Easy Ways to Support Your Partner Through Fertility Treatment -Tips from the Therapist
You can get prepared for so many things life will throw at the two of you as a couple, but issues with fertility can oftentimes come as an unexpected hurdle. When your partner begins fertility treatment, you may feel a bit lost about how to show your support. You may even feel a little guilt because your partner is the one who physically has to go through the treatments.
Here are some helpful ways to be supportive as your partner goes through fertility treatment.
Get Involved In Planning
From the beginning, get involved in the fertility treatment planning process. Show your support by going over the details of what will take place before, during, and after treatment.
Adjust Your Expectations of Your Partner
The partner going through fertility treatment may not have the same to offer as before. Adjust your expectations regarding things like:
How much emotional support you should get
Sex and intimacy
What your partner should be capable of doing (e.g. working, chores, going out)
Be Willing to Pick Up Household Slack
Your significant other may have days when handling things around the house can be overwhelming. Some fertility medications can also bring about undesirable side effects like nausea and fatigue. To be supportive, do what you can to pick up the slack, such as:
Handling basics like laundry or doing the dishes
Doing a bit of meal prep or preparing meals
Running errands and paying bills
Being more attentive to cleaning up after yourself and cleaning up after your partner
Help with Medication
Medication can be a big part of fertility treatment. Make a point to show your support by:
Creating a medication protocol with the help of the fertility center you can reference as-needed
Coordinating pharmacy trips, calls for refills, and payments for medication
Administering fertility medication to your partner if needed
Step Up for Social Situations When Your Partner Can't
Socializing can come as a challenge for some during fertility treatment. You may need to step in as the social manager of sorts during treatment. This may include answering phone calls from concerned family and friends, making an appearance at social events when your spouse can't attend, or even going to the grocery where other people are bound to be.
Be Present When Your Partner Needs to Talk
Some days, your partner may be especially emotional about the process and need you to be their listening ear or shoulder to cry on. Other days, your partner may prefer to talk about anything other than fertility or trying to build a family. In either case, you can be most supportive by going with the flow and offering whatever may be needed.
When you make a commitment to a partner, you're automatically signing up to be the emotional and physical support for one another through some of the toughest challenges. Fertility treatment can require so much both physically and emotionally. While there is no way you can possibly step in and bear the brunt of those challenges, you can step up and lighten the load with support.