Fertility treatments can be emotionally and financially stressful, expert on how to cope

Treatment is not just about a series of medical steps, but also a personal, emotional and financial undertaking (Image: Pexels)

When people first consider fertility treatment, they rarely see that it is more than just medical steps involving scans, injections, and retrievals. It can be an emotionally and financially taxing process that feels just as real as the clinical work. Clinicians witness this burden repeatedly, and it often shapes a patient’s experience far more than they expect.

Several large studies have shown how intense infertility affects mental health. Some report anxiety or depressive symptoms in a quarter to over half of those seeking treatment. Dr Prachi Benara, Fertility Specialist at Birla Fertility & IVF, Gurugram, tells Moneycontrol, “These figures don’t surprise anyone in practice, as they experience this firsthand as patients brace themselves before each update. While there’s careful optimism after stimulation scans, the distress is also evident when an embryo transfer does not lead to a pregnancy.”

Financial burden couples experience

The financial side of the journey often adds another layer of pressure. Dr Benara said, “A single IVF cycle in India can run into six figures once tests, medicines and procedures are factored in. Many couples need more than one attempt, so the cost is rarely a one-time consideration. For families budgeting month to month, this can bring genuine strain.”

Research from low- and middle-income settings shows that out-of-pocket fertility expenses can disrupt long-term planning in ways people don’t anticipate. This can postpone other life goals, dip savings, or make them rely on loans.

Emotional distress of the journey

What often gets overlooked is how these emotional and financial pressures interact. “High, sustained stress is known to affect biological processes linked to reproduction, which makes emotional support not just compassionate but necessary,” Dr Benara stressed.

What can help?

Dr. Benara said, “Regular counselling, even brief structured conversations, can steady patients during the more uncertain phases of treatment. Clear communication on costs and realistic timelines plays a similar role; it allows people to make informed decisions rather than anxious ones.”

Fertility care thus requires considering the full context in which patients seek it. Treatment is not just about a series of medical steps, but also a personal, emotional and financial undertaking. Acknowledging all three helps patients go through the process with clarity.