ABSTRACT
Chapter 3 addresses the deep psychological impact infertility has on both individuals and couples. Many people anticipate having children as part of their own transition to adulthood. They dream about and plan for the day they will have families of their own. When this dream does not become a reality, complex emotions and negative experiences such as grief, stress, anxiety, depression, anger, self-blame, and doubt can occur. In many cases, psychological disorders develop or worsen. While the experience of infertility can lead to intense emotional distress, the process of undergoing infertility treatment itself carries its own repercussions for mood and well-being, including anxiety related to the financial burdens of treatment. In addition, some individuals are never able to conceive or give birth to children of their own. They may experience intense grief and despair as well as a sense of hopelessness and helplessness. Some may experience disenfranchised grief because the loss is not acknowledged or validated by others. This can prolong pain and further complicate the grieving process.
