Infertility and Depression: The Importance of Finding Treatment

A couple’s infertility journey can be a long and hard road: the perceived shame surrounding infertility can be very isolating, biological limitations can present a shrinking, anxiety-inducing window of opportunity, treatment itself is expensive, and hormone manipulation can hugely impact mood. It may come as no surprise, then, that experiencing depression while undergoing infertility treatment is common: about 39% of women and 15% of men develop depression during infertility treatment.

Depression is a mental health condition that should be treated, and leaving it untreated can lead to other health problems. However, many patients are concerned with the impact that depression treatments might have on conception and fetal development. Fortunately,[SHM1]  there are options available. Read on to learn how infertility and depression are linked, and why you should seek treatment if you're feeling depressed during infertility treatment.

The Risks of Leaving Depression Untreated

Many people opt to leave depression untreated when they undergo infertility treatment because they are fearful of doing anything that could reduce their chances of getting pregnant or impact the health of their fetus. This worry is understandable, as fertility treatments are a substantial financial investment. The possibility of dealing with the combined side effects of antidepressants and fertility treatment can often be a source of anxiety, too.

Nevertheless, leaving depression untreated is not advisable. Going without treatment can cause the distressing feelings you have to become more intense, and it could even cause persistent physical symptoms, such as nausea, chronic pain, and headaches. In addition to negatively affecting your overall health, depression may even impact your ability to get pregnant. Research has shown that once pregnant, mothers who experience major depression have an increased risk of premature birth, low birth weight, and decreased fetal growth. After labor , depression can also make it difficult to bond with the baby.

The Relationship Between Infertility and Depression

Infertility and depression are intertwined, and depression can indirectly affect your ability to become pregnant by influencing your overall physical health. For instance, depression sometimes causes a significant increase or decrease in appetite, which could lead to being overweight or underweight. Both states are known to cause or play a part in infertility. Conversely, infertility can cause depression or worsen existing depression. A Harvard study showed that women with infertility feel just as anxious and depressed as people diagnosed with cancer or hypertension. The study also notes that men who are infertile experience similar levels of depression and low self-esteem as infertile women.

As a matter separate from infertility depression, fertility treatment itself can sometimes cause a person to become depressed. For instance, side effects from some of the drugs involved in fertility treatment are depression or other mental health conditions. The financial cost and strain of undergoing fertility treatment can contribute as well, as treatment is not always covered by insurance. The stress of the treatment process itself, which often involves multiple appointments and taking many medications, can also heighten the emotional impact of infertility and contribute to depression.

Antidepressants are typically the standard treatment for depression. However, some studies suggest that antidepressant use may have a negative impact on fertility, though more research is needed to fully understand their effects. Many people aren't comfortable taking them because they're concerned about either the potential impact on their chances of conceiving or the risk of side effects. In these cases, TMS therapy is a potential non-medication treatment to consider.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy delivers gentle magnetic pulses to stimulate the regions of the brain that regulate mood and emotion. The stimulation of nerves in these areas can improve the brain's ability to regulate mood, treating depression. Though TMS has not been studied in large groups of pregnant women, there is no associated impact on hormone levels and the range of the magnetic pulses does not extend to the reproductive system. In addition, TMS therapy has no drug-related side effects and is well-tolerated, so you don't have to worry about extra effects on top of those that may accompany fertility treatments.

There is no need to choose between treating depression and becoming pregnant. There are options, including TMS, that will allow you to do both. If you're interested in learning more, you can continue browsing resources on TMS, or reach out to Greenbrook for a consultation. You deserve to feel your best as you work to build a family.