sperm that have a lower motility may be directly injected into the eggs to further promote fertilization. The cells in the fertilized eggs then divide and become embryos. 3-5 days after the egg retrieval, 1 or more embryos are placed into the mother’s uterus through embryo transfer. If any of these embryos attach to the lining of the uterus pregnancy will occur.

Figure 2: Image to show the process of IVF http://www.ocfertility.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IVF-graphic-1a.jpg

IVF can be used for couples who experience:

  • Fallopian tube damage or blockage
  • A genetic disorder
  • Unexplained infertility
  • Impaired sperm production or function
  • Previous tubal sterilization or removal
  • Uterine fibroids (benign tumours in the wall of uterus)
  • Endometriosis
  • Ovulation disorders

Risks can include:

  • Multiple births (resulting in low birth weather and/or early labour)
  • Premature delivery and/ore low birth weight
  • Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (ovaries become swollen and painful)
  • Miscarriage
  • Ectopic pregnancy (egg implants outside uterus, e.g. in the fallopian tubes)
  • Birth defects
  • Cancer

Biological, Social and Ethical Concerns with IVF

Biological issues

IVF has allowed millions of previously infertile couples to have children, and in doing so may have negatively impacted human evolution. From a biological point of view, a couple who is infertile will cease to have children, and this has the ability to either lower or maintain a population’s numbers. By bypassing this biological issue, more and more children are being born and this has the ability to dangerously contribute to overpopulation.

Another issue associated with IVF is genetic alterations. Although it is not common, being able to choose which embryos are implanted into the mother or surrogate allows – in some situations – for the parents to customise their child. They may be able to select their gender, presence of certain illnesses, or even specific physical traits. This ability to manipulate the genes of a child is incredibly dangerous, and if allowed it may make way for a society of carefully designed and perfected offspring who will know only perfection.

Social issues

One of the main social issues associated with IVF is the presence of religion in one’s life. According to a report published by the Pew Research Center in 2012, more than eight-in-ten people in the world identify with a religious group. The most common religions being Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists among many others. The following table constructed by the Pew Research Center reflects the percentage of each religion followed compared to the world’s population at the time (2012). Those under the category ‘unaffiliated’ did not register as following any particular religion.

Table 1: Table to show percentage of followers of major world religions in 2012 conducted by the Pew Research Center.

Of these most common religions, only some allow the use of IVF. For example, those who consider themselves a Jew, are allowed to participate in IVF as they are obligated to “be fruitful and multiply”. However, for those who are a part of the Catholic church, assisted reproduction is prohibited as it separates procreation and sexual normal function (Pope Pius XII, 1956). “Children are a gift and a blessing from God and that although science makes some things possible it does not make them right.”

Another social issue is how legality effects the process of IVF. In Australia, legislative changes have recently been made to allow access to IVF to be much more streamlined. A focus has been put on abolishing discriminatory barriers for those in same sex relationships, and those who are infertile. However, this process has not been so easy all over the world. One of the main legal difficulties with IVF is the ownership of remaining embryos not used by the couple. For example, in 1981 an American couple went through the IVF process in Australia with help from an anonymous sperm donor. Two embryos were placed in cryopreservation, however the couple died in a plane crash in 1983 without ever leaving a will. This is where the main issues first arose, as the embryos no longer had an owner, as they could equality be the property of the surrogate, the sperm donor or even an adoptive father and mother. Another issue is that this couple were incredibly wealthy, so these embryos had the possibility of inheriting millions of dollars. Issues like this are becoming more and more common with the increasing popularity in IVF, and generally stem from the ownership of an embryo.

Ethical issues

One of the most often talked about factors of IVF is its ethicality, as there will always be superstition around new and transformative discoveries. One of the main questions is about harm, and what may come of the embryo/child, parent or even society.

