Why access the counselling service?

Embarking on fertility treatment often means coping with a mixture of emotions, from joy and excitement, to grief and disappointment. Many individuals and couples undergoing fertility treatment are surprised to find the experience both physically and emotionally challenging and may at times feel like there is nobody to talk to who understands what they are going through.

Melbourne IVF appreciates how difficult a time like this can be for patients and offers a comprehensive and confidential counselling service to current patients, individuals and couples considering IVF and those who have ceased treatment but would like further support.

The counsellors at Melbourne IVF are social workers and psychologists who bring a diverse range of skills, expertise and experience to the work we undertake with individuals and couples in managing the stress and emotional impact of dealing with fertility issues. These services include:

Mandatory Counselling:

It is a legal requirement for all individuals/couples to see a counsellor before commencing IVF or donor gamete treatment (including donors and their partners) to consider all the implications, and to sign consent forms.

These appointments are designed to assist patients to:

• understand the options or choices available to them, including the possible outcomes and success rates of the options.
• understand the psychosocial and ethical implications of treatment, their rights and responsibilities and legal considerations
• consider and explore any issues that may be impacting or have the potential to impact on their treatment
• ask questions and clarify any information they may not be sure about
• explore areas of potential stress and discuss strategies for managing these stressors
• sign consent forms if patients are agreeable to proceeding with treatment. Partners are legally required to attend these appointments and sign the consent forms before treatment can commence

Supportive Counselling:

Melbourne IVF Counsellors provide supportive counselling to individuals and couples at any stage throughout the treatment continuum on a range of fertility related issues including:

• Preparing for fertility treatments and exploring options/implications when making decisions about commencing, changing or stopping treatments
• Working on relationship issues that may arise as a result of treatment or may be impacting on treatment
• Dealing with the emotional impact of treatment
• Developing coping strategies for dealing with other people's pregnancies, births and children
• Discussing reactions of families, friends and work colleagues and developing strategies for dealing with these reactions.
• Exploring strategies to help feel more in control
• Coping with unsuccessful treatment cycles and/or pregnancy losses
• Discussing the anxieties of pregnancy and preparation for parenthood
• Dealing with the specific issues related to donor treatment cycles.

It is important that individuals/couples do not ignore the challenges they may be facing as a result of fertility treatment and seek support if required. Counselling can help patients to feel more in charge of their treatment and can reduce the negative impact treatment can have on their emotions, physical health and relationships.

Donor Counselling:

Individuals and couples considering the use of donor gametes – be it eggs, sperm or embryos, may at first feel overwhelmed by the number of issues they need to consider when thinking about creating their family through genetic material provided by a donor. It is essential that they consider their emotional responses to this decision, the implications of having a donor conceived child, their attitudes towards disclosure to the child, family, friends, and extended networks, and the legislation regarding donor conception. The decision to use donor gametes or embryos will be unique to each individual or couple, which they will need to understand in the context of their own relationships and life experiences.

The Melbourne IVF Counselling team is available to provide support to any patients considering treatment with donor gametes to assist in decision-making and to provide information and emotional support. If a patient decides to proceed with the donor egg, sperm, or embryo program, they are required by law to attend specific and structured counselling sessions to explore these issues. Melbourne IVF counsellors are available for patients throughout the whole process including the contemplation phase of treatment, during treatment, and after treatment with donor gametes or embryos.

Counselling appointments for all Melbourne IVF locations can be made through East Melbourne on (03) 9473 4444.