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Psychological Preparation for the IVF Process

Every married couple wants to have children as time goes by. Although this is considered a very normal desire and experience, approximately 15% of married couples have difficulties in having children and go through treatment processes for this problem.


When couples begin to realize that they are experiencing a problem with reproduction and having children, they may have difficulty digesting this problem. As a result of this difficulty, couples may avoid accepting this problem. Initial reactions are generally shock and disbelief. As it progresses, couples may prefer to deny the infertility problem rather than accept it. The longer the denial process lasts, the longer the in vitro fertilization process will be delayed. What needs to be done at this point is for couples to accept the problem, seek help from experts and advanced technologies on this issue, and frequently remind themselves that they are not helpless.


Couples who accept the problem can also be assumed to have started the treatment process. If couples who are looking for a solution decide to have IVF, they should also keep in mind that this treatment is a difficult treatment in terms of physical, emotional and economic aspects. It is very important for couples who decide to have IVF treatment to choose an infertility treatment center and a doctor they truly trust, because in this type of treatment, all private issues between the couple will now be shared with the specialist doctor. IVF is a long and complex treatment process. If sufficient trust is not established between the patient and the doctor, many questions that may come to mind during this process will remain unanswered due to reasons such as embarrassment and insecurity. For this reason, disruptions and problems may arise in the treatment.


Another issue that prepares the couple for the treatment process is having enough information. While some of the information is provided by specialists such as doctors, nurses, psychologists and embryologists, it is also possible to obtain information from sources such as books and the internet. In this way, the couple will start the treatment process more prepared. However, the greatest information in this treatment will be from another couple who has previously experienced the in vitro fertilization process. In this way, they will also receive emotional and psychological support about the stages they will go through. Meeting similar couples helps them feel that they are not alone and that their problems can be solved.


Another thing to keep in mind before starting IVF treatment is that this process will tire the couple emotionally and psychologically. For this reason, it is necessary to minimize other stressful and tense moments of life. It is beneficial to postpone important decisions, stressful work or other major situations until after treatment.


When preparing for IVF treatment, the most suitable environment should be created for couples. Couples should pay attention to their relationships, physical activities such as sports, nutrition, and sleep; and they should stay away from bad habits such as alcohol and cigarettes as much as possible. Since such physical conditions are parallel to the person's psychology, a bad psychology also affects the person physically in a negative way. For this reason, couples' being healthy both psychologically and physically, especially during the treatment process, will play an effective role in the success of the treatment. It is also of great importance for couples who believe that they do not feel ready in a psychological context to receive psychological support before medical treatment. In this way, couples who have a good preparation process will be one step closer to positive results.


It will support couples who decide to receive psychological support in many issues such as minimizing anxiety and worry, keeping depression under control, communication between spouses and eliminating the fear of unsuccessful procedures. It will also be a reliable guide for couples regarding the indecisions, dilemmas and obstacles that you will encounter during this treatment process. It has also been determined that couples who are psychologically well prepared for IVF treatment and who go through the treatment phase peacefully have a much higher success rate compared to other couples. Therefore, get information about whether the clinic you apply to provides psychological support on this issue. If not, get help from a specialist. In this way, you will overcome everything with the help of specialists who will support you with their strong strategies in every stage of your IVF treatment process and you will be one step closer to achieving successful results.


One of the most difficult periods a couple can go through is undoubtedly infertility treatment. The most important thing that will make this period easier to overcome is the support and motivation that couples provide to each other. Because this is not a problem for the woman or the man. Couples who are aware of this will feel better psychologically when they accept the problem as a common problem and bond with each other, and they will strengthen the sacred bond between them through this problem. The most important factor in couples being able to create this dual support is going to doctor check-ups together. In this way, both men and women have access to sufficient information about the treatment process and can observe the progress of the treatment process. In addition, couples who go to check-ups together feel that they are facing the problem together and support taking healthier steps.



In general, individuals who have not encountered infertility in our society do not have information about what kind of treatment IVF treatment is and experience confusion due to insufficient information. Especially in the socio-cultural context, inadequate and undereducated groups, it is believed that having a baby with this method is not right. The most important factor in the formation of this idea is the idea that the genes of the mother or father who has the problem are not used. However, contrary to popular belief, IVF treatment is a treatment that proceeds with the egg sample taken from the mother and the sperm sample taken from the father. For this reason, the baby born as a result of IVF treatment belongs entirely to the mother and father. There is no question of taking anything from another individual.


However, during treatment, there may be cases where the woman does not have eggs or the man does not have sperm. In such cases, in order for reproduction to occur, the sperm of another man or the egg of another woman can be taken with the couple's request and permission. However, this donation method is not legal in Turkey and is only applied abroad. This method is actually the one that is confused with in vitro fertilization and causes reactions among the public and leads couples to unnecessary worries.


Because they are afraid of the prejudices and reactions that will occur among the public when these types of treatments are mixed, our couples usually prefer to keep it a secret that they benefit from this treatment and have a baby thanks to it. Even going to the hospital is kept secret during the treatment process. Avoiding these reactions is one of the important factors that increase the treatment-related stress of the couple. However, couples who think about the stress they will experience due to the reactions they will receive when they share that they are undergoing IVF treatment think that this stress will be greater. For this reason, they usually prefer not to share this process with their surroundings.


Another issue that causes a lot of concern among the public is the idea that the embryos, sperm or eggs taken during IVF treatment will be mixed with someone else's samples. One of the most common and familiar problems encountered by people working in the IVF unit is this unfounded concern. Information is provided prior to the treatment that they will not experience such a problem, questions are cleared up and couples are made to feel psychologically comfortable starting the treatment.

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