Understanding the Causes, Signs, and Treatment of Depression Related Infertility | Infertility and Depression

Infertility and depression frequently go together. While you may not be surprised to learn that infertility can lead to depression, you might not know that people who experience depression are more likely to have fertility problems. You may also be surprised to learn that depression during pregnancy and after pregnancy (postpartum depression) is more common in women who have struggled with trying to conceive.

But just because depression is common among the fertility challenged, this doesn't mean you should ignore it or fail to treat it.

What Is the Difference Between Depression and Regular Sadness?

It's completely normal to feel sadness when dealing with infertility. You may get hit with the blues when your period comes, when a fertility test comes back with bad news, when treatments fail, or upon diagnosis of infertility. You may also feel sadness when reminded of your fertility struggles, like when a friend throws a baby shower or your sister has her fourth child.

One difference between sadness and depression is sadness lifts after some time, while depression lingers, involves other symptoms, and interferes with your life. How serious the depression is depends on how much it affects your daily life.

Signs of depression include:

Sadness that lasts for weeks or months.

• Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.
• Frequent crying or tearing up.
• Frequently irritated or intolerant of others around you, specifically people who you used to enjoy being around.
• Lack of motivation, struggling to get work done at the office or around the home.
• Difficulty sleeping, either sleeping too much or unable to sleep well (insomnia).
• Difficulty with eating, either overeating or experiencing low appetite.
• Struggling with experiencing pleasure in life, including a low interest in sex.
• Frequent feelings of anxiety or worry.
• Thoughts of dying, self-harm, or suicide.

What Causes Infertility-Related Depression?

Infertility is a stressful condition, having a strong impact on your sex life, relationship, sense of self-worth, and daily life. In the midst of testing and treatments, infertility may literally feel like it has become your entire life, as you go to and from doctor appointments. All of this stress can potentially contribute to the development of depression.

Depression is more common among the fertility challenged who have a family history of depression, who experienced depression before their fertility struggles, or those who lack a support network. Infertility frequently causes feelings of shame, which may make it more difficult to talk to friends and family about your struggles. This isolation makes depression more likely.

Some hormonal imbalances that cause infertility may also contribute to mood symptoms and vulnerability to depression. Be sure to mention to your doctors if you're experiencing any feelings of a low mood, as it may help them diagnose your infertility and manage your overall care.

Can Depression Cause Infertility?

No one definitively knows whether depression itself can cause infertility, though some studies have found a correlation between depression and increased rates of IVF treatment. Some theorize that this may be due to an overlap in some of the hormonal issues involved in both conditions.

Also, depression may lead to lifestyle habits that can negatively impact your fertility. For example, depression often causes overeating or lack of appetite, and being overweight or underweight can cause infertility. People who are depressed are more likely to smoke or drink, which can also hurt your fertility.

Will Pregnancy Cure the Depression?

If not getting pregnant is contributing to depression, it seems logical to assume that finally achieving pregnancy will cure depression. However, this isn't always the case. In fact, those who have experienced infertility are more likely to feel depression during pregnancy and are at an increased risk for postpartum depression.

How to Choose a Fertility Clinic - Eterna IVF and Fertility Clinic

Choosing a fertility clinic is a very important decision that should not be taken lightly and should be given much thought. It can be very overwhelming when couples are faced with trying to make a decision that will have such an important impact on their life. There is such an abundance of fertility clinics to choose from that the options can seem endless. To compete with other fertility clinics, clinics will often advertise and boast about their positive attributes and high success rates. Couples reading through clinic literature often feel bombarded by all of the material and may have a difficult time deciphering what is truth and what is fluff. Although statistical data about high success rates is important, it is not the only factor that should be looked at when choosing a fertility clinic. There are many other reasons for selecting a clinic that may be the right choice for you. There are a few easy steps that any couple can take to help them find the fertility clinic that is right for them.

Method 1 of 3: Know the Signs of a Bad Fertility Clinic

Before you can identify the steps needed to locate a good IVF treatment clinic, you need to know and watch out for the warning signs of a bad clinic.

1. Watch out for fertility clinics whose physician is only available part time. Many doctors that work at a fertility clinic also have a full time job working in a hospital performing deliveries or other types of gynecological work.

The problem with a doctor who is available only part time is that he may not be able to provide you with the time and service that is needed to ensure that you have the best care possible and to give you a higher chance of conceiving. Part time clinic doctors are most likely to be burdened with busy schedules and preoccupied with their other full time job.

