With depression comes a greater risk for infertility, bolstering the case for psychological support
The desire to have children is age-old but, according to a UN report of fertility, for the one in five SA couples who struggle with infertility, getting pregnant is a double-edged sword. While infertility has a negative effect on mental wellbeing, its root causes can also lie in mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety.
Women with a history of depression are at greater risk for infertility, while a study in the International Journal of Urology found that depression and some anti-depressant medications can negatively affect male fertility . At the same time, a struggle with infertility is deeply stressful and can cause feelings of grief and isolation through to full-blown anxiety disorders and depression, as well as conflict in relationships and families.
“This makes psychological support a vital part of the ‘infertility journey’, both before starting and during infertility treatment, because good mental health can have a positive impact on the success of fertility treatment,” says Prof Renata Schoeman, psychiatrist and member of the South African Society of Psychiatrists ...A subscription gives you full digital access to all Times Select content.
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