Fertility Treatments Playing a Major Difference in Woman’s Life

Currently, about 5 percent of couples in the developed world experience some form of infertility. Most of these cases are a result of physiological problems in men or women. Out of these cases, one-third of the issue lies with either the woman or man, while in one-tenth of the cases, the problem is with both the partners. In roughly 10 to 20 percent of cases, reasons for infertility cannot be determined.

Men and women who face issues related to infertility reported having low self-esteem, depression, and poor body image. While men whose partners struggled with infertility did not show high levels of stress, those who showed signs of infertility reported being in distress.

However, in many cases, infertility affects women the most, and the impact is both physical and psychological. While infertility treatments may help women conceive, their effects also linger on for long, many of which have side effects as well. In this article, we will look at how IVF and other fertility treatments can create havoc on a woman’s life.

Fertility Treatments and their Impact

There are around 40 different treatments available to cure infertility. While a majority of the patients are cured using medication and surgery of reproductive organs, a small percentage of them undergo advanced treatments such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF).

Medical treatments such as IVF can add to the stress, anxiety, and grief that comes with not being able to conceive a child naturally. Women may also experience various mental health issues as they deal with the emotional and physical roller coaster that accompanies fertility treatments. These problems can range from mood swings to depression and frequent outbursts of anger and irritation. However, women who are unable to become pregnant even after IVF or other treatments are at a higher risk for depression and behavioral problems.

Women who undergo IVF treatment are at a higher risk for developing cardiovascular diseases later in life. The risk increases as a result of a jump in estrogen levels for inducing ovulation, which can increase the number of blood clots in the body after treatment. Further, studies have also shown that women who are treated using IVF are more likely to suffer from breast, ovarian, or uterine cancer as compared to those who have not received such treatment. However, females who fail to conceive even post-IVF are 19 per cent more likely to suffer from heart-related diseases and various forms of cancer.

Unfortunately, not much attention has been given to the long-term impact of fertility treatments on women. More emphasis has been laid on the causes of infertility and how to treat it than the consequences of the treatment.  Therefore, many of them either do not recognise the side effects or continue to suffer in silence.

However, there are several ways in which the severity of the side effects can be reduced. Counseling for couples, cognitive behavior therapy to help reorient thoughts, relaxation techniques such as yoga, deep breathing, and mindful meditation, and medication in the form of antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs can go a long way in helping women lead balanced and healthy lives.

While searching for the right kind of treatment, it is also important to plan how to fund it. With the help of a health card, you can finance your maternity treatments divided into easy EMIs. The Bajaj Finserv Health EMI Network Card provides you with a loan of up to Rs 4 that can be repaid in a flexible tenor of 3-18 months. However, if you also have these cards, these services can be availed more easily, as you can just swipe the card at more than 270 partner hospitals and receive treatment. To apply for a health Card, you just need to complete the KYC documentation online, and the card gets activated instantly.