Infertility & The Holiday Season
The holidays are here and ‘tis the season to be jolly. But this time of year can actually be a surprising source of stress for fertility patients.
Between holiday parties, family gatherings, and friendly get-togethers, it often isn’t long before the topic of family planning comes up. While these conversations can be awkward for those who are undergoing fertility care, there are a few ways to make the holiday season a little easier.
Plan Your Response in Advance
There’s no way around it – sooner or later someone is likely to ask you a question about your fertility journey. While these questions can be intrusive or insensitive, they often arise quite innocently – many people are simply uninformed about infertility. So rather than cross your fingers and hope it won’t happen, it’s best to think ahead and have a plan in place for how you’ll respond to those inquiries when they inevitably come your way. You can let people know that you’re just not up for a discussion about family planning in a polite, direct, and firm manner. Here are a few examples:
- “Thank you for asking, but I’d prefer to keep our plans private for now.”
- “We’d rather keep things to ourselves, but we’ll let you know if that changes.”
- “It’s kind of you to wonder, but I don’t want to get into things today.”
These examples may feel a bit curt, but drawing that line early in the conversation is the best way to have a boundary respected.
Take Time for Yourself
Around the holidays, your calendar is likely packed to the brim with obligations. During this time of year, we tend to commit to one event after another and, before we know it, it’s January 2nd. But while parties can be a fun distraction from any source of stress – including fertility treatment or a recent diagnosis – don’t forget to take some time for yourself this year.
Maybe that means a quiet weekend at home with no commitments other than what you feel like doing, starting a new class, or committing to a hobby, or spending time. We ask a lot of ourselves during fertility journeys, and that can leave very little time to breathe, so be kind to yourself this season.
Make the New Year a Fresh Start
The end of one year and the start of another is an excellent opportunity to re-group so you can feel better about any aspect of your care that isn’t living up to your expectations. One option that can be beneficial is to create a list that you can review directly with your doctor about the current treatment path, any questions you may have, and if there is anything you’d like to improve.
Here are a few you might consider:
- What is my specific diagnosis, and exactly how does that impact fertility?
- Are there other diagnostic tests I could take to learn more about my situation?
- What is the best treatment path to start with?
- Are there alternative treatment paths that I should explore?
- Can I make changes to my lifestyle to improve my chances of getting pregnant?
Even if you’re in the middle of treatment, this time of year is always a chance to mentally restart. Take time to connect with your fertility specialist and orient your path forward so you start the new year in a good place.
At Chelsea Fertility NYC, we’re wishing you the very best this holiday season. We welcome you to reach out if you’d like support on your fertility care journey. Our treatment plans are personalized so you can feel confident that you’re getting the care that’s just right for you and your body. To learn more about your fertility care options in New York City, contact us today.