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The Emotional Impact of Infertility: Exploring the Need for Counseling

October 9, 2025

Pregnant woman holding her stomach and laying down.

Choosing to start a family is a big step – one where it’s important to prioritize your mental health. And once a woman begins the process of trying to get pregnant, a common thing we hear is, “I thought it would be so easy. I thought it would just happen.” This might be the reality for some, but for so many, it is not. Approximately 9% of men and 11% of women of reproductive age experience infertility in the U.S., and yet the topic is still one that often causes a person to experience feelings of shame around and to blame on themselves. Those feelings of shame and blame also have the side effect of making the topic of infertility seem taboo, which perpetuates the cycle, and often leads to people trying to deal with these challenges on their own and to suffer in silence. 

In today’s world, the discussions around infertility are changing – most importantly in that they are much more frequently taking place in public. The increased level of conversation about this topic helps to remove some of the self-blame and stigma that so many women tend to default to. You may be facing infertility in a short-term way, where attempts to get pregnant have been unsuccessful; you may have longer-term or permanent infertility, where you’ve been struggling for a long time. No matter how you are experiencing infertility, it is a major source of stress that can affect your mental health. Infertility struggles are often accompanied by big feelings, such as those of frustration, helplessness, and impatience. No matter how infertility is specifically affecting you, you do not need to suffer alone. There are people and resources who can help – things that can make you a little less alone on your journey. Some of these are things you can do on your own, while others involve counseling and professional help.

Practice Self-Care

Woman working out alone.

Trying to get pregnant when facing infertility causes increased stress, which is not a good state to be in, especially while trying to conceive. Practicing self-care is a powerful tool to help you address that additional stress, and help to keep you in a good headspace. And remember, self-care looks different for everyone, and should be centered around activities that will feel positive and nourishing to you – for some this means finding time for daily meditation, for others this might be finding time to exercise, or it might mean making time to do a craft – there’s no right answer other than the one that is right for you. 

Limit Blame

Infertility is not your fault, no matter how personal these struggles may feel to you. It’s caused by a range of factors, some we know, some we don’t, but in most cases, these are entirely out of your control. It’s easy to blame yourself, but it’s not true, and it’s not productive. 

Educate Yourself

There is so much information available about infertility, but as we all know, that can be not just overwhelming, but also lead us down the wrong path. Take the time to consult with a number of trustworthy sources. Read about the medical options available for infertility treatments, and the normal responses to those treatments, as well as any common potential side effects. 

Build a Network

Friends holding hands over coffee.

Many of the negative and inaccurate perceptions about infertility are made worse because people are dealing with them in isolation. Start by talking with your partner, if you are on this journey with one. Open communication between the two of you will ensure that you’re taking the time to understand where you are each at during this trying process, and support each other along the way. It’s also important to pay attention to the effects infertility may have on your relationship, and get outside support if you need it.

Remember to also lean on your network beyond just you and your partner. There are so many other people in the same challenging circumstances, and they can be such a meaningful form of both comfort and support. Perhaps there is a social media community of others who are experiencing similar things, or a local support group to meet with. As hard as it is to face infertility, finding others to share your journey with is a powerful way to share the struggles and reduce your personal burden.

Pay Close Attention to Your Mental Health

Struggling with infertility wears on you emotionally. It’s important not to just push through those big feelings, or they’ll just keep growing. Instead, take the time to pay close attention to your mental health. Feeling symptoms of depression and anxiety can be totally normal in the face of infertility, 

Get Professional Support

Woman in front of her computer for therapy.

Many are quick to find professional help for the physical aspects of infertility; it is just as important to make sure that you get help with the emotional challenges as well. Those emotions are big, possibly overwhelming, and can be particularly hard to navigate on your own. This is not something you need to suffer through alone – meeting with a therapist can be a powerful way to get the support you need to weather the ups and downs of your infertility. Counseling can also be something that you do with your partner, to help you navigate the challenges you’ll endure in your relationship while struggling with infertility, so that you can come out of this experience as a strong couple. 

So with all of this in mind, what’s next? As with so many struggles in life, a key path forward is to focus on what you can do. And one major thing you can do to take care of yourself is to reach out for help.  

At Manhattan Wellness, we are here to help you navigate the challenges with infertility.  If you are interested in therapy for your maternal mental health or couples therapy to help keep your relationship strong: 

  1. Submit a Contact Form or Email us at hello@manhattanwellness.org
  2. Learn More About Our Team and Our Areas of Expertise
  3. Prioritize Your Maternal & Relationship Mental Health

FIND CONFIDENCE AND NURTURE YOUR MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH IN MANHATTAN, BROOKLYN, OR NEW YORK

At Manhattan Wellness, we understand that this is a time of transition and adjustment. From adjusting to your new identity as a mom to navigating infant and postpartum care, it can be an overwhelming process. One that no one prepared you for. That’s why our female therapists want to support you in prioritizing your maternal mental health during the fourth trimester. Let us help you take care of yourself so you can feel confident in your new role as a mom. If you are interested in therapy for your maternal mental health

  1. Submit a Contact Form or Email Us at hello@manhattanwellness.org
  2. Learn More About Our Team and Our Areas of Expertise
  3. Prioritize Your Maternal Mental Health!

OTHER THERAPY SERVICES AT MANHATTAN WELLNESS IN MANHATTAN, WESTCHESTER, BROOKLYN & THROUGHOUT NEW YORK

Our therapists understand that with becoming a new mother, there can be a variety of different needs that arise. Apart from helping you navigate the fourth trimester and maternal mental health, our therapists also offer a variety of services to cater to your individual needs. The therapy services we offer are Anxiety Treatment, Therapy for Depression, Stress Management, and Therapy for Women. As well as Therapy for Self-Esteem, support for, body image therapy, and so much more. Do you feel like you’re not living the life you want and need to make changes? Let’s talk about it.

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