A popular query is whether an embryo can be considered as a ‘person’, and whether destroying or donating them is ethical. If the embryo is considered human, destroying it is illegal as it’s considered as murder, but if it is only considered as protoplasm (material of a living cell) there is no harm in destroying it. Personhood is merely a social construct and although many have attempted to pinpoint it’s exact occurrence it is currently impossible. Some consider personhood to begin at conception while others believe it’s at birth, this is why it’s such a hard moral issue to solve.

Another question of ethicality is whether the IVF process is safe for the mother, whether it be a surrogate or not. During IVF, multiple embryos are placed inside the mother to increase the chance of offspring successfully developing, however this can also lead to multiple pregnancies which can take a toll on her health. And in more serious cases, there is a slight increase of fatalities compared to natural pregnancies. In a report by Susan Bewley, an obstetrician at Kings College in London, 42 deaths were recorded after 100,000 IVF pregnancies while only 6 deaths were seen among 100,000 natural pregnancies in the general population.

One final issue is the effect that IVF can have on the community surrounding the infertile couple. One might argue that financial resources needed to support ill citizens in society are being wasted with IVF on a couple who are biologically not expected to reproduce.

Opinion and conclusion

It is clear to see that IVF has the ability to change the lives of couples living with the disappointment of infertility. Although it is constantly criticised for its controversial nature, it cannot be ignored that in vitro fertilization can be a life changing miracle. IVF has become incredibly successful, and although some believe it could lead to a change in mankind’s evolution, it is most definitely not a big issue in perspective. It is issues like climate change and global warming that are posing the biggest threat to humankind, and if IVF can bring hope and joy to families across the world, then why not let it?

References:

  1. Hanevik, H., Hessen, D., Sunde, A. and Breivik, J. (2019). Can IVF influence human evolution?: Table I. https://academic.oup.com/humrep/article/31/7/1397/1749729
  2. HN Sallam, N. (2019). Religious aspects of assisted reproduction. [online] PubMed Central (PMC). Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5096425/ [Accessed 13 Oct. 2019].
  3. CultureWatch. (2019). IVF and Legal problems – CultureWatch. [online] Available at: https://billmuehlenberg.com/2014/09/16/ivf-and-legal-problems/ [Accessed 13 Oct. 2019].
  4. WebMD. (2019). Do IVF Pregnancies Raise Death Risk for Mothers?. [online] Available at: https://www.webmd.com/infertility-and-reproduction/news/20110127/do-ivf-pregnancies-raise-death-risk-for-mothers [Accessed 16 Oct. 2019].
  5. Plannedparenthood.org. (2019). What Is In-Vitro-Fertilization (IVF)?. [online] Available at: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/pregnancy/fertility-treatments/what-ivf [Accessed 16 Oct. 2019].
  6. Amnon Goldworth. The Ethics of In Vitro Fertilization [online] Available at: https://pedsinreview.aappublications.org/content/20/8/e28 [Accessed 16 Oct. 2019}

The Psychosocial Impacts of Infertility

Infertility is defined as the inability for couples to achieve a pregnancy after twelve months of regular, unprotected intercourse when the woman is less than 35 years of age or after 6 months past the age of 35 (Perry, Hockenberry, Lowdermilk, Wilson, Keenan-Lindsay, 2017). Infertility has increasingly become a serious health concern and is affecting the quality of life of 11.5-15.7% of childbearing age couples (Perry et al., 2017). Due to its increasing incidence and complex nature, it is important for health care providers to better understand the psychosocial implications of infertility and how to improve the health of infertile couples (Sherrod, 2014). The purpose of this paper is to discuss the psychosocial impacts of infertility on childbearing couples, including the emotional consequences manifested by loss of control over one’s life and marital dissatisfaction. This paper will also discuss how social support networks impact the health of infertile couples, as well as emotional and physical nursing strategies to improve their health.

