Patient Support - NUH Life

Counselling, support and patient concerns

The fertility journey can be a stressful time and you may need the support of others. It can help to confide in friends and family for support, and talk through whatever you may be feeling.

Sometimes additional professional help from someone who is completely impartial, such as an independent counsellor, may be helpful. We actively encourage couples and individuals to seek counselling if support is needed – for some treatments it is considered essential.

You can opt to have counselling on your own, with a partner, or even with a friend if required. It depends on your needs, and what you’d feel most comfortable with.

Some counselling is there for support at those times when things may not be going so well. Other types of counselling (e.g. implications) are required for specific treatments – see below.

Implications counselling

HFEA regulations stipulate that counselling should be offered as part of a licensed fertility treatment, such as IVF or any treatment involving donated sperm, eggs or embryos.

At NUH, we take this a little further. We have made counselling an integral part of the patient journey. We believe it is essential that you understand as much as you can about particular treatments involving donated sperm.

Implications counselling provides an emotionally safe place for you to reflect on and understand the various issues that may affect you, and the lasting implications for you (and those close to you) both now and in the future. It takes into account the welfare and needs of the future child. It’s an opportunity to anticipate and plan for this conception and family formation.

Support counselling

Infertility and its treatment is a significant emotional journey, and may have an impact on your relationships with others. These emotions can be far-reaching. Support counselling is an opportunity to explore your feelings, coping strategies, options, and your relationship with partners, family, friends or colleagues. It can help you to look at both the short and long-term consequences of treatment and make any adjustments to your lifestyle, work-life balance and home life that might be required.

You might find that you need support at different stages of treatment, and you can access support counselling at any time before, during, or after treatment. Counselling is not just for the female partner – men are also actively encouraged, as often they don’t have the same support mechanisms or open emotional communication with friends and family.

There are a number of organisations set up to offer counselling services and advice:

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) (www.hfea.gov.uk)
The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (www.bacp.co.uk) can help you find counselling services in your area.
The British Infertility Counselling Association (www.bica.net) is an organisation set up specifically for guidance and support for infertility issues.
ParentLine Plus (www.parentlineplus.org.uk) is a national charity offering support to parents in the UK.

To access counselling and support services, please contact the nursing team.

Extensive support for the male has in the past not been widely available. However, websites like the ‘all about fertility‘ site are beginning to provide extensive support information including facts and figures, review articles and a support forum. Click here for more information.