The Human Side of Assisted Reproduction: Psychological Insights from an Embryologist’s Experience

Infertility is not only a biological problem but also a source of serious psychological and social problems for patients and medical staff dealing with assisted reproductive technologies. The following view addresses the emotional aspect of infertility treatment based on the personal experiences of an embryologist. Infertile couples often suffer from anxiety, anticipatory grief, fatigue from treatments, loss of self-esteem, and psychological suffering, especially during the “2-week wait” period and after failed treatments. Stigma and ambiguity add to the problems. Being behind the scenes does not mean that embryologists do not feel the emotional pressure because of compassion, accountability, and vested interest in treatment results. Seeing fertilization, embryo growth, foetal heartbeats, and eventually giving birth to a healthy baby provides a good motivation for medical specialists in reproductive science.