Failure to conceive children can cause men and women to feel extreme emotional suffering (Cousineau & Domar, 2007). Whether the infertility is implicated by the man, woman, or both, the psychosocial health of the couple is compromised through emotional suffering (Cousineau & Domar, 2007). For many couples one of the most painful emotional consequences is the loss of control over one’s life (Cousineau & Domar, 2007). When couples experience infertility it tends to become a prime focus in the relationship (Cousineau & Domar, 2007). This often causes the couple to exclude other important aspects of their lives and temporarily put their career and lifestyle aspirations on hold, or, completely eliminate them (Cousineau & Domar, 2007). When a couple decides to partake in medical treatment, significant life changes need to be made in order to accommodate the strict demands (Cousineau & Domar, 2007). Families may need to adjust their lifestyle according to the frequency of treatments and doctor visits, whether the timing is convenient for them or not (Cousineau & Domar, 2007). Consequently, this loss of control is difficult for couples to accept and adjust to therefore impacting their psychosocial health by increasing their stress and anxiety (Cousineau & Domar, 2007). Another emotional consequence that affects the psychosocial health of infertile couples is decreased marital satisfaction (Cousineau & Domar, 2007). Because medical treatments need to be accurately scheduled, the demand of allocating time to the medical needs can be difficult which disrupts marital satisfaction (Cousineau & Domar, 2007). According to Cousineau and Domar (2007), the demand of scheduled intercourse can lead the couple to view sex as mechanized and as a result reduces the desire and intimate nature of sex, which to some, is an important aspect of marriage. Marital dissatisfaction intensifies the challenges that infertile couples are already facing, therefore increasing their stress and impacting their psychosocial health (Cousineau & Domar, 2007). The emotional consequences of losing control of one’s life and the marital dissatisfaction that may occur, can be difficult for infertile couples to cope with. Their increased levels of stress and anxiety, while common, need to be carefully managed to ensure that the negative impacts on couples’ psychosocial health does not persist.

Infertile couples often experience social isolation from family and friends. Their assumed or actual feelings of unacceptance and lack of empathy due to their infertility can cause a couple to isolate themselves from their social support networks (Cousineau & Domar, 2007). Social support networks affect the health behaviours of individuals and their use of the health care system through practical, emotional, information, and affirmational support (Potter & Perry, 2014). As reported by clinicians and researchers, women often view infertility and treatments as stressful, therefore, impacting their psychosocial health (Lykeridou, Gourounti, Sarantaki, Loutradis, Vaslamatzis, & Deltsidou, 2011). It is crucial to understand the couple’s level of stress and ensure they have adequate, positive social support networks to help them cope with a difficult experience (Lykeridou et al., 2011). Because bearing children is seen as a natural and crucial part of marriage, couples who are unable to conceive often feel alone in their experiences (Luk & Loke, 2015). Infertility can question an individual’s role as a man or woman, and therefore resort to isolation from others. According to research conducted by Luk and Loke (2015), the best way to cope with infertility is mutual support and consideration from partners. Their research found that infertile women who were unsatisfied with their husbands’ support experienced increased stress levels than those who were satisfied (Luk & Loke, 2015). In support of this research, Chow, Cheung, & Cheung (2016), found that couples who supported each other through their infertility were able to better cope with their challenges (Chow, Cheung, & Cheung, 2016). Also, findings from Allan (2013), showed that couples who reached out to support groups in the community were beneficial as psychosocial interventions, and that sharing experiences helped couples through their difficult time (Allan, 2013). Social support networks from family, friends, and the community allow individuals to experience positive health outcomes. It is important for infertile couples to engage in positive social support networks since infertility can be a very stressful and heartbreaking experience to cope with.

