期刊名称：The International Journal of Indian Psychology
印刷版ISSN：2349-3429
电子版ISSN：2348-5396
出版年度：2014
期号：1847
页码：144 to 154
出版社：REDSHINE Publication
摘要：Longing for children and the heartbreak of futility have been a part and parcel of life since the beginning of mankind. The paper gives an in depth understanding of infertility as a medical, psychological and social condition with suitable theoretical frameworks. The paper identifies the key role of infertility counselor, a mental health professional trained in reproductive medicine, in an individual/couple journey from the beginning of treatment to beyond treatment. Infertility counselor contributes by providing effective therapeutic interventions to improve patient well-being and response to treatment and giving different perspectives for understanding the issue from cultural, gender and societal point of view. Finally, the paper discusses importance of the transition from childlessness to child-free and the role of infertility counselor in facilitating it.
