Infertility FAQ
1. What is infertility and who does it affect?
Infertility:- “the inability of a couple to conceive after 12 months without the use of contraception, or the inability to carry a pregnancy to a live birth”.
Most couples assume parenthood will come easily and that conception will be the natural outcome of their loving relationship. It is only after they have been trying to conceive for 12 months without using contraception or are unable to carry a pregnancy to a live birth that they can be considered infertile.
Fact: 1 in 6 couples experience infertility.
2. What are the effects?
Infertility causes profound emotional and psychological effects. It is often the first crisis a couple has encountered in their relationship and it may test their abilities to communicate, threaten their sexuality, challenge their sense of self and disrupt their life plans together. Relationships suffer and often cannot tolerate loss. The financial and physical consequences of treatment for infertility can result in stress.
3. What is secondary infertility?
Secondary infertility is a term used to describe the inability to conceieve following the birth of a first child. It can come as a complete surprise when couples were able to conceive easily with a first child. Often they may have a diagnosis of "unexplained infertility".
4. What are the most common terms related to the treatment of infertility?
Medications – these are fertility drugs designed to stimulate follicles and ovulation
AI - Artificial insemination
DI – Donor insemination (usually anonymous)
IUI - Intra Uterine Insemination
IVF – In Vitro Fertilization – fertilization occurs outside the womb
ICSI – Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (for male factor IF)
Third Party Reproduction: use of donor gametes (eggs or sperm or embryos) to achieve a pregnancy
Surrogacy – carrier of child who is surrogate mother’s egg and donor father sperm
Gestational Carrier – carrier of a child who is not biologically related to the carrier
5. How can Beginnings help me?
Beginnings Counselling services will provide assistance for:
• Grief and loss
• Stress & coping management
• Treatment options & decision making
• Third party reproduction – issues & offspring
• Third party reproduction assessments
• Group support & resources & referrals
• Moving on – considering adoption or living childless
6. Does Beginnings have professional counsellors who understand what we are going through?
Yes. All Beginnings counsellors have specialized training and/or years of experience counselling in this unique area. Our counsellors know the medical terminology, procedures, and the emotional toll it takes on self esteem, and partner and family relationships.
7. Are Beginnings counseling services confidential?
All services are confidential. Consents are required to forward third party assessment reports to fertility clinics.
8. Are there costs associated with Beginnings counselling services?
Yes, Beginnings charges an hourly rate for direct counselling services, or on a per assessment rate for reports required for certain procedures performed in fertility clinics or physicians offices.
9. Does Beginnings offer financial assistance to counseling clients?
Some counselling services may qualify under a client’s workplace employee benefit plan. Please check with your provider.
