I often hear this from patients: holidays like Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day are
particularly tough when you are dealing with infertility or undergoing fertility
treatments.
At ZFC we know that IVF can be like a triathlon. With Valentine’s Day in
particular, there is so much pressure to make it romantic and intimate; it can be a
struggle when you’ve been trying to conceive for some time.
The good news about Valentine’s Day is that it’s a day that celebrates couples and
the love you share! Focus on appreciating the amazing person who is on this journey
with you. Whether you’re in-cycle or not: try to use the opportunity to re-focus on what
makes you and your partner great.
1. First of all, get your mind off of infertility or fertility treatments like IVF for the
day. Especially when a couple has been trying to conceive and scheduling
intimacy down-to-the-minute, it can help to take the focus off of building a
family on Valentine’s Day.
2. Get outside and do something new! Some studies show that adventure and new
experiences can activate the reward-center in the brain and increase
neurotransmitters like dopamine. It can trigger that just-in-love feeling and
bring you closer.
3. There is an awful lot of pressure to make this single day of the year romantic
and intimate. Why not make your own holiday? Choose another day that week
or another time entirely. Set aside moments to appreciate each other and plan
something special for just the two of you.
We listed a few additional resources below. Wishing you a wonderful Valentine’s Day full of love!
From RESOLVE: “Becoming a Couple Again"
From Mommyish: “A Valentine’s Day Gift to My Frozen Embryo”
From Global IVF: “Can I be Fertility Challenged and still Enjoy Valentine’s Day?”
