Is Advanced Treatment for Me?
The decision to use advanced treatments like those found in the realm of assisted reproductive technology (ART) can be a very difficult one. There are many decisions that you have to make to see if this is the technology that would help you and your family. This is not a route to go alone. Factors that many families consider when they make this decision involve nearly all aspects of their life from moral, religious, and ethical fields to a basic concept of general health and even financial abilities.
Ethical DebatesYou may find yourself struggling with ethical issues you never dreamed of when faced with the decision to use advanced techniques to help you achieve a pregnancy. Most likely your entire life you envisioned simply getting pregnant like everyone else does and spent little time, if any, addressing the potential quandaries of new technologies in the field of reproduction. You are not alone.
It is nearly impossible to turn on the television without hearing about the latest advances in technology surrounding the infertility field. Between all the legal battles about what is wrong and what is right rests your own opinions. What is important in this decision is that you, your husband or partner, and anyone else that you feel the need to consult is appropriately pleased with your decision. You may choose to seek spiritual or religious guidance concerning the decision to use advanced procedures to help you get pregnant. Talk to your doctor about how to educate your clergy or spiritual advisor on the aspects of the fertility treatments you are considering. This can help you set your mind at ease so you can proceed as you see fit.
Unless you or your spouse chooses to let other people know about the issues surrounding how you conceive, it is never anyone's business but yours. Your team of professionals working to help you achieve pregnancy will also agree with that decision and will maintain the utmost care in protecting your privacy.
While your doctor and her team of health care professionals will be monitoring your physical health constantly to see if you can physically withstand the strain that advanced fertility treatments will place on your body, it is also important to think about it in terms of personal feelings. Sometimes you may be physically fit but simply not feel able to deal with the stress of the necessary treatments. You may choose to take a break from treatments for a while and later return to pick up where you have left off in your treatment cycle. Gaining this small break can allow you to build up the necessary physical and mental stamina needed for such physically and emotionally draining treatments.
It is common to find a social worker or other mental health professional working with your reproductive specialist. Do not hesitate to ask for a referral to this section of the practice if you feel the need or even if you just want to ask questions. This can help you sort out issues and make decisions for your treatment plans on a realistic level.
Financial QuestionsThe question of finances is huge. Since many insurance companies do not offer coverage for fertility treatments, you may wind up paying all or most of your treatment costs out of pocket. These expensive treatments can create a huge burden on you and your family. While there are many newer options for financing your fertility treatments, the stress of money-related issues is well known and needs to be addressed prior to moving forward with your treatments.