Nurses play an integral role in supporting the health of couples who experience infertility. Nursing strategies may include being an emotional support to the couple by providing counselling or psychotherapy, or, nurses may implement physical interventions for diagnostic or treatment purposes (Sherrod, 2004). Education is also important for couples as it allows them to cope with the infertility processes and teaches them that the psychosocial responses to their infertility challenges are normal (Chow, Cheung, & Cheung, 2016). Regardless of the nursing strategy used, knowledge of emotional and physical aspects of the interventions will increase the positive health outcomes for the couple (Sherrod, 2004). Stress and anxiety are among the few psychosocial health aspects that nurses need to focus on minimizing and managing within infertile couples. In a study conducted by Chow, Cheung, and Cheung (2016), the result of cognitive-behavioural therapy and supportive psychotherapy was a significant decrease in levels of stress, anxiety and depression related to infertility (Chow, Cheung, & Cheung, 2016). Also in the study, interventions relating to coping skills training resulted in a significant decrease in anxiety level in women receiving IVF treatment (Chow et al., 2016). Physical interventions such as mind-body interventions which incorporate relaxation techniques as well as health behaviour trainings also resulted in improved depressive symptoms, decreased stress levels, and increased social supports (Chow et al., 2016). Infertility may be a difficult obstacle to over come for many couples. Nurses need to implement emotional and physical interventions such as counselling, coping-skills training, and mind-body interventions in order to improve the psychosocial health of infertile couples (Chow et al., 2016).

Infertility has increasingly become a serious health concern among childbearing age couples (Perry et al., 2017). This time period for some can be very painful and therefore impact their psychosocial health. The emotional consequences of infertility including loss of control of one’s life and increased marital dissatisfaction may increase the level of stress and anxiety in some couples which may cause them to draw away from their social support networks (Cousineau & Domar, 2007). It is important for nurses to play an active role in not only educating the family, but also to implement research-based strategies proven to improve heath of infertile couples including emotional and physical interventions.

References

  1. Allan, H. T. (2013). The anxiety of infertility: the role of the nurses in the fertility clinic. Human Fertility, 16(1), 17-21.
  2. Chow, K., Cheung, M., & Cheung, I. (2016). Psychosocial interventions of infertile couples: a critical review. Journal of critical nursing, 25, 2101–2113.
  3. Cousineau, T. M., & Domar, A. D. (2007). Psychological impact of infertility. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 21(2), 293-308.
  4. Luk, B. H. K., & Loke, A. Y. (2015). The impact of infertility on the psychological well-being, marital relationships, sexual relationships, and quality of life of couples: a systematic review. Journal of sex & marital Luk, B. H. K., & Loke, A. Y. (2015).
  5. Lykeridou, K., Gourounti, K., Sarantaki, A., Loutradis, D., Vaslamatzis, G., & Deltsidou, A. (2011). Occupational social class, coping responses and infertility‐related stress of women undergoing infertility treatment. Journal of clinical nursing, 20(13‐14), 1971- 1980.
  6. Perry, S. E., Hockenberry, M. J., Lowdermilk, D. L., Wilson, D., Keenan-Lindsay, L. & Sams, C. (2017). Maternal child nursing care in Canada (2nd ed.). Elsevier, Canada.
  7. Potter, P. A., Perry, A.G., Stockert, P.A., & Hall, A.M. (Eds.). (2014). Canadian fundamentals of nursing (5th Cdn. ed.) (J. C. Ross-Kerr, M. J. Wood, B. J. Astle & W. Duggleby, Cdn. Adapt.). Toronto, ON: Elsevier Canada.
  8. Sherrod, R. A. (2004). Understanding the emotional aspects of infertility: implications for nursing practice. Journal of psychosocial nursing and mental health services, 42(3), 41- 47.

Suggestions For Coping With The Infertility

Introduction

Becoming a parent is one of the most satisfying and accomplished feelings in the life of a woman. Motherhood is not only beautiful but it also brings many positive changes in a woman`s life. Alternatively, if a woman is infertile or cannot bear the baby due to any other reason then that’s the equally stressful and heart-wrenching feeling for her and even for her partner. According to a piece of research, infertility is very common between the age of 15 to 44 and around 20 to 25% of women are facing infertility today. It’s a really difficult and challenging thing to deal with and in this concern, many organizations and platforms are working to help such women coping with this problem and also provide consultation to them to make them realize that they are not alone in this and there is nothing blame yourself.

