Patient education is key at University Reproductive Associates, where keeping patients well-informed about their treatment plan and their realistic chances of success goes a long way toward alleviating some of their emotional stress.
University Reproductive Associates’ Dr. Adam Fechner shares how URA’s focus on its patients’ physical and mental health leads to enhanced patient experiences and outcomes.
For the estimated one in eight American couples who struggle with infertility, the experience can be fraught with anxiety, fear, confusion, guilt, shame and a range of other emotions that can strain a couple’s relationship and potentially even set back their chances of pregnancy success. For that reason, a fertility practice that not only addresses its patients’ medical needs but their emotional and mental health needs as well can enhance these patients’ comfort, confidence and chances of a successful outcome.
In the following interview, Adam Fechner, MD, board-certified OB/GYN at Hasbrouck Heights-based University Reproductive Associates (URA), discusses the emotional roller coaster infertile couples can experience and how URA works to support both its patients’ physical and emotional needs.
How can infertility impact a patient’s mental health?
Adam Fechner, MD, board-certified OB/GYN at University Reproductive Associates (URA)
Dr. Fechner: Before they even come to us, most patients have been trying for months or years to get pregnant, so it’s been something they’ve wanted for a long time but have been unable to achieve. Most women are conscious of the fact that the older they get, the harder the process gets, and the continued passage of time without success and cumulative impact of that disappointment can trigger anxiety and/or depression, especially if they were predisposed to that before, and cause or exacerbate relationship issues. In addition, while society is talking about infertility more than ever before, there’s still a stigma around it and some people dealing with infertility can become withdrawn as they watch their friends or relatives having children and celebrating baby showers and birthday parties.
Can those emotions negatively impact a patient’s fertility success?
Dr. Fechner: For most women, moderate stress levels would not adversely affect their chance of getting pregnant. Stress certainly doesn’t help the situation, but we can’t really say that’s the reason someone isn’t conceiving. However, if stress becomes so severe that it causes a woman to lose her menstrual cycle, that can certainly be a reason she would have difficulty getting pregnant.
In addition to the broad range of leading-edge fertility treatments it offers, how does URA prioritize its patients’ overall well-being on their fertility journey?
Dr. Fechner: Patient education is key at URA — keeping our patients well-informed about their treatment plan and their realistic chances of success goes a long way toward alleviating some of their anxiety. We let them know what to expect and the possible outcomes and are available during their cycle to discuss anything with them or answer any questions. Our practice takes a team approach to patients and provides support at all levels — from our physicians to our nurses, medical assistants and other support staff, we’re all involved in walking patients through the ins and outs of treatments, monitoring them, and being compassionate and empathetic. What sets us apart at URA is that we work as a team, provide truly personalized care to our patients and are all heavily invested in their outcome.
Prioritizing patients’ mental health as much as their physical health, University Reproductive Associates’ uniquely personalized approach extends not just to medical care, but also to the emotional support provided to patients.
What advice can you offer to help people preserve their mental health and remain emotionally strong during a fertility journey?
Dr. Fechner: Having people you can talk to openly and honestly about the experience — such as a supportive partner or friends or family members who have gone through it — can help, and online support groups such as Resolve.org (the mental health arm of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine) and our URA Facebook group for current patients (launched by a former URA patient) can also be beneficial. Because knowledge is power, we encourage patients to arm themselves with information; for those experiencing infertility, there’s no harm in a woman or couple getting tested to evaluate their medical situation and chances of getting pregnant so that they can make an informed decision. For individuals trying to get pregnant on their own or undergoing fertility treatment, we often advise them “not to act pregnant until you’re actually pregnant.” For example, people often start cutting out things like high-impact exercise, caffeine, alcohol, etc. thinking that it will help their chances; we want to increase their chance of a healthy pregnancy, but we still want people to feel normal and do things they enjoy. Finally, we want people struggling with infertility to have hope — there’s a lot we can do to help a woman get pregnant and build a family. For many patients, undergoing the testing, having a plan, initiating care and knowing that they’re in URA’s capable hands is a weight off their shoulders and provides the comfort and assurance that they’re doing everything they can.
What final messages can you share about URA’s focus on the whole patient and the importance it places on their mental health?
Dr. Fechner: We want healthy, happy families and understand that it’s not always an easy process. For this reason, we try to make it as comfortable as possible for our patients and prioritize their mental health as much as their physical health. Our uniquely personalized approach extends not just to medical care, but also to the emotional support we give our patients.
For More Information
With locations in Hasbrouck Heights, Hoboken and Wayne, University Reproductive Associates has been helping patients complete their journey to a joyful pregnancy for more than three decades. For more information, call 201-288-6330 or visit uranj.com.
