IVF Support

IVF support
in Crawley

If you are planning to undergo an IVF procedure then support is a must. Get in touch with The Claremont Practice for IVF counselling.

Why do you need support?

Fertility problems can be highly stressful, as are the tests, investigations and treatment procedures. They frequently evoke a range of powerful feelings including anxiety, anger, grief, humiliation, denial, confusion, guilt, blaming and much more. Often self-esteem suffers, this is quite normal.
It’s not easy to make good decisions in this highly stressed state. It can be difficult to continue one’s normal social life and work. The relationship between a couple often is tested to the limit.

In general, this is a process which supports and gives individuals and couples the opportunity to explore their thoughts, emotions, reactions and beliefs with an impartial and sympathetic professional who understands the issues involved.
Good support helps people cope better. It usually brings greater clarity, a broader perspective and some peace of mind. Decisions about what choices to make become less murky and are based on realism and self-knowledge. The process should be strictly confidential.
Contact

The law and fertility counselling

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) requires that anyone undergoing licensed treatment must be offered support by the clinic. Sometimes support can be free. It is well worth finding out how a fertility clinic operates its support procedures, as they are not all the same. Some are more generous than others.
You are not obliged to accept support, but you may find it a valuable opportunity and you won’t know until you try. It is important to find a counsellor whom you like and respect (sometimes clinics have more than one counsellor available).
Bereavement Counselling

The HFEA Code of Practice sets out three types of counselling that should be available in licensed clinics. These include:

1) Implications counselling
The implications of treatment that you are considering will be explored with you. The course of treatment may have implications not just for you, but also for your wider family and any children born as a result. This type of counselling is aimed particularly at people thinking about using donated sperm, eggs or embryos. It may also include genetic counselling.

2) Support counselling
The aim is to provide emotional support at times of stress – for example, if treatment fails to produce a pregnancy or the pregnancy ends in miscarriage. It’s important to remember that most high-tech fertility treatment, such as IVF or ICSI, fail. There is the potential for a lot of disappointment connected with these procedures.
Support counselling might also be useful if you discover you are pregnant with twins or triplets.

3) Therapeutic counselling
This usually encompasses support counselling, but goes beyond it. Broadly speaking, it aims to help people cope with the consequences of infertility and fertility treatment. The HFEA brochure says, “it includes helping people to adjust their expectations and to accept the situation”. It may also help couples repair any damage to their relationship caused by the stress of fertility problems & treatment. It could offer a chance to explore wider issues that may be hindering a successful outcome.
Call The Claremont Practice on
01293 888 992
in Crawley if you are looking for IVF counselling.

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