How to develop self-care habits for a happier fertility journey

The stress of infertility is real. And when we're stressed, we may fall back on self-indulgent habits that only make us feel worse. True self-care is about prioritizing your future self over your short-term desires. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun! In fact, self-care needs to be fun if you’re going to actually be consistent about it. If you’ve tried to incorporate more self-care into your routine but haven’t made anything stick, you might just need a fresh way of thinking about it — one that works with your existing desires and motivations, instead of against them. Here are a few ideas to spark some inspiration:

Guest UserJune 27, 2021self care, emotional health, mental health, patient support, stress

How to survive Mother’s Day while battling infertility

Bouquets of flowers. Hallmark Cards. Exuberant social media posts with photos of beaming mothers holding their newborns some taken thirty years ago, some thirty minutes ago. Mother s Day is not a day many typically associate with pain and loss. But for women battling infertility, the open and seemingly unavoidable celebration of motherhood can reopen wounds both fresh and old. It s important to take care of yourself as you work to build your family. One way to do that is to proactively plan how you ll spend certain holidays that make it a little harder to fight this battle. Another is to connect with others who are going through the same thing, or have been in your shoes before. So we asked our Instagram community for their best tips on how to survive Mother s Day, and here s what they said. 1. Keep yourself busy. Mother s Day is not a day to sit around the house not only because of what the day celebrates, but what day of the week it falls on!

Guest UserMay 3, 2021mental health, patient support

Infertility is a disease, and patients deserve a fighting chance

Having a biological child is not a luxury — it is what our bodies were designed to do. When they can’t, medical intervention is the natural course of action. Unfortunately, misconceptions about infertility carry over into our healthcare system, despite recognition of infertility as a disease by major health organizations. As a result, most insurance providers still don’t cover infertility testing and treatment, forcing patients to pay out-of-pocket or take out loans to finance their future families. When we downplay infertility as a second-class medical issue, treating it becomes a luxury only the 1% can afford. But fertility is for everybody. Each of us should have affordable access to reproductive medical care, including treatment for infertility. After all, infertility is an incredibly common disease, affecting an estimated 1 in 8 couples in the U.S. alone.

Guest UserApril 15, 2021advocacy, patient support, resolve

What self-care really means (and how to practice it)

Popular culture has trained us to associate self-care with indulgence - with treating ourselves and ‘me time.’ Don’t get us wrong - we love a good spa day or Netflix binge, and sometimes, that’s exactly what we need. But it’s important to realize that self-care is much more than that.

Guest UserMarch 4, 2021mental health, patient support

How to keep the romance alive during infertility treatment

For couples fighting infertility, the financial and emotional stress of treatment likely feels even heavier this year than it might have before. A strong, healthy relationship is still important for both your current mental health and the future family you’re creating. But like anything truly worthwhile in life, it takes work to keep that spark lit and burning bright.

Guest UserFebruary 10, 2021mental health, relationships, patient support

5 reasons for infertility patients to be optimistic about the future

If there's one thing all of us need at this moment, it's a reason to hope. Though we have seen troubling times, our enduring desire to build our families is not just an inspiring statement of hope for a better future, but a reason to build it. If you're struggling to build your family and need a little extra help feeling optimistic about the future, read on.

Guest UserJanuary 26, 2021mental health, patient support, effortless ivf, covid-19

How to feel better during your infertility journey

Scientific research tells us that gratitude is one of the best ways to beat stress and help patients cope with the physical and emotional demands of infertility treatment - but practicing it is easier said than done. Here are a few simple, practical ideas for naturally infusing more gratitude into your everyday life - and feeling better today.

Guest UserNovember 23, 2020mental health, patient support

How to cope with infertility: Advice from the doctors of CARE Fertility

After decades in their fields, our doctors have many words of wisdom, advice encouragement to share on how to cope with infertility. Here’s their best advice for couples experiencing infertility:

Guest UserDecember 4, 2019mental health, advocacy, patient support