Emotional and psychosocial risk associated with fertility treatment

Infertility is common and treatment for infertility is becoming increasingly more frequently sought. Treatment can closely mimic or deviate from natural conception. The more treatments deviate from natural conception, the more they will require life changes which are usually not anticipated. Infertile, otherwise healthy individuals become patients and procreation moves from in-vivo to in-vitro. The psychosocial risks associated with infertility; with medically assisted reproduction (MAR); and with the consequences of successful or unsuccessful treatment can be substantial. The outcomes of such treatments are also unpredictable. Uncertainties as well as distances in familial and biological links associated with third party reproduction bring with them additional psychological and social stressors, ethical dilemmas and concerns. These stressors could have long term consequences, posing further psychological risks to the mental health of those undergoing the treatments, the third parties and in the short and long term, on the resultant children. This chapter will outline some of these psychosocial considerations and the consequences of fertility treatment. Efforts to incorporate these considerations at clinical practice and policy levels are essential