Trauma-Informed IVF for Surrogacy | American Surrogacy Blog

Trauma-informed IVF is a specialized approach to fertility treatments for individuals who have experienced sexual assault, medical trauma or previous IVF failures.

Trauma-informed IVF can help you make informed decisions about your care, while prioritizing your emotional well-being.

Your wellbeing is important to us. We can connect you with fertility clinics that specialist in trauma informed IVF care. Reach out to our team today.

In this article, we explain trauma informed IVF, potential triggers of IVF and how you can ensure your needs are met during your IVF and surrogacy journey.

What Is Trauma Informed IVF?

Trauma-Informed IVF refers to a specialized approach to in vitro fertilization (IVF) that takes into account the emotional, psychological and physical impacts of trauma on patients undergoing fertility treatments.

This type of IVF is particularly important for individuals who have experienced past trauma, such as:

Sexual assault
Medical trauma
Past IVF trauma

Trauma-informed IVF aims to create a supportive environment where patients’ emotional and mental well-being is prioritized alongside their physical care.

What Are the 4 Trauma Informed Practices?

The four trauma-informed practices are realize, recognize, response and resist traumatization. These four Rs are how your medical professional will consider your physical and mental-well-being when creating the most conducive environment to help you heal.

Understanding IVF, Trauma and Triggers

IVF can trigger trauma responses for several reasons, particularly for individuals with a history of trauma. Here’s how IVF can act as a trigger:

Invasive Procedures: IVF involves a series of invasive medical procedures, such as injections, blood draws, ultrasounds and egg retrieval. For those with a history of sexual abuse, medical procedures involving the reproductive system may trigger past trauma.
Loss of Control: Trauma survivors may have experienced a loss of control in their past. The lack of autonomy in treatment decisions or feeling like a passive participant in the process can be emotionally difficult.
Previous Failed IVF Cycles: IVF treatments are often emotionally charged, with the high hopes of pregnancy success followed by the disappointment of failed cycles or negative results.

If you’re dealing with medical trauma or trauma related to previous failed IVF attempts, we’re here for you. Learn more about how to cope with the emotions of a failed IVF cycle and how you can move forward.

The IVF Experience for Survivors of Sexual Abuse

For survivors of sexual abuse, the IVF process can evoke emotional and physical reactions that are tied to past trauma.

The sensitive nature of fertility treatments, often involving medical procedures, intimate exams and interactions with multiple healthcare professionals, can trigger distressing memories or feelings of vulnerability.

The IVF experience for these survivors may feel overwhelming and, at times, re-traumatizing.

This 2022 article from Women’s Health Magazine was written by a psychologist who’s fertility treatment triggered her own past trauma while breaking down how a medical team and a patient can work together to find the best path forward.

“For those with a history of sexual abuse, distress is often elicited by trauma reminders, and during fertility treatment, they’re difficult to avoid. Sounds, motions, sensations, power differentials between patient and provider, false reassurance, pain, sedation, bruising, and the thoughts and emotions that accompany these cues, like shame, fear, anger, guilt, hopelessness, and helplessness, can all bring up terrifying memories and sometimes the sense of re-experiencing them.” – Gabrielle Frackman, PhD, and author of the article.

Navigating Failed IVF Trauma

Experiencing a failed IVF cycle can be emotionally devastating and result in trauma that can be triggered by future IVF cycles.

Understanding how to process this trauma and how to move forward is essential for emotional well-being during this challenging time.

If a previous IVF cycle resulted in emotional distress, a trauma-informed team will adjust treatment protocols to accommodate the your triggers, providing additional support such as more time between cycles, gentle communication or flexibility in scheduling to reduce anxiety.

Managing Triggers During Trauma Informed IVF

If you’re considering IVF and have experienced trauma, whether from past fertility struggles, sexual abuse or medical trauma, it’s important to seek out trauma informed IVF.

Here are practical actions you can take to communicate with your medical team and navigate any overwhelming moments during your IVF treatments.

1. Ask for Trauma-Informed Care and Communicate Your Triggers Early

Start by having a candid discussion with your fertility specialist and any other medical staff about your trauma history. Be clear with your fertility team that you’re seeking trauma informed IVF care.

