Fertility Treatment and Mental Illness

[pinkdonkey]

Hi, DH and I were referred to fertility clinic yesterday. Our GP said they don't do any of the fertility tests they just refer straight to the experts. He also warned us that the fertility clinic would thoroughly dig into both our mental health histories and look into if we had any convictions against children! (We dont) We do both have mental health problems though my DHs serious and chronic though currently well controlled. He is under a psychiatric team who are fully supportive of out ttc journey and have assured us they will support us through this and in parenthood as we are fully aware it may not be straight forward.

My mental health problems are less severe but even so are affecting me significantly at the moment. I was on Mirtazapine but that made my cycles irregular so I stopped it and I am now not coping the GP is reluctant for me to be on antidepressants whilst ttc but has said if necessary I could take Flouxitine which has helped me before. He has warned me though that this carries some risks to the baby.

So had anyone been on antidepressants whist going through fertility treatment (I'm really not well at the moment and am not sure I will cope with the whole process without anything) I'm already seeing a counsellor who happens to also be the one who works at the fertility clinic and she is fully aware of both our mental health issues and fully supportive of us starting a family.

And what were you asked about your mental health and what impact if any did it have on your treatment. I'm already anxious and we have come up against stigma and discrimination already from medical professionals in our ttc journey so I am already on my guard.

Also does everyone get asked about convictions against children or was this just bought up because of the mental health issues. (I told you I'm feeling touchy after the stigma we have already faced)

Thanks I think I'm being over touchy about things. But then a friend who went though our fertility clinic said they werent asked about any of this stuff. Maybe she's forgotten as the questions werent relevant to them.

I've been put on fluoxetine BECAUSE infertility has made me really depressed and unable to cope. Both my gp and fertility clinic were fine with that.

It's well-recognised what a shit time this is - which is why this is the ONLY treatment that the nhs offers free counselling for.

You do need to do what you can to look after yourselves. I'm sorry you haven't felt total support from your gp.

Thanks the last 2 GPS I've been concerned about the impact on our mental health but professional and supportive. The first 1 was awful told me to "consider the moral implications" of us having children and despite having countless mental health professionals on both sides offer support and reassurances that all will be fine and that we will be great parents that one GPs comments keep ringing in my ears.

I'm glad everyone has been happy for you to take the Flouxitine. I know my GP has to discuss any risks with me but I had already researched them and decided they were tiny. It was just when I was in front of him I suddenly thought I must be a bad person for wanting to take something with any risk attached to it and felt as we were already being judged we would be even more judged as bad parents before we had even begun. I know that realistically I am not coping without it, and will be unable to get through this without it.

I think if you go for adoption they ask lots of mental health questions etc but not ivf - I certainly wasn't asked and haven't heard of them asking.

It's also not a criteria in any of the CCG guidelines for having ivf so I wouldn't worry.

However, ivf and fertility treatment is incredibly hard. I've never had any mental health problems but it has impacted on my mental health and I've found it the biggest challenge of my life so far - I expect the doctors are just wanting to check you feel robust enough to start the journey but maybe haven't done this in the most supportive way?

Good luck

Hi pink, I’m so sorry you’re going through all this.

The fertility clinic won’t ‘dig through your history’ exactly, but there are questions on the official HFEA consent forms you need to fill out for ivf which ask about convictions involving children - it’s a simple yes/no tick box.

Sorry pressed post too soon!

The only thing I would say is make sure you have as good a support network around you. Fingers crossed it will work for you first time but unfortunately (with respect to a previous poster), ivf doesn’t ‘work for most people’. I really really hope it does work for you, but I would advise you try and prepare yourselves for what you will do and how you will cope if it doesn’t (sorry I don’t want that to sound mean, I’m trying to be kind).

We found ivf quite exciting the first time we did it; the process itself was relatively straightforward and not too painful. In hindsight my main criticism of the clinic is that they were almost too positive - we were told we had excellent chances, everything looked perfect, etc etc, there was never any discussion of success rates. When it didn’t work it felt like we’d completely had the rug pulled out from under us.

Neither of us knew how to deal with it (no existing mental health issues) and it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to deal with.

It sounds like you’ve got good support in place so hopefully you will be fine, but I agree with hoping that ivf is a v tough process so do look after yourself.

Good luck!

Thank you,that's useful to know. I am working on getting myself back in a good place whilst we wait to be seen. DH is in the best mental health he has been in for years thankfully.