Some clinics have been known to only bring in a part time embryologist once or twice per month to perform fertility procedures. These doctors will usually make all of their patients come into the office on this same day to perform fertility procedures. This method can lower your chances of conceiving because you may not produce eggs at the same rate as someone else, but you will be forced to receive your treatment only on those days when the embryologist can be there.

2. Be on the lookout for a fertility clinic that does not offer the wide range of services that better clinics offer. Especially important to watch out for is a clinic that does not include embryo freezing facilities, which are essential to a good clinic. If a clinic does not have a freezing facility, it should immediately be taken off your list of potential clinics, as many facilities like this have been known to donate your eggs to someone else without your consent.

3. Be leery of fertility clinics that refuse to show you their fertility equipment or facilities.

Some fertility clinics purchase second-hand, poor or older equipment that is out of date. These types of clinics increase your risk for infection because they cannot service their equipment properly and they often reuse fertility devices.

Method 2 of 3: It is Important to Check a Facility’s Credentials

There are several credentials and facts to check when looking into a fertility clinic.

1. Find out how long the program has been established. The level of experience that a fertility clinic has is very important. The longer a clinic has been in business, the better the facility likely is because it has been around long enough to have been proven credible.

2. Find out the clinic’s pregnancy rates. Check the published pregnancy rates for a facility. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publish pregnancy rates for most fertility clinics.

Be careful when checking these rates. Some clinics will turn away patients who have a very poor chance of becoming pregnant just to keep their rates high. Rather than looking just at the numbers, inquire about specific clinic policies and turndown rates as well.

3. Check to see if the clinic is a member of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology or SART. SART requires all members to follow ethical guidelines in order to be considered for and maintain membership. They will also do spot checks of the clinic to ensure that all guidelines and rules are being upheld.

4. Check to make sure that all of the physicians are board certified. It is important for them to be board certified specifically in Reproductive procedures such as embryology.

Make sure that all of the physicians at the clinic work on site. You will receive better medical care if the physician is available to assist you when you need him.

Method 3 of 3: Familiarize Yourself With the Different Services That a Clinic May Offer

When you inquire about all of the services that a clinic offers, it becomes easier to see if that particular clinic offers the specific service or fertility treatment that you need or want.

1. Check to see if the clinic offers in vitro fertilization as a therapy for women with all types of fertility issues.

Some clinics will only offer this fertility treatment as a last resort, when all other fertility methods have failed. Some fertility clinics do this to boost their pregnancy rates. You want to find a clinic that offers a wide range of services to help you conceive.

2. Check to see if the clinic offers treatment for male infertility programs as well. This could be something you may need if the male in the relationship has already been tested and proven to have the fertility issue. Additionally, there are many instances in which male infertility is discovered after the woman has been receiving fertility treatments. Starting out at a clinic that offers male infertility services will prevent you from having to switch doctors if a problem is discovered later on.

3. Check the costs. Each clinic should disclose in writing the costs of treatment. It is important to pick a clinic that is affordable to you, but you should not skimp on the quality of care just because one place is more affordable than the other. Inquire about payment plans, insurance carriers that are accepted and partial payments for failed pregnancy attempts.

4. Check to see if the clinic offers psychological counseling. Fertility treatments can be extremely stressful for couples. It can be very helpful if a clinic has on site psychological counseling to help you find some good stress coping techniques during this difficult time.

Is Surrogacy for you? Eterna IVF and Fertility Clinic

Only a very caring and unselfish person would even consider becoming a surrogate mother. The rewards of giving such an incredible gift are great, but, so are the stresses and the sacrifices. Being a surrogate is not easy and it is not for everyone. So, how do you know if it is for you? The best advice we can give is to think hard about the many ways being a surrogate will affect your life and do a little soul searching.

Below, we have listed several important issues you should take into account when you are trying to decide if becoming a surrogate is for you. If, after considering everything in this article, you are still interested in becoming a surrogate and you think you would be a good candidate, we wish you the best of luck in making your lucky couple's dreams come true!

Your Physical Health

• How is your health in general?
• Do you have any long-term illnesses that might prevent you from successfully carrying a pregnancy to term?
• Do you have a good reproductive history?
• Did you conceive easily?
• Were your pregnancies and deliveries reasonably easy and without complications?

Your Support System

• If you are married, does your husband support your decision to be a surrogate?
• If you are not married, do you have someone who you can talk to for support during the surrogacy?
• If your children are old enough to understand surrogacy, are they comfortable with the idea of you becoming a surrogate?
• How will it make you feel if/when you are confronted by others who may disapprove of your being a surrogate?
• How will it make you feel if/when your children are confronted by others who may disapprove of your being a surrogate?

