Psychologic aspects of providing infertility services

Abstract

Psychologic issues enter into all aspects of providing infertility services. At the onset the infertile are faced with decisions regarding treatment options. Treatment involves uncertainty and lack of control and exposes the couple to the possibility of failure. The introduction of in vitro fertilization and gamete intrafallopian transfer exposes a proportion of couples to successive experiences of failure. These treatments have implications for emotional processing; some factors can increase the likelihood of impaired coping. Specific ways of dealing with the psychologic needs of infertile couples at all stages of their treatment can be helpful.