cover story Dr. gelman’s office offers Strategies to cope with infertility Stress
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he holidays are just around the corner and that can be a stressful time for all of us. Family gatherings, traditional meal preparations, and holiday gift shopping can take its toll. This added stress can be overwhelming for couples undergoing infertility treatment. No one knows this better than Dr. Kenneth Gelman and his staff at Infertility and Reproductive Medicine of South Broward. “Infertility and stress have a circular relationship. They often aggravate each other, setting up a vicious cycle,” explains Dr. Gelman, medical director of the practice. “While the exact connection between fertility and stress remains a mystery, we do know that stress has a negative affect on a couple’s chance of conceiving.” Unfortunately, stress and infertility seem to go almost handin-hand. Research has shown that women undergoing treatment for infertility face a similar, and often higher, level of stress as women dealing with life-threatening illnesses such as cancer and heart disease. They experience chronic stress each month, first hoping that they will conceive and then dealing with the disappointment if they do not. The stress of infertility is not limited solely to women. True, it is generally the woman who undergoes the physical stress of blood tests, injections, inseminations, and other treatments, but couples share equally in the emotional and financial stress. For many men, the inability to console their partners can create additional stress in and of itself. Thankfully, there are techniques and stress-reducing strategies available for couples facing infertility. Lani Terry, nurse practitioner and IVF coordinator at Dr. Gelman’s office, says it is important for patients to learn to manage stress. “Stress plays a big role on your health, period. It can definitely impact or compound an existing infertility issue.” She suggests patients find an activity they enjoy and that fits their lifestyle to help relieve stress. That could be reading a book, walking the dog, or even working out. “I am a big believer in the power of acupuncture,” states Terry. “In addition to being a wonderful stress reliever, acupuncture has been proven to increase blood flow and work with hormones to make infertility treatments more effective.” Massage therapy is another option. Like acupuncture it offers both mental and physical benefits. “Stress makes you tense. Even the uterus can tense up under stress and this directly affects fertility,” explains Terry. “Massage can help you relax.” Yoga is another holistic approach. Yoga has been proven to reduce stress by lowering levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Not only that, but its meditative properties can prove invaluable to patients when undergoing physical treatments for infertility. In addition to implementing stress relieving techniques, it is important that patients have a strong support system in place when undergoing infertility treatment. “Many of the hormonal medications patients need to take can cause mood swings and emotional upsets, making it harder to cope with stress,” explains Terry. “It’s important to have family and friends you can turn to, to get you through these tough times.” Unfortunately, not everyone feels comfortable relying on friends and family. Many couples prefer to keep their infertility challenges a secret. Others find that despite people’s best intentions, it is hard to truly understand the stress and pain of
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October 2010
By StAcey BomSeR
infertility unless you have gone through it. Dr. Gelman’s practice refers patients and couples to area therapists who specialize in women’s health issues as well as to various support groups. “Simply talking to someone else who is or has gone through what you are can be incredibly therapeutic to these patients,” says Terry. In fact, that was the motivation behind an online infertility support group started by two of Dr. Gelman’s former patients. Michelle Neidig and Amy Machado met while undergoing IVF (in vitro fertilization) treatments and quickly became friends. Today, in addition to taking care of their beautiful three-year-olds, they facilitate a Facebook page for couples undergoing IVF. To find it, simply search “IVF Support Group” on Facebook, or link through Dr. Gelman’s Facebook page. The ladies launched their site in August and had twelve people join in just the first week. Today, they have people contacting them from all over the world. “When we were going through treatment, we had no one to talk to and so we turned to each other. We started this to let people know that they are not alone,” explains Neidig. “Infertility can be very stressful. If I can give at least one couple hope then I have accomplished my goal.” Primarily, Neidig and Machado offer words of encouragement to those facing infertility. In addition to lending a figurative shoulder to lean or cry on, they also offer encouragement by posting quotes and inspirational messages. From time to time they also post information on infertility issues, but they do not offer medical advice. “Mostly, we’re just their to listen and lend support. We talk about what we went through and what to expect with IVF,” says Neidig. Patients at Infertility and Reproductive Medicine of South Broward can now go through their complete IVF treatment within the comforts of Dr. Gelman’s office. His practice now offers in-house egg retrievals performed by Dr. Ellen Wood, a reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist, in a new state-of-the-art surgical suite. This helps alleviate a lot of the stress on patients. Now the entire IVF treatment can be performed in the comfort and convenience of Dr. Gelman’s office. Patients now have the assurance of knowing that Dr. Gelman and his attentive staff are there for them throughout their entire ordeal. “My staff and I understand that being involved in infertility treatment is stressful both physically and emotionally, that is why we strive to provide all of our patients with in-depth, personalized care,” shares Dr. Gelman. If you or someone you love is experiencing infertility, please contact Dr. Kenneth Gelman at Infertility and Reproductive Medicine of South Broward. In the comforts of his private office, he and his caring staff will perform a thorough evaluation and explain all of your treatment options. The practice works with many of the major insurance companies. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Gelman call (954) 432-2228. His office is conveniently located at 9900 Stirling Road, Suite 300, in Cooper City. To learn more about the practice, visit www.infertilitybroward.com.
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