Emotional Issues

• Can you be reasonably sure that you are capable of giving up a child that you will carry for 9 months?
• In traditional surrogacy, you will be the child's genetic mother. Will it be difficult for you to let go of a child that you have a genetic link to?
• Will becoming a surrogate cause problems within your marriage?
• Will becoming a surrogate cause a great amount of stress in your relationships with those closest to you (family, friends, coworkers, etc.)?
• As with any pregnancy, there is always a possiblity of complications which could result in fertility problems for you down the road. How would it make you feel to no longer be able to have children as a result of the surrogacy? How would it affect your marriage?

Medical Issues

• If you will be a gestational surrogate, are you prepared for the medical protocol, which will require daily injections?
• The chances of a multiple pregnancy are increased in gestational surrogacy. How do you feel about carrying multiples?
• How would you feel if your doctor requires you to drastically reduce your activity or go on bedrest in the event of a high-risk or multiple pregnancy?

Decision Making

• If it was discovered that the child you are carrying has a physical defect, how will you feel about terminating the pregnancy? (Note: If you would not be comfortable terminating the pregnancy, it does not mean that you will not make a good surrogate. It only means that you need to find a couple who agrees with your point of view.)

For more information about surrogacy click here

IVF: Risks May Outweigh Benefits, Say Experts

The first baby was born using in vitro fertilization in 1981. From then until 2003, more than 1 million babies were born using the treatment, and this increased to 10 million by 2015. Now, a new analysis published in the BMJ suggests that in vitro fertilization may be overused, and the risks of the treatment could possibly outweigh the benefits.

In vitro fertilization (IVF) was first created as a treatment option for women who had fallopian tube disorders and men who were severely infertile.

But the team of experts who conducted the analysis, led by Dr. Esme I. Kamphuis of the Centre for Reproductive Medicine at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, states that in recent years, IVF has been used for other conditions that affect fertility, and it has even been used to treat unexplained fertility problems.

For example, they say between 2000 and 2010, the number of annual IVF cycles in the US increased from 90,000 to 150,000. However, the proportion of IVF cycles for tubal problems reduced from 25% to 16% during this period.

The experts point out that unexplained fertility accounts for around 25-30% of couples undergoing IVF treatment. But they note that when not treated with IVF straight away, most of these couples are able to conceive naturally before treatment.

Extended IVF use 'harmful'

The experts argue that extended IVF use increases the risk of harm to both the mother and offspring.

"Multiple pregnancies are associated with maternal and perinatal complications such as gestational diabetes, fetal growth restriction, and preeclampsia as well as premature birth. And even singletons born through IVF have been shown to have worse outcomes than those conceived naturally," they write.

Furthermore, the authors say there are also concerns surrounding the long-term health of children born through IVF. They note that these children may have higher blood pressure, adiposity, glucose levels and more generalized vascular abnormalities, compared with children who are conceived naturally.

"These effects seem to be related to the IVF procedure itself rather than to underlying subfertility," the experts add.

IVF has 'evolved as a profit-generating industry'

The experts say that the progression of IVF is being prevented by "a lack of will to question its perceived success."

They add that at present, bodies who fund the treatment are not interested in funding studies that investigate the long-term safety of IVF.

What is Surrogacy? Eterna IVF and Fertility Clinic

In recent years, surrogacy has become a common form of assisted reproduction. If you’re looking to learn more about it, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s start off by defining the term.

The Definition

Surrogacy is when a woman bears a child for another person or couple, becoming pregnant either through in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intrauterine insemination (IUI).

Gestational vs. Traditional

There are two types of surrogacy: gestational surrogacy and traditional surrogacy. In gestational surrogacy, the more common practice, a surrogate becomes pregnant via in vitro fertilization and is not genetically related to the child to whom she gives birth. In a traditional surrogacy, a surrogate becomes pregnant via intrauterine insemination, uses her own eggs and has a genetic connection to the baby. While traditional surrogacy was the more common practice in years past, today the vast majority of surrogacy arrangements involve gestational surrogacy.

Compensated vs. Uncompensated

When arranging a surrogacy, there are two options: compensated surrogacy and uncompensated surrogacy. In a compensated surrogacy, the surrogate receives payment for her services, the intended parents pay all medical costs, and the parties typically work with a surrogacy agency. In an uncompensated (sometimes called “altruistic”) surrogacy arrangement, the surrogate is often a friend or relative of the intended parents, and she receives no payment outside of reimbursement for medical expenses. The majority of surrogacy arrangements today involve compensated surrogacy.

