Reproductive Challenges and the Mind

Last month on the blog I covered reproductive challenges such as fibroids, endometriosis, adenomyosis, and PCOS. Most people don’t think about reproductive challenges and mental health.  It is an unusual combination but a very real thing.  In most cases, women go undiagnosed or are misdiagnosed for years leading to anxiety and depression.  What do you do when you’ve been to several different doctors, explained your symptoms, and end up with just another type of contraceptive pill?  I would imagine you begin to question yourself and ask yourself am I going crazy.

I’ve heard many women discuss the anxiety of not knowing when their next cycle would start and if they would be able to change clothes fast enough before someone saw the red stains on their clothes or on the chair they were seated in.  I’ve heard women discuss the depression they feel being quarantined in their home because of unbearable cramping and excessive bleeding.  I’ve heard women talk about how these reproductive challenges have impacted their marriages and their mothering. I’ve heard women explain how their concerns aren’t validated or taken seriously when they speak with their doctors.  I’ve heard women say that it’s too much and they aren’t able to continue to live like this.  Sadly, many women suffer in silence because the impact of reproductive challenges on a woman’s mental health is often if ever discussed. 

This sounds disheartening and it is for the women who struggle with these thoughts and feelings on an everyday basis.  However, there is hope.  If you are one of these women suffering in silence, here are some things you can do.

1.      Find a friend or someone you can talk with about what you’re dealing with.  They may be able to offer resources and recommendations for care.

2.     Find a therapist that specializes in reproductive challenges.  This is their area of expertise and they may have a list of resources to assist you, in addition to working on your mental health.

3.     Seek out support groups online.  There are several types of support groups for fibroids, endometriosis, and PCOS. 

4.     Lastly, find a doctor that will listen to you.  Gather referrals from family, friends, and co-workers on who they use.  Try a few doctors out and settle on one where your concerns are heard and validated.