Currently, millions of couples around the world are facing infertility issues and India is no exception. According to the Assisted Reproductive Technology Society of India, there are 27.5 million infertile people in India, including both men and women. Adding to this, a recent Lancet study found that India’s total fertility rate will fall to 1.29 by 2050, highlighting the seriousness of the problem. Infertility is a huge burden both physically and mentally. The impact of this condition on an individual’s physical health is receiving increasing attention and discussion. However, the fact that it can have a significant impact on an individual’s mental health still lacks the necessary attention and discussion.
Why does infertility lead to depression?
Various studies on infertility and reproductive health have primarily focused on the physical effects of such conditions. While it’s true that infertility has a big impact on your physical health, it’s also important to consider the impact on your mental health. Infertility often drives individuals, especially women, into depression. The inability to fulfill the desire to embrace motherhood and the social stigma associated with it greatly affects women and negatively impacts their mental health.
As a result, it leads to depression. In addition to this, it is natural to experience feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and failure while struggling to conceive. If these feelings and emotions are not taken into account, they can lead to depression. Depression can present in unusual ways, making it difficult for others as well as the person suffering from it to identify and recognize it.
Assisted reproductive technologies (ART), such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intrauterine insemination (IUI), are currently being explored by women suffering from infertility. However, for successful results, it is important for those undergoing these treatments to be aware that they can be both physically and mentally draining. Although there are a variety of treatments and strategies available to overcome the physical difficulties caused by these treatments, the mental health effects are considered common and, as a result, remain unaddressed. It has become. Treatment often takes longer than expected and can have a significant impact on a woman’s mental health, often leading to depression. Experts also point out that the stress caused by infertility can have a significant impact on the hormonal balance in the body, further disrupting the balance needed to ensure mental well-being.