Let them know what triggers might arise during treatment. This could include physical sensations, medical procedures, certain words or phrases or feelings of powerlessness.

2. Establish Clear Boundaries

Ask for clear, step-by-step explanations before each procedure so you know what to expect.

You have the right to ask for breaks or adjustments during treatment if certain procedures feel overwhelming or uncomfortable.

If certain aspects of the procedure are triggering, work with your medical team to make adjustments. This might include requesting a different nurse, having a support person present or altering the room’s lighting or sound.

3. Involve Your Support System

Having a trusted person with you during IVF appointments can help you feel grounded and supported. They can advocate on your behalf and assist with managing emotional stress.

Consider having a mental health professional on standby that is familiar with trauma-informed care. This could be a counselor who specializes in fertility, trauma or PTSD. You can schedule sessions before and after treatments to process emotions.

4. Plan for Stressful Situations

Learn grounding techniques that can help you stay calm during IVF treatments. These include deep breathing, mindfulness and visualizations. You can practice these before treatments so that they become second nature when stressors arise.

Bring along calming items, such as music or a fidget toy to distract yourself during procedures. Some people find it helpful to listen to soothing music or podcasts to focus their mind away from the procedure.

5. Communicate Overwhelming Feelings

If you start feeling distressed during your IVF cycle, inform your medical team immediately so they can offer support or modify their approach accordingly.

You could work with your medical team to develop a signal or phrase that you can use during treatments if you begin to feel overwhelmed or unsafe. This can be something as simple as raising a hand or saying “pause” to let them know you need a break.

After each IVF appointment or procedure, consider having a follow-up conversation with your fertility team to review how things went. Giving feedback ensures your care is continuously aligned with your emotional needs.

What should I do if I feel my IVF provider isn’t trauma-informed?

If you feel that your IVF provider isn’t trauma-informed, it’s important to take steps to ensure you receive the care and support you need.

Here’s what you can do:

Advocate for Yourself: Express your concerns directly with your IVF provider. You could say something like, “I feel uncomfortable with the way certain aspects of my treatment are being handled and would appreciate a more sensitive approach.”
Consider a Second Opinion: If your current IVF provider isn’t responsive to your needs or continues to make you feel uncomfortable, it may be time to consider switching providers. Research other clinics that specialize in trauma-informed care.
Ask for Recommendations: Reach out to support groups, friends or online forums where other patients share their experiences. This can help you find a provider that aligns with your needs and values.
Report Concerns if Necessary: Most fertility clinics take patient concerns seriously and may be able to make accommodations or even reassign you to a different provider or team member who is more trauma-informed.

By taking these steps, you can advocate for your emotional health and well-being during your IVF journey.

Trauma Informed IVF and Surrogacy: Intersection of Care

For intended parents, trauma may stem from fertility struggles, miscarriages or previous IVF failures. Your surrogacy specialist can play a key role in this process by offering continuous support and resources.

From helping you find trauma-informed medical providers to assisting with mental health care, we ensure that your physical and emotional needs are met throughout your IVF and surrogacy experience.

We can also help address any concerns or special accommodations, ensuring that everyone feels comfortable, respected and safe during your journey.

Contact us today to get the support and guidance you deserve while you seek out trauma informed IVF care.

Mental Health Support for IVF Post Trauma

Getting the support you deserve to address past trauma during IVF can come at any time during the process, before, during or after.

There are also a variety of resources you can reach out to find support on your infertility journey from infertility organizations to counseling and support groups such as:

RESOLVE: RESOLVE is the National Infertility Association, a nonprofit that can connect you with the help you deserve, from finding a specific type of support group to other helpful resources and advice from those that have walked in your shoes.
American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM): ASRM manages a website that has resources to help with coping with infertility grief from patient stories and frequently asked questions to podcasts and videos on various topics surrounding infertility.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG): ACOG has fact sheets on a variety of infertility topics, like evaluating infertility, treating infertility and other broad topics.

Infertility Support Groups

Get Started

If you’re ready to take the next step in your fertility journey, we’re here to support you in finding trauma informed IVF care.

Reach out to us today to get connected with trauma informed IVF providers near you that will tailor your IVF experience to your unique needs. Start your journey toward healing and parenthood with confidence.