Common Surrogacy Situations:

• people turn to surrogacy to build their families for various reasons. Intended parents include:
• eterosexual couples who have repeat miscarriages or several failed assisted reproductive technology attempts, such as in vitro fertilization or intrauterine insemination
• Intended mothers who are unable to carry a child
• Intended parents who have a genetic defect or health condition they don’t want to pass onto the child
• Same-sex intended parents who want to have a genetic link to the baby

Getting Pregnant

The process by which a surrogate becomes pregnant depends on the type of surrogacy. With gestational surrogacy, the surrogate becomes pregnant by IVF—the intended mother’s eggs or eggs from an egg donor are retrieved through a surgical procedure and fertilized by sperm in a petri dish. The resulting embryos are cultivated in the laboratory for several days and one or more are then transferred into the carrier’s uterus.

Remaining Frozen Embryos

Frozen embryos are stored at your IVF clinic. If your family is complete, you will be advised on your options for the future of your embryos. If you choose to move your embryos, your IVF center will assist you in that process. Of course, you may use the cryopreserved embryos in a future surrogacy if you choose.

Intended Parent Qualification

Becoming a parent is a life-altering decision that shouldn't be made lightly. We ask intended parents to fill out our parenting questionnaire and participate in a free consultation, which helps them to fully understand the emotional, financial, and psychological components that come along with surrogacy.

A Lifelong Gift: 5 Benefits of Becoming a Surrogate

As a gestational surrogate, you have no genetic link to the child you carry. Your body becomes a home to your intended parents’ (IPs) child. And through your nine-months of gestation brings a lifetime of happiness for a family that may not have been created without your generosity and help.

With that in mind, we compiled a list of the top five benefits of becoming a surrogate.

1. Enriching the lives of your IPs as well as bringing one into the world. IPs pursue surrogacy for many reasons— some are same-sex couples, some are heterosexual couples who struggle with infertility, and others are single parents who want to start a family. Your act of becoming a surrogate gives the gift of life to you IPs.

2. Developing a bond with your IPs. At Circle, we believe that the relationship between a surrogate and her IPs is of the utmost importance for both parties involved and for the child’s future. By carefully matching surrogates with IPs who have similar expectations on the type of relationship they’re willing to build, we can help create a heart-warming and fulfilling experience. The relationship is a reciprocal one, and Circle works with you and your IPs to ensure that both parties are comfortable and excited to work together.

3. Receiving top-notch care. As a surrogate with Eterna Surrogacy, you are closely monitored by some of the best healthcare professionals in the country, ensuring that you receive the best possible care.

4. Earning financial compensation. In addition to the altruistic reasons for becoming a surrogate, you are compensated for your time and dedication. Eterna’s surrogates earn between Rs. 50000 and Rs. 100000 with the potential to earn up to Rs 80000 in additional reimbursements. IPs view payment as a small gift in return for your immeasurable blessing that you’ve given them.

5. Experiencing complete support. Not only will you have support and care from your intended parents, but you will also have a team here at Eterna Surrogacy who will be with you every step of the way. You will move through your surrogacy journey with a group of people who will make sure that you are happy, healthy, and safe at all times.

Every woman’s experience as a gestational carrier is different. However, there is a common sentiment Rani Gupta (a former Eterna surrogate!) captures in her Youtube video about her experience. She notes, “This was their pregnancy- they just didn’t have the stretch marks to show it.”

IVF for Surrogacy and Egg Donation: An overview for intended parents

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is the medical procedure behind gestational surrogacy and egg donation. In the process, eggs are removed from an egg donor or from the intended mother and fertilized with sperm in a lab to create embryos. The resulting embryos are grown in laboratory conditions for 3-5 days. In a surrogacy arrangement, these embryos are then implanted into the uterus of a gestational surrogate. In an egg donation arrangement, they are transferred into the intended mother.

In preparation for the IVF procedure, surrogates and egg donors undergo medical treatments. An egg donor will self-administer injectible medications to stimulate the production of eggs. A surrogate takes medications to prepare her body for the embryo implantation.

Intended parents need to make a variety of choices in conjunction with the medical team at your IVF clinic. These decisions directly affect not only the success of the procedure, but also the number, health, and the biological makeup of the prospective children. The quality of the resulting embryos may affect the number that is recommended to be implanted. You may also have legal agreements in place that stipulate the number of embryos that can be transferred. You will also need to determine what to do with any remaining frozen embryos following the procedure.

The egg retrieval and IVF procedures are brief. Following the embryo transfer, your surrogate will require a period of bed rest. At any point in the process, you should feel free to reach out to your IVF clinic for any medical questions or to Circle with any questions about your contract, travel, or any other related issues.