In the same regard, you should first know what infertility is before finding out the particular ways to deal with this situation. Infertility is a condition of the reproductive system in which a woman is not able to carry the child, in other words, the inability of becoming pregnant is infertility. Two conditions can be considered as infertility, if a woman gets pregnant but is unable to bear the fetus for long and undergo pregnancy loss or miscarriage, that situation might be considered due to an infertile system. On the other hand, if the woman is not getting pregnant even after a year of trying then that condition is also considered infertility.

There are many ways to deal with this stressful condition. The person should primarily consult a trusted gynecologist and figure out that if the problem could be treated medically. The other options are IVF treatments and even surrogacy. There are several ways to deal with it medically by relying on advanced smart technologies. However, if some got failed in such things and cannot get treated then the other most wiser step is adoption. Although coping with this loss is not easy, a person can get mentally and physically disturbed due to this problem and might destroy her future as well. Everyone has their way to deal with the situation depending on the seriousness of the moment and the consequences. You can also reach out to womanshealthcenters.com/celebration/ if you have any questions about infertility. Many platforms are working to assist in this concern to the women.

Ways to Deal with Infertility

Confess Your Emotional state

The primary step to deal with infertility is to accept your feelings and grief because it is obvious that losing a child or not having a child is one of the biggest emotional traumas that can influence your mental and physical health. So stop pretending to be okay and confess your emotional stress.

Be Open to Your Spouse

The state of being infertile can cause many problems and misunderstandings between a couple. Once you find out about infertility you should speak and share your emotions with your partner because he is the only one who is available at that time more than anyone. That might help you to overcome your emotions and maintain a better understanding of your spouse.

Approach A Counselor

Some people cannot share their emotions in a better way and some cannot even digest the fact of being infertile. In this concern, you should visit a trusted fertility counselor who can guide you with genuine terms and facts and can give you effective advice on which you could rely. They can even suggest multiple options that might help you to think wisely.

Consider All Your Options

The very important factor is that once you figure out all the actual issues you should stay calm and find out all the possible ways to treat the mishap and consider all the available options. Usually, people hesitate at some points like with treatments, and then face consequences later. Therefore, try on all the possible approaches.

Join Supporting Groups

It’s somewhat relaxing when you realize that you are not alone in this. Joining an infertility supporting group can be mentally comforting and helpful as well, the conversation brings new hopes in the life. You can figure out the situation even more wisely when you engage with the people facing the same issue.

Involved in Positive Activities

Sometimes when a person is experiencing grief and it gets difficult to overcome such things then it’s a good idea to get your attention diverted and engage in some positive activities like workouts, writing, or any other way that can make you happy and give positive vibes and contentment.

Stop Blaming Yourself

Infertility is a personality disorder and women start to blame their selves for not being able to give birth to a child. In many families, the woman is blamed always for such things and that makes the situation even worse. But self-awareness is very important, you should know that this disorder is not your fault, it’s a medical issue and is natural. As soon as you accept this fact and avoid blaming yourself for this the process becomes much easier for you.

Be Optimistic

Hope is the only thing that keeps us alive and enables us to take risks in our life. It’s very important to stay positive and stay optimistic that there is some way to deal with this problem. Although on the other hand being hopeful doesn’t mean to deny what is real. You should accept the facts and take steps accordingly in your life.

Go Easy On Yourself

Self-care should always be a person’s priority, it’s like a machine if you get harsh on it, it stops working or disturbs other functions as well. You need to be healthy and fit and take care of your physical and mental health both because it’s only you who can take the best care of yourself.

It might take time to accept things and overcome this situation and your emotions but there`s nothing impossible and there are always many ways to make things positive. It’s better to do it on your own otherwise take help from a trusted person and make things easy for yourself. Life is so beautiful and full of joy if you lose one thousand others who might be waiting for you.