Infertility and PTSD: The Uncharted Storm

Infertility affects one in eight couples, causing widespread grief, anxiety, and stress affecting both men and women. One-third of infertility is attributed to male factor; another one-third to female factor; and the remainder from both and unexplained factors. Increasingly, research indicates that certain experiences during infertility can trigger or exacerbate posttraumatic stress disorder. PTSD alters how people view themselves, the world, and their future. Insomnia, flashbacks, acute anxiety, avoidance, triggers, and other symptoms of PTSD create significant physical and psychological challenges to manage, in addition to the everyday complexities of infertility. No book can replace the support of trauma counseling, but Infertility and PTSD is a valuable resource that offers clinical validation and education, and a practical roadmap for those suffering. Trauma-informed therapist Joanna Flemons explains the complex relationship between PTSD and infertility, and offers proven techniques and strategies for reducing trauma symptoms and loosening the powerful grip of PTSD. An insightful examination of a complex issue only just being recognized, Infertility and PTSD is an invaluable aid for men and women experiencing infertility-triggered PTSD and for family and friends who want to help them navigate what seems like an uncharted storm.